MSC SEASIDE TO JOIN MSC GRANDIOSA IN THE MEDITERRANEAN FROM 1 MAY WITH A NEWLY-DESIGNED ITINERARY FEATURING CALLS TO SIRACUSA IN SICILY AND TARANTO IN PUGLIA

Geneva, Switzerland – 1 March 2021 – MSC Cruises today announced that one of its most innovative ships MSC Seaside will be deployed for the first time in Europe since her launch in 2017, joining the Company’s flagship MSC Grandiosa in the Mediterranean from 1 May.

MSC Seaside will be performing a brand-new itinerary, complimentary to that offered by MSC Grandiosa and featuring 7-night cruises calling Genoa, Valletta in Malta and Civitavecchia with two first time ports of call – Siracusa in Sicily and Taranto in Puglia. Embarkation will be available in all Italian ports.

MSC Seaside will implement for the protections of its guests and crew MSC Cruises’ industry-leading health and safety protocol that has been tried and tested since August 2020. Measures will include universal testing at embarkation as well as mid-cruise, weekly testing of crew, social distancing, the wearing of masks in public areas, only protected shore excursions as well as enhanced deep sanitation and ongoing cleaning procedures.

MSC Grandiosa’s current successful itinerary will be extended through to the end of May with the ship calling at the Italian ports of Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples, Palermo as well as Valetta in Malta. MSC Grandiosa has been welcoming guests for a holiday at sea from August of last year and has since safely and responsibly carried more than 40,000 guests.

MSC Seaside and MSC Grandiosa itineraries are currently available to residents from Schengen countries and Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania.

For each of the two new destinations that MSC Seaside will visit, MSC Cruises will offer a range of protected shore excursions to ensure that guests are able to go ashore and discover the sites whilst remaining in a safe social bubble.

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 theatre 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. For those seeking the perfect panoramas, experience Europe’s largest volcano Mount Etna with thrilling and unforgettable views and the ancient splendours of beautiful Taormina.

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. Discover 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 through the objects that belonged to the people who inhabited this area. Or explore the region of Puglia and visit the UNESCO site of Alberobello famous for its limestone dwellings known as trulli or travel to beautiful baroque towns such as Martina Franca or Grottaglie, famous for the craft of ceramics.

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 eat, drink, shop, 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 a 24/7 butler service. This ship is specifically designed for warmer weather and is best enjoyed outdoors, making this the perfect ship for the start of summer in the Mediterranean when the climate is at its best.

MSC Cruises today also updated the itineraries for the start of its summer season as a result of the delay in the return to availability of certain ports across Europe and is cancelling all other itineraries in the West Mediterranean for April and May, with cruises resuming from June as planned.

Similarly, in the East Mediterranean cruises are cancelled for April, with cruises resuming from May as planned.

In Northern Europe, all itineraries are cancelled in April.

Finally, in the Caribbean all itineraries are cancelled through to 31 May.

Guests impacted by these changes will be able to rebook on another cruise – including MSC Seaside and MSC Grandiosa in the Mediterranean - and should check with their travel advisor for specific updates to their ship

For further information on specific itineraries please visit THIS LINK