High Winds Force MSC to Cancel Marseille Calls for Valentine's Weekend

MSC Cruises cancelled planned calls to Marseille, France, for Valentine’s Day weekend in February 2026 after strong winds were forecast to make entering the port unsafe, forcing itinerary changes for MSC World Europa and MSC Splendida.

The cruise line told guests that deteriorating conditions around Marseille “could compromise the ability to enter the port,” adding, “Your safety and comfort are our top priorities,” in a February 13 message detailing the cancellations.

High winds force MSC to drop Marseille for Valentine’s Day weekend

Forecasts around Marseille called for wind gusts exceeding 40 knots for February 14 and worsening into February 15, when gusts were expected to top 50 knots. The Met Office cited hazardous wind speeds reaching over 50 knots (about 57 miles per hour), conditions that can make docking and mooring too dangerous.

Because the cancelled calls were scheduled on back-to-back days, MSC ships did not call at Marseille during the entirety of Valentine’s Day weekend.

Where the ships went instead

MSC replaced Marseille with alternative French ports that were expected to offer safer conditions, while keeping the sailings’ Riviera focus largely intact.

• MSC World Europa (Feb. 14): The ship called at Toulon, France, about 40 miles from Marseille. MSC World Europa was scheduled to be in port from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time, and the sailing carried as many as 6,782 guests.
• MSC Splendida (Feb. 15): The ship substituted Villefranche-sur-Mer, a more sheltered port between Nice and Monaco. Villefranche-sur-Mer is about 130 miles from Marseille by road.

MSC described the switches as safety-driven, with guest communications emphasizing that Toulon and Villefranche-sur-Mer offered more favorable conditions and were sheltered from the incoming weather system.

Excursions and port-day plans, handled differently by ship

MSC’s guidance to guests varied between the two sailings, particularly for shore excursions that had been booked for Marseille.

For MSC Splendida, the cruise line said Marseille shore excursions would be automatically cancelled and refunded as a credit to guests’ onboard accounts. MSC told guests they could book new tours for Villefranche-sur-Mer onboard, including at the shore excursions desk, or through the MSC for Me app. In its letter confirming the change, MSC said, “We are pleased to confirm that we will instead call at Villefranche-sur-Mer, which offers more favorable conditions and is sheltered from the incoming weather system.”

For MSC World Europa, MSC indicated that because Toulon is relatively close to Marseille, guests should expect follow-up information about pre-booked plans instead of a blanket cancellation notice. Guests who had purchased an MSC shore excursion were told to watch for another letter delivered to their cabin with details about their specific tour, with adjustments handled case by case.

Homeport and turnover logistics added complexity

Marseille is a key port for MSC Cruises in the Mediterranean, both as a regular call and as an embarkation and debarkation point. MSC Splendida uses Marseille as one of its homeports, alongside Genoa, Naples, Palermo, and Barcelona, and February 15 was expected to include both disembarkation for some guests and embarkation for others.

MSC World Europa also had Marseille scheduled as a passenger turnover day in the Mediterranean, as the vessel runs overlapping seven-night itineraries with embarkation and debarkation occurring at multiple ports. MSC World Europa’s route includes calls such as Genoa, Civitavecchia (Rome), Messina, Barcelona, and Marseille.

MSC did not confirm in its guest-facing communications how it would handle travel disruptions for passengers scheduled to embark or disembark MSC Splendida in Marseille on February 15, given the ship’s substitution to Villefranche-sur-Mer. MSC has historically managed similar situations with alternative arrangements, including shuttle services between impacted ports, when operations are disrupted.

More winter disruption in the Mediterranean

The Marseille cancellations followed other weather-related itinerary impacts in the region. Earlier in February, MSC Splendida also cancelled a call to La Goulette-Tunis, Tunisia, due to high winds, underscoring the operational challenges winter conditions can pose for Mediterranean cruises.

When Marseille calls could resume

Forecasts indicated conditions would begin easing by Monday, February 16, when MSC Orchestra and Viking Ocean Cruises’ Viking Saturn were scheduled to call at Marseille. MSC World Europa and MSC Splendida continued their Mediterranean cruises on revised itineraries, with onboard instructions focused on updated excursion details and port-day arrangements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why did MSC Cruises cancel the Marseille calls for Valentine’s Day weekend?

MSC said high winds were forecast around Marseille that could make safe entry and docking uncertain. Forecasts called for gusts above 40 knots on February 14 and worsening into February 15, when winds were expected to exceed 50 knots (about 57 miles per hour).

Where did MSC World Europa go instead of Marseille on February 14, 2026?

MSC World Europa called at Toulon, France, which is roughly 40 miles from Marseille and was described by MSC as more sheltered from the approaching weather system. The ship was scheduled to be in port from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time.

What port replaced Marseille for MSC Splendida on February 15, 2026?

MSC Splendida substituted Villefranche-sur-Mer, a port between Nice and Monaco that MSC said offered more favorable conditions and shelter from the incoming weather system.

Will shore excursions booked for Marseille be refunded?

MSC said Marseille shore excursions booked for MSC Splendida would be automatically cancelled and refunded as onboard credit, which guests could use to book new tours for Villefranche-sur-Mer onboard or via the MSC for Me app. For MSC World Europa, MSC told guests to expect follow-up details delivered to cabins, with excursion adjustments handled on a case-by-case basis rather than through a blanket cancellation notice.