MSC Cruises Cancels French Port Visit As Strike Disrupts Itinerary

MSC Cruises has cancelled a scheduled visit to Le Havre, France, aboard MSC Preziosa on 5th November 2026, with the ship instead spending an additional night in Belgium as industrial action threatens to disrupt port operations.

The change affects passengers on the 4,345-guest vessel, which had been due to depart Zeebrugge on 4th November before continuing to the French port the following day.

Instead, MSC Preziosa will remain docked in Zeebrugge overnight, departing at 6pm on 5th November, 24 hours later than originally scheduled.

The decision follows warnings of nationwide strikes and protests in France, with disruption expected across transport networks and other public services.

Passengers Notified Of Last-Minute Itinerary Change

Guests were informed of the revised arrangements in a notice issued on 3rd November and signed by the ship’s captain, Francesco Iacono.

The notice explained that the cancellation had been made in response to planned industrial action, with MSC Cruises prioritising passenger safety and comfort.

“We would like to inform you of a change to our itinerary due to planned nationwide strike and protest action in France on Thursday, 5 November,” the notice stated.

The cruise line has confirmed that passengers who purchased shore excursions in Le Havre through MSC Cruises will receive refunds credited to their onboard accounts.

Those wishing to make the most of the extended stay in Belgium have been encouraged to visit the ship’s Shore Excursions Desk, where alternative tours in and around Zeebrugge can be arranged.

The revised schedule provides passengers with an overnight stay in Belgium rather than the originally planned single-day visit.

Zeebrugge is a popular gateway for cruise passengers visiting Bruges, although the additional time in port will be of less benefit to those who had planned activities in northern France.

Le Havre is also frequently used as a starting point for excursions to Paris and destinations across Normandy.

The disruption is potentially more complicated for passengers embarking or disembarking in France.

MSC Preziosa operates overlapping itineraries with embarkation points including Southampton, Hamburg, Amsterdam and Le Havre.

Some passengers had booked a seven-night cruise beginning in Le Havre on 5th November, the date of the cancelled visit.

MSC Cruises has not publicly detailed how those passengers will be accommodated or whether alternative arrangements will be required to join the vessel.

Another French Strike Disrupts Cruise Schedules

The planned industrial action on 5th November involves a coalition of major French trade unions, known as an intersyndicale.

The protests concern several issues, including pay, rising living costs, public services and government budget proposals.

Disruption is expected to extend beyond the country’s ports, with transport, education and healthcare among the sectors potentially affected.

Port workers have also been involved in recent industrial action.

A previous strike on 30th October involved unions representing approximately 14,000 port employees, including 7,500 dockworkers, according to French newspaper Le Parisien.

Those unions have also announced plans to participate in the 5th November action, raising concerns about the ability of ports to operate normally.

The cancellation involving MSC Preziosa follows a series of recent itinerary changes affecting cruise ships scheduled to visit France.

On 30th October, MSC Virtuosa cancelled a planned visit to Le Havre because of strike action involving dockworkers.

That sailing also experienced a separate disruption when poor weather forced the cancellation of a visit to La Rochelle.

Earlier in the month, P&O Cruises’ Iona missed a scheduled stop in Le Havre on 18th October, with the ship instead heading to La Coruña in Spain.

That change was attributed to protests and civil unrest in France, rather than the industrial action planned for November.

The latest cancellation means another MSC Cruises ship has been forced to alter its itinerary because of disruption in France within the space of a week.

For passengers aboard MSC Preziosa, the immediate result is an extended stay in Belgium and the loss of a planned French port visit, while arrangements for those due to embark in Le Havre remain unclear.