Carnival Brands to Relax Covid Mask Wearing Protocols.

Carnival Corporation has confirmed its cruise brands will opt into new US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Covid protocols when operating in the US.

From 1 March, masks will be recommended but not mandatory onboard Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Seabourn and Princess Cruises voyages, although they may be needed for certain venues and events.

 

Carnival Cruise Line said it will continue to meet the standard of vaccinated cruises, but children under five would not be included in any vaccinated guest calculation and will not be required to receive an exemption to sail. The brand said it would also allow “additional flexibility” in pre-cruise testing requirements.

 

President Christine Duffy said: “The public health situation has continued to improve, providing confidence about these changes. Our protocols will evolve as we continue to remain dedicated to protecting the public health of our guests, crew and the communities we visit.”

Princess president John Padgett added: “Princess has proven cruise vacations are safe and healthy for our guests and teams. Going forward, Princess is prepared to adjust operating protocols to ensure our guests have amazing vacations while always protecting the safety of our guests, team members and destinations.

 

"We appreciate the ongoing collaboration among multiple government agencies as well as the support of Alaska officials and other delegations.”

CDC relaxing Cruise Covid Advise

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has lowered its cruise travel warning – with industry association Clia calling the move “a step in the right direction”.

The health authority moved its travel health notice for cruises from level 4 to level 3, which indicates Covid-19 levels on ships are “high” rather than “very high”.

 

Since 30 December, the CDC had warned all travellers not to cruise, regardless of vaccination status, after a series of Covid cases on board ships due to the Omicron variant.

 

Under its new guidance, the CDC states cruise travellers should ensure they are “up to date” with their Covid vaccines, including getting a booster, before they sail.

The agency is still warning unvaccinated travellers to avoid cruising, as well as those at increased risk for severe illness from Covid.

 

Reacting to the announcement issued on Tuesday (15 September), Clia welcomed the change, saying the decision “recognises the leadership and effectiveness of the cruise sector’s health and safety protocols”, calling the regulations “unmatched by virtually any other commercial setting”.
 
“Cruise ships have medical, isolation and quarantine facilities on-site, implement extensive response plans using private shoreside resources, and have created an environment where almost every single person is fully vaccinated,” said a Clia statement.

 

“As a result, cases of Covid-19 are very low with the vast majority mild or asymptomatic – making cruise unequalled in its multi-layered approach to effectively mitigating Covid-19.”

Disney Cruise Line Reveals Entertainment Onboard New Wish

Disney Cruise Line Reveals Entertainment Onboard New Wish

Disney Cruise Line has revealed what entertainment will be available aboard the Disney Wish, which will set sail this July.

According to a press release, the ship has been expertly designed to deliver “endless fun” for the whole family.

“Family is at the heart of everything we do,” said Laura Cabo, portfolio creative executive, Walt Disney Imagineering. “When we set out to design the next generation of Disney cruise ships, we wanted to provide families with more opportunities than ever to make lasting memories together and to experience Disney storytelling in completely new ways. Whether it’s a new take on a guest-favourite experience, like our signature sweets shop, or an immersive show in the first-of-its-kind venue like Luna and Hero Zone, there will be no shortage of family fun aboard the Disney Wish.”

Inside Out: Joyful Sweets is a dessert shop inspired by the Pixar film, Inside Out. Inside guests will find handmade gelato, ice cream, candy and novelty treats for purchase. The brightly coloured shop is designed to resemble the control centre inside 11-year-old Riley’s mind where her emotions guide her through everyday life. It will feature sculpted figures of the film’s five main characters and glowing Memory Orb light fixtures.

According to the press release, the shop will offer nearly 40 flavours of gelato and ice cream, with daily handcrafted gelato specials in “decadent combinations” like peanut butter pretzel and white chocolate raspberry. Whipped cream, fruit compotes and sauces will be freshly made in-house.

Signature treats inspired by the film will include colourful cupcakes that evoke the five emotions — Joy (lemon), Sadness (blueberry), Disgust (pistachio), Anger (red velvet) and Fear (bubble gum) — and chocolate Memory Orbs filled with sweet candy remembrances. Speciality macarons and cake pops will join the assortment of handcrafted truffles, designer cookies, brownies and candy offerings.

