THINGS ARE HOTTING UP FOR WINTER AS MSC CRUISES REVEALS DETAILS OF A STELLAR OFFERING FOR 2019/2020

New ships, new ports, new destinations, a private island and much more!

Geneva, Switzerland, February 22 - MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately owned cruise line, reveals an inspiring choice of winter cruises for guests looking to get away for winter 2019/2020. With 17 modern ships and a whole array of inspiring destinations in every corner of the globe to choose from, MSC Cruises has a truly inspiring offering for guests looking to find the perfect winter cruise getaway.

A NEW TWIST FOR EXPLORING THE MEDITERANNEAN 

With sales opening on March 5 2018, MSC Grandiosa is one of two ships to come into service in 2019 and will be spending her inaugural winter season in the Western Mediterranean. MSC Grandiosa is named to signify magnificence and grandeur, a fitting name for this even richer, ultra-modern mega-ship.

MSC Sinfonia will offer longer cruises of 11, 12 and 14 nights in the Mediterranean for those holidaymakers looking for a longer break in the winter sun. New for this season will be a stunning 14-night cruise that calls at the historic port Hafia, Israel with a full two days to discover the ancient cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. This brand new itinerary also includes calls to Mediterranean favourites from Civitavecchia (Rome), Messina and Genoa to Barcelona, Marseille, as well as the beautiful Greek island of Rhodes, southern Cypriot city of Limassol and Heraklion, Crete with its ancient archaeological sites.

MSC Sinfonia will also be sailing a brand new 12-night cruise from Genoa to exotic destinations across the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Destinations include the sun-drenched island of Tenerife, unique Moroccan city of Tangier, known for its huge local markets and Dar el Makhzen museum of Moroccan artefacts and white-washed hillsides. Other highlights of this beautiful itinerary include the historical Roman-Spanish city of Cartagena, Gothic-tinted Portuguese city of Funchal and Civitavecchia close Rome, Italy.

NEW ITINERARIES FOR NORTH AMERICA

Before MSC Meraviglia commences her cruises from Miami, MSC Cruises has introduced new itineraries from New York. MSC Meraviglia will offer two 10-night round trip itineraries from New York calling at Bar Harbor, Boston, Portland before moving onto Canadian ports Charlottetown, Corner Brook –Halifax, Quebec, St. John and Sydney. Discover the stunning scenery on the East Coast of North America. . Prior to arriving in New York, MSC Meraviglia will commence a 17-night transatlantic cruise from Kiel, Germany with ports of call in Denmark, the United Kingdom & Ireland, Iceland and Canada. 

EVEN MORE WAYS TO DISCOVER THE CARIBBEAN

The Caribbean continues to be the world’s most popular cruise region and for winter 2019/2020 MSC Cruises will deploy six ships in the Caribbean, offering a wider choice of ships, itineraries and experiences than ever before. 

One of the big highlights for guests will be the opening of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in winter 2019, a new private island exclusively for MSC Cruises guests. This stunning island in the Bahamas will offer 40 acres of fine golden beaches, split into six unique areas, each with its own distinctive atmosphere surrounded by crystal blue seas rich with marine life. MSC Seaside, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Divina and MSC Armonia will all call at the island where the ships will dock at a specially built pier so that guests can move at leisure between the ship and the shore.

From her new homeport of Miami MSC Meraviglia will offer two different itineraries out of PortMiami in the West Caribbean .The iconic MSC Seaside, the ship that follows the sun, will continue to sail 7 nights from Miami to the Western Caribbean or the Eastern Caribbean.

MSC Divina will return from the Mediterranean in November 2019 offering be two long cruises of, from Miami. This popular ship in the USA will offer an 11-night cruise to Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico and the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. A 10-night cruise will include Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

MSC Preziosa will offer two embarkation ports in the fascinating French Antilles, setting sail from Fort de France in Martinique and Pointe-a-Pitre in Guadeloupe. The two 7-night-7 ports itineraries can also be combined in a 14-night cruise, visiting the British Virgin Islands (Tortola), St Maarten, Dominica, St Kitts & Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Lucia, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada as well as Saint Vincent & The Grenadines.

Based year-round in Havana, Cuba, MSC Armonia will give guests two and half days and two nights in Havana from Saturdays to Mondays. The itinerary includes the new Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Montego Bay, Jamaica and Georgetown, Cayman Islands.

MSC Opera will sail two different 7-night itineraries from Havana, offering two days and one night in the Cuban capital, the first itinerary will take guests from Havana to vibrant Belize City, before heading for the idyllic beaches of Isla de Roatan in Honduras, Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico. The second itinerary spends two and half days and two nights in Havana and then moves on to the charming islands of Montego Bay, Jamaica, Georgetown, Cayman Islands and also Cozumel, with its vivid coral reefs.

A BRAND NEW SHIP FOR DUBAI AND ABU DHABI 

MSC Cruises is introducing one of its newest ships to the United Arab Emirates. MSC Bellissima will come into service in March 2019 in the Mediterranean and will then move to the Middle East for winter, with two different 7-night itineraries taking guests to Sir Bani Yas Island and to Khasab and Muscat in Oman or to Bahrain and Qatar. MSC Lirica will also join MSC Bellissima in this popular region for winter sun, with a series of long cruises in the Persian Gulf. The 14-night itinerary includes calls in the Indian ports of Mumbai and Goa with an overnight stay whilst the 11-night cruise features Muscat and an overnight in Oman.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 117 DAYS

With a brand new Itinerary, MSC Cruises second world cruise will commence on board MSC Magnifica from Civitavecchia, Genoa, Barcelona and Marseilles in January 2020. With more than 40 destinations and 23 countries, guests will be able to cross five continents on a three-month voyage of discovery to some of the world’s most talked-about destinations.

These are just some of the highlights for winter 2019/2020 and no matter which cruise guests choose, they can expect the key distinguishing elements of the MSC Cruises experience: modern ships, comfortable accommodation, fresh and authentic food, award-winning entertainment, plenty of relaxation, impeccable service, expertise and elegantly designed ships.

And with MSC Cruises, the earlier you book, the better the benefits. Guests can make real savings on the brochure fares by booking ahead and will also be able to choose a specific cabin with the Fantastica, Aurea or Yacht Club experience.

To find out more visit www.msccruises.com

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