MSC CRUISES ANNOUNCES DEPLOYMENT OF MSC SCPLENDIDA TO CHINA AS OF MAY 2018

12/23/2016

MSC Cruises — the Swiss-based world’s largest privately-owned cruise line and market leader in Europe, South America and South Africa — revealed today that it will deploy MSC Splendida to China as of May 2018. In connection with this, following in the footsteps of the announcement of the opening of the new MSC Cruises office in Shanghai and a new management and operations team based in the region, the Company is taking another key step to further improve its ability to serve the Chinese home market.

Built in 2009, 137,936 GRT MSC Splendida will become one of the largest, most modern cruise ships operating in the region. She features 1,637 staterooms — 76 percent of which feature a balcony — and can accommodate a total of 4,363 guests.

In her new positioning, MSC Splendida will join MSC Lirica, which has been serving to great success the Chinese market since May 2016 and has recently moved her homeport to Tianjin, to serve the thriving North China market during the winter season.

Speaking earlier today at a press conference in Beijing, Gianni Onorato, MSC Cruises’ Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Deploying MSC Splendida to the shores of China is a further testimony of our commitment to this key growth market. In fact, since it came into service, MSC Splendida has been the most popular ship for Chinese and other Asian guests cruising the Mediterranean with us.”

“MSC Splendida represents a second, strong step towards meeting the growing demand for our unique product and ultra-modern ships by Chinese guests. She will also undergo significant dry-dock enhancement in late 2017, ahead of her deployment, to further improve and customize her already amazing range of services.”

MSC Splendida will also introduce the MSC Yacht Club to the Chinese market. This is an exclusive, “ship-within-a-ship” high-end concept that is unique to MSC Cruises and is designed for the most discerning guests who desire exclusivity and privacy. Offering a broad range of private facilities, MSC Yacht Club’s guests benefit from exclusive services including a 24-hour personal butler, dedicated concierge reception as well as priority boarding and disembarkation. MSC Splendida will be the only ship to make this high-end offering available to Chinese guests in their home market.

MSC Splendida will visit many popular cruise destinations in China, Japan and Korea. Her itinerary details will be communicated shortly.

To learn more about MSC Splendida and her features, watch the MSC Splendida cruise ship visit video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF-_3C588JA

ENDS