MSC Cruises has announced the year-round deployment of MSC Opera in the South Caribbean for the Winter 2026/27 and Summer 2027 seasons, marking the first time the cruise line has deployed a ship in the area during the summer season, and also its first time offering two ships during a winter season.

MSC Cruises will add new ports of call for two of its three sailing itineraries in the Middle East during the winter 2023/24 season.

MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman Pierfranceso Vago says Qatar will form a “very important destination” for the contemporary cruise line’s growth into new markets, confirming this season’s deployment from Doha is not a one-off to capitalise on World Cup demand.

MSC Cruises has agreed to pay Uniworld Boutique River Cruises €2.4m (AU$3.7m) plus interest, for damages caused when MSC Opera ploughed into River Countess in Venice, Italy in June 2019.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection filed a lawsuit against MSC Cruise Management (UK) Limited this week. Uniworld is seeking reimbursement for damages incurred following the 2 June, 2019 incident in which River Countess was struck and subsequently taken out of service by an out-of-control MSC Opera, while docked at the San Basilio Cruise Terminal in Venice, Italy.

The earmarked return of service for Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection’s Venice-based luxury ship River Countess has been pushed back a further two months. Originally scheduled to recommence operation this weekend after a collision with MSC Opera on 2 June, River Countess will now be out of action until early September 2019.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has confirmed four passengers onboard River Countess received minor injuries when the 130-passenger ship was struck by an out-of-control MSC Cruises’ ship in Venice Sunday [2 June, 2019] morning. The 2,100-passenger MSC Opera ploughed into the Italian dock which River Countess had been moored, causing severe damage to the river boat.