Company welcomes news that U.S international travel ban will lift from 8th November
Geneva, Switzerland, 25 October 2021 – MSC Cruises has announced that we will be welcoming Canadian residents as of 1st November. This comes along with the U.S. government’s announcement that 8th November will be the date that International travellers can enter the country provided they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The world’s third largest cruise line described the news as ‘a tremendous boost’ for Canadian tourists wanting to holiday for winter sun in the Caribbean during its winter 2021/22 sailing season.
MSC Cruises has three of its ships sailing from Florida for the entire season – the Company’s new flagship MSC Seashore, the award-winning MSC Meraviglia and the popular MSC Divina.
Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises, said, “We have eagerly awaited the U.S. Administration’s date to re-open the country for fully vaccinated travellers from many parts of the world that love to cruise. The Caribbean is a popular destination for our guests from across Europe and other regions of the world, particularly during the winter, and many more of them will now be able to fly to both Miami and Orlando to board our three ships that offer a range of different itineraries in the Caribbean, including Jamaica, Costa Rica, Mexico and our unique private island in The Bahamas, MSC Ocean Cay Marine Reserve. This news means that the many guests who are already booked to sail with us out of North America can now have their cruise holiday fully confirmed.”
MSC Cruises’ flagship MSC Seashore will be based in Miami from 20 November following her official naming ceremony at Ocean Cay. From 28 November, MSC Meraviglia will move to her new homeport of Port Canaveral, Orlando whilst MSC Divina will move to Miami offering a range of 3-, 7- and 11-night cruises. The three ships will offer a range of different Caribbean itineraries throughout the winter season and all itineraries will include a call at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve -for more details, see here.
The U.S. government has said that Canadian residents who are fully vaccinated with a World Health Organization (WHO) approved vaccine, including Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca, will be allowed to enter the USA. To sail with MSC Cruises, guests aged 12 years and above need to have a complete set of vaccine shots received more than 14 days before the start of their cruise and all guests from 2 years above, will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test at embarkation.
MSC Cruises strongly recommends that Canadian residents obtain COVID-19 insurance policy. The insurance needs to cover against COVID-19 related risks, such as holiday cancellation, interruption, repatriation expenses, quarantine, medical assistance and related expenses, as well as hospitalization and it is important that the policy also includes coverage in the case of being a close contact. MSC Cruises offers PCR testing onboard their ships for a fee, allowing Canadians that require a negative PCR test to re-enter Canada. This service can be booked and paid for while on the ship.
For more information about the travel requirements and health and safety measures, visit here.
