MSC CRUISES TO OFFER FIRST SEASON FROM ATHENS AND RETURN TO TURKEY FOR SUMMER 2021 WITH TWO NEW EAST MED PROGRAMMMES

Geneva, Switzerland, 19 December 2019 - MSC Cruises will offer its first ever season from Athens’ port of Piraeus in summer 2021 and make a welcome return to Turkey with embarkation in Istanbul plus calls for the first time at Kusadasi in two new Eastern Mediterranean itineraries that are now on sale.

The Company anticipates that international guests from Europe and North America will be attracted to both new programmes.

MSC Lirica will homeport in Piraeus for the entire summer 2021 season and offer a newly-designed innovative itinerary of 7-night cruises on 23 separate occasions between May and September 2021 with calls at the popular Greek island of Mykonos; Haifa, Israel where local guests can embark after a successful debut in summer 2019; the islands of Cyprus (Limassol) and Rhodes, plus Kusadasi, Turkey for the classical ruins at nearby Ephesus before returning to Piraeus.

MSC Fantasia, with the ‘ship within a ship’ Yacht Club experience, will sail 25 separate 9-night cruises between April and September 2021 from Istanbul to Kusadasi; Katakolon, where the Olympics were born; Piraeus to serve shore visits to Athens; the Greek island of Corfu; Bari in Italy and the northern Italian port of Trieste for a convenient trip to Venice before she returns to Istanbul.

For international guests who embark MSC Fantasia at ports other than Istanbul they will be thrilled that the ship allows for a 12-hour visit in the city where Europe meets Asia.

Achille Staiano, Vice President Global Sales, MSC Cruises, said: “I’m very confident that these two new innovative cruises will lead to great interest and demand to prospective guests from Europe and North America as well as to local markets.  Piraeus will play a major new role for us with guests embarking at Athens’ port for the first time and we’re very excited to sail back to Turkey after a four year absence.  And as we continue to grow as a business and introduce more ships to our fleet then looking further ahead I believe that we will have a greater presence in both Greece and Turkey.”  

About MSC Lirica

MSC Lirica offers a distinctive cruise experience centred on elegance, comfort and hospitality with 992 guest cabins. An atmosphere of relaxed spaciousness pervades, with magnificent internal vistas from the foyer and unimpeded ocean views from the lounges’ floor-to-ceiling picture windows. There is a choice of lounges and bars including the glamourous Beverly Hills Bar or traditional English-style Lord Nelson Pub, the perfect venue for a pre-theatre drink.

For families, there is a children’s play area created in collaboration with LEGO Group and Chicco as well as a spray park and two swimming pools plus a full programme of activities for kids of all ages.

The MSC Aurea Spa offers a haven for those wishing to unwind and, in the evening, the Broadway Theatre offers entertainment each night. And with two main restaurants, a buffet and the popular Kaito Sushi Bar, guests have a choice of formal or more casual dining options.

About MSC Fantasia

MSC Fantasia is designed to meet the needs of a wide range of cruise guests, especially families. Boasting a diverse choice of sports and entertainment facilities; from tennis and basketball courts, a mini-golf course, a jogging track and gym to an aqua park complex, Formula 1 simulator and 4D cinema there is plenty to do and experience on board. For those seeking relaxation and rejuvenation, the MSC Aurea Spa offers a wide range of treatments and therapies. Finally, the on board dining offers a range of Mediterranean and International cuisines serving tasty and authentic food with a mix of formal and more casual dining venues.

MSC Fantasia offers a luxury experience for holidaymakers with the MSC Yacht Club. Designed for the most discerning guests who desire exclusivity and privacy but with a world of choice. The MSC Yacht Club is an innovative “ship within a ship” design concept, as it offers an entirely self-contained area on the foredecks of the ship providing sweeping sea views with a range of private facilities including a pool, solarium and a dedicated restaurant.