• New embarkation port – Trieste, Italy • New destination in Sicily – Siracusa • New itineraries feature most popular ports with MSC Cruises guests
Geneva, Switzerland – 20 September, 2019 – With this year’s summer holiday memories already fading and with Autumn just around the corner, this is the best time to start planning for next year’s get away. Fortunately, MSC Cruises has an incredible choice of summer holidays and each year aims to offer new and innovative itineraries to inspire! A cruise is a great way to visit multiple countries in one trip, all without unpacking a suitcase and from May 2020, MSC Lirica is offering guests two unique new itineraries that cannot be missed! Continue reading “Msc Lirica offers innovative itineraries”
Ship to feature the latest and most advanced environmental technology, including a state-of-the-art Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system and a next-generation Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) system Further enhanced ship design and intelligently distributed deck space adds new dimensions for guest experience at sea, from accommodations to dining and entertainment including the highest ratio of outdoor space per guest of any ship in the company’s fleet Continue reading “Details of Msc Seashore coin ceremony”
MSC Armonia
By courtesy of FINCANTIERI S.p.A.; All rights reserved
• Following an extensive dry-dock refresh, MSC Armonia to become the first MSC Cruises ship to homeport in Tampa as of November 2020
• Winter 2019/20: four MSC Cruises ships dedicated to the Caribbean region for first time, as further evidence of the Company’s focus on the region
Geneva, Switzerland, 12 September 2019 – MSC Cruises today announced that, following an extensive dry-dock refresh for the ship, Tampa, FL will become the new year-round homeport for MSC Armonia from November 2020 as the cruise line continues to develop its presence in the North American market.
Guest demand for cruise options from Tampa has led to MSC Armonia’s move from Miami next year and the first sailing from her new homeport will be on 1 November 2020 when she begins a 4-night Caribbean mini cruise to Cozumel in Mexico. MSC Armonia will offer 4- to 5-night short cruises for the 2020/21 winter season and for summer 2021 week-long cruises will be available.
A major highlight in all of MSC Armonia’s itineraries from Tampa will be calls to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the new breathtaking private island destination in the Bahamas that opens in November 2019 and will be exclusive to MSC Cruises guests. The ship’s new itineraries will also feature MSC Cruises’ exclusive partnership with U.S. home and lifestyle expert Martha Stewart, including exclusive culinary and discovery experiences on board and ashore.
MSC Meraviglia will join MSC Seaside, MSC Divina and MSC Armonia in North America for winter 2019/20. As a result, MSC Cruises will have four ships for the first time serve this market in another tangible measure of its expanding presence in the region.
Gianni Onorato, MSC Cruises’ CEO, said: “The introduction of Tampa as a homeport is another important milestone as we continue to grow our presence and profile in North America to meet the growing demand for our product.
“MSC Armonia’s short cruises will be perfect for first time U.S. guests to experience our European heritage and I’m sure that our seven-night product will appeal greatly to families. With every sailing from Tampa including our exclusive Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve private island, all of the ship’s itineraries should also be extremely attractive for large U.S. groups and charters.”
For winter 2021/21 MSC Armonia will offer a variety of destinations, including Key West in Florida and the Mexican resorts of Cozumel, Costa Maya and Progreso, as well as the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
Following its inaugural season in Tampa, from May 2021 MSC Armonia will then switch to 7-night sailings with calls at Key West, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Cozumel and Progreso.
With options for guests to book back-to-back cruises with new destinations on each sailing, travelers also have the ability to extend the length of their holiday to 9 or 10 nights.
• The newly-restyled and extended MSC Magnifica will now also feature two new major and important onboard environmental advances: a state-of-the-art Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system and next-generation Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) system
• MSC Magnifica’s guests to enjoy even more public spaces, more and improved guest accommodation options, new features as well brand-new itineraries encompassing Northern Europe, Baltic Capitals, Canary Islands & Madeira and the Mediterranean
Geneva, Switzerland – 11th September 2019 – MSC Cruises opened sales today for MSC Magnifica for summer 2021, sailing from Southampton, UK. The ship will undergo a Euro 130 million transformation at the start of 2021, adding 23 meters to the ship resulting in an additional 7,000 m2 of comfort and other features.
When works will be completed, MSC Magnifica will feature two new major and important onboard environmental advances to complement a wide range of existing leading-edge environmental technologies across the company’s entire fleet: a state-of-the-art Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system and next-generation Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) system.
SCR technology helps reducing nitrogen oxide into pure nitrogen and water through advanced active emissions control technology. MSC Cruises also took the opportunity to install a state-of-the-art advanced wastewater treatment system on board that meets the highest standards and that purifies used wastewater to near tap-water quality. The system meets the so-called ‘Baltic Standard’ and treats the wastewater to a higher standard than most waste standards available in cities around the world.
To help reducing and continuously minimizing emissions also while in port, the ship will be able to ‘plug in’ to the local power grid wherever such systems are available at berth.
