MSC Cruises has become the latest cruise line to alter its itineraries in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
The cruise line’s forthcoming MSC Bellissima Grand Voyage from the gulf of Asia itinerary will no longer stop in Shenzhen (mainland China), Hong Kong or Keelung (Taiwan).
The ship will instead call at Laem Chabang for Bangkok (Thailand); Phu My for Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), as well as spending an extra day in Kobe, Japan. In addition, the ship will now also call Sir Bani Yas Island, United Arab Emirates, instead of Khor Fakkan, UAE.
MSC Bellissima’s Asia voyage is due to commence on 21 March in Dubai, UAE, with calls in the Gulf. From there, the ship will continue further east with stops in Colombo, Sri Lanka; Phuket, Thailand; Langkawi, Penang, and Port Klang for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Singapore.
The ship will then sail to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, followed by an overnight in Kobe before it goes onto its final destination of Yokohama in Japan on 18 April.
To protect the health and safety of its guests and crew globally, MSC Cruises will continue to uphold precautionary measures across its fleet, which it announced on 27 January following the coronavirus outbreak.
There are currently no cases of coronavirus on board any of MSC Cruises’ ships.
Last week, Celebrity Cruises announced that it has cancelled its ship Celebrity Millenium’s season in Asia and altered Celebrity Constellation‘s current itinerary and next sailings in February and March.
Royal Caribbean International has cancelled a total of 18 sailings in Southeast Asia and modified several itineraries, while Carnival Corporation has had to pull several of its cruise lines’ itineraries, most notably Diamond Princess. Both companies have warned of the impact these actions could have on 2020 profits.
Visit msccruises.co.uk for more information.