The global MSC family is slowly assembling and returning back to the cruise ships. Crew members from the Philippines, Peru, Indonesia and India have already boarded several ships in Italy, ahead of the necessary preparations for a new restart this year. I had the pleasure to talk with several MSC crew members who just joined the ships, while they are in 14-day mandatory quarantine, and shared their experience and expectations.

A 44-year-old electrician, member of the crew of the cruise ship MSC Lirica, was injured on Wednesday while trying to change a valve of the cooling mechanism. At the time of the accident, MSC Lirica was at the port of Corfu, Greece where the ship is currently in warm layup. The crew member, whose name was not released, was first checked by the ship’s doctor and later transported by EKAB ambulance service to the Corfu General Hospital, for further medical treatment.

MSC Cruises announced the return to UK shores with the newest ship in the fleet, MSC Virtuosa departing from Southampton for the first time on May 20. The MSC Virtuosa will make its UK debut instead of the MSC Magnifica, as previously announced by the company. According to MSC Cruises, there will be no compulsory vaccination for the cruises, which only British passengers are allowed to sail.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which represents 95% of global ocean-going cruise ship capacity, today called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to lift the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order. According to the trade association, the CDC needs to allow the start for the planning of a phased resumption of cruise operations from U.S. ports by the beginning of July.

A fire has broken out on the cruise ship MSC Lirica today in the port of Corfu, Greece. Plumes of black smoke and flames were seen rising out of the cruise ship, which has been moored in Corfu since January 30. MSC Cruises reported that there are no crew injuries on the MSC Lirica. Firefighters and Coast Guard boats rushed to the scene to help put out the fire. 

MSC Cruises plans to restart Greece cruise program in April 2021, just in time for the upcoming Easter holiday. The company said in a press release that it is working closely with the relevant authorities including the Greek Ministry of Tourism for the reopening of local tourist services in time to serve cruise passengers.

Today, February 1 2021, MSC Cruises has taken delivery of the fleet's 18th ship, MSC Virtuosa. In a private ceremony held at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint Nazaire, France, the new ship received its official flag and was baptized. The ceremony was attended by MSC Cruises executive president, Pierfrancesco Vago, Captain Massa, as well as representatives of the MSC new construction team, along with representatives from the shipyard.

With the release of the vaccine for COVID for essential workers such as medical professionals and positive thus far response from people who have taken both doses of the vaccine, the cruise industry is starting to review options related to how they can implement policies related to vaccination in order to be able to return the crew to work and the guests to enjoy cruises. However, the views of each cruise line appear to be different, at least for now.

MSC Cruises’ flagship MSC Grandiosa resumed her weekly cruise operations with passengers on Sunday 24 January. MSC Grandiosa departed last night from the port of Genoa in Italy to resume its regular 7-night cruises in the Mediterranean after a short pause of operations during the holiday period.

MSC Cruises announced that MSC Grandiosa will resume the weekly voyages in the Western Mediterranean starting January 24, 2021. The company plans to return at sea with a second ship, the MSC Magnifica which will resume her scheduled 11-nights cruises in Italy, Greece, and Malta from February 14.