MSC offers all-inclusive packages
March 13, 2010 - MSC Cruises has launched a new all inclusive beverage package, available on all MSC ships, providing free drinks in all restaurants, the self service buffet, bars and cabin mini bars.
And until the end of March, these inclusive packages are being offered fre on all balcony cabins booked on sister ships MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia.
The packages include select wines by the bottle and by the glass, beer, cocktails, soft drinks, mini bar (excluding champagne), ice-cream and water (at restaurants and the buffet).
More on the all-inclusive packages

Queen Sophia christens Magnifica
March 7, 2010- MSC Cruises' new flagship, MSC Magnifica, was christened last night in a sparkling celebration in Hamburg.
Screen goddess Sophia Loren carried out her customary role as godmother as dignitaries and guests celebrated the 90,000-ton ship's arrival in style.
The entire event was screened on-line and can be watched in full by clicking here.

MSC Favolosa to set sail in 2012
March 1, 2010 - Just one day after the UK showcase party of MSC Magnifica in Southampton, MSC Cruises today signed a letter of intent for the delivery of a new ship, MSC Favolosa.
This new Fantasia Class ship, weighing in at 133,500 tons, will join the existing 11 vessels of the fleet in June 2012.
She will herald a state-of-the-art concept in space management, which will include two additional lifts to improve passenger flow and a total redesign of decks and restaurants to offer guests on board unprecedented comfort and the highest space ratio per passenger.
More on MSC Favolosa

Magnifica is simply magnificent at sea
February 18, 2010 - MSC Cruises is gearing up for the arrival of its stunning new build MSC Magnifica, which successfully completed her sea trials after 72 hours on open water last week.
The 11th ship to join the most modern fleet in the world will make her debut to more than 2,000 guests in Southampton for two days and nights from February 26 before cruising to Hamburg for her official naming ceremony on March 6.
Guests will participate in a specific programme of events, including an official ceremony on the 27th to mark MSC Magnifica's maiden port of call to Southampton.
More on MSC Magnifica's arrival

MSC Cruises putting Opera into the UK
February 4, 2010 - Southampton will be the new base for all MSC Cruises' ex-UK sailings from May to September 2011, with MSC Opera sailing to Northern and Western Europe.
Says Giulio Libutti, MSC Cruises' UK and Ireland Managing Director: "Ex UK cruising is becoming ever more desirable and popular and Southampton is well suited to our new planned itineraries cruising to the north of France, Spain and Portugal.
"The infrastructure and amenities at the port and in the city make Southampton a desirable and attractive port for us, with great transport links offered by road, rail and air, which will better service our passengers."
More on MSC Opera in 2011

UK showing for MSC Magnicia
January 12, 2010 - MSC Cruises is to host an exclusive UK showcase party onboard its new ship MSC Magnifica when it sails to Southampton Port on February 26.
More than 2,000 are expected to attend the spectacular event, where guests will be treated to an all inclusive event with an open bar and the opportunity to experience the finest Italian cuisine, which will include a celebratory gala dinner, complete with celebrities and entertainment.
The showcase party is the first event to be held on MSC Magnifica, which is currently being fitted out at the in STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
More on MSC Magnifica

Sail for £1 offer a bit hit
December 23, 2009 - The response to MSC Cruises' Sail for a Pound offer, which ran from November 28 to to December 14, has been heralded as a huge success. More than 3,000 bookings were made and MSC hads to call in extra staff in to help cope with demand.
Under the exclusive deal, when the first passenger pays full brochure price on 2010 sailings, the second passenger sails for only £1.
The offer was available on all ten ships in the MSC Cruises fleet, including MSC Magnifica, launching in March 2010.

Sweet smell of MSC Cruises
December 5, 2009 - MSC Cruises has introduced a 'first' within the cruise industry - an exclusively designed fragrance called MED.
Passengers on board MSC Splendida will experience the infused bouquet of Mediterranean aromas - fresh, fruity and warm scents of fig, almond and vetiver.
MED by MSC will gently infuse select areas of the vessel, creating a welcoming and inviting ambiance in a bid to enhanced and heighten passengers' sense of well-being and luxury on board.
Daniela Picco, MSC Cruises head of corporate marketing, explains: "Fragranced hotels are becoming a big thing and research proves that holiday memories are composed of a myriad of sensory experiences, with scent playing a vital role. This inspired me to believe that we could create a unique scent as part of the MSC Cruises experience."

