In gentle of anticipated hostile climate circumstances in Florida and the Bahamas, MSC Cruises has revised its December 16, 2023, itinerary for the MSC Meraviglia.
As a substitute of the deliberate tropical locales, visitors had been knowledgeable on the final minute that they’d as a substitute be visiting New England and Canada.
MSC Meravliglia’s Itinerary Shifts from the Bahamas to New England
MSC Meraviglia, which initially was destined for balmy seashores and heat waters, has been rerouted to the cooler climates of New England and Canada.
The proactive measure comes as a response to forecasts predicting heavy rain and wind gusts as much as 40 knots on the unique itinerary.
An e-mail to passengers from MSC said, “To make sure the security and well-being of everybody on board, we’ll sail to New England and Canada as a substitute, the place we anticipate to come across fairer climate circumstances that may enable us to give you the nice cruise expertise that you just anticipate.”
The 5,400-passenger ship’s 7-night voyage was initially set to go to Port Canaveral; Nassau, Bahamas; and MSC’s personal island vacation spot, Ocean Cay. The revised journey will depart from Brooklyn, New York, as deliberate however will now cease in Boston, the place will probably be docked for 2 nights.
It can then proceed to Portland, Maine, and St. John, Canada, earlier than circling again to New York, together with a day at sea. To align with the brand new locations, MSC Cruises has up to date its onboard actions program.
The cancelation comes on the heels of an earlier itinerary adjustment for MSC Meraviglia on December 13, prompted by inclement climate. As a substitute of visiting Ocean Cay, the ship made an unscheduled detour in Miami that required all passengers to disembark for customs processing.
Learn Additionally: Extreme Climate Impacting A number of Cruise Ships
Visitors expressed their frustration, as each passenger was mandated to undergo Customs and Border Safety checks earlier than they had been permitted to re-board the vessel.
Options for Affected Passengers
Passengers searching for to take care of their unique Bahamas journey plans had restricted time to reschedule their cruise with none penalty earlier than the cruise departure date, in addition to little reprieve for individuals who had already traveled to New York forward of departure.
These opting to cancel their bookings had been supplied a full refund within the type of a Future Cruise Credit score. Visitors wishing a return of funds to their unique fee methodology had been advised to contact MSC Cruises instantly.
Whereas MSC ensured full refunds to passengers’ onboard accounts for pre-booked excursions on the 167,600-ton MSC Meraviglia that had been set for the origination locations, the choices distinction with extra beneficiant compensation packages from different cruise strains for cancellations.
For instance, Royal Caribbean lately supplied financial compensation for journey adjustments and onboard credit for a cancelation as a result of a personal constitution.
This isn’t MSC’s first itinerary cancellation resulting in a completely totally different vacation spot. MSC Virtuosa’s June 1, 2024, 14-night roundtrip voyage from Southampton to Norway, Iceland, and Eire was additionally canceled, with out express cause supplied.
Visitors had been as a substitute introduced with a 12-night different route, additionally on MSC Virtuosa, to the Canary Islands, Spain, and Portugal. MSC additionally supplied prorated refunds for the 2 lacking nights of crusing.
Wanting forward, MSC Meraviglia has two extra “7 Night time The Bahamas and Florida” departures scheduled for December from New York. These are scheduled for December 23 and 30. On January 6, the ship will embark on a 20-night prolonged voyage to the Bahamas and Florida.
