Other operators have announced revisions to just near-term departures, in coming days or weeks. So far, only Norwegian Cruise Line has given notice of a longer-term change—through year's end—when it shifted Norwegian Escape to a purely western Caribbean itinerary.
MSC Cruises assured it remains committed to the Caribbean, with the continued operation of four ships over the next months and the introduction of a fifth, the new MSC Seaside, in December.
The company added it will continue to work with relevant parties to monitor and assess on an ongoing basis the availability of destinations that are not currently accessible. These include Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Road Town, Tortola (British Virgin Islands); and Roseau, Dominica.
Miami-based MSC Divina's eastern Caribbean cruises on Sept. 30, Oct. 14 and Oct. 28 that were scheduled to visit St. Maarten and San Juan will now operate a western Caribbean itinerary. Destinations will be Montego Bay, George Town (Grand Cayman), Costa Maya and Nassau.
Starting Nov. 11, on seven-night eastern Caribbean cruises from Miami, MSC Divina will call at St. John (Antigua), instead of St. Maarten.
For MSC Divina's longer sailings from Miami in January and February, itinerary changes include, on the Jan. 3 departure, Oranjestad (Aruba) and Willemstad (Curaçao) instead of Tortola and Basseterre (St. Kitts). On the Jan. 25 voyage, San Juan will replace St. Maarten.
On the Feb. 15 cruise, MSC Divina will call at San Juan, Bridgetown (Barbados) and Pointe-a-Pitre (Guadeloupe) instead of St. Maarten, Tortola and Antigua.
For MSC Fantasia, on sailings from Nov. 25 through March 31, seven-night cruises from Fort-de-France (Martinique) and Pointe-a-Pitre (Guadeloupe) will call at La Romana (Dominican Republic), instead of Tortola and at St. Kitts instead of Dominica, and spend an additional day at sea instead of visiting St. Maarten.
For MSC Seaside's eastern Caribbean cruises from Miami, Dec. 23 to March 17, the ship will visit Antigua instead of St. Maarten.
The itineraries of MSC Opera and MSC Armonia, serving the Caribbean from Havana, Cuba, remain unchanged and will continue to call at destinations including Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.
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