By
Alex Smith |
MSC Grandiosa and MSC Magnifica will resume operations in the Mediterranean starting from 16 and 29 August 2020 respectively, offering seven-night cruises visiting five different destinations.
The two ships will be the first to implement the new health and safety protocol developed by the cruise line, which has been approved by the national authorities of the countries that the ships will visit.
“During the pause in our operations we focused on developing a comprehensive operating protocol that builds upon already stringent health and safety measures that have long been in place on board our ships,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises. “We have worked closely with the relevant European Union-level, national health and other authorities from the countries that MSC Grandiosa and MSC Magnifica will call along their Mediterranean itineraries to develop a comprehensive set of procedures designed to protect the health and safety of all passengers on board our ships, as well as ashore, to ensure that local communities feel comfortable welcoming our guests.”
MSC Grandiosa will offer seven-night cruises in the Western Mediterranean calling at the Italian ports of Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples, Palermo and Valetta. MSC Magnifica will offer seven-night cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean departing from the Italian ports of Bari and Trieste, and calling at the Greek ports of Corfu, Katakolon and Piraeus.
Initially, the two ships will only welcome guests who are residents in countries that are part of the Schengen Area, the group of 27 European countries in which people can move freely across borders. Additionally, their itineraries have been planned according to the accessibility of the ports, reducing where possible the need for guests to use public transport or flights.
MSC Cruises has also announced the cancellation of all US cruises up to 31 October, and Far East cruises from 10 September to 26 October.
“We will closely monitor updates and new guidelines at a global, European and national level and will continuously review and update our health and safety protocol, not only to make sure that its measures reflect the most updated medical know-how and technology as it becomes available, but also to reflect in it the different phases in the evolution and spread of the virus and as social restrictions change over time,” said Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises. “To this end, with time and in line with the development of the health situation ashore, we are hoping to be able to relax certain measures while continuing to ensure that the health and safety of everyone onboard our ships remains our upmost priority.”