Olaf’s Royal Picnic will allow guests to join their favourite “Frozen” characters for a summertime picnic in Arendelle during an entertainment experience specially designed for families with children ages 3 to 12. At Olaf’s Royal Picnic, guests will interact with Olaf, Anna, Elsa and Kristoff and watch live musical performances of songs like “Let It Go,” “Fixer Upper” and “In Summer.”

Guests who have booked a Disney Wish cruise may reserve Olaf's Royal Picnic before their sailing for an additional fee.

Disney Cruise Line said that it has combined “innovative design and technology” to create entertainment venues such as Grand Hall, Luna and Hero Zone aboard the Disney Wish. These environments will come to life with storytelling and interactive shows.

The fairytale castle-inspired Grand Hall will evolve from a gathering space into a theatre through built-in special effects and the first-ever atrium stage on a Disney ship.

Luna is a brand-new entertainment hub, outfitted with a two-story LED screen wall, stage and bar. It will offer a variety of live shows for families, such as “Villains Game Night,” “Disney Songbook” and the interactive experience called “Disney Uncharted Adventure.”

Hero Zone is a futuristic sports arena offering highly produced show experiences and free-play sports.

Families will be able to embark on an adventure with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse aboard the first-ever Disney attraction at sea; enjoy a royal celebration during a theatrical dining experience with “Frozen” friends; team up with the Avengers on a Marvel cinematic dining adventure; enjoy a Star Wars experience onboard a Disney ship, as well as an original, Broadway-style theatrical production of “The Little Mermaid.”

The Disney Wish will sail its maiden voyage on July 14, followed by a season of three- and four-night cruises to Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Bankrupt Cruise Line’s Unfinished Ship Attracts Investor Interest

A general view of the cruise liner Global Dream, which is still under construction at the shipbuilding hall of the MV Werften shipyards which are insolvent, in Wismar, Germany January 13, 2022. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

Billionaire Lim Kok Thay is among several investors interested in purchasing the Global Dream mega luxury liner that was under construction at Genting Hong Kong Ltd.’s now-insolvent shipbuilder, MV Werften in Germany.

Several serious interested parties are in talks to buy the unfinished ship, said Christoph Morgen, the German court-appointed provisional insolvency administrator for the shipbuilder. Morgen is optimistic a deal could come together, but thinks it won’t likely happen before next month because the case is complex, he said at a briefing at the shuttered shipyard in Wismar on Monday.

MV Werften’s provisional insolvency in early January proved to be a turning point for Genting Hong Kong, which became the world’s biggest cruise operator to seek court assistance to safeguard its assets during the pandemic when it filed a windup petition days later. Genting reported a record loss of $1.7 billion in May as the pandemic ravaged the cruising industry.

Lim, who has resigned as Genting Hong Kong’s chairman and chief executive officer, contacted Morgen to express interest in purchasing the ship at the beginning of the provisional insolvency process, Morgen said. The insolvency administrator said he hopes to find “a better solution for the ship” than Lim. 

“My impression is that he would only like to buy it if nobody else would be interested in order to get it cheap and possible to finish the ship somewhere else,” said Morgen, who added he hasn’t heard from Lim since. “I hope that we won’t depend on this, because we now have strong interest from many other possible investors.”

The 342-meter liner, which Genting dubbed the Global Dream and which is set to be the world’s biggest vessel by passenger capacity, was heralded as ushering in a new era of mega-ships tapping into Asia’s growing cruising market. The ship was about 72% complete when the German government and Genting couldn’t agree in December on plans to finance $620 million to help finish it and keep the shipyard in business, according to a letter Lim wrote to creditors.

A spokeswoman for Genting, which Lim heads as CEO, declined to comment. Representatives for Genting Hong Kong didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Lim still holds about 75% of shares in Genting Hong Kong and heads other Genting businesses, although there are no cross-shareholdings.

Both Lim and German government officials blamed the other for MV Werften’s bankruptcy. German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said his government did everything in its power to save MV Werften, saying the state had offered a loan of 600 million euros ($670 million) on the condition that Genting provides an additional 60 million euros plus guarantees for the federal funds. Genting turned that down, Habeck said.

