Cruise Passengers Receive Cancellation Text Just One Day Before Sailing
Passengers preparing to board the MSC Opera in Italy had an unwelcome surprise delivered right into their inboxes when cancellation messages arrived just one day before their scheduled cruise. The notices, sent on Oct. 28, blamed unspecified technical problems for the disruption.
Some travelers had already made arrangements to reach their departure ports, leaving them scrambling to find out what would happen next.
Exacerbating the confusion was the fact that not everyone received the same instructions. While some passengers were told their trips had been canceled, others reported that their departure had simply been delayed and moved to another port.
According to Cruise Hive, the ship was scheduled to resume passenger service from Civitavecchia, near Rome, on Oct. 29, following an extended stay at a shipyard in Malta.
Passengers Receive Conflicting Cruise Updates
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MSC attributed the cancellations to technical issues and offered affected passengers full refunds. According to Cruise Hive, the company also offered to reimburse travel and accommodation expenses.
Some passengers initially wondered whether the unexpected messages were a scam. Cruise Hive reported that travelers subsequently contacted MSC Cruises directly and confirmed the cancellations.
Other guests described different arrangements in Facebook discussions. One passenger said their embarkation had been postponed until Oct. 31 in Livorno, Italy. Another reported receiving an offer of a hotel stay, transportation to the new departure port, and onboard credit.
The differences may be connected to the ship’s overlapping itineraries, which included short Mediterranean trips and longer voyages. However, MSC has not publicly explained which bookings were canceled and which were being rescheduled.
The Ship Was Undergoing Maintenance in Malta
The MSC Opera had been undergoing scheduled maintenance at the Palumbo shipyard in Valletta, Malta, since Oct. 10. According to Cruise Industry News, the work was expected to continue through Oct. 29 and included routine maintenance, technical work, and required inspections.
Once the maintenance work was finished, the MSC Opera was scheduled to cross the Atlantic to the Dominican Republic, where it would spend the winter sailing Caribbean itineraries.
Cruise Hive reported that vessel-tracking information still showed the ship in Malta on Oct. 29. MSC has not confirmed whether the technical problems responsible for the cancellations were discovered during maintenance or involved delays in completing the scheduled work.
Passengers affected by the changes will need to confirm their individual arrangements with MSC Cruises, particularly those whose embarkation dates or ports have changed. The company’s reported refund and reimbursement offers apply to canceled bookings, while the arrangements for postponed sailings remain less clear.
