The line previously announced the temporary halting of all its ships through to 30 April.

“As governments across the globe have since further strengthened ashore public health and safety measures to protect local populations and contain the further spread of the virus, today’s decision by MSC Cruises to further extend this extraordinary measure aims to mirror and further support the effectiveness of such efforts,” the line said in a statement.

MSC said it was “working tirelessly with all guests and their travel agents” to address the impact of the decision on bookings up to 29 May, adding it was “genuinely sorry for the inconvenience that this will cause”.

“By announcing this now, the company intends to provide travel agents and guests who are booked on affected sailings with as much time as possible to move their booking to a future cruise,” MSC said.

Impacted guests will receive a future cruise credit of 125% to be used on a cruise of their choice at any point through to the end of 2021.