MSC Cruises announced today that, given the pandemic situation in France and Germany with significant travel restrictions for passengers from these regions, the following MSC Magnifica itineraries are suspended. This temporary suspension affects cruises between November 8 and December 18, inclusive. France and Germany are two key markets from which the majority of passengers for the 10-night Mediterranean itineraries, with stops in Italy, Greece, and Malta, originate.
Meanwhile, MSC Grandiosa will continue its current itinerary until next year. The company's flagship will continue its 7-night Mediterranean cruise, embarking in Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples, and Palermo, Italy, and calling at Malta, until March 27, 2021.
In addition, MSC Grandiosa will have the latest updated measures of MSC Cruises' current health and hygiene protocol, including the following:
- A new additional test mid-cruise (in addition to the existing universal test for all passengers before boarding)
- Onboard testing of the entire crew during their time on board is increased from twice a month to weekly (in addition to the existing pre-boarding test and all the health monitoring measures that are carried out)
- Increased frequency of onboard sanitation, particularly in public areas with high-contact zones
- Strengthening the definition of close contact for tracing purposes, reducing the time people are in contact from 15 to 10 minutes.
MSC Cruises' health and hygiene protocol was designed from the outset to adapt to the evolving pandemic situation on land and ensure the greatest possible protection for passengers, crew, and the communities the ship visits. For this reason, these additional measures have been implemented on the company's two ships currently sailing.
Due to the health situation on land and particularly the continued unavailability of most of the ports on the itinerary, MSC Cruises has been forced to cancel the MSC World Cruise 2021, which was scheduled to be sailed by the MSC Magnifica. Passengers will be contacted individually with rescheduling options.
From December 18, when MSC Magnifica resumes operations after its temporary pause, it will return to sailing with a special 8-night Christmas itinerary, followed by its current 10-night Mediterranean itinerary until the end of April 2021.