In his letter to creditors explaining Genting’s slide into provisional insolvency, Lim accused the current German government of not honouring the previous government’s agreement to provide the capital that didn’t require a personal guarantee.

Henning Groskreutz, a union leader from the local IG Metall chapter, said that the shipyard will still need between 500 million euros and 600 million euros to finish the ship. “We will need this money in order to be able to convince the workers to stay here,” Groskreutz said. Many workers have already left and have started at other employers because there’s high demand for such skills.

Habeck said the government would be willing to subsidize the final construction of the Global Dream with a “new reliable investor.”

“If there’s a reliable finance plan, we could make the same offer like over Christmas,” Habeck said, adding that Genting didn’t want to contribute financially to complete the ship. “We don’t want to throw money out of the window.”

Genting’s Crystal Cruises brand shut its U.S. office and terminated employees last week. The closing of Crystal Cruises’ operation in Miami came after two of its ships were seized in the Bahamas after a fuel supplier sought the action for $4.6 million in unpaid fuel bills.

Dream Cruises Holding Ltd., an indirect non-wholly owned unit of Genting Hong Kong that has also filed a winding-up petition, will continue to operate its fleet in the region, the company said.

Virgin Ready for Second Ship; Bookings Up 70%

Virgin Ready for Second Ship; Bookings Up 70%

Virgin Voyages has confirmed its second ship, the Valiant Lady, will start sailing this March in the UK.

Speaking of the arrival of Valiant Lady to the UK, Tom McAlpin, CEO of Virgin Voyages, said: “Following the success of our first ladyship, Scarlet Lady, we are so excited to debut Valiant Lady this March and begin our European tour. The lifting of UK travel restrictions has already shown promising signs with 70% uplift in bookings since December – and we can’t wait to welcome Sailors onboard!"

The company is showcasing the new ship Tilbury and Liverpool, where fans are invited to wave her in before the company kicks off bookable European sailings from Portsmouth in March and a new homeport in Barcelona in May.

Sir Richard Branson added: “Virgin Voyages has been a dream in the making since my 20s, and today is a momentous day launching our second ladyship, Valiant Lady. It’s exciting to be able to celebrate our continued growth as a brand that’s on a mission to voyage like no other. In our five decades in business, Virgin has always sought to offer our customers something extra special, and Virgin Voyages has worked tirelessly to do just that.”

For a limited time, Sailors can book any voyage on any ship and get 20% off along with a $100 toward their prepaid Bar Tab, plus an extra 10% off if they pay in full.

MSC’s Cruise Brands Join Green Marine Europe Label

MSC’s Cruise Brands Join Green Marine Europe Label

MSC Group’s cruise division has announced that it had become the first major global cruise company to join the Green Marine Europe Label.

According to a press release, Green Marine Europe Label is a voluntary environmental certification program for the maritime industry that was launched in 2020 to “create a mechanism to support shipowners in demonstrating their environmental performance on a European scale.” It follows the success of Green Marine’s North American environmental certification program, MSC said.

MSC Group said that it has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and its two brands, MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys, are “committed to measuring their environmental performance annually.”

The cruise brands are using the Green Marine Europe Label’s program guidelines to track progress across eight key performance indicators: aquatic invasive species, pollutant air emissions – sulfur oxides and particulate matter -, pollutant air emissions – nitrogen oxides -, greenhouse gas emissions, oily discharge, waste management, underwater noise and responsible ship recycling.

MSC Grandiosa class photo credit Spacejunkie2

The two brands have committed to submit their annual environmental performance results to an external accredited verification party and publish them.

“Even while we tackled the many challenges of the past two years, we never lost sight of our responsibilities in the long term. In line with our commitment to sustainability and our pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, the Green Marine Europe Label will help us demonstrate our progress and share this with our guests, the communities that we serve and all other stakeholders. All of this, while we continue our work on several projects studying the development of green fuels and technology solutions and we look forward to bringing them to life soonest,” Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of MSC Group, Pierfrancesco Vago, said.

‘’Certification to the Green Marine Europe Label across our entire fleet will further demonstrate our commitment to environmental sustainability as it also reflects our desire to continually improve our performance in that space,” MSC Cruise Management’s Vice President Environmental Operations and Compliance Minas Myrtidis added.

