MSC LIRICA TO HOMEPORT IN PIRAEUS FOR SUMMER 2022

• Embarkation available for first time in Greece
• New 7-night East Mediterranean itinerary with three other passenger embarkation ports in Turkey, Israel and Cyprus

Geneva, Switzerland, 16 December 2021 - MSC Cruises will deploy MSC Lirica to the Eastern Mediterranean market in summer 2022 and she will homeport in Piraeus, the port for the Greek capital Athens, during  the entire season.

MSC Lirica will offer a newly-designed 7-night itinerary with 28 sailings between April  and October 2022 from Piraeus calling Kusadasi, Turkey; Haifa, Israel; Limassol, Cyprus and the Greek islands of Rhodes and Santorini before returning to Piraeus.

The ship’s guests can also begin their 7-night cruises with embarkation at Kusadasi, Haifa and Limassol, as well as Piraeus.

The Greek island of Crete will also be a port of call in MSC Lirica’s four 11-night sailings in the Eastern Mediterranean during November and December 2022 with visits to Heraklion.

Voyages on board MSC Lirica will be, as they are for all of the Company’s ships, only open to guests who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Greece will also feature in three other ship’s East Mediterranean itineraries.

MSC Armonia, will call Piraeus on a weekly basis during the summer months and MSC Fantasia from September 2022 will similarly perform 11-night cruises to the Greek port for guests to visit Athens. The summer sailings for MSC Musica include calls at Katakolon for Olympia, Heraklion and Santorini.

Angelo Capurro, Executive Director, MSC Cruises said, “Greece will be a major player in our Eastern Mediterranean cruise programme next summer with guests embarking at Piraeus for the first time, the port being a base for MSC Lirica and calls by three of our other ships to different parts of the country’s beautiful destinations. 

“Athens airport will also play an important role with many guests flying from throughout Europe and North America to join MSC Lirica and enjoy one of the safest holidays options out there whilst having a memorable time on board.

“With embarkation during MSC Lirica’s 7-night itinerary also available in Turkey, Israel and Cyprus this cruise promises to showcase a truly rich blend of different nationalities on board, but where our approach is local and everyone feels at home, relaxed and above all, safe.”

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.

MSC Cruises guests since August 2020 have been sailing under the protection of the line’s industry-leading health and safety protocol that was developed with the input of a Blue-Ribbon Panel of experts which has proven to be both safe and effective through all evolutions of the pandemic.

The protocol was designed to adapt according to the situation ashore and in the last 16 months, the measures in place have either been eased or tightened to match the evolution of the pandemic to continue to ensure the highest possible protection to guests, crew and communities that MSC Cruises’ ships visit.

ENDS

MSC Lirica’s Specifications:

Ship name                                       MSC Lirica

Gross tonnage                                65,591 GT

Max passenger capacity               2,679

Crew members                              721

Number of cabins                          992

Length / Beam / Height                274.9 m / 32 m / 54 m

Maximum speed                           21.7 knots