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 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.
#MEDWAYOFLIFE VIDEO SERIES
31/01/2014
A GLIMPSE INTO THE ESSENCE OF AN MSC TRAVEL
Geneva, 31 January – A new MSC Cruises’ video series based on the company’s clear dedication to the “Mediterranean Way of Life” makes its debut today on MSC Cruises’ digital universe, from the company’s YouTube channel, to the websites and Facebook pages, from the Twitter accounts, to the Instagram page, Google+ or Pinterest boards. The series will also be displayed on board the MSC fleet and will be released over the course of the next five weeks. Dedicated hashtags will accompany the launch of each video in order to foster online interest and engagement.
Inspired by MSC’s unique Mediterranean spirit and roots as well as by the company’s profound belief that life shouldn’t be measured by the minutes we experience, but by the moments we enjoy, the campaign takes the form of six one-minute videos each depicting a distinctive value of the MSC Cruise experience.
The #MEDWAYOFLIFE campaign aims at reminding and encouraging viewers to celebrate the memory-making and timeless experience that awaits MSC travellers: the freedom to be oneself and do what pleases; the Mediterranean touch of the many aspects of life on-board; the real-life social network that a cruise is; the discovery aspect of cruising, where every day is a new journey bringing to many places, people and cultures in one voyage; the value of taking the time to enjoy the present, letting the instant command one’s next moves; and finally, the unique and thrilling privilege of viewing the world from the sea.
Firmly grounded in what MSC Cruises does and why, the video series 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.
The series of short films was shot on board MSC Preziosa. It was directed by Gianluca Bomben and produced by Carlo Concina. The production was realised by Milan-based production company ON AIR and Emilio Giliberti was the Photography Director of the series.
MSC CRUISES REACHES 2 MILLION FANS ON FACEBOOK
27/01/2014
The Mediterranean way of life appeals to a growing number of people
Geneva, 27 January 2014 – As part of the company’s fast-growing online and social media presence, MSC Cruises announced that it has just reached more than two million fans on Facebook around the world.
MSC Cruises Corporate Social Media Manager David Arcifa pointed out: “This number represents a hundred per cent increase in fans over a one year period, and the engagement rate with the audience is also excellent. The growth in popularity of our company is such that we are now in the TOP10 Worldwide Travel Facebook Pages in terms of number of fans. These numbers mean that we’re good at engaging diverse online communities about the unique travel experience that cruising provides.”
Jan Rezab, CEO and co- founder of Socialbakers, the world’s leading social media analytics company, said: “It’s becoming increasingly more important for travel brands to focus on social media as consumers turn to Twitter and Facebook for information, recommendations and help whilst travelling. With a simple and efficient analytical approach, MSC has done an outstanding job of understanding what kind of content resonates with their core audience to increase engagement whilst also leading the way in social customer care.”
One year ago MSC Cruises also launched a global YouTube channel to inspire people who may never have considered cruising before with creative video content, sharing MSC’s uniquely Mediterranean way of life with a broader audience. Today, MSC Cruises ranks among the top three cruise companies with its YouTube channel in terms of views, with more than 4.5 million views for the various videos in several languages that are available.
“Recent research from Google” added Arcifa “shows that 89% of leisure travellers and 93% of business travellers watch online videos, with the number using these videos in their travel planning increasing from 14% in 2009 to 21% in 2012 for leisure travellers, and 17% in 2009 to 26% in 2012 for business travellers, so it is incredibly important for cruise lines to produce and effectively share online video content”
MSC Cruises is also proactive on other social media channels. For instance, the rate of followers on Twitter is also growing steadily, and MSC Cruises now has more than 98,000 followers on the social medium on a global scale. More than 5,000 followers were reached on Instagram, a year after the creation of the company’s profile.
Instagram is the perfect medium to engage many more travellers and share the MSC experience and values, interacting with followers through user-generated content, dedicated hashtags and various photo competitions.
MSC CRUISES RENEWS THE ‘GET ON BOARD FOR CHILDREN’ INITIATIVE WITH UNICEF
20/01/2014
Started in 2009, MSC’s collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has contributed in building hope for children in need around the world. In the past four years, as part of the MSC Cruises’ “Get on Board for Children” initiative, and thanks to the generosity of MSC Cruises’ guests, more than €2.8m were donated to UNICEF in Brazil to combat poverty and inequality by helping ensure children in 126 vulnerable communities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paolo achieve access to a quality education.
1 January 2014 saw the start of a new life-saving partnership between MSC Cruises and UNICEF aiming at providing assistance to malnourished children by delivering Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF)– like Plumpy’Nut®– to treat severe malnutrition in developing countries and in countries affected by crisis situations.
Malnutrition and famine claim the lives of over a million children every year and stunt the physical and mental development of many more. Severe acute malnutrition has traditionally required hospitalisation, however RUTFs can be eaten straight from the sachet: they can be given to children without being mixed in water, so they can work in any situation, at home and without medical supervision.
“Around three sachets a day for four to six weeks can put a child out of harm’s way and with the generosity of our on board guests we will do our best to save and improve as many lives as possible“ declared Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises. “MSC Cruises believes that global leadership brings increased responsibility towards the physical and human environments in which it operates, and as such we are proud to have strengthened our partnership with UNICEF. Together, we can make a difference”.
