MSC halts Magnifica sailings over Covid lockdown

The Covid-19 surge and ensuing lockdowns in Europe are continuing to force cruise lines to make itinerary adjustments and cancellations. 

MSC Cruises became the latest line to temporarily suspend operations on one of its ships, the MSC Magnifica, from Nov. 8 through Dec. 18. The ship reentered service less than a month ago as MSC’s second ship to return to service since the global cruise shutdown with a series of 10-day eastern and western Mediterranean cruises from Genoa, Italy.

MSC also said that it will increase passenger testing to twice during each cruise, once prior to embarkation and again during midsailing.

The line cited significant travel restrictions in France and Germany, calling the countries key source markets for the Magnifica’s cruises to Italy, Greece and Malta.

The MSC Grandiosa, MSC’s first ship to resume service when it launched in August, will continue and extend its current seven-day sailings from Genoa through March 27. The ship calls in all Italian ports except for Valletta, Malta.

Besides a second mandatory testing of passengers, MSC will increase the testing frequency of all crew from twice-a-month to weekly, in addition to pre-boarding testing for all crew and other health monitoring measures. The line is also increasing the frequency of onboard sanitization, particularly in public areas and of high-touch surfaces, and is tightening of the definition of close contact for tracing purposes, reducing the time that individuals are in contact from 15 minutes to 10 minutes

MSC said that when the Magnifica resumes operations after her temporary pause, it will sail a one-off, eight-day Christmas cruise before returning to its 10-day itinerary schedule across the eastern and western Mediterranean through April 2021.

Royal Caribbean Group’s two German brands, Tui Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd, and Carnival Corp.’s Aida Cruises all canceled their November sailings from Germany due to the virus surge, while Costa Cruises scaled back its Mediterranean operations.