BRIGHTLINE SETS ITS SIGHTS ON THE HIGH SEAS ANNOUNCING MSC CRUISES AS OFFICIAL CRUISE LINE

Brightline (soon to be rebranded Virgin Trains), the premier hospitality-driven intercity passenger rail service in the United States, announced today a strategic partnership with MSC Cruises, the Swiss-based world’s largest privately-owned cruise line and market leader in Europe. MSC Cruises is the official cruise line partner of Brightline. The partnership offers travelers a carefree, bag-free experience prior to setting sail in addition to a convenient travel option between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale to PortMiami when traveling on the rail system.

Brightline will now offer special Train to Port bundle packages that allow MSC Cruises’ guests sailing from PortMiami to park their car, check-in and check their luggage at Brightline stations before boarding the cruise. Brightline will safely and seamlessly deliver riders’ luggage directly to guest staterooms on the ship. The packages will also include a Lyft Ride from Virgin MiamiCentral station to PortMiami. Train to Port package fares may vary and will include train tickets, bag check, a roundtrip Lyft ride and parking services. To view and book Train to Port bundle packages, go to: gobrightline.com/traintoport/MSC. Packages start at $95.00 per every 2 passengers.

“We are continuously looking for new ways to enhance our riders’ experiences,” said Johanna Rojas, Vice President of Marketing for Brightline. “With millions of travelers to South Florida embarking on cruise vacations, partnering with cruise carriers was an obvious next step for us and we’re thrilled to be working with MSC Cruises to continue simplifying the ways our guests travel.”

“As MSC Cruises significantly expands its presence in North America and South Florida specifically, we are committed to partnering with world-class and innovative brands that will enhance our guests vacation experience from start to finish,” said Ken Muskat, EVP and Chief Operating Officer of MSC Cruises USA. “A vacation should be as carefree as possible, and with the partnership with Brightline, MSC Cruises is now able to offer its guests arriving in or traveling from South Florida a more seamless and convenient pre- and post-cruise travel experience.”

MSC Cruises currently operates four cruise ships out of PortMiami: MSC Seaside and MSC Armonia, which sail year-round; MSC Divina, which sails seasonally; and MSC Meraviglia, which will join the ships sailing from Miami this fall, seasonally. Guests sailing on any of the four ships can take advantage of MSC Cruises and Brightline’s new Train to Port offerings.

Poised to reinvent train travel in the United States, Brightline is the hospitality-driven express intercity passenger rail service that currently connects Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, with expected future service from Orlando to Tampa, and a new system between Las Vegas and Southern California. Additional cruise carrier partnerships to be announced in the near future.

Brightline (soon to be rebranded Virgin Trains USA) is the new benchmark for travel by train in America with express inter-city passenger rail service connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, with expected future service to Orlando and Tampa, and expected future service connecting Las Vegas and Southern California. Providing a travel option that lives at the intersection of transportation and hospitality, the service will ease the stress of traffic, provide a simple and intuitive experience from door to destination, and foster new opportunities to explore more of Southeast Florida and the Southwestern United States. Brightline is the only privately owned, operated and maintained express intercity passenger rail system in the United States. For more information, visit our website: www.gobrightline.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

MSC Cruises is the world’s largest privately-owned cruise company and the number one cruise line in Europe, South America, South Africa and the Gulf. A game-changer in the world of cruises, the Company has achieved 800% growth in its first 10 years, building a global reputation in the industry and one of the youngest cruise fleets at sea. MSC Cruises is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

The MSC Cruises fleet currently comprises 16 ultra-modern, highly innovative and elegantly designed ships, offering an unparalleled holiday experience with always delicious and authentic food, award-winning entertainment, plenty of relaxation, comfortable accommodation, as well as impeccable service and expertise.

Under its ambitious industry-unprecedented €13.6 billion (≈15.6 billion USD) investment plan, the fleet is set to expand to 29 cruise ships by 2027. To date, MSC Cruises has designed six new large ship classes, all prototypes that push the boundaries of marine architecture and design, and an ultra-luxury class with ground-breaking options for guest comfort.

MSC Cruises feels a deep responsibility toward the physical and human environments in which it operates. The Company operates with the greatest respect for the world’s oceans and is on an ongoing journey to further develop innovative ways of lowering the environmental impact of its cruise passages.

MSC Cruises’ vacation experiences are sold across the globe through a distribution network in 70 countries. The Company employs more than 23,500 people worldwide, both ashore and on board its ships. MSC Cruises is part of MSC Group which is comprised of leading transport and logistics companies.

More information at http://www.mscpressarea.com/en_US

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