“This is not a decision we took lightly but under the current circumstances, the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities ashore – including our employees and their families – must come first. As a family company with over 300 years of maritime tradition, we felt that this was the right decision to make,” stated Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises.

The company has also already suspended ship activities in the Mediterranean, the Gulf and Asia in all regions known to be high risk to the virus.

Ships currently operating in South America and South Africa will also be ending their operations at the end of their existing routes.

Maritime Business World