MSC Cruises announced today that its flagship MSC Grandiosa and MSC Magnifica, pictured, will resume cruising in the Mediterranean starting from 16 and 29 August 2020 respectively.
On the downside, he company also announced it was cancelling all other cruises in the Mediterranean and US cruise departures through to the end of October,
and all Far East cruises from 10 September through to and including 26 October.
Guests resident in Schengen countries, and subject to any restrictions imposed by the Italian authorities, who are booked on any MSC Cruises itinerary until 31 October can transfer their booking to either MSC Grandiosa or MSC Magnifica.
Non-Schengen residents will automatically be eligible for a future cruise credit that can be used to transfer their bookings at no cost, to any ship on any itinerary in the MSC fleet up to December 2021.
MSC Grandiosa or MSC Magnifica will be the first to implement a new comprehensive health and safety protocol that has been approved by the relevant national authorities from the countries that the ships will call at during their seven-night East and West Mediterranean itineraries.
Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman said: “During the pause in our operations we focused on developing a comprehensive operating protocol that builds upon already stringent health and safety measures that have long been in place on board our ships.
“The new procedures include universal COVID-19 testing for all guests and crew prior to embarkation, protected ashore visits at each destination only with an MSC Cruises excursion as added level of protection for our guests and the introduction of a COVID Protection Plan for further peace of mind for our guests.”
MSC Grandiosa will offer seven-night cruises in the Western Med calling at the Italian ports of Genoa, Civitavecchia/Rome, Naples, Palermo and Valetta. MSC Magnifica will offer seven-night cruises in the Eastern Med departing from the Italian ports of Bari and Trieste, calling at the Greek ports of Corfu, Katakolon and Piraeus.
Gianni Onorato, MSC Cruises’ CEO, said: “We are very pleased to be able to start welcoming back guests for full-experience cruise holidays this summer, on board two of our most popular ships including our flagship MSC Grandiosa, and in the Mediterranean, the very region where our company’s roots are.”