MSC CRUISES TEMPORARILY SUSPENDS SAILINGS OF MSC MAGNIFICA, EXTENDS MSC GRANDIOSA’S WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN ITINERARIES INTO 2021

•    Due to the introduction of significant restrictions to movement in particular in France and Germany, two of MSC Magnifica’s key source markets, MSC Cruises will temporarily suspend further sailings of MSC Magnifica from 8 November through to 18 December

•    MSC Grandiosa will meanwhile continue and extend her current sailings in the Western Mediterranean through to March 2021 with additional rigorous measures under the Company’s existing health and safety operating protocol

•    The MSC 2021 World Cruise has also been cancelled due to many ports along her itinerary still being unavailable due to the pandemic

•    Upon her return to sailing after temporary pause MSC Magnifica will continue to perform her current itinerary through to April 2021

London, United Kingdom, 5 November 2020 – MSC Cruises announced today that given the prevailing pandemic situation in France and Germany with significant travel restrictions affecting guests from these markets, it will be temporarily suspending further sailings of MSC Magnifica. The temporary suspension will affect sailing from 8 November through to 18 December, included. France and Germany are two key source markets for the ship’s 10-night voyages across the Eastern and Western Mediterranean calling destinations in Italy, Greece and Malta.

Meanwhile, MSC Grandiosa will continue and extend her current sailings into next year. The Company’s flagship will perform her current 7-night itinerary in the Western Mediterranean with embarkation in Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples and Palermo, Italy as well as calling Valetta, Malta, until 27 March 2021.  

Further to this, MSC Grandiosa will now see the application of newly activated measures under the MSC Cruises existing and comprehensive health and safety operating protocol, which include the following:

•    Additional onboard testing for all guests mid-way through their cruise (on top of the existing pre-boarding universal testing for all guests)   
•    Testing of all crew during their time on board is increased from twice-a-month to weekly (in addition to pre-boarding testing for all crew and other ongoing health monitoring measures)
•    Increased frequency of onboard sanitation, in particular of public areas and high touch points
•    Tightening of the definition of close contact for tracing purposes, reducing the time that individuals are in contact from 15 minutes to 10 minutes

The MSC Cruises health and safety protocol was designed from the very beginning to be able to adapt to the evolution of the pandemic situation ashore to ensure the best protection possible for guests, crew and the communities the ships visit. The additional measures were activated over the past two weeks on board the Company’s two ships currently at sea for this reason.  

In connection with the health situation ashore and in particular the continued unavailability of the majority of ports along the proposed itinerary, MSC Cruises has been forced to cancel its 2021 World Cruise, which was due to be performed by MSC Magnifica. Guests will be contacted separately with rescheduling options.

When MSC Magnifica resumes operation after her temporary pause, she will continue sailing from 18 December with her special one off 8-night Christmas cruise itinerary that week then return to her current 10-night itinerary across the Eastern and Western Mediterranean until the end of April 2021.

For more information about MSC Cruises’ health and safety protocol visit here: www.msccruises.co.uk/health-safety 
ENDS