B2B Support Portal

Please find below details that might have effects on the booked Cruise

I. MSC Seaview calling British Virgin Islands (notification dated 04.03.2022)

II. Venice port - embarkation in Venice Marghera (notification dated 22.05.2023)

III. Caribean - CAR AREA- Main Dining Restaurant: Surcharge $5 for additional Entree (notification dated 29.08.2023) 

IV. Clarification about MSC Cruises ships calling Spanish ports such as Malaga and Cadiz, from which it is possible to book excursions in Gibraltar (notification dated 03.11.2023)

V.  MSC VIRTUOSA/EMBARKING DOHA - IMMIGRATION GUIDELINES OFFICIAL UPDATE (notification updated 23.02.2024)

VI. VENICE Entry FEE (update 02.05.2024)

VII. Regarding the upcoming departures of MSC Splendida Summer 24 calling at Istanbul (Galata Port) (update 28.05.2024)

VIII. HIGH PRIORITY - New  restrictions on entry for Russian citizens in Norway (update 04.06.2024)

IX. Special Embarkation/Disembarkation in GREEK Islands NOT ALLOWED- summer 2024 (notification dated 28.05.2024)

X. ICELAND - ACCOMMODATION TAX - MSC PREZIOSA-POESIA-VIRTUOSA ITINERARIES 2024 & DEPARTURES 2025 

XI.  MSC Minors policy (notification 12.06.2024

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I. Notification Dated: Friday, March 4, 2022 12:13

Dear All,

we are facing an unpleasant and recurring situation concerning some Romanian guests on board our ship when calling the British Virgin Islands (MSC Seaview).

Some Romanian guests never returned onboard after the disembarkation to go ashore. This happened on few different cruises some weeks ago and continues to happen.

We have been informed by the Local Authorities that, due to this unpleasant trend, for the next calls and until further notice, the Romanian citizens could be denied to entry the British Virgin Islands.

Guests could embark on the ship and could remain on board but could not be allowed to disembark upon the arrival at the Virgin Islands.

This decision is beyond our control and it is at the discretion of the local authorities.

In case of further developments, we will keep you posted accordingly.

Kind regards

MSC Crociere Spa

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II. Notification Dated: 22.05.2023 - VENICE port - embarkation in Venice Marghera

For all guests sailing on a cruise from Venice embarkation procedures and luggage drop-off are performed in Venice Maritime Station, then guests are transferred by ferry to the ship, docked in Marghera (40 minutes transfer). 

All embarkation procedures, including baggage drop-off, are held at Venice Cruise Terminal in Venice Maritime Station (Venice Passenger Terminal), therefore guests are kindly asked not to reach autonomously Marghera port.

• The cruise ship will depart from Marghera port. A transfer by ferry from Venice Cruise Terminal to Marghera port is organized by MSC Cruises. Guests with disabilities or reduced mobility should contact their accredited travel agencies or the MSC contact center for special arrangements.

Guests embarking in Venice who also want to visit the city may do so on the last day of their cruise. They can opt for one of the MSC Excursions available for disembarkation day or choose to explore the city autonomously. 

MSC Crociere SPA

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III. Notification Dated: 29.08.2023

 CAR AREA - Main Dining Restaurant : Surcharge $5 for additional Entree 

As per august 8^th , on all ships sailing from U.S. homeports, Caribbeans area only, an extra cost of $5 per person is charged for any extra entrées required in MAIN DINING RESTAURANT; the first entrée remains complimentary, as do all appetizers and desserts.

For cruises departing from a U.S. homeport: The first entrée, appetizers, and desserts are complimentary per each guest. For guests who wish to order a second entrée, an additional surcharge of $5 will be applied.

MSC Crociere SPA

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IV. Notification Dated: 03.11.2023

 Clarification about MSC Cruises ships calling Spanish ports such as Malaga and Cadiz, from which it is possible to book excursions in Gibraltar.

Since last July, Spanish authorities have been strictly applying the Schengen Convention of transit passengers on cruise ships, according to which Non-Schengen guests are only allowed to stay in the same country where the ship is docked.

Based on this - as Gibraltar is a Non-Schengen country - it is allowed to cross the border only to guests coming from Schengen countries, with NO EXCEPTION allowed.

Therefore, for all Non- Schengen passengers cruising on a ship calling Spanish it is not possible to visit Gibraltar but, of course, they can go ashore or choose an MSC excursion in Spain.

