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MSC Cruises reports it has made some minor changes to the route taken by MSC Melody on its three-week cruise from Durban, South Africa to Genoa, Italy.
Given recent developments concerning possible acts of piracy against ships transiting the Somali east coast and the Gulf of Aden, MSC Cruises now adheres to the navigation recommendations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Maritime Security Centre for the Horn of Africa, a coordination center run by the EU Naval Force to safeguard shipping in the region. While in this region, MSC Cruises’ vessels adopt a range of additional security measures to minimize any risk.
In accordance with the recommendations, the company has slightly modified the itinerary of its cruises on MSC Melody from South Africa to Italy in order to ensure total security and peace of mind for guests and crew. The new route is about 400 miles longer than the previous itinerary, maintaining a greater distance from the coast of Somalia.
To allow for the extra time at sea, MSC Melody will no longer call at the Egyptian port of Safaga; however, the ship will continue to call at Aqaba, Jordan and Sokhnan, Egypt, allowing guests to enjoy the extremely popular excursions to the ancient wonders of Petra and the pyramids of Giza, respectively. The new itinerary also offers more time in the Seychelles with an overnight stop at Port Victoria.
The overall duration of the cruise is unchanged at 22 days and 21 nights.