MSC Cruises has suspended calls by four ships to St Petersburg following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The line cited recent developments in the region and “related security concerns”.
MSC Preziosa, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Poesia and MSC Virtuosa will all suspend their summer calls to the Russian city.
The company said the health and safety of its passengers and crew was its top priority and that from the end of May until October its four ships with Baltic Sea sailings that had included St Petersburg in any of their summer 2022 itineraries will go to alternative ports in the Baltic region.
“Since the onset of the current events the line has been in touch with alternative ports – such as Stockholm, Helsinki and Tallinn – to confirm calls for the four vessels and it will communicate the exact details for each individual sailing as soon as possible to travel agents and any customers affected by the new arrangements,” MSC Cruises said.
The line will also update its website to reflect the confirmed details of the new itineraries to provide “maximum clarity” for existing passengers as well as for anyone looking to book future holidays at sea in the Baltic Sea.
“No MSC Cruises’ ships currently call St Petersburg,” the line added.
The action follows lines such as P&O Cruises, Cunard and Royal Caribbean International amending Baltic itineraries.
Meanwhile, a Celebrity Cruises spokesperson said: “The safety and security of our guests and crew is our top priority. We do not have any Celebrity ships sailing in Europe at this time, but we are constantly monitoring the situation in Ukraine with our global security team.”