MSC CRUISES INTRODUCES ANOTHER EXCLUSIVE HIGH-END PARTNERSHIP AS PART OF ITS ONGOING QUEST TO CONTINUOUSLY ENHANCE GUEST EXPERIENCE AT SEA

Global hairstyling brand Jean Louis David to enrich MSC Cruises on-board beauty offering

Geneva, Switzerland, and Paris, France, 23 June 2016 - MSC Cruises, the Swiss-based world’s largest privately-owned cruise line and market leader in Europe, South America and South Africa has today announced an exclusive partnership with global hairstyling brand Jean Louis David. The Company will introduce Jean Louis David salons across its fleet by the end of the year – another industry-first. The new service will further enhance the already wide and continuously enhanced range of beauty and wellness services available exclusively to its guests across the whole fleet. MSC Cruises’ guests will be now able to also benefit from a whole host of high-end hair styling services from Jean Louis David trained stylists also whilst at sea.

It can be a challenge to find the time to have a haircut before a holiday, similarly managing hair styling in different climates and while at sea can be tricky. MSC Cruises guests can now benefit from a comprehensive range of high-end, exclusive hair styling salon services whilst at sea, so that they can enjoy and indulge this additional element of pampering and look fantastic, whatever the occasion. The complete offering includes everything from a shampoo and style through to a hydrating oil therapy to revitalise hair.

Gianni Onorato, Chief Executive of MSC Cruises, commented: “This latest announcement reflects our long term commitment and strategy to bring our guests an ever broader set of unique and often exclusive experiences across our fleet through true, end-to-end partnerships with world-class experts in their field. MSC Cruises and Jean Louis David identified in each other the ideal partner to bring to the world of cruising world-class service also in this area. Additionally, this brings to life – also at this end of our on-board product offering - the elegant side of the Mediterranean that lies at the heart of the MSC Cruises brand.”

Mr Onorato continued, “Having an internationally recognised, best-in-class brand on-board means that our guests can trust that they will receive the highest standards of service from exclusively-trained stylists who will deliver outstanding care as well as feature the latest trends in hairstyling. This further adds to an offering that already includes, amongst other, the luxurious MSC Aurea Spa where guests are pampered from head to toe.”

Jean Louis David is an innovator in the world of hairstyling and is dedicated to excellence in service, thus mirroring key values of MSC Cruises and its guest offering. The brand is internationally recognised, with over 1,000 salons worldwide and the new partnership sees the initial opening of 11 salons at sea with plans to provide this service on the new ships that will be coming into service beginning with MSC Meraviglia in June 2017.

Mr Franck Provost , owner of Jean Louis David comments: “Just like MSC Cruises, Jean Louis David has always sought for excellence in customer service. Both brands offer fashion and lifestyle experience, bringing them together made immediate sense when it comes to enhancing beauty and providing pleasure and well-being. A cruise being a wonderful and special experience for each person, we are proud to rise to the challenge of adding to the never-be-forgotten holidays."

The salon stylists on-board the ships will be expertly trained by Jean Louis David specialists, who are always at the forefront of the latest styling and hair care trends. Not only that, but treatments will also represent great value for money with land-based pricing extended also on board.

A range of well-known Jean Louis David products will also be available in the salons for purchase for either on board use or for guests to take home.

The first Jean Louis David salons are already open on MSC Preziosa, MSC Fantasia and MSC Poesia. Guests can expect to see the new salon opening across the entire fleet by the end of the year.

OTHER FEATURES OF MSC CRUISES’ EXCLUSIVE HEAD TO TOE GUEST PAMPERING EXPERIENCE AT SEA: THE MSC AUREA SPA

A distinguishing feature of an MSC Cruises experience is the full range of services that guests can enjoy while at sea, from beauty treatments and therapies through to complete relaxation and rejuvenation in the MSC Aurea Spa.

