The giant cruise operator MSC has surrendered with South Africa until at least November

(Getty / Business Insider)

• MSC Cruises, the world’s largest private cruise operator, has officially given up trying to end its sailing season in South Africa.
• He now only plans to send passengers to ships in South Africa for November at the earliest.
• Cruises, and nightclubs, have consistently been banned under lockdown rules, even when other restrictions came and went.
• MSC thought it had convinced the government, in December, to let him out of the port. But he says he can’t wait any longer.
• For more stories, visit www.BusinessInsider.co.za.

The world’s largest privately owned cruise company, MSC Cruises, has given up on sailing in South Africa until at least November.

Passengers who were due to board their ships before then are offered coupons for the next sailing season, which runs through April 2022.

While other lockdown restrictions have come and gone (and, in cases like the alcohol ban, have come and gone a second time), nightclubs and cruises have consistently remained banned under South African rules.

In November, the ban on passenger ships entering South African ports was adjusted to allow small vessels, while large cruise ships remained explicitly prohibited.

MSC said it had been working with South African authorities since March 2020 on coronavirus security protocols. After an inspection in late December, it found that it had satisfied various departments and regulators that it could operate safely, but a month and a half later it is still awaiting approval to sail.

See also | This will be the new terminal of 200 million rand of MSC Cruises in Durban

Now it can’t wait any longer, he said, and made the “difficult decision” to close until next summer.

By the end of 2021, MSC plans to have two ships in South Africa, the MSC Lirica departing from Cape Town and the MSC Musica from Durban. Between them, the ships can carry more than 5,500 passengers at a time, with two-night cruises starting at approximately R3,500 per person.

The company had increased its capacity in South Africa in recent years, due to what it described as rapidly growing demand.

MSC is also the main investor in the development of a passenger terminal in the port of Durban for 200 million rand.

(Compiled by Phillip de Wet)

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