MSC Cruises has become another major cruise line to halt cruise operations due to the coronavirus outbreak impacting the entire world.
MSC Cruises Suspends Cruises
Cruise lines are suspending operations around the world and some just in the United States along with other regions such as MSC Cruises. The cruise lines announced today that cruises will be halted for 45 days until April 30, 2020. This is due to the COVID-19 outbreak which is spreading around the globe and having a huge impact on travel industries.
Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises, said:
“This is not a decision we took lightly but under the current circumstances, the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities ashore – including our employees and their families – must come first. As a family company with over 300 years of maritime tradition, we felt that this was the right decision to make.”
The Company has already also halted ship operations across all areas considered as high risk for the virus, in the Mediterranean, the Gulf and Asia. Ships still in operations in South America and South Africa will also end their operations at the end of their current itineraries.
MSC Cruises is offering guests affected by today’s decision the opportunity to transfer 100% of the money paid for their cancelled vacation plus an additional generous credit benefit to a future cruise of their choice at any point through the end of 2021. If not used by that date, guests will receive a full refund of the cruise fare.
Also Read: Carnival Cruise Line Suspends Cruise Operations Due to COVID-19 Outbreak
The cruise line continues to support efforts in stopping the spread of the deadly virus and already has strict health measures in place to protect guests and crew.
President Donald Trump also tweeted that cruise lines had agreed to suspend operations for 30 days and that included Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises.
According to Johns Hopkins University, there are currently 1,268 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and that number is expected to rise. We also already know that the Port of Baltimore is closed to cruise ships.
