ROME: A family of tourists was kicked off a Mediterranean cruise after leaving their organised excursion to sightsee on their own, violating the ship's new anti-Covid regulations, the company said Thursday. The MSC Grandiosa, part of the fleet of privately owned MSC Cruises, was the first major cruise line to take to the Mediterranean after a long lockdown due to coronavirus. It departed from Genoa on Sunday for a seven-day tour at 70 percent passenger capacity, part of a series of measures taken to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection on board.

The unnamed Italian family had disembarked at the port of Naples on an organised day trip to the nearby island of Capri, but then left the group and ventured forth on their own despite earlier admonitions not to, MSC said. The family was later refused entry back on the ship. "By departing from the organised shore excursion, this family broke from the safe 'social bubble' that MSC Cruises created for them to safely enjoy their visit ashore, and therefore could not be permitted to re-board the ship," it said in a statement.