The world's 3rd-largest cruise company MSC announced the cancellation of its South America 2021-2022 winter program based on homeporting in Argentina and Uruguay.
An official release points out that since the beginning of 2021 and continuing on the path outlined in 2020 to achieve the safe resumption of cruises in South America, MSC had been working closely with authorities from Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay "to reestablish protocols and joint operation rules for the 2021/22 season" from Buenos Aires Argentina and Montevideo Uruguay under the new conditions.
The release underlined the “unconditional support from Argentine and Uruguayan authorities” but “unfortunately and despite tireless efforts by all sides, last 2 October, Brazil made public ordinance 657 by which cruise operations in Brazil are restricted exclusively to Brazilian jurisdictional waters, meaning only cabotage, a situation which leaves outside the possibility of itineraries to and from Argentina and Uruguay”.
“Consequently and given the imminent proximity of the beginning of operations, we have had to take the difficult decision of cancelling the 2021/2022 season of MSC Cruises and its vessels, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Orchestra, MSC Preziosa and MSC Splendida which had anticipated operating from and to the ports of Buenos Aires and Montevideo this coming season”.