Blick reader reporter Bruno C.* was recently on a cruise with MSC Cruises in the United Arab Emirates. From there, he reported: “We were very surprised that the majority of the passengers came from Russia.” Interviews with the ship’s personnel revealed that this has been the case for a long time.
It’s not the Russian passengers themselves who bother him. But a Swiss-based shipping company – MSC Cruises, headquartered in Geneva – continues to do business with Russian passengers despite the war in Ukraine.
legally clean
When asked by Blick, MSC Cruises said, “We respect the laws of the countries in which our ships operate.” In addition, MSC Cruises must comply with the laws and regulations of its home country, Switzerland. Switzerland has largely accepted EU sanctions against Russia. These include, above all, import and export bans in the goods sector and financial transactions. Travel restrictions were also introduced. As a result, currently no airlines, including Switzerland, fly from Russia to the EU/Schengen area.
However, other countries do not have such restrictions. As of January 2023, citizens and residents of the Russian Federation can enter 83 countries without a visa. This includes popular holiday destinations such as Egypt, Thailand, United Arab Emirates or Turkey. Even destinations close to the US like Mexico or Costa Rica are open to them. “Guests can board from any port of their choice, as long as there are no restrictions on their entry or stay in the country of departure,” MSC said.
Russians not residing in Russia
As the total number of resorts available to Russians has decreased, there are still more tourists at the “allowed” resorts. This may explain why the share of Russian passengers on ships in the Middle East has increased.
However, MSC Cruises categorically denies that this is the case. Specific figures for Russian guests were not given, but in Geneva, MSC cites “a small number of passengers” arriving from Russia: “It should be noted that most of the few Russian-speaking people who have recently traveled on one of our ships are either nationals of other countries or Russian citizens residing in other countries. “
Finally, a Russian resident in Switzerland can, for example, book cruise tickets or hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and travel there without being restricted by their presence or transit by Switzerland or the UAE, as can any Swiss citizen residing there. Finally, the so-called Russian-speaking passengers may not be Russian – perhaps Ukrainians or people who speak another Slavic language that sounds like it.
Reservations possible from Russia
However: it is quite possible for a person living in Russia to travel on the MSC ship. Because MSC Cruises is clearly different from other shipping companies. In May 2022, the Russian Association of Tour Operators reported that Carnival Corporation had ceased the sale of cruises without public notice to “citizens residing in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, and the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine.” However, cruises with MSC Cruises are still available through the Russian general agency PAC Group.
Looking at the PAC Group website, MSC travel is still bookable for Russian residents in 2022; For 2023, but again only at the end of the year. MSC Cruises does not want to go into detail about this information. Competitor TUI Cruises explains that no cruises are sold in the Russian sourcing market. Same with Aida Cruises.
Ukraine war hits shipping trade
Shortly after the outbreak of war, all major cruise ships gave up their routes to and from Russia. Instead of St. Petersburg, the Baltic port was increasingly approached. According to estimates by the British shipping company Panache Cruises, the Russian economy has so far lost more than 110 million francs. River cruises on Russian rivers were also stopped. Shipping companies cannot deploy ships stationed there.
Finally, the war increased the personnel problem on the ships. Many crew passengers usually come from Ukraine. However, because of the war, Ukrainians are currently unable to work on ships.
* Name changed by editors