IMPORTANT: If the ship docks directly in Gibraltar, all passengers, regardless of whether they are Schengen or Non-Schengen, can visit Gibraltar ONLY and it is not allowed to cross its borders.

MSC Crociere Spa

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V. Notification update 23.02.2024 from MSC Crociere SPA 

- MSC VIRTUOSA/EMBARKING DOHA - IMMIGRATION GUIDELINES OFFICIAL UPDATE

Please be so kind to take note about updates from Qatar Authorities and related specifically to MSC Virtuosa’s guests embarking in Qatar.

Due to strict Qatar Immigration Regulations, all guests embarking in Doha have to consider that, once checked in and onboard, they are not allowed to go ashore any longer. In case, they can drop off the luggage at the Terminal, visit the Town and only after return to the Terminal, perform the check-in and board the ship.

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VI. Update 02.05.2024 ref VENICE entry FEE

The local authorities in Venice have introduced a new access fee for tourists spending the day in Venice (currently it is foreseen up to 14^th July 2024, any update will follow). Starting from 25 April 2024, daily visitors entering Venice between 8:30 and 16:00 are required to pay €5 before entering.

The tax to Venice will be payable on the dedicated website https://cda.ve.it/en/ which will issue a QR code to be presented in the event of an inspection.

Even those guests who are exempted from payment (see below for details) must register themselves on the above website and get the QR code.

Passengers exempted from payment: 

• Embarking/Disembarking cruise lines guests joining the cruise terminal on embarkation and disembarkation day.
• Minors under 14 yo
• Tourists who book own accommodation in Venice, Marghera or Mestre (they will need to pay the tourist tax for overnight stays that has been in place for a while already) or MSC Stay & Cruise guests. 
• Holders of the European Disability Card and their accompanying person. 
• People born or living in the Municipality Venice
• People accessing Venice for school, work, or medical care.
• People resident in Veneto

All the a/m categories need to register themselves and obtain the QR for exemption on the dedicated website  (https://cda.ve.it/en/)

In addition, pls note as follows:

Kindly note that :

• Guests travelling to or from the Stazione Marittima to embark or disembark are not required to pay if they do not enter the Ancient City.
• Minors under 14 YO ,  are not required to pay and do not need to place a reservation for access. They must prove their age with a valid identity document during inspections.
• People born in the Municipality of Venice do not have to request exemption and/or pay the Access Fee, but they must prove, upon inspection, if any, their status by showing a document from which their birth in Venice is derived.

Important notes :

• In case guests wish to visit Venice Old City  (e.g. Piazza San Marco) by themselves before and after the cruise, they must register themselves for 2 days and pay twice the city tax.
• Guest booked on Venice shore excursions managed by MSC Cruises do not need to pay this fee directly, as MSC will process this on their behalf and debit their onboard account. They do not need to register and obtain the QR code.

Passengers requested to pay the fee : 

• Transit guests taking part to a MSC Excursion: Msc Cruises will pay the fee on their behalf and will add it to their onboard account.
• Disembarking guests performing a Msc Excursion : Msc Cruises will pay the fee on their behalf and will add it to their onboard account.
• Transit guests who will visit the city individually once the ship is docked.
• Guests planning to visit independently the city , prior or after joining the Stanzione Marittima to embark/disembark the Cruise ship by their own.

FAQ - https://cda.ve.it/en/faq#persons-exempt

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VII. Update 28.05.2023

Regarding the upcoming departures of Msc Splendida Summer 24 calling at Istanbul (Galata Port), please be informed that : 

• All embarking passengers , including Turkish Passport Holders,  are permitted to drop off their luggage, complete check-in procedures, board the vessel and disembark to explore the city of Istanbul after boarding.

The permission to disembark and visit the city on the same day of embarkation is exclusively applicable to Istanbul/Galata Port and for international Guests only.

Important note : MSC Cruises cannot be held responsible for any amendments applied by Local Authorities, who retain the right to modify or cancel the aforementioned procedures without prior notification.

MSC Crociere Spa

Via A. Depretis, 31

80133 Napoli, Italy

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VIII. Update 04.06.2024

HIGH PRIORITY - New  restrictions on entry for Russian citizens in Norway- As of May 29th 2024

New regulations are set to take effect on May 29, 2024 and first impacted departures are MSC Euribia from Kiel  25 May/from Copenhagen 26 May

All guests with Russian Passport with a Schengen visa – even issued by Norwegian government  – WILL NOT BE ALLOWED to embark neither to transit in Norway

Russian passport holders will be barred from entering Norway’s national territory, irrespective of whether they are in possession of a Schengen visa – even issued by Norwegian government .

