MSC Cruises cancels the Armonia repositioning voyage to South Africa
The 26-night sailing from Marghera to Durban was routed through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea
MSC Cruises has cancelled the repositioning voyage of MSC Armonia to South Africa because of the security situation in the Red Sea region.
The 26-night cruise had been scheduled to leave Marghera, Italy, on 1 November 2026, sailing through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea before arriving in Durban. "Due to the persistent geopolitical situation in the Suez region and the impact this is having on maritime transport, it is now clear that we will not be able to guarantee safe transit through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea," the line said.
The itinerary included calls in Croatia and Greece before the canal transit. The 2001-built ship would then have continued through the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, calling at Aqaba in Jordan, Mahe in the Seychelles, Diego Suarez in Madagascar and Port Louis in Mauritius on the way south.
The voyage was designed to place the ship in position for her first South African season in the winter of 2026/2027. She is still scheduled to operate cruises in the region during that season, and the line has not detailed how it now intends to reposition her.
"Your safety and well-being are our highest priority, and we want to offer you the certainty and peace of mind you need before leaving for your cruise," the company said, adding that the decision was taken after careful consideration.
Passengers booked on the sailing are being offered several alternatives. They can cancel without penalty and take a full refund, or transfer to another MSC Grand Voyage of similar duration. Replacement Grand Voyages may run up to three nights longer, and for passengers choosing that route the line will apply whichever of the two fares is more favourable. Bookings can also be moved without penalty to any other currently scheduled MSC cruise, in which case the fare of the newly selected sailing applies and payments already made transfer across.
A repositioning voyage is a delivery leg sold as a product, which is what makes this cancellation awkward rather than routine. The ship still has to reach Durban for a season that has been advertised, and the only alternative to Suez is the long way round the Cape, on a hull whose revenue itinerary was the transit itself.
This story is part of the Maritime Briefing of 11 September 2026.
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