MSC Seaside to Resume Sailings in Europe from May

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Not all cruises are on hold as MSC Cruises has already kickstarted sailings with the MSC Grandiosa. The cruise line has announced that another one of its advanced vessels will begin sailing in May 2021.

MSC Seaside to Resume Cruises

Even though most cruise ships remain on hold worldwide, MSC continues to move forward on new ways to keep some of its ships moving. MSC Seaside, a popular MSC vessel that has been sailing out of Miami in the past will begin cruises this May for the first time since the suspension of operations.

The ship will offer a new itinerary and join MSC Grandiosa in the Mediterranean from May 1, 2021. MSC Seaside will offer 7-night cruises calling Genoa, Valletta in Malta, and Civitavecchia with two first-time ports of call – Siracusa in Sicily and Taranto in Puglia. Embarkation will be available in all Italian ports.

Related: Must-Know Things About the MSC Seaside Cruise Ship

MSC Seaside Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: byvalet / Shutterstock.com

When the vessel begins sailing there will be new health and safety measures in place. The cruise line has already proved that ships can sail safely with no outbreak onboard. Protocols have already been well tested since first being introduced in August 2020.

Measures will include universal testing at embarkation as well as mid-cruise, weekly testing of the crew, social distancing, the wearing of masks in public areas, only protected shore excursions as well as enhanced deep sanitation and ongoing cleaning procedures.

New Itinerary from MSC Cruises

So the new itinerary for MSC Seaside will include calls to Siracusa and Taranto which are both in Italy. The first voyage will depart on May 1, 2021, out of Genoa and it will be a 7-night voyage.

Aerial View of Taranto, Italy
Aerial View of Taranto, Italy (Photo Courtesy: MSC Cruises)

The itinerary will include the two new ports of call of Siracusa in Sicily and Taranto in Puglia along with calls to Malta and Civitavecchia. This itinerary will be sailing five times during the month of May 2021 departing on May 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29.

MSC Grandiosa Extention

With MSC Grandiosa’s successful return to service, the cruise line has decided to extend its season through to the end of May. The ship will call to at the Italian ports of Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples, Palermo as well as Valetta in Malta.

The ship has been among the very few cruise ships that have actually been sailing with guests since August 2020. Since then, more than 40,000 cruise passengers have enjoyed a cruise vacation safely on the ship.

Worth Reading: MSC Grandiosa Cruise Ship: Overview & Must-Know Things

It is important to know that the cruises for MSC Grandiosa and MSC Seaside are not available to anyone. Itineraries are currently available to residents from Schengen countries and Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania.

Main Photo Credit: Ivan Sarfatti / MSC Cruises

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Emrys Thakkar
Emrys Thakkar
The founder of Cruise Hive, Emrys has been reporting on the cruise industry since 2008. Expert insights and tips featured on a number of publications including The Express, Business Insider, Fodor's Travel and more. Worked for Carnival for 8 years and traveled to more than 34 countries and been on over 100 cruises.

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