Summer 2021 will see MSC Cruises’ full fleet of 19-ships in operation, including two brand-new vessels currently still under construction – MSC Virtuosa, left, and MSC Seashore.
The company also announced that it will resume shorter-term operations for the 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
In the meantime, as the world continues to face the challenges of the covid pandemic, MSC has further extended the temporary fleet-wide halt of its cruise operation through to 31 July 2020.
Gianni Onorato, MSC’s CEO, said: “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.”
UK & Irish guests affected by the cancelled cruises will receive a Future Cruise Credit for 125 per cent of their cruise value which can be used on any ship, for any itinerary – through to the end of 2021.
All Future Cruise Credits will be issued automatically and guests will be able to redeem their FCC voucher starting from 21 June and reschedule their cruise to a time that suits them.
For guests not wishing to accept the FCC can apply for a refund equal to the original amount of the cruise fare paid only and the additional 25 per cent will not be included.
For all guests currently booked on cruises between 1 August and 31 October, they will be covered under an extension of the Company’s Flexible Cruise Programme allowing guests to reschedule their cruise through to 31 December 2021.