MSC Cruises announced that it will be the title sponsor of two races in the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix series; the Japanese Grand Prix and the Gran Premio dell’Emilia Romagna held at Imola, according to a press release.
In 2024, the cruise line’s brand will be included in the title names of both Formula 1 Grand Prix, as well as the race circuit branding as part of MSC Cruises’ global sponsorship of Formula 1 through 2026.
The fourth race of the season, the “MSC Cruises Japanese Grand Prix” will take place between April 5-7, 2024 at the Suzuka track in Japan.
The “Formula 1 MSC Cruises Gran Premio dell’Emilia Romagna 2024” will take place between May 17 and 19, 2024 at the Imola circuit in Imola.
MSC Cruises became a global partner of Formula 1 in 2022 when the cruise line entered into a collaboration to the end of the 2026 World Championship.
Photo: Gran Premio dell’Emilia Romagna (Imola) (Colombo Images)
The MSC Grandiosa arrived in Brazil for its first winter season in South America.
Repositioning from the Western Mediterranean, the 4,888-guest vessel docked at its new homeport in Santos on Nov. 25.
To mark the occasion, MSC Cruises invited over 2,800 guests for a celebration onboard the 177,100-ton cruise ship, which also became the largest ever to operate in Brazil.
“It is a great source of pride to have a ship like this here, bringing passengers to travel within our country,” said the company’s Brazil Country Manager Adrian Ursilli.
He also noted that the Grandiosa is MSC’s 17th new ship to arrive in Brazil since the debut of MSC Armonia in 2004.
The event included a symbolic christening of the Grandiosa that saw Marlene Ribeiro – the longest-tenured employee of MSC Cruises in Brazil – serving as godmother.
“MSC Cruises is a family company. Everyone is always together and in good spirits. The choice of the MSC Grandiosa godmother is a demonstration of this,” said Fabio Gatti, the company’s Global Director of Entertainment.
In addition to Santos, the ship’s regular seven-night itineraries feature visits to Salvador, Maceió and Búzios.
Set to be repeated through late March, the cruise can be started at any of the ports of call, with the exception of Búzios.
The MSC Grandiosa was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France and originally entered service in 2019.
Part of MSC Cruises’ five-ship Meraviglia Class, the vessel offers several different amenities, including the Galleria Grandiosa, a 112-meter-long central promenade that features a huge LED dome.
The Grandiosa also offers a selection of bars and lounges, as well as a complete water park, and over ten dining venues.
MSC Cruises has announced a new infrastructure development program for Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas, according to a press release.
A heads of agreement was signed on Monday in Bimini attended by the country’s Prime Minister The Honourable Philip Davis and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Honourable Chester Cooper along with other government officials.
The company said that enhancements will be made to the island with additional amenities for MSC Cruises’ guests who visit the destination, accommodation for staff as well as operational and technical improvements and environmental infrastructure.
Guest facilities will be enhanced with the introduction of excursion center to support watersport activities and island tours, a sea dive and snorkel center, additional food and beverage outlets and other facilities, the company said.
The MSC Foundation’s Marine Conservation Centre will be built as a base for biologists, coral reef experts and students. It will also house interactive pavilions, a lecture hall and coral exhibition tanks and provide MSC Cruises’ passengers visiting the island with educational opportunities about the importance of the marine ecosystem.
The island is home to the MSC Foundation’s Super Coral Program, which is considered a critical contribution in the contemporary understanding of coral reef resilience throughout the region.
MSC Foundation is supporting graduate student program designed to address and mitigate changes in thermal resilience of coral reefs throughout the tropical Western Atlantic. The coral nurseries at Ocean Cay are thriving with young and healthy, yet critically endangered species of endemic, reef building corals, representing hope in restoring these fragile ecosystems.
MSC said the development will also see a third solar farm installed as part MSC Cruises’ aim to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions for Ocean Cay, an advanced wastewater treatment plant, a landscaping plan to further diversify and develop the sustainable environment on the island with native and adaptive trees, grasses, and shrubs to provide erosion control, improve vegetation and support ecosystem health.
New accommodation buildings will see an increase in staff numbers from 150 to 280.
MSC Cruises today also pledged, as part of its ongoing social responsibility and commitment to invest in future generations of seafarers, that it will support the LJM Maritime Academy and the University of The Bahamas to enhance the training of Bahamians seeking to enter the maritime sector.
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