MSC announces discounts for healthcare professionals

“As a family-owned company, we think it’s only right and proper to find a way to express our heartfelt ’thank you’ to each and every healthcare professional around the world – as well as their families – for their selfless and tireless dedication, professionalism and bravery in tackling the current global pandemic," said MSC executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago.

Vago said the discounts would be available to "everyone who is a healthcare worker, at all levels", including frontline and back office NHS and private healthcare staff, doctors, nurses and pharmacists working in research laboratories.

“Their work and dedication has also helped pave the way for our new health and safety operating protocol, which was recently implemented successfully when our flagship MSC Grandiosa was the first ship from our fleet to return to welcome guests at sea in the West Mediterranean," Vago added.

“The backbone of our protocol is down to the new data, research into Covid-19 and improved understanding of the virus that worldwide healthcare professionals have established during the pandemic, and we want to thank them for their selfless and tireless work.

“We very much look forward to welcoming them onboard whenever they are ready for a much-deserved holiday. And we will also welcome their feedback to improve further our protocol as they will witness it first hand while on board.”

MSC Grandiosa departed on its first sailing since mid-March on 16 August, calling over seven nights in Rome, Naples, Palermo and Valletta before returing to Genoa. The ship is currently sailing its second restart cruise.

MSC Magnifica had been due to start sailing a series of eastern Mediterranean departures from 29 August, focusing mainly on calls in Greece. However, MSC has pushed this programme back a month.