MSC CRUISES COUNTS DOWN TO THE RELAUNCH OF MSC ARMONIA: THE SHIP THAT SUITS YOU
25/09/2014
BIGGER, SMARTER, RENEWED MSC ARMONIA TO START INAUGURAL CELEBRATION CRUISE FROM GENOA TO THE CANARIES ON 19 NOVEMBER
Geneva, 25 September 2014 – MSC Armonia, the first of four MSC cruise ships to be enlarged and enhanced under the €200m Renaissance Programme, will be relaunched on 19 November for an inaugural cruise and 10-day seaborne celebration befitting her return to service.
The cruise
MSC Armonia’s comeback cruise will depart from Genoa, Italy, on 19 November 2014 with her sights set on Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. Over 10 days she will call at some of the Mediterranean’s choicest destinations: Marseille, Cartagena, Gibraltar, Cadiz, Funchal, Santa Cruz de La Palma and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Guests can take advantage of MSC Cruises’ four experiences, which are tailored to all needs: “Bella”, which covers all the fundamentals; “Fantastica” offering added luxury, and the high-end “Aurea” experience, combining wellness treatments and all-inclusive beverages.
Blending navigation, celebration and exploration, MSC Cruises has formulated a unique programme of in-port entertainment, with dancers and musicians, gifts for our guests and fireworks displays in Marseille and Tenerife. And the sense of occasion will shape the onboard experience, with for instance a special gala dinner and spectacular theatre performances.
Throughout the cruise, guests will have the chance to watch a ‘making of’ documentary, explaining the remarkable engineering journey taken by MSC Armonia, which will also be taken by her sister ships MSC Sinfonia, MSC Opera and MSC Lirica, between now and November 2015.
Shore excursions
MSC Cruises has assembled a comprehensive range of shore excursions en route so MSC travellers can really get inside the places they visit. Among them are many fascinating city tours, including in Aix-en-Provence, Cartagena and Cadiz; a guided tour of Seville’s gothic cathedral – the world’s third largest church – or a visit to the wine cellars of Jerez de la Frontera to learn about the famous Jerez sherry.
Explore Madeira’s historical capital city Funchal by 4×4, take part in the local tradition of toboggan riding in the streets of Pico dos Barcelos, or simply soak up the breathtaking island views that this town offers. For real exhilaration, take the whale and dolphin watching boat tour off the south coast of Madeira, where sightings are reported on 90% of outings.
In Santa Cruz de La Palma take in views of rugged volcanic landscapes at Fuencaliente, an area that not only boasts the most volcanic eruptions on the island, but is equally famed for its wine production. Full details of shore excursions can be found here.
Itineraries
Following her inaugural cruise, the renewed MSC Armonia will be deployed for a range of 7 night cruises to must-see destinations, like Morocco and the Canary Islands. In one cruise enjoy the majestic expanse of the Sahara Desert and the bustling souks of Marrakech and Agadir. And the stunning vistas under clear skies and constant spring-like temperatures of the Canary Islands’ will provide the perfect respite from the European winter.
Take time to discover Tenerife’s Teide volcano which, as the highest point in Spain at 3,718-metres, is rich in myths and legends. From sand dunes to pine forests, from dry, rocky landscapes to lush banana and tropical fruit plantations, every corner of these destinations is a new world to be explored. On your two-day stay in Madeira discover Funchal, which dramatically overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, with its exotic gardens, palm-fringed seafront and volcanic black sand beaches.
The ship
MSC Armonia will offer more balcony cabins, more spacious common areas, flexible new dining options and new dedicated clubs for younger guests of all ages. She will also have a fantastic new Spray Park – a fun-packed wet zone with interactive jets, slides and ingenious water features. The new enhancements will bring added sparkle to MSC Armonia’s array of features, such as her two open-air swimming pools, distinctive restaurants and bars and the ever-popular Fenice Theatre. A cruise on the renewed MSC Armonia will be a magical, memorable voyage to be treasured for life. A few key features:
94 beautifully appointed balcony cabins
Redesigned restaurants and bars, including 20-hour per day buffet
20 hours of spectacular entertainment per day
Separate Baby (0-3); Mini (3-6); Juniors (7-11); Young (12-14); and Teens (15-17) clubs.
Baby Club designed by market-leading childcare company Chicco®
