MSC Forced to Delay MSC Magnifica Program

Posted on 26 August, 2020 by Spacejunkie2

MSC Magnifica on the Firth of Forth

MSC Cruises announced today it will postpone the restart of MSC Magnifica until September 26, 2020 despite just having completed a first successful cruise with the MSC Grandiosa.

MSC cited the recent introduction of additional testing measures for residents of Italy having traveled to Greece.

“We are seeing cancellations and a softening in demand since the ship’s itinerary includes as many as three ports in that country. This has led to the decision to delay the restart of the ship by four weeks,” the company said.

MSC added that it believes that reservations will start to pick up again in the coming weeks due to the appeal of the itinerary.

MSC Magnifica’s sales are open to residents of the Schengen area, at the same time in this early phase of restart the majority of guests are expected to be Italian nationals and residents.

As a result, MSC Magnifica cruise departures from August 29 to September 19 have been cancelled. The first cruise will depart from Bari, Italy with an unchanged itinerary on September 26.

The MSC Grandiosa is currently offering seven-night cruises with embarkation in the Italian ports of Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples and Palermo and also calling at Valletta, Malta.

Coronavirus: MSC Opera passengers ordered to stay on the ship in Greece

Posted on 5 March, 2020 by Spacejunkie2

Image result for msc opera

Passengers on MSC Opera were ordered to stay on board on Wednesday after an Austrian passenger from a previous cruise tested positive for coronavirus.

Austrian health authorities informed the line of the test results of the passenger who cruised in the eastern Mediterranean from February 17 to 28 on the 2,142-passenger ship.

MSC told passengers to remain on the vessel after requesting guidance from Greek health authorities.

The line has confirmed no passengers or crew members on the ship have any flu-like symptoms.

The Austrian passenger returned directly to Austria through northern Italy on February 28 after disembarking in Genoa.

A spokesperson for MSC said: “The Greek health authorities gave MSC Opera permission around 13:00 CET to sail from Piraeus, Greece, and continue its journey to its next scheduled port in Corfu, Greece.

“No additional health measures were required to be taken and the ship is currently sailing as planned.

“There are no passengers or crew members currently onboard the ship who have reported any flu-like symptoms.”

The spokesperson also added: “The health and safety of our passengers and crew will always remain our top priority.”

Last week MSC Meraviglia was denied entry to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and George Town, Grand Cayman Island, over fears a crew member had coronavirus even though tests had shown they had Type A influenza.

The ship later was finally allowed to dock in Cozumel, Mexico and the line issued an apology to passengers for the missed ports of call.

P&O and Cunard remove Turkey from all itineraries in 2017

Posted on 10 December, 2016 by Spacejunkie2

All calls into Turkey by P&O Cruises and Cunard ships have been cancelled for the whole of next year.

The sister lines confirmed that Turkish ports of call have been replaced with alternatives in Greece and Albania,

A joint statement from the Carnival UK brands said: “After careful consideration, we have taken the decision to remove Turkey from all itineraries in 2017 for both Cunard and P&O Cruises, based upon various sources including advice given by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

“The Turkish ports have been replaced with either Greek ports of call or Sarande which is in Albania.”

Turkey has been the target of numerous terrorist attacks this year, most notably on Istanbul airport in June, which killed 26 people.

The country also suffered from a failed military coup.

Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line and MSC Cruises dropped calls in Turkey this year.