Severe Winds Disrupt MSC Cruises Again, Forcing An...

It’s a blustery weekend in Marseille, France, and sadly, visitors of MSC Cruises received’t get to take pleasure in it.

Cruise Hive beforehand reported that MSC Splendida was forced to cancel her name to the French Riviera vacation spot on January 15, 2026, as a consequence of harmful climate circumstances. 

Now, MSC World Europa has been pressured to do the identical for her deliberate go to on February 14, 2026. Because of this all calls to Marseille from MSC cruise ships have been cancelled for everything of Valentine’s Day weekend.

“Forecasts point out dangerous climate within the Marseille space tomorrow morning, with wind gusts that might exceed 40 knots, which might have an effect on our capacity to enter the port,” visitors have been notified on February 13.

Wind speeds of 40 knots equate to round 46 miles per hour, with the Met Office reporting gusts reaching as much as 53 miles per hour on February 14.

“Your security and luxury are our high priorities, so we now have made the troublesome resolution to cancel the scheduled port name,” the cruise line continued.

“This case is because of causes past our management. As all the time, we’re dedicated to making sure your consolation and delight for the remainder of your cruise.”

Circumstances are imagined to worsen in a single day, with winds reaching nearer to 50 knots (round 57 miles per hour) when MSC Splendida would have arrived the next day.

Fortunately, the Met Workplace predicts that winds will start dying down by Monday, February 16, when MSC Orchestra and Viking Ocean Cruises’ Viking Saturn are anticipated to name.

Toulon Replaces Marseille

On the morning of February 14, the as much as 6,782 visitors onboard wakened in Toulon, France, as a substitute of Marseille.

The World-class ship remained docked from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m. native time to permit visitors to benefit from the vacation spot’s pure magnificence and sights, akin to colourful markets within the outdated city and the well-known Mont Faron cable automotive.

“We’re happy to substantiate that, as a substitute, we’ll go to Toulon, which affords extra favorable circumstances and is sheltered from the approaching climate system,” MSC advised visitors on February 13.

As Toulon is just round 40 miles away from Marseille, it’s additionally potential that visitors might have nonetheless loved their unique shore excursions. Driving between the ports takes lower than an hour.

Certainly, MSC visitors have been advised they’d obtain updates on their booked excursions reasonably than the usual observe that their excursions have been robotically cancelled and refunded, as is what usually happens with port cancellations.

“All visitors who’ve bought an MSC shore tour will obtain a further letter delivered on to their cabin with extra details about their tour,” the cruise line suggested.

Particular excursions have been then dealt with on a case-by-case foundation.

Embarkation and Debarkation

Just like MSC Splendida, MSC World Europa can be working a number of 7-night Mediterranean sailings concurrently. Embarkation and debarkation happen each time the 215,863-gross ton ship calls at Genoa, Civitavecchia (Rome), Messina, Barcelona, and, in fact, Marseille.

Valentine’s Day was meant to be a kind of passenger turnover days the place a piece of visitors disembark and a brand new spherical of visitors take their place.

However given the proximity between Marseille and Toulon, it probably wouldn’t have been too laborious for visitors to journey the additional distance between the 2 ports.

And sometimes in these conditions, Cruise Hive normally sees that MSC Cruises will supply a free shuttle service to assist visitors full their journeys to and from the port.

For instance, that is how the Switzerland-based model aided stranded visitors when protesting sailors blocked MSC Orchestra’s name to Marseille on February 2.

Embarking visitors who have been left behind in Marseille have been shuttled 244 miles to fulfill the ship in Genoa, Italy, as rapidly as potential.