MSC extends shorter-term halt of cruise operations to 31 July 2020
Summer 2021 will see MSC Cruises’ full fleet of 19-ships in operation, including two brand-new vessels currently still under construction MSC Virtuosa and MSC Seashore
As the world continues to face the challenges of the pandemic and with significant travel restrictions still in place in many regions, MSC Cruises has announced that it will further extend the temporary fleet-wide halt of its cruise operation through to 31 July 2020.
Guests affected by the cancelled cruises will receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) where they have the opportunity to transfer the full amount paid for their cancelled cruise to a future cruise of their choice – on any ship, for any itinerary -- through to the end of 2021. Guests will be able to redeem their FCC voucher starting from June 21 and reschedule their cruise to a time that suits them.
In addition, for all guests who are currently booked on cruises between 1 August and 31 October 2020 their bookings will now be covered under an extension of the Company’s Flexible Cruise Programme now allowing guests to reschedule their cruise to a future departure date through to 31 December 2021 up to 48-hours prior to the original cruise departure or, for Fly&Cruise packages, up to 96-hours prior to the flight departure.
Swiss-based cruise line has reconfirmed its full Summer Programme for 2021 , starting in March 2021, which will include two new ships currently under construction and a series of new or enriched itineraries and homeports.
Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises, said:
“While today we have taken the difficult decision to further extend the halt of operations of all our ships, it is important that we also look ahead as we know that our customers are dreaming of travel and are wanting to plan their holidays for next year. For this reason, we have now also confirmed our full summer programme for 2021.
Shorter-term, our ships will return to service only when the time is right, in phases and by region, and following guidance from the relevant national and international health and other regulatory authorities and the support of a new operating protocol especially focused on health and safety, which we will announce soon. This way, gradually, all of our ships will return to sea between then and the beginning of our summer 2021 season.”
