Red Sea threat prompts MSC to cancel three cruises

The voyages were to have been from South Africa and Dubai to Europe. The line blamed attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea region carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

MSC has cancelled a 24-night cruise of MSC Splendida from Durban to Genoa plus a 21-night sailing of MSC Opera from Dubai to Genoa and a 23-night voyage of MSC Virtuosa from Dubai to Southampton. 

MSC 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 onboard 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.”

It added none of the company’s other ships were affected.

Affected passengers are being contacted directly or through their agent and can transfer bookings to a future Grand Voyage of similar duration free. 

They can also rebook to any other cruise in the company’s network, with either a partial refund or additional payment for the difference in price of the original booking, or receive a full refund with no cancellation fee.

Silversea announced last week that it was disembarking Silver Moon passengers in Jordan to avoid ports in the Red Sea after warships from the US and UK repelled a barrage of Houthi rockets.