”We are delighted with our long-standing partnership with MSC Cruises. It makes a significant contribution to improving living conditions for thousands of children”, said Elsbeth Müller, Executive Director of UNICEF Switzerland. “We are impressed that passengers donate one Euro to UNICEF at check-out. Their donation helps ensure that children grow up healthily and have a promising future. Thank you very much for this great commitment”.
By donating just € 1 (or US$ 1,50) to “Get on Board for Children” MSC guests can help buying three meals of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food. A full treatment to save a child’s life in four to six weeks costs approximately €42.
In addition to donations received from guests, MSC Cruises will also organise edutainment activities for children on board, raising awareness about UNICEF’s work and children’s needs around the world.
MSC CRUISES RESPECTS THE WORLD’S OCEANS
14/01/2014
A television station in Brazil released a story about a MSC Cruises’ crew member throwing waste bags into the sea off the coast of Brazil. The story is based on a passenger’s account. A video captured the waste bags dumped at sea.
MSC Cruises takes this claim very seriously and is conducting a full investigation into the issue. Should any responsibility be confirmed, the company will take all necessary action to avoid similar incidents in the future.
MSC Cruises has great respect for the world’s oceans and has always worked hard to minimise its ecological footprint, finding innovative ways of lowering the environmental impact of its cruises through the use of modern technologies, environmentally friendly materials and strict procedures.
The MSC Cruises fleet is equipped with waste incinerators, pulpers, grinders and compactors for the processing of waste. Use of such equipment makes it possible to reduce shipboard space for storing rubbish, making it easier to offload waste to shore facilities and recycle recyclable items into special collectors for enhanced biodegradability.
On board MSC Cruises’ ships the vast majority of waste suitable for recycling, such as plastics, glass, aluminium and exhaust oil produced in the kitchen is processed so that it takes up as little space as possible. Up to 95% of the waste produced is carefully separated and available for recycling.
Hazardous waste, such as batteries and light bulbs, are stored in sealed anti-contamination containers before being sent to recycling facilities. Incinerated material is disposed of in advanced filtered incinerators at sea.
Other types of rubbish are delivered in plastic bags to port facilities authorized for waste disposal.
All waste processes are recorded in a Waste Record Book and its offloading is certified by a MARPOL receipt.
Each ship in the MSC fleet has an environmental officer responsible for all environmental issues on board. This includes the monitoring of up-to-date recycling and waste disposal procedures to ensure the implementation of the highest possible technological standards for sewage treatment and disposal. The environmental officer also ensures the careful, frugal use of resources, such as water and energy and is responsible for the training of crew members dealing with recycling procedures as well as the handling, collection, sorting and disposal of waste.
The company’s commitment to safeguarding the marine ecosystem has earned numerous awards and certifications. In 2013, the international certification body Bureau Veritas granted MSC Cruises the honour of being the first company to receive ‘7 Golden Pearls’ for environmental care for its Fantasia class ships. This unique award comprises “Cleanship 2” class notation for advanced air, water and waste treatment systems, as well as new ISO 50001 certification for the highest standards of Energy Performance, ISO 14001 certification for environmental management, ISO 22000 for food safety and OHSAS 18001 for occupational health and safety.
MSC CRUISES HELPS RELEASE A YOUNG ELEPHANT SEAL IN SOUTH AFRICA
13/01/2014
11 January 2013 – Selso is a young 22-month old Southern Elephant Seal that underwent rehabilitation at uShaka Sea World, in Durban, South Africa, after being stranded in June of last year on a beach in KwaZulu Natal.
Originally from the sub-Antarctic regions, Selso was underweight and far from home. The young seal should have been triple his weight on admission to uShaka. Led by resident veterinarian Caryl Knox, the uShaka Sea World Veterinary and Animal Care team liaised with veterinarians and scientists both internationally and locally to ensure he received the best possible chance of recovery.
In August of 2013, Mike Meyer from Oceans & Coasts (from the South African Water and Environmental Affairs Ministry), Nico de Bryn (University of Pretoria) and Greg Hofmeyer (from BayWorld, in Port Elizabeth), all of whom have vast experience in marine mammal management and elephant seals, met with the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) CEO, Judy Mann and the uShaka Sea World Veterinary and Animal Care team to discuss the way forward for Selso.
It was then decided Selso’s best option would be to be released once he had reached a weight of 180kg and had completed his annual moult.
Selso recently reached both milestones, now tipping the scales at 200kg. That’s when uShaka Sea World decided to ask for MSC Cruises’ help releasing him into in his natural environment.
Before his release he was fitted with a satellite tag which will allow scientists from Oceans & Coasts to monitor his whereabouts for up to a year after his release.
Selso was embarked onboard MSC Sinfonia in the port of Durban on 9 January 2014, lifted in a crate on the foredeck and secured under cover. He was released off the coast of Port Elisabeth on 11 January. During his 2-day cruise he was cared for by veterinarian Francois Lampen, and two keepers Colette Bodenstaff and Wayne Sumpton.
“MSC Cruises is proud to assist in Selso’s release” noted Allan Foggitt, Director of Sales & Marketing MSC Cruises SA. “We were approached and enthusiastically responded to the call for help. It was the right thing to do. We at MSC consider ourselves Guardians of the Seas and treat the oceans of the world with the utmost respect, believing that by acting green and protecting the biodiversity, we can all help keep the waters blue. Oceans and life in the oceans are inextricably connected with humans and Selso’s heart-warming story is just a proof of that”.