According to the press release, the Green Marine Europe Label is the result of a partnership of the North American environmental certification program Green Marine, which has been operational for 10 years, and the Surfrider Foundation, a leading NGO in the ocean and maritime protection in the European Union.

The partnership was established in 2019, and the program was launched in the spring of 2020.

MSC said that in recent years it has made considerable advances across all areas of its cruise operations thanks to the deployment of some art environmental technologies, fuels and solutions. These include advanced emissions control systems, ballast water treatment systems and advanced wastewater treatment systems.

The first two vessels of Explora Journeys, which are currently under construction, will feature these and other environmental solutions.

First Look at Disney Wish at Meyer Werft

First Look at Disney Wish at Meyer Werft

The new Disney Wish has left the covered building hall at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany.

The new Disney Cruise Line ship will be powered by LNG when she debuts at Port Canaveral this summer into revenue service.

The Wish is part of a three-ship new build lineup from Disney, with more ships expected in 2023 and 2025 from Meyer Werft.

They will join the company's existing fleet of Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. 

Costa Details Full Cruise Fleet Restart Plan

Costa Mediterranea in the Port of Amsterdam, Photo credit Spacejunkie2

Costa Cruises has detailed its full cruise fleet restart plan, starting with the Costa Toscana sailing on March 5, according to the Carnival Corporation brand.

Deployment and sales are now open from spring 2022 to winter 2022-2023, with ships calling at 179 ports with cruises from three to 127 days.

"We are seeing the growth in demand for holidays, and I am sure that this trend will increase further in the coming weeks," said Roberto Alberti, SVP & Chief Commercial Officer of Costa Cruises.

"We think our offer is the best ever, thanks to elements that combine unique experiences, both onboard and ashore. Our rich itinerary program suits every need and includes some great new features, such as cruises to Turkey. Our cruise experience has been profoundly enriched and will allow guests to discover destinations in an authentic way, also thanks to extended stops in some ports. Furthermore, our guests will be able to enjoy their vacations on a fleet with latest generation ships, which combine sustainable innovation with entertainment, hospitality and well-being."

Summer Season Start Up Program:

• Costa Toscana - March 5 (Mediterranean)
• Costa Favolosa - April 28 (Mediterranean)
• Costa Venezia - May 1 (Mediterranean)
• Costa Smedalra - May 7 ((Mediterranean)
• Costa Pacifica - June 4 (Mediterranean)
• Costa Luminosa - Atlantic Islands 
• Costa Fortuna - June 12 (Northern Europe)
• Costa Diadema - May 5 (Mediterranean)
• Costa Fascinosa - May 1 (Atlantic Islands)
• Costa Deliziosa - April 15 (Mediterranean)
• Costa Firenze - April 7 (Mediterranean)

For the height of the summer season, four ships, the Costa Fortuna, Costa Favolosa, Costa Fascinosa and Costa Diadema, will be deployed in Northern Europe.

Costa said that for winter 2022-2023, it will deploy the Firenze in the Middle East while the Venezia will stay in Istanbul for 11-day cruises for the winter. The Diadema will offer two-week sailings to the Canary Islands. The Costa Pacifica and Costa Fascinosa will be in the Caribbean while the Costa Smeralda will be offering one-week cruises in the Western Mediterranean. The Costa Toscana, Costa Favolosa and Costa Fortuna will be in South America.

In addition, the Costa Deliziosa will be offering a world cruise, departing from Venice on January 6, 2023, or from Savona on January 11, 2023.

The Costa Luminosa's grand cruises are also back, departing from Genoa on January 8, 2023, and from Buenos Aires on February 27, 2023, going from the Mediterranean to Tierra del Fuego and back, sailing up the Amazon River to Manaus.

Also of note, Costa said the Serena's program to resume cruising in Asia will be announced soon.

CLIA Blasts New CDC Cruise Program as Discriminatory

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has voiced its displeasure with the CDC's new COVID-19 cruise program.

"Regrettably, upon initial review, the latest CDC guidance appears out of step with the actual public health conditions on cruise ships and unnecessary in light of societal trends away from more restrictive measures," the association said.

