Cruise News

Report: MSC Cruises alters ship itinerary to avoid pirates

MSC Rhapsody / Image via kreuzfahrt-reisen.de

A cruise-focused website is reporting that MSC Cruises is altering the itinerary of one of its ships to steer clear of pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

Industry watcher CruiseCritic.com says the Italy-based line plans to re-route the MSC Rhapsody in the wake of Tuesday's 'pirate attack' scare on a Fred Olsen Cruise Line vessel.

The news outlet says the Rhapsody -- scheduled to transit the Gulf of Aden in coming days as it sails from Africa to Europe -- will take a more circuitous route through the waterway that will keep it closer to military ships that could provide an escort if necessary.

The change will add about 500 miles to the ship's crossing of the region, forcing the vessel to miss calls in Egypt's Sokhna and Safaga -- gateway to Egyptian ruins that are a highlight of a cruise through the region. The ship instead will make a single stop in the Egyptian resort town Sharm El Sheik.

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