MSC Cruises has welcomed the announcement by the United States government that November 8 will be the date on which international travelers from many parts of the world will be able to re-enter the country, provided they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
MSC Cruises has described the news as “a tremendous boost” for European tourists and other international travelers looking to spend their winter holidays enjoying the Caribbean sun during its 2021/2022 winter season. Three of its ships will be sailing from Florida throughout the season: the company’s new flagship, MSC Seashore; the award-winning MSC Meraviglia; and the popular MSC Divina. The company’s ships will welcome non-US residents on board starting November 8.
Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, said: “We have been eagerly awaiting the US administration’s announcement to reopen the country to fully vaccinated travelers from around the world who love cruise travel. The Caribbean is a popular destination for our passengers from across Europe and the world, particularly during the winter, and they will now be able to fly to Miami and Orlando to enjoy our three ships, which offer an exciting variety of Caribbean itineraries, including Jamaica, Costa Rica, Mexico, and our exclusive private island in the Bahamas, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. This means that the many passengers who have already booked to sail with us in North America can now have their cruise vacations fully confirmed.”
MSC Seashore will be based in Miami starting November 20, following its official inauguration ceremony at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Beginning November 28, MSC Meraviglia will move to its new homeport of Port Canaveral, Orlando, while MSC Divina will offer a range of 3, 7, and 11-night cruises from Miami. All three ships will offer Caribbean itineraries during the winter season, and all itineraries will include a stop at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
MSC Cruises' "Fly & Cruise" packages will offer a variety of flights from major European cities and other international airports to join the company's three Florida-based ships and enjoy the ultimate winter vacation in the Caribbean.
The U.S. government has announced that, starting November 8, non-U.S. citizens who are fully vaccinated with a World Health Organization (WHO) approved vaccine, including those from Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca, will be allowed to enter the country to sail with MSC Cruises. Passengers aged 12 and older must have a complete vaccination schedule, received more than 14 days prior to the start of their cruise, and all passengers aged 2 and older must provide a negative COVID-19 test result before boarding.
MSC Cruises will also require non-U.S. residents to have a COVID-19 insurance policy. The insurance must cover COVID-19-related risks, such as vacation cancellation, trip interruption, repatriation expenses, quarantine, medical assistance and related expenses, as well as hospitalization. It is also important that the policy includes coverage in the event of being a close contact.