"We are confounded by the CDC’s imposition of even more complex and unwarranted measures which ignore empirical evidence that the industry’s protocols have provided a greater level of COVID mitigation than most any other setting. The CDC’s guidance for multitiered cruises is counterproductive to consumers, creating market confusion between the various tiers, and potentially unworkable in practice.

"CLIA and its members are fervently devoted to preventing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting passengers, crew, and the public against any adverse health consequences.  The record of this unwavering commitment is extensive and irrefutable. 

"Against this backdrop, we continue to be dismayed by the CDC’s decision to maintain any Travel Health Notice for the cruise. CDC has long recognized the paramount importance of vaccination in protecting against COVID-19 and the vaccination rate on cruise ships is close to 100%, whereas on land it is only about 63%. It seems unnecessarily discriminatory against cruise to maintain that the chances of getting COVID-19 on a cruise “are very high” even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines. This discounts the importance of what the CDC has otherwise promoted as the single most important touchstone for public health and safety."

 

CDC Launches New COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevent has finally released its new COVID-19 program for cruise ships operating in U.S. waters.

The program is recommended, and cruise lines have until Feb. 18 to opt-in.

There will continue to be a colour status system for COVID-19 cases on ships, which will be frowned upon by the industry. 

Cruise lines choosing to opt in to this program will be required to follow all recommendations and guidance as a condition of their participation in the program (i.e., they will not be able to pick and choose which recommendations they follow). 

Cruise lines must again have detailed COVID-19 response plans, and port agreements, plus continued onboard testing for passengers and crew, and must continue to have other policies and procedures in place. 

Cunard Announces New Cruise Ship Queen Anne

Cunard has announced the name of the new ship joining its fleet, the Queen Anne.

According to a press release, the Queen Anne will be Cunard's 249th ship and will make up a quartet of Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. This will mark the first time since 1999 that Cunard will have four ships at sea.

Cunard said that the name “celebrates Cunard's rich heritage, royal history and refined status." According to the press release, the cruise line's team "explored multiple naming options" and, inspired by Queen Anne's reign, engaged with British historian, author and television presenter, Kate Williams, to assist in the detailed research.

"It is so exciting that the fourth ship of the fleet will be named after Queen Anne. She has a fascinating tale to tell – one of queenship, unity of developing constitutional monarchy, a golden age of the arts. She was an inspiring woman, wildly popular with her people. She should be celebrated. This new ship in the Cunard fleet is the perfect way to do it!" Williams said.

Queen Anne will feature reimagined Cunard signature spaces as well as the introduction of new guest experiences within dining, culture and entertainment. The cruise line said that the ship celebrates the influential design styles of both past and present and introduces an updated Cunard livery.

Designers have joined forces to create its design with bold colour tones, while at the same time in keeping with the  Cunard "sophistication," the cruise line said.

"I am absolutely delighted to welcome Queen Anne, the fourth ship to Cunard's fleet. This marks a very special moment in Cunard's 182-year history and showcases Cunard's exciting global plans for the future, allowing even more guests around the world to set sail with Cunard. With a design inspired by the past and set for the future, Queen Anne is the perfect way for our guests to rediscover the joy of exploration and travel again. We look forward to sharing more details in the coming weeks and months," said Carnival UK President, Sture Myrmell.

The Queen Anne's maiden season program will go on sale in May, with the ship's first sailings in early 2024. More in-depth details are to be shared shortly, the cruise line said,

Royal Caribbean Details Low COVID-19 Case Numbers

Independence of the Seas in Southampton, UK. Photo credit Spacejunkie2

Since restarting operations in 2020, Royal Caribbean Group has carried approximately 1.3 million guests, with about 2,500 guests testing positive for COVID-19, for a positivity rate of 0.19 per cent.

Those numbers were shared by President and CEO Jason Liberty on the company's year-end and fourth-quarter earnings call on Friday.

"This positivity rate is still a small fraction of what it is in society at large, and nearly all cases onboard were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms," Liberty said.

