MSC Cruises has temporarily paused MSC Grandiosa sailings planned for December and has announced MSC Magnifica will now restart operations in January.

The changes in the line’s Mediterranean schedule follow new measures introduced by the Italian government for the Christmas and new year period.

The line has, however, also released details of its winter 2021/2022 programme.

The new rules in Italy, which apply from 21 December to 6 January, “would severely impact the ability of future guests – Italian residents as well as international – to reach any of the ships’ embarkation ports in Italy”, MSC Cruises said in a statement.

As a result, the line has cancelled three voyages on MSC Grandiosa and three sailings on MSC Magnifica.

MSC Grandiosa will pause its current programme of seven-night voyages on 20 December in Genoa.  The ship will then resume Western Mediterranean cruises on 10 January 2021, also from Genoa.

MSC Magnifica, which was due to start 10-night voyages in the Mediterranean on 18 December from Genoa, will now sail on 15 January 2021 following the cancellation of three sailings.

The line’s winter cruise programme for 2021/2022 features itineraries in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Gulf region, as well as South America, South Africa, and a selection of grand voyages.

MSC Cruises is planning to deploy four ships in North America next winter, sailing out of Miami and Port Canaveral.

Following her inaugural season in the Mediterranean in summer 2021, MSC Seashore, the first of the Seaside Evo ships, will cross the Atlantic towards the Caribbean, while MSC Armonia will homeport in Miami.

MSC Divina will start the season out of Port Canaveral and then move to Miami from December, and, for the first time MSC Meraviglia will homeport in Port Canaveral.

MSC Seaview will also call the Caribbean home during the winter 2021/22 season.

As for the Mediterranean, MSC will have four ships in the region – MSC Grandiosa, MSC Fantasia, MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia. 

MSC Poesia will also sail a new 116-night itinerary, departing on 5 January 2022. Guests can also choose from 11 new grand voyages across 11 ships.