MSC Cruises has joined many other cruise lines by further extending its pause on operations due to ongoing travel restrictions and ship deployments.
MSC Cancels More Cruises
The cruise line has now made the decision to extend its pause on cruises fleetwide through July 31, 2020. This is due to travel restrictions around the world along with many port closures.
MSC Cruises now plans on a phased-in return from early August. There will be select ships in select regions that will resume slowly through Summer 2021. The entire fleet including the currently under construction MSC Virtuosa and MSC Seahorse.
Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises said:
“While today we have taken the difficult decision to further extend the halt of operations of all our ships, it is important that we also look ahead as we know that our customers are dreaming of travel and are wanting to plan their holidays for next year. For this reason, we have now also confirmed our March – November program for 2021.”
“Shorter-term,” added Mr. Onorato, “Our ships will return to service only when the time is right, in phases and by region, and following guidance from the relevant national and international health and other regulatory authorities and the support of a new operating protocol especially focused on health and safety, which we will announce soon. This way, gradually, all of our ships will return to sea between then and the beginning of our summer 2021 season.”
The cruise line has briefly detailed its plan moving forward with the phased-in return and by summer 2021 all 19 ships will be back in service. There is a focus on introducing new health measures which will also be revealed soon. One major highlight of the return to service is that MSC Divina will begin cruises out of Port Canaveral in Spring 2021.
- Summer 2021 will see MSC Cruises’ full fleet of 19-ships in operation, including two brand-new vessels currently still under construction MSC Virtuosa and MSC Seashore
- Company to resume shorter-term operations for winter 2020/21 season in phases and by region only when the time will be right and following guidance from the relevant national and international health and other regulatory authorities
- MSC Cruises to announce shortly the support of a new operating protocol focused on health and safety, covering the guest cruise experience from booking to disembarkation
- As part of its resumed operations, in Spring 2021 MSC Divina will begin cruising from Port Canaveral in Florida – a new easily accessible homeport for MSC Cruises
Those MSC Cruises USA guests impacted by the further cancellations will automatically receive a 125% Future Cruise Credit by June 19, 2020. The credit will need to be used on or before December 31, 2020.
Also Read: Royal Caribbean Has Just Cancelled the Entire Alaska 2020 Season and More
In addition to the extended pause on operations and a slow return to service, MSC announced ship deployments around the world. MSC Divina to start cruises from Port Canaveral offering three, four and seven-night itineraries departing on Sundays and Thursday.
MSC Meraviglia will offer 7-night cruises out of Miami departing every Saturday and MSC Armonia will sail 3 and 4-night itinerary also out of PortMiami departing on Mondays and Friday.
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