On Monday morning, MSC Cruises provided more information regarding what the future holds for the privately-held cruise line, including additional cancellations to take place this summer.
Cruises Suspended Through September 15
Already, MSC had announced their intention to cancel all sailings through July 31. However, when Cruise Lines International Association — of which they are a member — announced that ships would voluntarily suspend sailings from U.S. ports through September 15. In accordance with that decision, MSC now expects to resume sailings on September 15, 2020.
Early Monday morning, Carnival announced they would suspend voyages through September 30, 2020.
How Impacted Cruisers Will Be Compensated
Guests booked on MSC Cruises sailings that are impacted by the further extension of canceled cruises on MSC Seaside and MSC Armonia from August 1 – September 15, 2020, will automatically receive a 125% Future Cruise Credit of the original cruise fare paid by July 13 to be used on a sailing on or before December 31, 2021.
READ MORE: How To Use a Future Cruise Credit
Guests who instead prefer to receive a refund can visit the MSC website for information on how to file their request.
Information on MSC’s Future Cruises
When sailing resumes, they will have three ships sailing out of U.S. ports. The ships, and their itineraries, are detailed below:
- MSC Armonia will be homeporting in Miami and offering a mix of three-, four- and seven-night cruises with itineraries visiting Key West, Nassau and the line’s private resort, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
- MSC Meraviglia will sail every Saturday out of Miami, offering alternating seven-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries.
- MSC Seaside will start sailing cruises from Central Florida’s Port Canaveral. From November 2020 until March of 2021, the ship will sail itineraries featuring George Town, Cayman Islands; Cozumel, Mexico; as well as both Nassau and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve in the Bahamas. In March of 2021, MSC Divina will replace Seaside in Port Canaveral, while continuing the same itinerary.
Health and Safety Protocols
MSC Cruises also announced that a new, comprehensive and enhanced health and safety protocol is being developed in collaboration with relevant national health authorities and with the support of a team of external medical experts.
This protocol will cover all aspects of the cruise experience, starting with the booking phase and all the way through to disembarkation and the return home. It will also include all aspects of life on board and feature precautionary measures which will ensure the health and well-being of everyone on board, including enhanced sanitation measures, enhanced medical facilities and health screenings for guests and crew. The full details of these new measures will be announced in the coming days.