Christmas comes early with Sail for £1 offer
November 25, 2009 - Following the success of last year's festive treat, MSC Cruises is kick-starting Christmas again this year by offering passengers the chance to cruise for just £1!*
When one adult books a 2010 cruise paying full brochure price, the second passenger will pay just £1.
The offer is based on two sharing and bookings must be made between November 28 and December 14, 2009.
More on MSC's Sail for a £1 offer

MSC passes million landmark
November 18, 2009 - A 13-year-old boy became the millionth passenger to enjoy a luxurious cruise with the most modern fleet in the world when he boarded MSC Fantasia in Genoa last week.
This important milestone for the innovative, family-owned cruise company highlights its impressive year-on-year growth. MSC Cruises estimates that 1,085,000 passengers will have cruised with the company by the end of 2009 - an impressive increase of 36 per cent on 2008. The millionth guest, from Vercelli in Northern Italy, received free transfers and his family enjoyed an upgrade to MSC Yacht Club.
More on MSC's million passenger landmark

MSC launches agent sales initiatives
September 6, 2009 - MSC Cruises has launched new sales initiatives targeting agents in order to improve their knowledge of the company and to encourage them recommend its cruises to holidaymakers through the use of online and tailored training sessions, online sales tools and one-to-one meetings.
This follows the company's recent announcement that it has experienced a 50 per cent increase in the number of its UK passengers in the last 12 months, 39 per cent higher than the current UK industry average as well as a 60 per cent increase in revenue.]
Over the last two months, MSC Cruises has launched its own online training programme which has already seen a 55 per cent take-up rate among agents.
More on the MSC sales drive

Splendid trials for Splendida
May 26, 2009 - MSC Splendida successfully completed its sea trials on Sunday afternoon (May 24).
The company's new flagship left the Forme Joubert dock at STX Europe shipyard in St Nazaire, France, at 1500 last Thursdayand headed out to the Ile d'Yeu and Belle-Ile for 72 hours' sailing in the open sea.
These trials made it possible to check numerous aspects of the ship's performance, from comfort - noise and vibrations - to manoeuvrability, hydrodynamics and propulsion.
More on MSC Fantasia

MSC gangway heroes honoured
March 9, 2009 - Four crew members who immediately rushed to the aid of an overboard passenger on MSC Fantasia are to be officially commended by the local port authorities and government, and the ship's owner MSC Cruises.
Fantasia was moored in the port of Palma de Mallorca on Thursday and passengers were disembarking when strong winds caused three bow mooring bitts to become detached simultaneously. As a result, the ship moved away from the dock and a guest plunged into the water. Four members of the crew immediately dived in to help the man, in his 80s, who was brought to shore in just a few minutes and taken to hospital for observation.
The port authorities, who confirmed their responsibility for the incident, the city Mayor, a delegate of the central government in Mallorca and MSC Cruises will officially recognise the immense bravery and heroism of the crew members, whioch were checked over in hospital before returning to the ship.

MSC Magnifica floated out
January 20, 2009 - MSC Magnifica has been floated out of its dry dock at the STX shipyard in Saint Nazaire in France.
The latest in the Italian line's Musica class is due to be launched in March 2010.
MSC Magnifica, 93,000-ton sister ship to MSC Poesia launched last year, will include seven themed areas, have a 1,160sqm wellness and spa treatment centre, two swimming pools and four hot tub, and 65 per cent of cabins will have balconies.

Sophia Loren christens new flagship Fantasia
December 21, 2008 - Naples has played host to the christening of MSC Cruises new flagship, MSC Fantasia.
The spectacular launch event featured internationally acclaimed artists with Neapolitan origins - Renzo Arbore and the Orchestra Italiana, Lucio Dalla and Pino Daniele - who performed in a specially created high-tech arena.
And in what is now a tradition for MSC Crociere, the ribbon was cut by screen goddess Sophia Loren.
More on MSC Fantasia

New flagship Fantasia joins the fleet
December 11, 2008 - MSC Cruises has received its flagship MSC Fantasia at a hand-over ceremony at the STX France shipyard in St Nazaire, France.
At the tender age of four, the godmother at the flag ceremony was Asia Aponte, granddaughter of MSC Cruises owner Gianluigi Aponte. MSC Cruises’s CEO Pierfrancesco Vago, and Jacques Hardelay, General Manager of the shipyard, were also present.
The official handover saw the lowering of the French flag and the flag of STX France, and the raising of the MSC Cruises flag, along with the flags of Italy and Panama.
More on MSC Fantasia

MSC name two new ships
September 11, 2008 - MSC Cruises has named its two new 93,000-ton ships Meraviglia and Favolosa.
The ships, being built at the Aker Yards in St Nazaire, France, are scheduled to join the fleet in 2011 and 2012, and will be the fifth and sixth ships in the line's mid-range Musica class, each carrying 1,275 passengers.
Their arrival will increase the fleet to 14 as part of a six-year £4.4 billion investment in ten ships and will boost capacity to more than 1.4 million passengers by 2012.