MSC Cruises drops Egypt and Ukraine as port stops this year

MSC Cruises announced last week that its ships will skip port calls in Ukraine and Egypt for the rest of the year and next winter over concerns for safety.

“These itinerary changes attest to MSC Cruises’ permanent focus on the safety of guests and crew ...,” the statement says.

In March, 12 MSC Splendida passengers were killed and 13 injured during a terrorist attack at a museum in Tunis, Tunisia. In all, 23 tourists died in an act for which the extremist group Islamic State took credit.

MSC pulled the Tunisian capital as a port of call for the rest of the year.

Now the company will replace stops in Ukraine and Egypt with destinations like the Greek islands Rhodes and Heraklion, Crete, as well as Limassol, Cyprus, and Eilat, Israel.

The changes affect sailings of the line’s Sinfonia, Opera, Fantasia and Musica ships.

One other change: The MSC Divina won’t return to the Mediterranean next season but to Miami instead. The ship will sail to the Caribbean year-round starting in November.