In the MSC Aurea Spa, MSC Cruises offers its guests, amongst other features:

• An authentic Balinese Spa experience on board each of its 12 ships with a distinctive menu of spa and beauty treatments.
• A cedar wood sauna and Turkish bath, over 20 types of massage, 20 body treatments, 26 different facials as well as a selection of manicures and pedicures are standard across many ships in the MSC Cruises fleet.
• A range of Medi-spa treatments developed by internationally renowned specialist Professor Piero Berrino.
• Mya Advance, Q-Frequency and electroporation rejuvenation and anti-aging procedures are delivered by specially trained spa doctors on board.

For those guests wishing to put relaxation at the centre of their MSC Cruises holiday, the Company offer an ‘Aurea Experience’ pampering package which includes:

• A private consultation appointment with a certified doctor and wellbeing expert
• A 60 minute massage of choice from the spa menu
• A tanning shower session
• Unlimited access to the Thermal Area
• A welcome spa cocktail
• A MED by MSC room diffuser gift

ANOTHER MSC CRUISES TOUCH: A STYLISH AND ELEGANT FRAGRANCE, MED BY MSC

Adding another touch to its on-board experience, MSC Cruises was the first cruise line to develop its own fragrance – MED by MSC. This special scent has been created in partnership with sensory experts from around the world and takes influences from the elegant side of the Mediterranean the brand stands for, with hints of luxurious fig, sweet bergamot and earthy vetiver. The fragrance is designed to leave guests – whilst on board one of MSC Cruises ships - feeling invigorated across all their senses – delighted with what they’ve seen, touched, heard and tasted. MSC thus extends its sensual reach to the very fragrance of a journey, subtly surrounding guests a truly unique aroma that will enhance their memories of an MSC cruise holiday for years to come.

The scent is in fact available as a take home gift as a room diffuser, room spray or Eau de Toilette, all available exclusively from the onboard shop.

About MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises, part of the MSC Group is the Swiss-based, world’s largest privately-owned cruise line and brand market leader in Europe, South America and South Africa, sailing year-round in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Seasonal itineraries cover northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, Cuba and the French Antilles, South America, southern Africa, China and Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman.

The MSC Cruise experience embodies the elegant side of the Mediterranean to create unique and unforgettable emotions for guests, through discovery of the world’s cultures, beauties and tastes. Its fleet comprises 12 of the most modern ships at sea: MSC Preziosa; MSC Divina; MSC Splendida; MSC Fantasia; MSC Magnifica; MSC Poesia; MSC Orchestra; MSC Musica; MSC Sinfonia; MSC Armonia; MSC Opera and MSC Lirica.

In 2014, MSC Cruises launched an investment plan to support the second phase of its growth through the order of two ships of the Meraviglia generation and two others of the Seaside generation (plus an option for a third) and in February 2016, confirmed the existing options to build a further two now Meraviglia Plus ships with an even greater capacity. In April 2016 this rose to €9 billion with the announcement of signing of the letter of intent to build a further four ships, each with next-generation LNG propulsion technology. Consequently, between 2017 and 2026 a total of up to 11 new, next-generation MSC Cruises ships will come into service. MSC Cruises is the first global cruise line brand to develop an investment plan of this length and magnitude, spanning an horizon of over ten years, from 2014 through 2026.

MSC Cruises feels a deep responsibility for the environments in which it operates, and was the first company ever to earn the Bureau Veritas "7 Golden Pearls" for superior management and environmental stewardship. In 2009, MSC Cruises began an enduring partnership with UNICEF to support various programmes assisting children worldwide. So far, more than €5m has been collected in voluntary guest donations.

About JLD & PROVALLIANCE

The Provalliance Group is owned by Franck Provost, one of the most famous hairstylists in the world over the last 40 years. With 12 brands in its portfolio, Provalliance is the European n°1 in the hair beauty industry. With 800 salons all over the world, JEAN LOUIS DAVID is the leading brand in the company; Jean-Louis David opened his first salon in Paris near the Arc de Triomphe in 1960, and gained immediate and amazing success among beauty magazines (Elle, Vogue, Marie Claire…), working with photographers like Herb Ritts and Helmut Newton or movie stars such as Jean Seberg. 50 years later, the brand is still going strong, opening new salons on each of the 5 continents every year. The brand stands out for its resolutely modern take on hairdressing and its Parisian fashion flavor.