MSC Seaside joins MSC Grandiosa in Western Mediterranean

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 05 May 2021 05 May 2021

MSC Seaside has joined MSC Grandiosa back at sea this past Saturday, welcoming guests back on board for weekly 7-night cruises in the Western Mediterranean as the company ramps up its resumption operations, MSC Cruises said in a statement.

The itinerary features destinations in Siracusa in Sicily and Taranto in Puglia, Italy. “The ship is now two days into her voyage, having departed from Genoa, Italy on 1 May, followed by a relaxing day at sea on Sunday and is now in the stunning port of Valetta, Malta today. As part of her itinerary, the ship will also call in Civitavecchia for Rome,” the company said.

MSC Seaside becomes the second ship back at sea for the 2021 summer season, with further ships, including sister ship and future flagship MSC Seashore to join them in the Mediterranean from August. All ships will implement the Company’s rigorous health and safety protocol, which has been developed with a Blue Ribbon Panel.

Iona to be named with bottle of cider

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 05 May 2021 05 May 2021

 

 

P&O Cruises in the UK said its latest ship, Iona, would be named by a bottle of cider in a ceremony on 16 May.

Travel industry ambassador Dame Irene Hays, DBE, chair of Hays Travel, Britain’s largest independent travel agency, will be Iona’s godmother.

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “Cider has often been used throughout history for ship launches, most notably during Prohibition, and for P&O Cruises and Iona, with her many “firsts”, it is very fitting to have English apples, grown from this ancient soil and pressed in this country, for the christening.”

P&O Cruises Australia extends standstill to 17 September

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 05 May 2021 05 May 2021

P&O Cruises Australia, which is part of Carnival Corporation & plc, said that in line with its period review of the situation it has decided a six-week extension to the pause of its operations to 17 September, 2021.

“The extended pause is being applied as the cruise industry continues to work with relevant government authorities to establish a pathway for the restart of cruising in Australia,” the company said in a statement.

P&O Cruises Australia has a fleet of three ships that are all transfers from sister company Princess Cruises. Pacific Encounter (photo) has recently completed dry docking in Singapore, where it was renamed from Star Princess and adapted for the service of the Australian company.

MSC Cruises rolls-out fleet-wide Covid-19 vaccination program for crew

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 02 May 2021 02 May 2021

MSC Cruises announced yesterday that it has started a fleet-wide Covid-19 vaccination program for all its crew members. This becomes an additional core element of the company’s industry-leading health & safety protocol that has already supported MSC Cruises operations since its first ship returned to service in August last year.

The roll-out saw as its first step the Master of MSC Bellissima Captain Giuseppe Maresca and all of his crew completing their vaccinations two days ago.

In this initial phase, MSC Cruises will prioritize crew members on board its 10 ships earmarked for Summer 2021 cruise vacations in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, those scheduled to restart in the Caribbean out of U.S. ports as well as others that are gearing up for their restart. Crew of the flagship MSC Virtuosa will be vaccinated ahead of the ship’s maiden voyage from May 20 around the UK from Southampton.

The plan is for all MSC Cruises’ crew on board operational vessels, as well as ships preparing to restart in parts of the world the Company has served traditionally, to be vaccinated against Covid-19. It has been developed and will be delivered against with the support of a number of national government authorities, destinations and private sector entities.

Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises, said, “As our ships prepare to welcome more and more guests over the coming weeks and months, we are pleased to announce the start of a comprehensive plan of vaccinations for all of our crew. Our aim is of adding a further level of protection for both themselves and the guests they will welcome for their holidays as we lead the way in the industry’s restart this summer.

“Our health and safety protocol last year spearheaded a safe resumption of cruising in the global industry and our huge vaccination program for all of our crew further demonstrates our commitment to their wellbeing, of our guests and of the communities that our fleet of ships will visit in the months ahead.

“We focused and invested heavily in a health and safety protocol last year and worked relentlessly to engage and gain approval from a range of authorities to return to cruising safely and responsibly. Similarly, we have taken this approach to vaccinations for our crew - plan, prepare and perform.”

MSC Cruises became the industry’s first line to resume international sailings in August 2020 when the Company’s flagship MSC Grandiosa set sail from Genoa for a 7-night voyage in the Mediterranean. The company has since welcomed on board some 65,000 guests for a safe and relaxing cruise vacation at sea.

The company’s 10 ships set to serve the Mediterranean and Northern Europe this Summer have confirmed itineraries and ports of call in Italy, Malta, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, Germany and the UK with plans to add France, Spain and more, as more countries open their borders and relax their international and other travel restrictions.