MSC SEASIDE RETURNS TO SEA WITH NEW DESTINATIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

07/02/2021

• MSC Cruises’ innovative ship departed from Genoa, Italy on Saturday May 1

• The new itinerary features first calls in destinations of Siracusa and Taranto

MSC Seaside joined MSC Grandiosa back at sea this past Saturday, welcoming guests back on board for weekly 7-night cruises in the Western Mediterranean, featuring new destinations in Siracusa in Sicily and Taranto in Puglia, Italy. The ship is now two days into her voyage, having departed from Genoa, Italy on May 1, followed by a relaxing day at sea on Sunday and is now in the stunning port of Valetta, Malta today. As part of her itinerary, the ship will also call in Civitavecchia for Rome.

MSC Seaside becomes the second ship back at sea for the 2021 summer season, with further ships, including sister ship and future flagship MSC Seashore to join them in the Mediterranean from August. All ships will implement the Company’s rigorous health and safety protocol, which has been developed with a Blue Ribbon Panel.

The Sicilian port of Siracusa makes its MSC Cruises debut offering a choice of protected shore excursions so that guests can discover the rich historical and archaeological sites in this area, including the Greek theater of Siracusa — the biggest ever built in Sicily and one of the largest in the Greek world — or immerse themselves in the beautiful countryside and baroque cities where the world-famous Inspector Montalbano films are shot.

The southern town of Taranto in Puglia will offer something very special for those looking for a day to relax and unwind while making the most of this historic region. The old town of Taranto, full of charm with its winding alleys and dozens of churches and palaces and the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto (MArTA) displays the history of Southern Italy and the roots of its culture. In addition to the range of protected excursions, MSC Cruises will introduce a special private beach experience in Taranto from June, exclusively for MSC Seaside’s guests, where they can relax next to the clear waters of the Ionian Sea.

The iconic MSC Seaside rewrote the rule book of cruise ship design, combining indoor and outdoor areas to connect guests with the sea like never before and features generous outdoor spaces with plenty of outdoor deck space and pools. Located as low as Deck 8 is a unique seafront promenade lined with places to dine, drink, lounge, swim and sunbathe. The ship features the MSC Yacht Club for those looking for exclusivity and privacy with the facilities of a private club and 24-hour butler service. This ship is specifically designed for warmer weather and is best enjoyed outdoors, making this the ideal ship for the start of the warm summer in the Mediterranean.

About MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is the world’s third largest cruise brand as well as the leader in Europe, South America, the Gulf region and Southern Africa with more market share in addition to deployed capacity than any other player. It is also the fastest growing global cruise brand with a strong presence in the Caribbean, North America and the Far East markets.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, MSC Cruises one of the two brands that sit within the Cruises Division of MSC Group, the leading privately held Swiss-based shipping and logistics conglomerate with over 300 years of maritime heritage. MSC Cruises — the contemporary brand — has a modern fleet of 18 vessels combined with a sizeable future global investment portfolio of new vessels. The fleet is projected to grow to 23 cruise ships by 2025 with options for six vessel orders in place through 2030.

MSC Cruises offers its guests an enriching, immersive and safe cruise experience inspired by the Company’s European heritage, where they can enjoy international dining, world-class entertainment, award-winning family programs and the very latest user-friendly technology on board. To learn more about MSC Cruises’ itineraries and experience on board its ships please see here.

The Company’s number one priority has always been the health and safety of its guests and crew, as well as the communities at the destinations its ships serve. In August 2020, MSC Cruises implemented a new comprehensive and robust health and safety protocol to become the first major line to return to sea. To learn more about MSC Cruises’ health & safety protocol please see here.

MSC Cruises has long been committed to environmental stewardship with a long-term goal to achieve zero emissions for its operations. The Company is also a significant investor in next-generation environmental marine technologies, with the objective to support their accelerated development and availability industry wide. To learn more about the Company’s environmental commitment please see here.

Finally, to learn more about the MSC Foundation, MSC Group’s own vehicle to lead, focus and advance its conservation, humanitarian and cultural commitments please see here.