MSC CRUISES LAUNCHES PIONEERING SAMSUNG VIRTUAL CRUISE SHIP EXPERIENCE

MSC CRUISES LAUNCHES PIONEERING SAMSUNG VIRTUAL CRUISE SHIP EXPERIENCE AT EXPO 2015
29/04/2015
TOP EUROPEAN TRAVEL AGENT PARTNERS TO RECEIVE ADVANCED IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY AS SALES AID

Geneva, Switzerland, 29 April 2015 – MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately-owned cruise line and market leader in the Mediterranean, and standout tech leader Samsung have developed a cutting-edge tool that creates fully immersive virtual reality tours of MSC Cruises’ ships.

Following its launch at Expo 2015, which opens this Friday (1 May), MSC Cruises will make the innovative new technology available to top European travel agent partners as a powerful tool that enriches the way clients are introduced to the MSC Cruises experience at the time of sale.
Based on Samsung’s Gear VR headsets and a purpose-built software application, would-be cruisers are walked through many highlights of an onboard MSC Cruises experience – before setting foot on board. The project is another example of MSC Cruises’ consistent dual focus on technological innovation and partnerships with best-in-class brands.
During the experience, users can “walk” freely through six key areas of the ship, including cabins, pool areas and restaurants. They can even take a seat in the ship’s theatre and watch one of the many spectacular shows on every MSC Cruises programme. In addition, the 360° sensory technology brings the user the mouth-watering aromas that fill the air of an MSC Cruises restaurant, such as fresh fruit, rosemary and basil, newly baked bread or chocolate.
This ambitious step forward will be showcased before millions of expected visitors at Expo 2015, of which MSC Cruises is the Official Cruise Carrier. Expo 2015 runs between 1 May and 31 October.
MSC Cruises’ stand, located at H24 –stand 139 – at Expo 2015 will feature a range of virtual experiences using Samsung Gear VR, powered by Oculus, and software and hardware specially developed by the AxedGroup. The virtual ship tour application, running on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, immerses the viewer in a dazzlingly real experience.
Other under-development experiences include tours of MSC Cruises’ under-construction prototype ships. These include MSC Meraviglia, a highly versatile, all-ports ship due to enter service in 2017 from the triple homeports of Genoa, Marseille and Barcelona; and MSC Seaside, a sun-worshipper’s paradise, which will deploy year round from Miami to the Caribbean from winter 2017.
As well as Samsung and Expo 2015, MSC Cruises partners with multiple global brands that are bywords for excellence in their fields. Restaurant brand Eataly adds high-end Italian cuisine based on exceptional ingredients to the fleet’s rich dining offering, while partnerships with Chicco and the Lego Group are rooted in the Company’s commitment to creating unforgettable holidays for children and families.