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TASTE THE #MEDWAYOFLIFE WITH THE NEW MSC CRUISES 2014/2016 BROCHURE
04/04/2014
THE MOST EXHAUSTIVE WAY INTO MSC CRUISES’ WORLD

Geneva, 04 April – Available in travel agencies and online at ww.msccruises.com in 18 different languages, the new MSC Cruises October 2014/April 2016 brochure will be presented in different markets at the beginning of April. It captures the very essence of MSC’s Mediterranean way of life, taking travellers on a voyage of discovery across more than 1,000 itineraries. For the first time ever, the new brochure will encompass destinations and itineraries offered by MSC Cruises over the course of 18 months. Continue reading “TASTE THE MEDWAYOFLIFE WITH THE NEW MSC CRUISES”

MSC CRUISES AND STX FRANCE SIGN A LETTER OF INTENT FOR TWO PROTOTYPE CRUISE SHIPS
20/03/2014
The most versatile cruise ships of the world due for delivery in 2017 and 2019

PARIS, 20 March 2014 – Today MSC Cruises signed a letter of intent (LOI) with STX France for the construction of two new cruise ships, with an option for two more. The two ships will join MSC Cruises’ fleet, currently counting 12 ships, all built in the Saint-Nazaire yards. The signature took place at the Hôtel de L’Industrie, in Paris in the presence of Gianluigi Aponte, President of MSC group, Laurent Castaing, General Manager of STX France and Pierre Moscovici, French Minister of Economy and Finance. Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, and Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises were also in attendance.

“Growth and development have always been the characteristics that have defined MSC since the very beginning of our journey into the world of cruising. The launch of this prototype and the building of these two new ships confirm our commitment to further growth and to further development. MSC Cruises will expand its capacity by 31%: we will incredibly enrich our offer on board and we will broaden our horizons to ensure we meet the growing global demand in every region” said MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago. “Once again our longstanding partnership with the STX yard has proved key for these plans”.

“We are really proud of building this new generation of ships for MSC Cruises, a long-time appreciated partner. We invested a lot of R&D and design efforts to make sure that MSC Cruises’ new flagship would truly be unmatched. The latest commercial negotiation was particularly challenging in the light of today’s global competitive landscape in the shipbuilding industry. I would like to point out that the competitiveness agreement signed with our trade unions has been decisive to reach this LOI signature” said Laurent Castaing, STX France General Manager.

The two units are due for delivery respectively in 2017 and 2019. 315 metres long and 43 metres wide, with a gross tonnage of about 167,600 tons, boasting 2,250 cabins for guests, nearly 820 crew cabins, and accommodating 5,700 passengers and 1,536 crew members.

“The new prototype will be the biggest cruise ship ever built by a European ship owner and the most versatile and flexible of the world: not only will it be able to call in most of the ports and destinations on earth, without compromise, but it will have extraordinary features that will make it the perfect choice at sea, in summer and in winter. The two new ships will reaffirm MSC Cruise’s dedication to outstanding and genuine dining options and out-of-this-world entertainment with new panoramic spaces, a bigger theatre and a spectacular amusement park connected to an outdoor aqua park as well as a two-deck “inside promenade” explained Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises.

Among the new features of the ships there will be specially designed cabins for families and an “extended” MSC Yacht Club, the entirely self-contained private club on the prestigious foredecks that will now be completed with a vast solarium, a private lounge and restaurant and duplex suites.

The new prototype is the result of a long development process, conducted in the framework of STX’s ECORIZON ® programme, leading to the creation of a new generation of ships that are cleaner, more efficient and more technological. It will be water emission free, while its hull and propulsion system will be optimised for better energy efficiency. The installation of scrubbers will allow for fumes to be neutralised and CO2 emissions to be in accordance with the latest evolutions of international maritime regulations.

The contract signed is worth 16 million working hours for STX France and its subcontractors, 9 million for the prototype and 7 for the second unit. Building is due to start in spring 2015.

The contract will be binding when the financial package is secured.