"Our rigorous health and safety protocols with 100% per cent vaccination rate among our crew and close to 100 per cent vaccination rate among our guests provide a safe environment where we can fulfil our mission of delivering amazing vacations. And our guests are responding by providing record Net Promoter Scores for us, exceeding their expectations," he added.

Michael Bayley, president and CEO of the Royal Caribbean International brand, also said that while the Omicron variant did impact crew aboard, most crews had no symptoms.

"99 per cent of the crew positivity was asymptomatic and the 1 per cent was extremely mild symptoms. I mean, it really was remarkable in many ways. But the impact on the crew was effectively 0, except to take them out of operation for the period of their quarantine," Bayley said.

Crystal Cruises Ships Arrested in Freeport

The Crystal Serenity and Symphony have docked in Freeport in the Bahamas where both ships have been arrested.

An announcement made to the crew aboard by the captain on the Symphony cited unpaid bills. 

The ship arrests will not impact crew movement, according to the announcement, which was obtained by Cruise Industry News.

"Crew sign-offs can still go as planned, and we are still in process of preparing those," the announcement said.

In late January an arrest warrant was issued for the Crystal Symphony by a Miami-based judge with a fuel supplier claiming unpaid bills. The ship has not docked in the U.S. since.

There are no guests on board either ship as Crystal has wound down commercial operations for the time being as parent company Genting Hong Kong struggles with financial issues.

Disney Wish Delivery Pushed Back Six Weeks

The introduction of the new Disney Wish has been pushed back six weeks, with the company citing delays at Meyer Werft.

"The shipyard has notified us that despite their very best efforts, they will need more time to finish our ship in part due to the pandemic and particularly the arrival of the Omicron variant in Germany at a critical point in the process," said a letter sent to guests from Thomas Mazloum, president of Disney Cruise Line.

The new maiden voyage date is July 14, 2022. The company is said to be reaching out to booked guests to help them reschedule.

While it's true, we are shifting the timing a bit our teams are making incredible strides. This ship is going to be everything, Absolutely everything we envisioned, a majestic new member of our family, complementing our other ships while bringing to life incredible new spaces, experiences and entertainment," Malzoum said in a video sent to booked passengers.

"During my visits to the shipyard, I've been absolutely amazed by the innovation and ingenuity our teams are bringing to their work. The future is bright indeed. And you will see a whole new dimension of Disney magic when the Disney Wish launches.," he said.

Queen Mary 2 Will Host the 2022 Literature Festival at Sea

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 ship will host the Literature Festival at Sea organized by The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival and The Times programming team later this year.

The line-up includes Ian Rankin, Bernardine Evaristo, Mary Beard, Richard Osman, and Alexander McCall Smith.

The authors will talk about their lives and discuss their work. They will also advise The Times journalists on how they can write better.

"I am beyond excited to travel, speak and engage with guests at a literary festival on the high seas. I am sure there will be plenty of wonderful distractions, but the pleasures of being literally away from it all with a chance to discuss bookish things… what could be better?" said Mary Beard, one of Britain's most famous Classicists and English scholars.

"Cunard is delighted to once again host a dazzling line-up of acclaimed literary talent who will headline our 2022 Literature Festival at sea. Our guests will truly relish this second-to-none ocean travel experience as they sail with these renowned authors amidst the elegance and style of our flagship, Queen Mary 2," said Jamie Paiko, the vice president of Cunard North America.

The seven-night Transatlantic Crossing will cost $1,039 per passenger and leaves New York for Southampton on Dec. 3 2022.

MSC to Debut 2 Newbuilds in Winter 2022-23 Sailing Program

MSC Cruises has revealed the details of its winter 2022-2023 sailing program for 21 ships – including two newbuilds making their debut – to nearly 200 global destinations in 85 countries.

According to a press release, MSC next winter will introduce its first World-class of the ship and first LNG-powered vessel, the GT 205,700 MSC World Europa.

She will be based in Doha for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 football tournament to be staged during November and December.

The vessel will then offer cruises calling Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates and Doha, plus Dammam in Saudi Arabia, with a mini-cruise on Dec. 20 before starting seven-night cruises in the Gulf region.

The Seascape next winter will become the second new ship to join MSC Cruises’ fleet and the line’s second Seaside EVO class vessel. She will offer two different seven-night itineraries from PortMiami with the first sailing on Dec. 11.

