MSC Cruises Cancels Three ‘Grand Voyages’ to Avoid Red Sea Transit 

MSC Cruises has cancelled three repositioning “Grand Voyage” sailings from South Africa and the United Arab Emirates to Europe in April because the Red Sea is too dangerous for ships to cross.

Due to the ongoing attacks on commercial ships in the region, the Company had to cancel three grand voyages: an MSC Splendida 24-night cruise from Durban, South Africa, to Genoa, Italy; an MSC Opera 21-night cruise from Dubai, UAE, to Genoa; and an MSC Virtuosa 23-night cruise from Dubai to Southampton, UK.

The Company regrettably had to cancel the voyages because of the lack of a feasible alternative route and the highest priority placed on passenger and crew safety. Instead of going through the Red Sea, the three ships will go straight to Europe without any passengers.

As an alternative, they will circumnavigate Africa’s west coast without calling any ports en route to their summer 2024 homeports in Europe. Other ships in the Company’s fleet are unaffected.

We have contacted all passengers who have booked on the three repositioning cruises, either directly or via their travel agency, and offered them the opportunity to switch their booking to a future Grand Voyage of similar duration at no extra cost.

On the other hand, impacted customers can switch to another cruise in the Company’s worldwide fleet, pay the price difference, or get their money back with no cancellation charge.