MSC Cruises the latest line to drop Turkey port calls

Posted on 21 January, 2016 by Spacejunkie2

MSC Cruises said that it is substituting calls in Greece for planned stops in Istanbul and Izmir on its cruises this spring and summer because of “growing concerns by guests as a result of the recent tragic events in Istanbul.”

The decision impacts the MSC Magnifica, which will be based in Venice starting March 26 and was scheduled to call in Turkey beginning March 29.

Those calls will be replaced by calls in Athens and Mykonos. MSC said calls to Turkey are suspended “until further notice.”

Previously, Crystal Cruises announced it would forgo stops in Turkey on two of its cruises this spring.

The moves follow a Jan. 12, a suicide bombing in Istanbul that killed 10 people, mostly German tourists.

Last summer, after an attack on the U.S. consulate in Istanbul, Celebrity and Costa canceled calls in Turkey.

MSC to suspend Tunisia calls for winter season

Posted on 10 July, 2015 by Spacejunkie2

MSC Cruises said the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Tunisia has led it to suspend calls there for the 2015-16 winter season.

The line said its previously scheduled calls at La Goulette from Nov. 15 to April 23 on the MSC Prezisosa will be replaced by calls in Malta.

The MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia during their voyages from Venice to Santos in Brazil and Buenos Aires in Argentina, respectively, in November and December 2015 will spend a full day in Alicante, Spain, instead of La Goulette/Tunis, MSC said.

Authorities in Tunisia declared the state of emergency after two terrorist attacks on tourists there in the past four months.

Damen Entrusted with MSC Magnifica’s Refit

Posted on 2 November, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam, part of Damen Shiprepair & Conversion, has been awarded a cruise repair and maintenance contract from MSC Cruises.

The 2010-built cruise ship MSC Magnifica arrived in Rotterdam on October 20 and is berthed at the yard’s largest drydock, where the ship is expected to stay for 18 days.

The repair scope includes extensive steelwork, cleaning, painting and replacement piping, as well as the entire renewal of the rudder system.

The vessel is 293 m long and has a capacity for more than 2,500 passengers.

Khalil Benjelloul, Cruise Vessels Product Manager of Damen Shiprepair & Conversion, said that the project is certainly a challenge given the timeframe. “During the drydocking the 700-strong crew will largely stay on the vessel and they have to be able to carry out their normal activities safely, so it is quite a logistical operation.

At the same time, there could be up to 300 of our workers and subcontractors dealing with the project.”

“Rotterdam was the preferred yard because it offers the large capacity needed and additionally, the MSC Magnifica will sail straight on to Hamburg, where she picks up her passengers for her next cruise.

“Every hour is needed to get the vessel ready on time. For the cruise industry, getting the job done within the deadline is crucial. We cannot have thousands of passengers waiting.”

Press Release