MSC GRANDIOSA TO INTRODUCE NEW SMART FEATURES TO “MSC FOR ME”

Geneva, Switzerland – 13 June 2019 – MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately-owned cruise line and market leader in Europe, South America, South Africa and the Gulf, is set to launch the Company’s sixth connected cruise ship later this year with the christening of MSC Grandiosa in the Port of Hamburg on 9th November – a ship that will offer next-level MSC for Me features new for 2019.

MSC for Me is a multi-channel digital programme that enables guests to interact with the ship, the crew members anytime, anyplace to better serve their needs, save them time and really get the most of their holiday. Since its introduction on board MSC Meraviglia in 2017, MSC Cruises has introduced this digital innovation programme on four more ships, MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview, MSC Splendida and MSC Bellissima, each time adding more features to improve guest experience.

March this year saw the introduction of ZOE, the world’s first virtual personal cruise assistant, to MSC for Me onboard MSC Bellissima - a truly ground-breaking AI voice activated technology that will also launch on MSC Grandiosa later this year. Alongside ZOE, MSC Cruises has introduced a number of new guest-centric digital innovations to its industry-leading connected guest experience for 2019.

The new features that have been introduced this year encompass not only the onboard experience but also pre-cruise, so that guests can better plan everything they want to experience before they even set foot on board. These services include the option to book packages through the MSC for Me app and add them already to their persona agenda. Meanwhile on board new services such as the Friends & Family Locator and the MSC for Me Chat, help guests to stay connected with the people they are travelling with. All these innovations are designed to save valuable time for the guest that they can spend more time enjoying their holiday.

In order to help guests plan their cruise prior to departure, they can download the MSC for Me app and begin booking services simply and easily. Before embarking, guests can benefit from the following MSC for Me features:

NEW! Guests can browse and select pre-paid packages to make their holiday even more enjoyable*. Drinks and specialty restaurant packages or shore excursions are all available to browse and purchase ahead of time at the very best prices.

NEW! Guests can begin to plan their time aboard by adding selected pre-booked experiences to their pre-cruise personal agenda, whether it be excursions, specialty restaurant reservation or that exciting Cirque du Soleil at Sea show.

NEW! Pre-registering of a credit card through the app prior to the cruise is then one less thing that guests need to do when they embark, giving them more time to enjoy their holiday once on board.

NEW! Friends and Family Locator. This new paid-for service means friends and family travelling together will never get lost – guests can purchase a special MSC for Me wristband with Bluetooth Low Energy technology and see where one another are at any time on the ship map shown on their MSC for Me app. This new feature is in addition to the Kids Locator service introduced in 2017, where parents can keep track of their kids onboard by seeing their location.

NEW! MSC for Me Chat. Guests are now able to message each other directly through the MSC for Me app, without the need for an internet package. To begin chatting, guests simply scan the QR on their app of their friend and begin discussing where to meet-up for a pre-dinner drink or afternoon cocktail.

NEW! ZOE, developed in partnership with HARMAN and Samsung Electronics, is MSC Cruises’ industry leading voice-enabled artificial intelligence (AI) found in every cabin on MSC Bellissima and soon on MSC Grandiosa. Speaking seven languages, she can answer hundreds of questions about the cruise and can provide information about onboard facilities, provide guidance and suggestions and help book services.

NEW! A handy ‘what to eat’ feature has been added to the MSC for Me app to give guests insight into the local must-eat ingredients or dishes as they cruise from destination to destination. For example, in Barcelona, try “LA BOMBA”, one of Barcelona’s most iconic tapas dishes, a potato croquette served with two different sauces: a white garlic aioli and a rich and spicy tomato sauce.

In addition to the new features introduced this year, MSC for Me also offers:

• Mobile check-in to save time on embarkation day for simple transition from ashore to onboard

• Navigating the ship with an interactive map on the MSC for Me app helps guests get around the ship quickly and easily with step-by-step instructions

• Guests can plan their cruise in real time, browsing through daily events, activities, and highlights on the app, in-cabin TV and interactive screens throughout the ship

• NFC wristbands will connect guests to the ship’s services so that they can book services through the interactive digital screens, open their cabin door and more

MSC Grandiosa is the third ship of the innovative Meraviglia generation and the first of the Meraviglia-Plus class. She will become the fifth new next-generation ship MSC Cruises has launched in just two and a half years.

Meraviglia generation ships have been designed to meet every need of the modern cruise Guest. The extraordinary design, wide array of facilities and entertainment make these ships ideal for the whole family. Designed for all seasons, they can call at most of the world’s international cruise ports.

MSC Grandiosa will become the largest ship in the MSC Cruises fleet with further enriched facilities,

more cabins, more public space and new features.

The Company’s new flagship will be christened on 9th November in the Port of Hamburg. Following the glamorous event, she will sail the winter season in the Mediterranean, calling at iconic destinations including Barcelona, Palermo, Marseille and Valletta in Malta.

For more information about MSC for Me or MSC Grandiosa, please visit www.msccruises.com

For more media information, please visit http://www.mscpressarea.com

MSC for Me wristbands are available on MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seaside, MSC Splendida, MSC Seaview, MSC Bellissima and MSC Grandiosa from launch. Guests booked with Aurea, Wellness or MSC Yacht Club experiences receive a complimentary NFC enabled MSC for Me wristband, all other guests can purchase their wristband for €4.99/$4.99 and activate it at Reception - Guest Services. Kids Locator service can be purchased for €18/$18 whilst the Friends and Family Locator is €15/$15 and bundle prices are available for families and/or friends who need multiple bracelets and save more.