Cruise ships have been at the epicenter of the pandemic nightmare with passengers and crews trapped aboard quarantined vessels for weeks, forcing global suspension of the $150 billion industry.

Now, it appears, at least for one ship, there is smooth sailing ahead.

The 6,300 passenger MSC Grandiosa is the first cruise liner to return to the Mediterranean this month after the global shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. It operated at about 60% capacity and passengers were assured safety precautions such testing for COVID-19, temperature checks, hand sanitizing, and social distancing were in place. 

According to CNN Travel, the Grandiosa is one of the few ships to return to the high seas. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a no-sail order around American waters until at least September 2020 and major cruise operators, such as Princess Cruises, have canceled sailings even outside the U.S. 

Before boarding MSC passengers are tested twice for the coronavirus and denied entry if they test positive. Passengers traveling in the same van as a person who tests positive are also refused entry, according to protocol. Once on board, everyone has their temperature checked and must fill out a health questionnaire. Crew members are screened regularly for the virus, according to CNN.

Cruise ships have lost thousands of jobs and billions of dollars since the pandemic forced them aground.

"We know that for every 1% drop in cruising that occurs worldwide, up to 9,100 jobs can be lost," Bari Golin-Blaugrund, a spokesperson for Cruise Lines International Association, told CNN. 

According to USA Today, vessels need to making sweeping changes in hygiene and safety to regain the trust of potential travelers. Fox News reports many ships are considering using UV-C lights to sterilize places — and even people. They would most likely be installed in high traffic areas and elevators.

Another form of technology on the horizon that helps identify where passengers are congregating is a tracking device that collects data from Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular signals. If there are too many people in one area, the crew might encourage them to disperse.

"If a certain deck is turning yellow to red, maybe someone needs to go make sure it's not too crowded," Nadir Ali, the CEO of Inpixon, an indoor data intelligence company who is working with cruise lines, told USA Today.

Genting Cruise Lines has developed an eight-point safety guide that includes infrared temperature screenings on the gangway and doctor's certificates for those who are over 70 years of age to ensure they are fit to travel, according to The New York Times. Their guide also calls for twice daily sanitation of passenger cabins and hallways.

Elevators would be disinfected ever two hours and crew members would no longer be allowed to transfer to different ships, according to the Times.