GENEVA — MSC Cruises has further extended its temporary pause of its U.S.-based sailings through to and including Dec. 31, 2020.

The decision impacts the schedules of three of its ships based in Florida: MSC Seaside in Port Canaveral, and MSC Meraviglia and MSC Armonia in PortMiami.

Guests booked through MSC Cruises Canada on impacted sailings will be offered a 125% Future Cruise Credit (FCC) of the original cruise fare, which allows them to transfer the full amount paid for their cancelled cruise to a future cruise of their choice – on any ship and any itinerary – through April 30, 2022.

Alternatively, impacted guests can access a full refund of the original amount after Dec. 31, 2021. Guests booked through a Canadian travel agent or tour operator are encouraged to contact them directly as their terms and conditions may vary.

The 125% FCC provides guests with opportunities to upgrade their stateroom category and add pre-purchases such as specialty dining, beverage packages, Wi-Fi or spa treatments to their booking.

This latest extension comes on the heels of the CDC’s announcement last week to lift its No Sail Order, which paves the way for cruise lines to resume operations, with conditions in place. Although a new ‘Framework for Conditional Sailing Order’ was unveiled by the CDC, it is still not clear how soon cruising will return to U.S. waters.