A powerful storm sweeping across the coast of Bahia has forced the cruise ship MSC Preziosa to delay its scheduled docking at the Port of Salvador de Bahia. The vessel, which is on a 20-day transatlantic voyage from Hamburg to Rio de Janeiro, was due to dock on Tuesday morning but was prevented from doing so due to adverse weather conditions. The current cruise, themed "Transatlantic, Reposition Autumn," includes multiple stops along the Brazilian coast. Salvador was one of its key ports of call, intended for both disembarkation and the onboarding of new passengers.

According to the Harbor Master's Office, the storm, which began early Monday, created conditions that rendered docking maneuvers completely unfeasible. MSC Cruises issued a statement confirming that the ship is now expected to dock in Salvador on Wednesday, October 22, around 12 p.m., assuming weather conditions permit. The cruise company also noted that it is in contact with affected passengers to offer support and updates as the situation develops.

Following its stop in Salvador, the MSC Preziosa is scheduled to continue along the Bahian coast with ports of call including Ilhéus, located in the southern part of the state.

MSC Cruises said that all itineraries remain subject to adjustments due to safety considerations and unforeseen meteorological events.