This measure directly affects Russian nationals embarking or transiting in Norway for tourism purposes.

We are waiting for official confirmation about the following exemption: 

• Russian passport holders in possession of a fully valid Schengen country Residence Permit will be allowed to transit into Norwegian ports. 

It goes without saying that Residence Permits under renewal will NOT BE ALLOWED.

Concerning Diplomatic, Service, Governmental Russian passports (that do not need a Schengen Visa) please double check with OCC dept

Further details and developments will follow as soon as we will receive additional instructions.

New- as per Official instructions received from the Norwegian relevant Ministry, all Russian Touristic passport holders cannot enter Norway from 29^th of May. After merging with Local Authorities, relating all cruises arriving in Norway through a Schengen Port (MSC Euribia, MSC Poesia and MSC Preziosa), all Russian Touristic passport holders in possession of a Schengen Visa issued ONLY by Norway after the 30th of May 2022 or with a valid Schengen Residence Permit (under renewal not accepted) and ONLY transiting Norway (not embarking/disembarking) will be exceptionally accepted onboard. Holders of Diplomatic, Service, Special Passports need to receive pre-approval before showing up for the embarkation.

For all other cruises calling extra-Schengen Ports before Norway (MSC Virtuosa), mentioned guests will not be allowed to embark.

MSC Crociere Spa

Via A. Depretis, 31

80133 Napoli, Italy

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IX. Special Embarkation/Disembarkation in GREEK Islands NOT ALLOWED- summer 2024 (notification dated 28.05.2024) 

As per official communication received by the Greek Authorities, this is to inform you that embarkation/disembarkation in Greek islands is not allowed, therefore it won’t be possible to approve any request of special embarkation/disembarkation in these ports before or during the cruise.

MSC Crociere Spa

Via A. Depretis, 31

80133 Napoli, Italy

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X. ICELAND - ACCOMMODATION TAX - MSC PR-PO-VI ITINERARIES 2024 & DEPARTURES 2025 (notification dated 03.07.2024) 

Since January 2024, Iceland’s authorities charge an accommodation tax of ISK 1,000 (approx. €6.7) per cabin per night to cruise guests in the country’s territorial waters, to contribute to the maintenance and development of sustainable tourism in the country. 

PR Cruise days involved : 

Procedure for 2024 departures:

• Msc Cruises will pay the authorities on guest’s behalf in advance; guests will be charged on their onboard account once the ship has left Iceland.
• By default, the ship will charge all cabins , however , guests can be exempt from this tax if the entire cabin occupants decide not to disembark at any Icelandic port. In this case , guests need to notify Guest Services in advance to ensure that the fee is not added to their onboard account.
• In case only part of the guests occupying the same cabin will decide to go ashore to visit Iceland ,even if this happens in only one Icelandic port, the full amount per cabin will be charged anyway .

For departures 2025, pls find here below the list of cruises  impacted: 

• MSC POESIA 29/06/2025 
• MSC PREZIOSA 18/05/2025 + 09/06/2025 + 04/07/2025 + 27/07/2025 + 21/08/2025  
• MSC VIRTUOSA 06/06/2026  

The amount of the Tax charged to the guests  remains the same (of ISK 1,000 (approx. €6.7) per cabin per night)

Procedure for 2025 :

• Accommodation tax will be charged to all cabins.
• Msc Cruises will pay the authorities on guest’s behalf in advance; guests will be charged on their onboard account once the ship has left Iceland.
• In case only part of the guests occupying the same cabin will decide to go ashore to visit Iceland ,even if this happens in only one Icelandic port, the full amount per cabin will be charged anyway .

MSC Crociere Spa

Via A. Depretis, 31

80133 Napoli, Italy

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XI.  MSC Minors policy (notification 12.06.2024

1. Infants under 1 year old are admitted on board, except for cruises starting from 11 nights onwards, for which it is required that the minor is at least 1 year old at the moment of embarkation. 
2. Guests under 18 y.o. (or 21 y.o. for US guests or guests embarking from a US port) must travel accompanied by their parents or a legal guardian. Otherwise, a signed authorization letter from the absent parent has to be provided when booking, along with the name of a chaperone or a designated individual in charge of the minor.

MSC Crociere Spa

Via A. Depretis, 31

80133 Napoli, Italy