MSC Cruises has announced it will temporarily pause the operation of MSC Grandiosa later this month and move to January the planned restart of MSC Magnifica to January. The pause is the result of new travel measures introduced by the Italian government for the Christmas and New Year period.
In an effort to combat the pandemic the Italian government has introduced new rules which will completely tighten the movement of its residents between regions, cities and towns between 21 December and 6 January 2021.
The restrictions will severely impact the ability of travelers to reach any of MSC Cruises’ embarkation ports in Italy. They will also restrict the ability of holidaymakers from abroad to travel to, through and from Italy. This has forced MSC Cruises to cancel cancel three future planned voyages of MSC Grandiosa and three sailings of MSC Magnifica.
MSC Grandiosa will temporarily pause her current programme of 7-night voyage sailings on 20 December in Genoa, Italy and will resume her Western Mediterranean cruises on 10 January, 2021, also from Genoa.
MSC Magnifica, which was due to re-start 10-night voyages in the West and East Mediterranean on 18 December from Genoa, will now commence its sailing programme on 15 January, 2021 following the cancellation of three previous sailings.
MSC Cruises in January 2021 will welcome back guests on board MSC Grandiosa and MSC Magnifica under the protection of its comprehensive health and safety protocol which during the last four months proved to be effective for the protection of guests, crew as well as the communities its ships visit.
The Company’s industry-leading protocol has to date safely and responsibly hosted more than 30,000 guests since MSC Cruises became the first major line to resume operations following the global industry’s shutdown in March.