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MSC Cruises drops Red Sea winter itinerary on Israel impact

MSC Orchestra's full winter program in the Red Sea was canceled due to the proximity of some ports to Israel and restrictions in bordering countries that the line said would have adversely affected the experience for passengers.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

October 23, 2023

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

The cancellation applies to MSC Orchestra's Nov. 8 to April 17 schedule.

The line did not specify where the ship will be going instead.  

Travel restrictions and advisories

MSC Cruises also made changes to some of its other itineraries in light of the current situation and to ensure the safety of its passengers and crew. The line said some travel restrictions have been made by local authorities in certain destinations and some national governments have issued advisories against travel to certain areas.

Follows MSC Sinfonia change

As earlier reported, the winter program of MSC Sinfonia from Nov. 12 to April 15 was canceled as Haifa was a focus. MSC Sinfonia's new itinerary includes Genoa, Civitavecchia (Rome), Messina Piraeus, Izmir, Istanbul and Heraklion.

Minor changes for four other ships

MSC Cruises also said there are some minor changes to the itineraries of the grand voyages for MSC Virtuosa, MSC Opera and MSC Splendida and to two 11-night sailings for MSC Armonia.

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MSC Cruises

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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