MSC Cruises has added Barcelona and Valencia as embarkation ports as the line moves closer to resuming operations out of Spain.
From June 26, passengers will be able to embark MSC Grandiosa (pictured) in Barcelona every Saturday and every Friday from July 30 they will be able to board in Valencia.
MSC Grandiosa currently offers seven-night cruises in the western Mediterranean, calling at Genoa, Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples, Palermo, all Italy; and Valetta, Malta.
MSC Cruises chief executive Gianni Onorato said the decision to add Barcelona and Valencia will make Grandiosa’s voyages “easily available” to passengers living in Spain.
He said: “When we first announced our confirmed programmes for summer 2021, we indicated that we would enrich them with any new ports and destinations as they became available.
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“This is the case today with Spain and Barcelona, thus allowing our guests to visit this magnificent destination that has been unavailable since March of last year thanks to the secure bubble ashore excursions we provide under our health and safety operating protocol.
“This will also make an international cruise holiday on an MSC Cruises ship more easily available to more of our guests living in Spain and for the first time on one of our most modern and innovative ships, MSC Grandiosa.”
The news follows MSC’s announcement of a 31-year deal to build and operate a cruise terminal in Barcelona.
MSC Seaside is also operating in the Med. MSC Virtuosa is currently operating sailings around the British Isles and MSC Seaview will restart sailings to the Baltics from July 3 in Germany.