Winter 2022/2023 Sailing Program:

Middle East

The MSC World Europa will offer seven-night voyages including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island, Dammam and Doha.

The MSC Opera will also homeport in Dubai and sail to Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island and both Muscat and Khasab in Oman.

The MSC Splendida will homeport in Jeddah calling at Yanbu and Al Wajh in Saudi Arabia, Aqaba in Jordan and Safaga in Egypt.

Caribbean Sea

The MSC Seascape will start her inaugural season from Dec. 11 from PortMiami. She will offer seven-night East Caribbean itineraries calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Nassau in the Bahamas, San Juan in Puerto Rico and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. The ship will also sail 7-night West Caribbean itineraries calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Cozumel in Mexico, George Town in the Cayman Islands and Ocho Rios in Jamaica.

The MSC Meraviglia will offer three- to seven-night Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral including Nassau, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Costa Maya in Mexico, Cozumel and Belize City in Belize.

The MSC Divina will offer three- to 10-night sailings from PortMiami with all itineraries calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Other destinations include Belize City, Isla de Roatan in Honduras, Costa Maya, Ocho Rios, Cartagena in Colombia), Colon in Panama) and Puerto Limon in Costa Rica.

The MSC Seaside will sail seveb-night cruises from Fort de France in Martinique, Pointe-a-Pitre in Guadeloupe and Philipsburg in St Maarten. There will be two different itineraries that include calls to destinations such as Castries in Saint Lucia, Bridgetown in Barbados, Saint George in Grenada), or St John’s in Antigua and Barbuda, Basseterre in St Kitts and Nevis and Roseau in Dominica.

Mediterranean Sea

The MSC Grandiosa will sail seven-night cruises from Genoa, Civitavecchia and Palermo in Italy, Valletta in Malta, Barcelona in Spain and Marseille France.

The MSC Virtuosa is offering sailings from Genoa, La Spezia and Naples in Italy, Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona in Spain and Marseille.

The MSC Lirica will operate 11-night voyages from Genoa to Civitavecchia and Messina in Italy, Rhodes in Greece, Limassol in Cyprus, Haifa in Israel and Heraklion in Crete (Greece). The ship will also operate 10-night sailings from Genoa to Marseille, Barcelona, Tangier and Casablanca in Morocco, plus the Spanish ports of Ceuta, Malaga and Alicante.

Northern Europe

The MSC Preziosa is to sail seven-night sailings from Hamburg in Germany, Zeebrugge in Belgium, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Le Havre in France and Southampton in the UK.

South America

The MSC Seashore will do the new seven-night itinerary from Santos calling Maceio, Salvador and Buzios in Brazil.

The MSC Seaview will homeport for the first time in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil between December to March. She will offer 3 to 8-night cruises with different itineraries including the Brazilian destinations of Buzios, Ilhabela, Ilha Grande/Angra dos Reis, Ilheus and Salvador, as well as to Uruguay and Argentina.

The MSC Fantasia is Homeporting in Santos with a range of 3 to 7-night cruises with domestic calls including Ilha Grande, Buzios and Ilha Grande/Angra dos Reis, plus Montevideo and Punta Del Este in Uruguay and Buenos Aires in Argentina.

The MSC Armonia will homeport in Itajai/Santa Caterina with 7-night itineraries to Uruguay, Argentina and Ilhabela in Brazil.

The MSC Musica will homeport in Buenos Aires with sailings to Brazil including Ilhabela, Rio de Janeiro, Buzios and Ilha Grande/Angra dos Reis.

South Africa

The MSC Sinfonia will homeport in Cape Town with sailings to Mossel Bay in South Africa, plus Walvis Bay and Luderitz in Namibia.

The MSC Orchestra will homeport in Durban for voyages to Pomene and Portuguese Island in Mozambique, Walvis Bay and Cape Town.

MSC World Cruise 2023

The MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia will both perform the MSC World Cruise 2023. The two ships, in an industry-first, will host more than 5,000 passengers for journeys around the world. Both vessels will depart from Civitavecchia and Genoa on 4 and 5 January 2023 respectively, Marseille one day later and Barcelona on 7 January. Once the two ships leave the Mediterranean Sea, they will part ways in the Atlantic Ocean for their separate global itineraries.

