Why cruise ships are setting sail again as COVID-19 rages Rachel Ng An employee in protective gear sprayed disinfectant on pool lounges aboard the MSC Grandiosa in October 2020. One of the world’s largest cruise ships, the boat normally holds more than 6,000 passengers, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was generally sailing at 60 percent capacity. When you take a cruise during a pandemic, daily activities look and feel quite different from pre-COVID-19 times. Breakfast is served at socially distanced tables after a pre-meal temperature check. At night, you can dance at a club, provided you cover your face and give other passengers a wide berth. The pool is open, kept clean by staffers in face shields and protective jumpsuits who also spray the lounge chairs with disinfectants.