MSC CRUISES: A PASSION FOR SPORTS
14/03/2014
FROM THE FIFA WORLD CUP TO SWISS HOCKEY

2014 is a year during which global major sport events will shape sport’s history, creating legends that will be spoken of for many years to come. Half the world is expected to watch the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the NBA playoffs, the Super bowl, the Tour de France, Formula 1 and Moto GP, not mentioning the major tennis tournaments, the UEFA Champion’s League and Europa League, the English Premier League and FA Cup, the Spanish Liga, the German Bundesliga, the French Ligue 1 and the Dutch Eredivisie and of course Italy’s Serie A. MSC Cruises travellers will be part of this world as MSC Cruises is offering its guests a wide choice of sport events to watch on board. The big screens in the Sports bar or around the pool, all the passion for unforgettable acrobatic touchdowns, last second thrills, buzzer beaters, snacks and beers, the collective cheering for a team, emotions running high: what else? For MSC Cruises sport means sociability, the joy of spending time together, the importance of sharing special moments. Sport means passion, teamwork and fun. This is the reason why the company signed several partnerships with different teams in some European countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. Italy from South to North In Italy, MSC Cruises is the partner of SSC Napoli, its “home” football team as the roots of the Aponte family are in Sorrento, directly across the bay from Naples. In addition, MSC Cruises is sponsoring AC Milan, SS Lazio in Rome, the two clubs of Genoa – UC Sampdoria and CFC Genoa – as well as Cagliari Calcio, Udinese Calcio and UC Palermo. MSC Cruises is also supporting the two Italian basketball clubs of Basket Cantù and Reyer Venezia Basket.In this country, MSC Cruises offers young fans the opportunity to meet some of their favourite players and embark on a theme cruise dedicated to their sports club and their supporters. Football passion both in France, Germany and Spain In Germany, MSC Cruises is a partner of Hamburger SV in the German football league. This partnership enables MSC Cruises to offer young German football fans the opportunity to embark on a cruise dedicated to football and HSV from 18 to 21 April 2014, sailing between Hamburg and Amsterdam.In Spain, MSC Cruises is supporting one of the country’s favourite football clubs – Valencia CF. In France, MSC Cruises is also offering football fans a unique opportunity to enjoy a unique “football passion” cruise, departing from Marseille on 26 October 2014. The full programme is available here From water to ice in Switzerland! In Switzerland, MSC Cruises recently became one of the main sponsors of the Geneva Servette Hockey Club, hence confirming its support for local institutions and communities. Last January the company also sponsored the local ice hockey derby between Geneva and Lausanne – The MSC Winter Classic – which saw some 30,000 fans enjoy the game in a football stadium. Baseball Greats Cruises in US Finally, in the United States, from where MSC Divina sails year-round the in the Caribbean, MSC Cruises celebrate America’s favourite pastime with a series of baseball-themed Caribbean cruises, paying tribute to the sport and its legendary players. On each cruise, players partake in a number of activities with passengers, including a player-hosted trivia game, pitching contest, Q&A, storytelling sessions and hitting, fielding and base-running clinics. On 10 former Yankee star Stan Bahnsen will be the host and MC for all of the onboard activities. He will chat and share memories and revelations with Gorman Thomas (Milwaukee Brewers American Leagues’ Two Time Home Run King), Gary Peters (White Sox, 1963 Rookie of the Year and All-Star pitcher) and Randy Hundley (Chicago Cubs, All-Star and Gold Glove catcher, set numerous records, invented the hinged catcher’s mitt and Fantasy Camps). More information is available here.Captions: Photo 1: Third ‘Rossoneri’ theme cruise on board MSC Fantasia.Photo 2: MSC Winter Classic between Genève Servette Hockey Club and Lausanne Hockey Club ©Augusto Tomassetti.

MSC CRUISES ANNOUNCES RECORD NUMBER OF BOOKINGS
17/02/2014
The company achieves “best booking month” in its history

Geneva, 17 February 2014 – MSC Cruises is pleased to announce that in the last 30 days the number of people who booked an MSC cruise, choosing to experience the joys of the Mediterranean way of life on board, reached a record high, totalling 208,262 travellers.

Among some of the favourites of MSC’s future on board guests are MSC Divina’s glamorous exploration of the Caribbean during the summer, MSC Lirica’s sophisticated sailing through the hidden jewels of the Mediterranean and Northern Europe sailings, offering a unique perspective on some of the world’s most stunning natural wonders or a visit to the beautiful capital cities of the Baltic.

This announcement coincides with the recent launch of the #MEDWAYOFLIFE campaign that provides a glimpse into the essence of an MSC travel: that special connection to the sea, that magic instant when land emerges from the horizon, the joyful meeting of tastes, the enjoyment of letting time casually drift by, the slow harmony that everyday life may have lost, the idea that if the world is a magical theatre, we should have a front-row seat.