Holiday News

MSC gives agents a free ride
November 26, 2007 - In future it won't cost travel agents in the UK and Ireland a penny to make bookings with MSC Cruises.
New toll free numbers have been installed - 0844 561 1955 for UK agents and 1800 932 499 for those in Ireland.

Ex-UK capacity to be boosted
November 15, 2007 - MSC Cruises is to expand its ex-UK presence over the next three years. The 2,000-passenger MSC Lirica will be based in Dover in 2009 following the Italian line's debut in the with MSC Armonia. This will be followed in 2010 with a "larger new ship", according to MSC sources.
MSC, aiming for 150 per cent growthin the UK in 2008, is adding four vessels over the next 24 months, with Poesia being christened in Dover on April 5, 2008, followed by the delivery of 3,959-passenger Fantasia in December. Splendida will then be added and Magnifica in 2010.
MSC is looking to carry a total of 800,000 passengers in 2008, with a further 400,000 the following year.

Ten ships with more places to go
September 11, 2007 - More ships and new itineraries are featured in the 2008 programme of the MSC Cruises as the fleet grows to ten ships with the arrival of MSC Poesia and MSC Fantasia.
Itineraries including the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Caribbean, plus ocean voyages to South Africa and South America along with Christmas and New Year sailings.
The brand new flagship, Poesia will make her debut in Dover on April 5 during an overnight pierside event. Fantasia will then take the fleet to ten ships with her debut in November 2008.
More on MSC's 2008 programme

MSC Serenata renamed Splendida
May 31, 2007 - MSC Serenata has been given a new name - Splendida - to reflect her beauty and elegance.
The change is in response to the enthusiastic reaction of Raphaela Aponte - who was responsible for all the ships interior design details - to the designs prepared by architect De Jorio.
Splendida is sister ship to MSC Fantasia, largest ships to be commissioned by a European ship owner, and will join the fleet in the autumn of 2008 and the spring of 2009. The length of each of the two ships will be six times that of the Tower of Pisa and 10 metres longer than the Eiffel Tower.
More about MSC Splendida

Italian icons launch MSC Orchestra
May 14, 2007 - Screen goddess Sophia Loren starred as the official godmother of MSC Cruises' latest ship MSC Orchestra at its christening in the Italian port of Civitavecchia. The VIP event was broadcast live on the MSC website.
Ms Lauren launched her first ship for MSC Cruises in 2003 and maintains close connections to the line. As well as being godmother to several of its ships,she and her family often cruise with MSC on their own holidays.
More about the arrival of MSC Orchestra

MSC steams ahead with Magnifica
March 31, 2007 - MSC Cruises continues its era of expansion with the announcement that it is exercising its option to build a fourth 'Musica' Panamax ship, MSC Magnifica.
This decision will increase the company's fleet to 12 ships by the beginning of 2010 and, having taken delivery of at least one ship per year since 2003, MSC Cruises now offers the worldÕs newest fleet and highest balcony ratio.
The announcement was made by MSC Cruises CEO Pierfrancesco Vago and by Aker Yards France CEO Jacques Hardelay.
More about MSC Magnifica