An extensive MSC Mediterranean cruise season has been revealed by MSC Cruises while it has simultaneously further suspended its US cruise program to July.

The MSC Mediterranean cruise season features six cruise ship back in operation in the Western and Eastern Mediterranean and four ships cruising in Northern Europe.

The MSC Mediterranean cruise season includes six ships and 15 embarkation ports

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“Today we have clarity on which European destinations and ports will initially be open this summer and we have fully reflected this into a first set of new and updated itineraries for the upcoming season so that guests can book their holidays with us with confidence,” said Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises in a statement.

“The entire MSC Cruises team and I look forward to welcoming both returning and new guests on board one of our ships that will be at sea this summer and to provide them with a memorable, relaxing and, above all, safe holiday,” he added.

Onorato added that he was confident MSC Cruises will be able to further enrich some of the itineraries and add more ships into operation in the coming weeks, as more ports and tourist destinations, in particular in Spain and France, become available to receive ships and visitors.

In the United States, meanwhile, MSC Cruises has announced a further extension of the temporary pause of its cruises from US ports through to and including June 30th, 2021.

Simultaneously to its MSC Mediterranean cruise season, the line announced it was suspending its US cruises until July

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The decision will affect the schedules of three ships based in Florida: MSC Divina scheduled to cruise from Port Canaveral, and MSC Meraviglia and MSC Armonia scheduled to cruise from PortMiami.

The MSC Mediterranean cruise season will include the cruise line’s two newest ships MSC Virtuosa and MSC Seashore, and will offer itineraries across three regions of the Med and Europe.

Western Mediterranean 

MSC Grandiosa will initially extend her current seven-night itinerary, calling at the Italian ports of Genoa, Civitavecchia for Rome, Naples, Palermo as well as Valletta, Malta.

The Spanish ports of Valencia and Barcelona will be added to the ship’s current itinerary as soon as these destinations confirm their availability.

MSC Seaside will commence sailing on May 1st, 2021 from Genoa calling at the newly introduced ports of Siracusa in Sicily and Taranto in Puglia, as well as Civitavecchia for Rome and Valetta in Malta.

The ship’s itinerary will then be enhanced with calls to the French port of Marseille as soon as its availability is confirmed. In addition to the range of protected excursions developed for MSC Seaside’s itinerary, MSC Cruises will introduce a special private beach experience in Taranto, exclusively for the ship’s guests.

MSC Seashore will cruise in the Western Med

MSC Seashore will join the MSC Cruises fleet at the end of July, and from August 1st, 2021 until October 31st, will offer seven-night cruises calling the Italian ports of Genoa, Naples and Messina, as well as Valletta in Malta, Barcelona in Spain and Marseille in France.

After her MSC Mediterranean cruise season, MSC Seashore will reposition to Miami in November, 2021 to begin sailing The Bahamas and Caribbean, including stops at MSC Cruises’ private Bahamian destination, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

Eastern Mediterranean 

MSC Orchestra will now depart on June 5th, 2021 from the Italian ports of Venice on Saturdays, and Bari on Sundays, calling at the Greek Islands of Corfu, Mykonos as well as Dubrovnik in Croatia.

MSC Splendida will begin sailing from Trieste, Italy on June 12th, 2021 with embarkation on Saturdays and in Bari on Tuesdays, calling at Dubrovnik in Croatia, Corfu in Greece and Kotor in Montenegro.

MSC Magnifica will start cruising June 20th, 2021 offering embarkation in the Italian ports of Venice on Sundays, Bari on Mondays and Piraeus for Athens on Wednesdays and calling at the Greek Island of Mykonos and Split, Croatia.

Northern Europe

MSC Virtuosa will cruise in Northern Europe

MSC Virtuosa will run an inaugural season in the UK and offer mini cruises from Southampton calling at Portland in Dorset.

Starting on June 12th, the new vessel will operate seven-night cruises from Southampton with embarkation in Liverpool, Greenock for Glasgow and also calling at Portland and Belfast in Northern Ireland.

These cruises are designed for British residents only. The sailings are open to vaccinated and non-vaccinated guests and all guests will be tested prior to embarkation.

MSC Seaview will homeport in Kiel, Germany starting on June 19th, 2021 replacing MSC Virtuosa’s scheduled itineraries.

MSC Preziosa is set to cruise from Hamburg, Germany on June 21st, and MSC Musica will cruise from Warnemunde, Germany from June 20th, if the German ports are open, MSC announced.

“Guests who have vouchers for our cruises that were cancelled as a result of the pandemic ashore have waited patiently for a level of certainty about which ships will sail and where. I am pleased to say that they can now look forward with confidence to an incredible holiday at sea on an MSC Cruises ship either this summer or over the upcoming winter season,” said Onorato.