MSC Virtuosa has set sail from the port of Southampton for a four-night voyage, marking the start of its first season at sea and the restart of cruises from the UK after a 14-month hiatus. The MSC Cruises flagship will be the first ocean liner to sail in British waters since the global cruise industry came to a standstill in March 2020 as a result of the global pandemic.
MSC Cruises was the first major cruise line to resume sailing in international waters in August 2020 when MSC Grandiosa began weekly cruises in the Mediterranean after approval from a number of European authorities for an advanced health and hygiene protocol that has since set a new standard for the industry.
Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, commented: “We are very proud that the maiden voyage of MSC Virtuosa marks the restart of cruising from British ports after a forced pause of more than a year and heralds the next phase of restart for our industry.
“Our commitment to sailing since August of last year paved the way with a health and hygiene protocol designed to protect our passengers and crew, as well as the destinations our ships visit. The data, knowledge, and experience we have accumulated since our restart in the Mediterranean have helped us move forward with our plans to have almost half of our fleet back at sea next summer, as well as in other key markets around the world.”.
“Since our restart in August 2020 in the Mediterranean, thousands of passengers have had a safe and enjoyable cruise holiday on board one of our ships, and we hope that many more will have the same opportunity with their friends and family in the coming weeks and months as more of our ships return to the UK, the Mediterranean, and Northern Europe.”.
MSC Virtuosa's UK cruises join the existing Mediterranean itineraries of MSC Grandiosa and MSC Seaside as the company finalizes preparations to restart five more ships in the Eastern and Western Mediterranean and Northern Europe in the coming weeks, following regulatory approval to resume the Company's safe and responsible operations.
MSC Cruises is also eagerly awaiting US authorities to allow the resumption of Caribbean cruises, as well as other markets where the Company has been operating normally.
The new 181,000 GT MSC Virtuosa, featuring advanced environmental technology, will be available this summer exclusively to British residents of all ages who are awaiting a COVID-19 vaccine or have already been vaccinated. All passengers will be screened before boarding, and unvaccinated passengers will also be required to present a negative test result taken no more than 72 hours before departure.
Other pre-boarding and onboard protection measures will also be applied to both passengers and crew, in accordance with MSC Cruises' health and hygiene protocol developed last year with the participation of international health experts, including MSC Cruises' Blue Ribbon COVID-19 expert group and national and regional health, transport and safety authorities across Europe with whom we have worked closely.
Many of the 1,150 crew members of MSC Virtuosa have received COVID-19 vaccines as part of MSC Cruises' comprehensive and ongoing vaccination program for crew members that began in early May.
