MSC Cruises Drops Geiranger from 2025 MSC Euribia Itineraries Due to Safety Concerns

MSC Cruises has announced significant itinerary changes for MSC Euribia’s May 2025 sailings, specifically removing planned visits to Geiranger, Norway, due to safety concerns. The decision stems from unpredictable natural and weather conditions in the region, including the risk of avalanches, as communicated to booked guests.

Originally, the itinerary included a brief stop in Hellesylt for shore excursions before proceeding to Geiranger, where most guests would disembark. However, to ensure passenger safety, the halt in Geiranger has been canceled, and the revised itinerary now features a full-day call at Hellesylt instead.

The affected sailings include seven-night cruises departing from Kiel and Copenhagen on May 3, May 10, and May 17, 2025. These cruises also visit other Norwegian ports such as Flåm, Ålesund, and Molde.

Passengers who had pre-paid tours booked for Geiranger are being offered the opportunity to select alternative shore excursions or cancel their reservations for full refunds while onboard. MSC Cruises emphasizes that the safety and well-being of guests are top priorities and apologizes for any disappointment caused by these changes.

In addition to the itinerary adjustments in Norway, MSC Cruises has also canceled a repositioning voyage for the MSC Euribia scheduled to depart on April 5, 2025. This 28-night cruise was to link Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Kiel in Germany, featuring a transit of the Suez Canal and visits to destinations in Qatar, Oman, Jordan, and Egypt. The cancellation is due to safety concerns in the Red Sea area.

As a result, the MSC Euribia is expected to sail to Northern Europe without guests onboard, navigating around Africa before commencing its summer program in the region. Between early May and mid-October, the ship is scheduled to offer seven-night cruises to the Norwegian Fjords and Denmark, sailing from Kiel.

The MSC Euribia, MSC Cruises’ newest LNG-powered vessel, completed its first year in service in May 2024. Built by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, the ship was handed over to the company on May 31, 2024.

Before welcoming its first paying guests, the MSC Euribia sailed the industry’s first net-zero greenhouse emission cruise, a four-day voyage from Saint-Nazaire in France to Copenhagen in Denmark, using bio-LNG and resulting in a saving of 43 tons of fuel. The ship performed 11 percent better than its digital twin, thanks to various optimization and energy-efficiency measures.

Following its inaugural season in the Norwegian Fjords, the MSC Euribia is set to debut in the Middle East during the 2024-25 season. The ship’s winter program features departures from Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and Doha in Qatar, with itineraries sailing to destinations in the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain.

This deployment marks the ship’s first operation outside Northern Europe. After completing its Middle East season, the MSC Euribia will reposition to Northern Europe for its summer program.

Passengers booked on the affected cruises are encouraged to review the updated itineraries and shore excursion options provided by MSC Cruises. The company remains committed to delivering a safe and enjoyable cruising experience, despite the necessary itinerary adjustments.