MSC Armonia explained

MSC Armonia is a Lirica-class cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises. Originally built in 2001 for, the now defunct, Festival Cruises as MS European Vision, she has been operating for MSC Cruises since 2004. At 58,600 gross tons, she can accommodate 2,065 passengers in 783 cabins and 760 crew members.[1]

History

As European Vision

As European Vision, she was chartered for the 27th G8 summit (20 - 22 July 2001) in Genoa, Italy as a secure location to house world leaders. Terrorism fears were high leading up to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Centre. Al Qaeda was believed to be considering Genoa as a target.[2] Although the ship was protected by a phalanx of anti-terrorism units including helicopters and missile launchers, U.S. President George W. Bush stayed at a dockside hotel instead. [3]

As MSC Armonia

MSC Armonia has cruised around the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern Atlantic. On 10 April 2018, MSC Armonia struck a dock at the port in Roatán.[4] Damage to the ship was minor. After repairs were made to the ship, Honduran Port State Control authorities cleared the ship to continue her journey to Belize. No injuries to the passengers and crew on board were reported. The ships' homeport was in Havana until December 2018. She was re-located to Miami, offering cruises to Cuba and, later, to the Caribbean.[5] In November 2020, she was moved to Tampa, Florida as homeport for the first time and sailed to the Caribbean.[6]

COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC reported as early as 22 April 2020, that at least one person who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, was symptomatic while on board.[7]

The COVID-19 pandemic forced fleet redeployments and MSC Armonia was moved to Miami and continued sailing from there through 2021.[8] [9]

On 15 December 2023, a passenger fell overboard and was never found.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MSC Armonia Ship Stats & Information- MSC Cruises MSC Armonia Cruises: Travel Weekly. www.travelweekly.com. en. 2019-09-12.
  2. News: Genoa defends forbidden city from global protest. Rory Carroll. July 15, 2001. The Observer. 2007-12-02.
  3. News: Mayhem, fatality surround G-8 summit. July 21, 2001. St. Petersburg Times. 2007-12-02.
  4. Web site: Trejos. Nancy. 11 April 2018. WATCH: MSC Armonia cruise ship crashes into a dock in Roatan. USA Today.
  5. Web site: Despite loss of Cuba calls, MSC Armonia remaining in Miami: Travel Weekly. Stieghorst. Tim. 2019-07-09. www.travelweekly.com. en. 2019-09-12.
  6. Web site: MSC Armonia to Homeport in Tampa. Staff. C. I. N.. 2019-09-12. www.cruiseindustrynews.com. en-gb. 2019-09-12.
  7. Web site: COVID-19 and Your Health. https://web.archive.org/web/20200422081046/https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/cruise-ship/what-cdc-is-doing.html. 22 April 2020. 11 February 2020.
  8. News: 22 June 2020. MSC Announces Winter Program; New Protocols Onboard. Cruise Industry News. 22 June 2020.
  9. News: 5 June 2020. MSC alters 2021 cruise plans. Travel Weekly. 22 June 2020.
  10. News: Walker . Jim . Passenger Goes Overboard From the MSC Armonia During Transatlantic Cruise to Brazil . Cruise Law News . 15 December 2023.

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