On Tuesday, December 17th, the cruise ship Costa Toscana reported several cases of gastrointestinal illness among its passengers.
In response, Costa Cruises promptly enacted containment measures aligned with health authority guidelines to mitigate the situation. The measures included rigorous sanitation procedures throughout the vessel and the enforcement of stricter hygiene protocols to ensure a safe environment on board.
Informing all passengers via the PA system, the ship's Master (Captain Giulio Valestra) expressed his gratitude for their cooperation during this time. He reassured guests that every precaution is being taken to maintain a healthy atmosphere on the ship.
Passengers have been advised to follow specific precautions to help prevent further spread of the illness. These include frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly after using the restroom, coughing, sneezing, eating, drinking, or smoking. While hand sanitizers are provided, they are considered supplementary and not a replacement for proper handwashing. Guests have also been encouraged to minimize direct physical contact, such as handshakes, and to primarily use private cabin restrooms instead of shared facilities to limit exposure risks.
Passengers experiencing symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea have been instructed to return to their cabins immediately and notify the Infirmary/Medical Center by calling the dedicated emergency extension. The facility is fully equipped to address health concerns and remains available to assist guests around the clock.
Costa Toscana is currently on a 7-day Mediterranean cruise roundtrip from Palermo Sicily. Costa continues to monitor the situation closely while prioritizing the health and safety of all passengers and crew.
For more Costa Toscana incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.