MSC Cruises has reached out to friends booked on numerous sailings of MSC Seascape to alert them to an itinerary change in Jamaica. Whereas the ship will nonetheless be visiting the pleasant island nation, the port of name has been modified as a consequence of dock injury sustained throughout poor climate in February.
MSC Seascape Itinerary Adjustments
Visitors booked on totally different sailings of the 170,400-gross-ton, Seaside EVO-class MSC Seascape have acquired notifications that their go to to Jamaica has been adjusted. The cruise ship will nonetheless go to Jamaica on every itinerary, however to a special vacation spot than initially scheduled.
“As a consequence of intensive pier injury brought on by a latest incident involving one other cruise ship on the port in Ocho Rios, Berth 2 will likely be closed for restoration work,” the e-mail explains.
The injury the e-mail is referring to is when Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Magic was docked on February 6, 2024. Tough climate that included sturdy swells and gusty winds brought about strain on the pier and it partially collapsed, forcing Carnival Magic to briefly depart.
The broken dock area has been closed since whereas repairs are underway. On days when Ocho Rios is totally booked, this may imply that not all scheduled ships could possibly be accommodated. Thankfully, MSC Cruises is making various preparations for a number of MSC Seascape itineraries.
“Falmouth will exchange this as a [port of call] on the identical date because the initially scheduled stopover,” the e-mail confirmed.
This implies the remainder of the ship’s itinerary will not be impacted by the change so adjustments to friends’ total plans are minimal, although some shore excursions could also be affected. The precise adjustments, corresponding to time in port, may additionally fluctuate on totally different itineraries, and friends will likely be supplied with extra particulars as obligatory.
MSC Seascape is homeported year-round from Miami, providing a variety of Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries. The ship can welcome 4,540 passengers at double occupancy, or as many as 5,877 friends when totally booked with all berths crammed.
Variations Between the Ports
Falmouth and Ocho Rios provide lots of the identical facilities, together with beautiful pure magnificence, seashore breaks, watersports, native buying, historic excursions, and extra.
Whereas the 2 ports of name are roughly 45 miles (73 kilometers) aside – Falmouth is additional west on the island’s northern coast – related shore excursions will be operated from each locations. This contains journeys to the beautiful Dunn’s River Falls, river rafting journeys, cave excursions, and different thrilling excursions.
Learn Additionally: Jamaica Cruise Ports – Full Checklist and Overview
This ensures that though friends won’t be visiting Ocho Rios, they are going to nonetheless have the chance to immerse themselves in Jamaica’s pure magnificence, vibrant tradition, and colourful historical past nonetheless they like.
Will Different Cruises Be Impacted?
Ocho Rios and Falmouth are each well-liked ports of name, visited by a lot of cruise strains. Along with MSC Cruises and Carnival Cruise line, ships from Royal Caribbean Worldwide, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, TUI Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Carnival Cruise Line commonly go to Ocho Rios.
Within the meantime, Royal Caribbean Worldwide, Princess Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, and Holland America Line commonly go to Falmouth. The change from Ocho Rios to Falmouth could also be a welcome change for skilled MSC Cruises vacationers.
It’s also potential that different cruise strains might alter itineraries in related methods whereas the dock repairs are underway in Ocho Rios, relying on particular person ship sizes, crusing schedules, and accessible berth area. Completely different ports in Jamaica could also be substituted as MSC Cruises is doing with MSC Seascape, or cruise strains may make different adjustments.
Utterly totally different ports of name – corresponding to an additional cease within the Bahamas or visits to the Cayman Islands or different locations may very well be substituted for Ocho Rios, or ships might merely plan a day at sea as an alternative of a port go to.
Cruise vacationers with any sailings booked that embrace Ocho Rios within the subsequent few weeks will need to keep in contact with their cruise line in case of itinerary changes or adjustments, particularly as it will impression any tour preparations passengers might have made. Whereas cruise strains will robotically adapt shore excursions booked via the cruise line, friends might want to alter any unbiased excursions on their very own.
