MSC Cruises said it would operate its recently delivered MSC Virtuosa on a series of summer cruises in the UK instead of MSC Magnifica that had been earmarked for this. Meanwhile Celebrity Cruises and Disney will also cruise in the UK waters this summer.
Geneva bassed MSC Cruises unveiled further details of the recently announced short breaks and week-long summer sailings around the British Isles departing from the port of Southampton.
“Starting 20 May, MSC Virtuosa – the line’s recently delivered and newest flagship - will be deployed to the UK for her inaugural season and replace MSC Magnifica to spend summer operating this special range of sailings to some of the UK’s most popular ports such as Portland, Liverpool, Greenock and Belfast,” the company said in a statement.
The sailings are available to UK residents only, both vaccinated and unvaccinated at the present time. Sales open for these cruises on Thursday, 1 April.
Antonio Paradiso, Managing Director MSC Cruises UK & Ireland said: “Following our recent announcement that we intend to offer cruises in the UK we have been overwhelmed by the response from MSC Cruises customers and avid cruisers eager to get back on board and experience a cruise with us this summer. I am personally very proud to be able to bring our newest ship MSC Virtuosa to the UK so that our valued British guests are the first to officially come on board and the first to experience this incredible next generation ship.”
MSC Virtuosa will initially operate six mini-cruises that with embarkation in Southampton will include a stop in Portland. These will be followed by a series of seven-night sailings providing embarkation also in the ports of Liverpool and Greenock near Glasgow, giving holidaymakers across the UK the option to easily escape on holiday with minimal travel.
The range of four-night mini-cruises will offer a late sail from Southampton and will provide the ultimate short getaway for couples or friends in search of a quick escape.
From June 12, holidaymakers can join seven-night sailings that will include stops in Portland and the cultural city of Belfast and offer multiple ports of embarkation including Liverpool and Greenock, close to Glasgow, MSC Cruises said.
Celebrity Cruises, which is part of the Royal Caribbean Group, said it would operate Celebrity Silhouette on a series of cruises of six to eight nights, starting in July. The ship would be based at Southampton. It gave no further details at this point.
Disney Cruise Line said its Disney Magic would offer a series of two, three and four night cruises. These would depart on select dates from London Tilbury, Newcastle, Liverpool and Southampton.