MSC Magnifica’s transformation will also result in the addition of 215 extra cabins – thus bringing the total number of balcony cabins to 63% of the overall ship – as well as overall improved guest accommodations, an additional 800m2 of sundeck, a totally new water park, a redesigned kids area, plus additional features such as two new restaurants and a new shopping area.
Additionally, MSC Cruises revealed today that MSC Magnifica will also offer new and varied itineraries to some of the most popular destinations in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands & Madeira, Northern Europe plus the Baltic Capitals. Following her transformation works the ship will in fact adhere to the world’s strictest environmental standards set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which allows MSC Magnifica to be certified to operate in delicate environment including the Baltic Sea.
The 24 sailings from Southampton beginning in May 2021 and ending in October 2021, will see the introduction of cruises ranging from 2-nights to 14-nights. One of the highlights is a 12-night cruise in May, which calls at three of the Canary Islands – Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote – with their fantastic climate, distinctive landscapes and bustling ports.
Meanwhile in August, a 14-night Western Mediterranean cruise that will include popular destinations such as Palma de Mallorca and Monte Carlo will be the perfect choice for the family summer holiday. MSC Magnifica will offer four different stunning Norwegian Fjord itineraries and will call at two brand new destinations: Skagen in Denmark, renowned for hours of sun and a unique light; and, Rosendal, Norway, which is the world’s fourth largest fjord — making this the picture-perfect cruise for summer 2021.
As part of her in-depth transformation work, MSC Magnifica will also receive additional new and upgraded state-of-the-art environmental technology, including hybrid exhaust gas cleaning system (ECGS), as part of MSC Cruises’ longstanding commitment to minimize and continuously reduce its impact on the environment. Such a system removes up to 98% of the sulphur dioxide from the ship’s exhaust and greatly reduces particulate matter. The hybrid EGCS system on MSC Magnifica provides a higher level of flexibility to operate under all circumstances in an environmentally sound and responsible manner.
Sales for MSC Magnifica are open from 12 September and guests who book before 12 November will receive a 5% early booking discount. Voyagers Club Members will also receive their usual 5% loyalty discount in addition to the early booking discount.
ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
Mini Cruise during the May UK public holiday
This 3-night sailing runs across the late May Bank Holiday and is perfect for a first-time cruiser who wants a taster of a holiday at sea or an experienced cruiser looking to make the most of the bank holiday weekend. Set sail from Southampton late on Friday evening and spend the day in Zeebrugge before returning to Southampton.
Baltic Capitals
There are two opportunities to discover the much-loved Baltic Capitals, on a 12-night cruise departing 31st May or on a 14-night cruise departing 11th September. Offering slightly different itineraries with added highlights on the 14-night itinerary including an overnight stay in the Swedish Capital Stockholm, and a visit to Denmark’s Skagen. Both sailings include an overnight onboard stay in St Petersburg and a visit to Norway’s capital, Oslo.
Norway Your Way
With so many beautiful ports to explore in Norway choose from one of four different Norwegian Fjord itineraries setting sail across the summer season. Explore much loved ports including Flamm and Stavanger and new destinations for MSC Cruises Rosendal, Denmark and Nordfjordeid, Norway. Cruises depart throughout the summer,
14 nights perfect for families
Following guest and agent feedback this 14-night cruise to some of the Mediterranean’s most loved destinations has been developed with families in mind. Departing on the 7th August this no-fly cruise begins with two sea days to give guests a chance to settle in. Then it’s action packed itinerary allows you to explore seven different ports in nine days including a late sail from the fabulous Palma de Mallorca and a visit to the exclusive Monte Carlo.
MSC Cruises’ first Meraviglia-Plus class ship MSC Grandiosa has successfully completed her first intensive systems tests at sea during a three-day trial in the Atlantic Ocean between 28-31 August. MSC Cruises’ latest flagship will next receive her finishing touches at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France before being officially delivered to MSC Cruises on 31 October.
With a gross tonnage of 181,000, the ship has a total guest capacity of 6,334 and will feature some of the latest innovative marine technology and systems to become MSC Cruises’ most efficient and environmentally clean ship in its fleet.
MSC Grandiosa is equipped with two new and important technological innovations including a selective catalytic reduction system to decrease nitrogen oxide emissions by 90 per cent and transform it into pure water and nitrogen. The flagship is also fitted with a state-of-the-art advanced wastewater treatment system that will lead to nearly zero impact on discharges and allow her to operate in delicate environments such as the Baltic Sea and Alaska.
The new environmental features add to other effective technologies deployed on MSC Grandiosa to further reduce her environmental impact including a cutting-edge exhaust gas cleaning system, systems for the prevention of oil discharge from machinery spaces, a ballast water treatment system and various energy-saving improvements such as heat recovery systems and LED lighting.
The christening ceremony for MSC Grandiosa takes place on 9 November in Hamburg ahead of an inaugural season in the Western Mediterranean with maiden calls from her Genoa homeport to Civitavecchia, Palermo, Valletta, Barcelona and Marseilles.
