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MSC Cruises cancels three Grand Voyage sailings in Red Sea

MSC Cruises has cancelled three repositioning Grand Voyage sailings in April due to a risk to shipping in the Red Sea.

A 24-night MSC Splendida (pictured) sailing from Durban to Genoa, a 21-night MSC Opera cruise from Dubai to Genoa and a 23-night MSC Virtuosa sailing from Dubai to Southampton have all been cancelled as a result of ongoing attacks on merchant vessels in the region.

All affected passengers are being contacted and given the option of a full refund, booking onto a future Grand Voyage of a similar duration for free, or booking any other MSC Cruises itinerary and receiving a partial refund or paying an additional fee for the difference in price of the original booking.

The line said: “The safety of passengers and crew is the number one priority and as there was no viable alternative itinerary, the company has regrettably had to cancel the voyages.

“The three ships will transfer directly to Europe without any passengers on board and avoid transiting through the Red Sea. Instead, they will sail around the west coast of Africa with no ports of call on their journeys to their respective European homeports for the summer 2024 season.”


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