In the wake of Thursday’s terror attack at the Bordo National Museum, in Tunis, MSC Cruises has decided to suspend all remaining Tunisian calls in the 2015 summer program, according to the company, citing safety concerns.

Itineraries affected by the change will impact four of MSC Cruises’ 12 ships as follows:

•    MSC Splendida will call at Valletta, in Malta
•    MSC Fantasia will call at Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca
•    MSC Preziosa will call at Cagliari, in Sardinia
•    MSC Divina will call at Valletta a day earlier and head directly to Corfu, Greece

MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said: “Sadly, the murderous actions of the people behind this devastating attack will have far-reaching and profoundly damaging effects on democratic Tunisia and its faltering economy. Tunisia can little afford to be considered a no-go zone at this time, but regrettably that is how tourists will now see it.

“Tunis is a key destination for MSC Cruises, and we hope to be able to restore it to itineraries in due course,” Vago continued. “But until we receive the necessary reassurances that the security situation has returned to normal, we have to take our guests to alternative Mediterranean destinations.”

He concluded: “I want to personally thank the Tunisian authorities for the way they have addressed this exceptionally challenging situation, and for enabling us to implement our own response plan effectively.”