MSC CRUISES: A PASSION FOR SPORTS

FROM THE FIFA WORLD CUP TO SWISS HOCKEY

2014 is a year during which global major sport events will shape sport’s history, creating legends that will be spoken of for many years to come. Half the world is expected to watch the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the NBA playoffs, the Super bowl, the Tour de France, Formula 1 and Moto GP, not mentioning the major tennis tournaments, the UEFA Champion’s League and Europa League, the English Premier League and FA Cup, the Spanish Liga, the German Bundesliga, the French Ligue 1 and the Dutch Eredivisie and of course Italy’s Serie A. MSC Cruises travellers will be part of this world as MSC Cruises is offering its guests a wide choice of sport events to watch on board. The big screens in the Sports bar or around the pool, all the passion for unforgettable acrobatic touchdowns, last second thrills, buzzer beaters, snacks and beers, the collective cheering for a team, emotions running high: what else? For MSC Cruises sport means sociability, the joy of spending time together, the importance of sharing special moments. Sport means passion, teamwork and fun. This is the reason why the company signed several partnerships with different teams in some European countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. Italy from South to North In Italy, MSC Cruises is the partner of SSC Napoli, its “home” football team as the roots of the Aponte family are in Sorrento, directly across the bay from Naples. In addition, MSC Cruises is sponsoring AC Milan, SS Lazio in Rome, the two clubs of Genoa – UC Sampdoria and CFC Genoa – as well as Cagliari Calcio, Udinese Calcio and UC Palermo. MSC Cruises is also supporting the two Italian basketball clubs of Basket Cantù and Reyer Venezia Basket.In this country, MSC Cruises offers young fans the opportunity to meet some of their favourite players and embark on a theme cruise dedicated to their sports club and their supporters. Football passion both in France, Germany and Spain In Germany, MSC Cruises is a partner of Hamburger SV in the German football league. This partnership enables MSC Cruises to offer young German football fans the opportunity to embark on a cruise dedicated to football and HSV from 18 to 21 April 2014, sailing between Hamburg and Amsterdam.In Spain, MSC Cruises is supporting one of the country’s favourite football clubs – Valencia CF. In France, MSC Cruises is also offering football fans a unique opportunity to enjoy a unique “football passion” cruise, departing from Marseille on 26 October 2014. The full programme is available here From water to ice in Switzerland! In Switzerland, MSC Cruises recently became one of the main sponsors of the Geneva Servette Hockey Club, hence confirming its support for local institutions and communities. Last January the company also sponsored the local ice hockey derby between Geneva and Lausanne – The MSC Winter Classic - which saw some 30,000 fans enjoy the game in a football stadium. Baseball Greats Cruises in US Finally, in the United States, from where MSC Divina sails year-round the in the Caribbean, MSC Cruises celebrate America’s favourite pastime with a series of baseball-themed Caribbean cruises, paying tribute to the sport and its legendary players. On each cruise, players partake in a number of activities with passengers, including a player-hosted trivia game, pitching contest, Q&A, storytelling sessions and hitting, fielding and base-running clinics. On 10 former Yankee star Stan Bahnsen will be the host and MC for all of the onboard activities. He will chat and share memories and revelations with Gorman Thomas (Milwaukee Brewers American Leagues' Two Time Home Run King), Gary Peters (White Sox, 1963 Rookie of the Year and All-Star pitcher) and Randy Hundley (Chicago Cubs, All-Star and Gold Glove catcher, set numerous records, invented the hinged catcher's mitt and Fantasy Camps). More information is available here.Captions: Photo 1: Third ‘Rossoneri’ theme cruise on board MSC Fantasia.Photo 2: MSC Winter Classic between Genève Servette Hockey Club and Lausanne Hockey Club ©Augusto Tomassetti.