MSC Preziosa will sail a winter season of northern European cruises from Southampton

MSC Preziosa will sail a winter season of northern European cruises from Southampton

MSC Preziosa in Southampton

Preziosa will arrive in early October offering itineraries visiting five European cities, with its 2022/23 winter season due to run through to April 2023.

Sales will open in the coming days, said MSC. Preziosa will replace MSC Virtuosa, which will sail in summer 2022 from Southampton.

Virtuosa’s season will get underway with a Guernsey mini-cruise departing 29 April and will wrap up with a final Mediterranean sailing scheduled to depart on 4 November.

MSC managing director the UK and Ireland, Antonio Paradiso, said Preziosa’s deployment from Southampton underlined MSC’s commitment to the UK market and travel trade.

"We are proud that we are providing agents with such a variety of products to sell in the ex-UK space this year," said Paradiso. "Sailing MSC Virtuosa from Southampton last year allowed us a great opportunity to access the new-to-cruise market, which made up 50% of our sales for summer 2021."

Preziosa will offer a seven-night winter itinerary featuring five European city destinations, with calls in Hamburg, Zeebrugge (for Bruges and Brussels), Rotterdam (for Amsterdam) and Le Havre (for Paris).

MSC Cruises has extended MSC Virtuosa’s 2022 Southampton season by an extra month

MSC Virtuosa entering the river Mersey, photo credit Spacejunkie2

The Meraviglia Plus-class vessel, which launched in the UK last year, will return at the end of April and operate 23 voyages until early November.

 

Itineraries range from five two-night mini cruises, including calls at Guernsey’s St Peter Port, to 12-night Baltic voyages and 14-night Western Mediterranean sailings.

 

Speaking to TTG, Antonio Paradiso, managing director UK and Ireland, said the extension decision had been made following agent and consumer requests for more ex-UK options around October half-term.

 

The four additional cruises will visit the Mediterranean, including a call in Palma de Mallorca, the East Atlantic visiting Portugal and Spain and a Canaries sailing during October half-term before Virtuosa repositions to Genoa.

 

Paradiso said the vessel, which debuted from Southampton in May last year amid the restart of UK cruising, had become “such a popular ship” in the British market.

 

“I think she’s now even more popular than Bellissima that we launched in Southampton – she’s become one of the UK’s favourite ships,” he said.

 

Paradiso added that ex-UK Southampton sailings had proven MSC’s “best-sold cruises” for 2022 with the line wanting to meet demand.

“Last year, after Virtuosa left the UK in mid-September, we realised there were more opportunities to take advantage of to stay later in the year,” he said. “We have an open dialogue with our trade partners and want to give them something they can really get behind and sell.

 

“We have the right ship and we’ve never had so much variety from the UK. There is a very nice mix of itineraries and I think we’re ticking all the boxes.”

 

The line is also extending its MSC Big Cruise Giveaway trade campaign – with a further 30 cabins to be won by the UK and Irish agents between 1-15 February.

 

Agents must book any sailing included as part of MSC’s all-inclusive wave promotion to be entered into the prize draw.

News of MSC’s extended ex-UK season follows the line’s announcement on Monday (31 January) of plans to lengthen its season in the Arabian Gulf. 

 

MSC Bellissima will finish its planned Red Sea itineraries homeporting in Jeddah on 26 March before repositioning to Dubai to take over from Virtuosa from 2 April as the ship heads to the UK.

 

Bellissima will then offer seven-night cruises calling in Sir Bani Yas and Doha through to 25 June – the first time MSC has had a ship in the region during the summer.

 

Paradiso said the move was a “win-win” for the UK and Irish market due to the popularity of both ships with customers.

 

Next month, MSC will launch a new TV advertising campaign, Only the Sea, featuring on ITV, Channel 4, Sky channels and video-on-demand services. Paradiso said the month-long campaign could be extended if it proved successful.

 

“January was an opportunity for us to wait and see what things were going to look like. We’ve gathered as many insights as possible and now we want to gain momentum and leverage the demand we’re seeing,” he said.