MSC Opera, the third of four MSC Cruises ships to be renovated under the Renaissance Programme, re-joined the high seas on Saturday 4 July and will homeport in Venice for the entire summer season.
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Several non-US cruise lines, such as Thomson, Saga, Fred Olsen, Swan Hellenic and Noble Caledonia, include stops in Cuba in their Caribbean itineraries. “In particular, I wish to thank the Ministers of Transportation and Tourism of the Cuban Government and their representatives for their continued, highly professional contribution”.
The company would be the largest one yet to offer cruises from Cuba to other destinations such as Montego Bay, Mexico and the Cayman Islands. The sailings will be available to United Kingdom guests on a cruise-only basis, going on sale across all channels on Thursday 9 July.
Although MSC said it would not be targeting any Cuban or USA nationals as paying guests, it was an “optimal moment” to establish a base in Cuba, as improving relations will inevitably result in more freedoms for US-Cuba travel.
MSC Opera will offer departures from Venice for 14 days with calls in southern Italy and the region of Puglia, mainland Greece as well as its islands, the beautiful Black Sea coast of Romania, Sochi and the Russian Riviera, Turkey and its cosmopolitan ex- capital city, the Dalmatian coast of Croatia before heading back to Venice.
The ship will homeport in Cuba until April 2016 before returning to Europe.
Highlights of Havana include the UNESCO World Heritage old quarter and the famous Malecon seafront promenade.
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In connection with the deployment to Cuba, MSC Opera’s original winter 2015-16 schedule in the Canary Islands, Madeira and Morocco has been cancelled. Passengers who have already booked a Canaries sailing for winter 2015-16 will be offered a full refund or transfer to an alternative Mediterranean itinerary, with the offer of upgrades or on-board credit as compensation. Alternatively, guests can switch their booking to Cuba.
