Geneva, Switzerland, March 13, 2020 – Due to the extraordinary circumstances the world is currently facing in relation to the COVID-19 virus, MSC Cruises has made the difficult decision to temporarily halt all new cruise embarkations in the United States for 45 days until April 30.
With COVID-19 now a global pandemic, governments worldwide are continuously reviewing onshore public health and safety measures to protect local populations and limit the spread of the virus. MSC Cruises' decision aims to reflect and further support the effectiveness of these efforts.
Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises, commented: “This is not a decision we take lightly, but in the current circumstances, the health and safety of our passengers, crew, and communities on land, including our employees and their families, must come first. As a family-owned company with over 300 years of maritime heritage, we feel this is the right decision.”
The company has also suspended ship operations in all areas considered high-risk for the virus: the Mediterranean, the Gulf, and Asia. Ships still operating in South America and South Africa will also cease operations at the end of their current itineraries.
In 2019, MSC Cruises had almost 3 million passengers on board its ships across five continents, representing more than 170 different nationalities.
MSC Cruises is offering passengers affected by today's decision the opportunity to transfer 100% of the money paid for their cancelled vacation, plus a generous additional credit benefit, to a future cruise of their choice at any time until the end of 2021. If not used by that date, passengers will receive a full refund of the cruise fare.
Passengers do not need to contact their travel agent or MSC Cruises reservations until they have identified a new travel date of their choice.
