MSC Cruises Extends Sailing Suspension through July

MSC Cruises on Thursday announced that it would be extending its sailing suspension through July 31, 2020.

The temporary fleet-wide suspension will now last until at least July 31 (MSC had previously announced the suspension would last through at least July 11). MSC said on Thursday that it expects to resume sailing in phases.

“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,” MSC CEO Gianni Onorato said in a statement.

MSC expects to announce a new health and safety protocol that will help guarantee safety onboard when it does return soon.

All guests on the canceled cruises will receive a 125% future cruise credit (FCC) to be used before Dec. 31, 2021. Guests can also request a 100% refund for all monies paid instead of the FCC.

MSC also extended its Cruise Assurance program through Oct. 31, 2020, that allows guests to cancel their sailing up to 48-hours prior to a departure and reschedule for any ship and any itinerary on or before Dec. 31, 2021.

At the same time, MSC Cruises released its 2021 March through November season, including the scheduled itineraries on its two brand-new upcoming ships, MSC Seashore and MSC Virtuosa, along with its other 17 ships. The season will see the most MSC ships ever sailing and a new number of embarkation points.

MSC is still expecting to sail a full 2021 spring and summer season, with ships sailing in the Mediterranean; the Caribbean, which includes Ocean Cay; Northern Europe; and more.