It is just over a week ago when MSC Grandiosa set sail from Genoa, Italy - with only citizens of Europe's Schengen-area countries and below its 70% capacity limit - it became the first cruiseship in MSC's fleet to return to cruising since spring coronavirus lockdowns halted cruising in Europe.

But it wasn't long before the cruise line's stringent Covid-19 guidelines were breached by a family on a shore excursion in Naples, which MSC says led to them denying those passengers re-entry to the liner.

"In line with our health and safety protocol, developed to ensure health and well-being of our guests, crew and the communities we visit, we had to deny re-embarkation to a family who broke from their shore excursion (Tuesday) while visiting Naples," an MSC Cruises spokesperson said in an email.

"By departing from the organised shore excursion, this family broke from the 'social bubble' created for them and all other guests, and therefore could not be permitted to re-board the ship."

For more reading from Independent.ie on the cruiseship of the 'Meraviglia' Plus-class ship.

The MSC Meraviglia became the largest cruiseship to enter Irish waters when a maiden port of call to Dublin Port took place in 2018.