Tag Archives: MSC Opera

MSC LIrica refeb. program

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MSC Cruises announced a multi-million euro programme that will involve

all four of its Lirica class ships over the next two years.

The almost €200 million”renaissance programme” has been commissioned from FINCANTIERI in Italy, one of the world’s leading shipbuilding companies, and will be complete by 2015. The “renaissance” of MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Opera will add exciting new entertainment options, technological advancements, extended shops and up to nearly 200 new cabins per ship.

The ships will boast a completely new spray park, with an exhilarating pathway of water features and water cannons. The impressive onboard boutiques will be enhanced with new interiors, more space and an all-new perfumery with display corners dedicated to leading brands, such as Dior, Lancôme and Dolce & Gabbana.

Schedule and key figures

The MSC Lirica renaissance programme will follow the dry dock schedule below:

• MSC Armonia* (2004): 31 August to 17 November 2014
• MSC Sinfonia (2005): 12 January to 16 March 2015
• MSC Opera (2004): 2 May to 4 July 2015
• MSC Lirica (2003): 31 August to 9 November 2015

*We will follow up with an individual letter to those who booked a cruise on MSC Armonia between 31 August and 17 November 2014.

The four Lirica Class ships were built between 2003 and 2005 at the STX yards in Saint-Nazaire, France. They are currently 251 metres long, weigh 60,000 tons and carry 2,069 travellers. After the “renaissance programme”, the ships will be 275 meters long, weigh 65,000 tons and carry 2,680 travellers, boasting 193 additional cabins (plus 59 new cabins for crew members).

Best Regards,

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises pays tribute to Nelson Mandela

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MSC Cruises pays tribute to Nelson Mandela

Today, 6 December 2013, following the sad news of the passing of former South African President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, MSC Cruises’ fleet will pay tribute to this towering figure of our time.

Tonight a minute of silence will be respected in memory of Mandela’s life at the beginning of all shows across MSC Cruises’ 12 ships.

The South African flag will also be flown at half-mast on MSC Opera and MSC Sinfonia, currently cruising in South African waters.

Eulogies will be held by MSC Sinfonia’s and MSC Opera’s cruise directors tonight to remember South Africa’s first black president and his legacy. A moment of silence will be respected in memory of Mandela’s life. Traditional South African music will be played, to wish the revered figure farewell.

Mandela passed away on 5 December 2013, at his Houghton home in Johannesburg, surrounded by his family.

MSC Cruises salutes a great man who stood for freedom, hope, tolerance as well as peace, and set a moral example not only to a nation, but to the world.

MSC Cruises to stretch Lirica class of ships/Hawke reassures agents as he takes on MSC role

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By Hollie-Rae Merrick MSC Cruises to stretch Lirica class of ships

MSC Cruises is poised to announce a major refit of its 1,500-passenger Lirica class of ships.

Travel Weekly understands the ships will be cut and stretched, with up to 800 extra cabins being installed across the fleet.

The cruise line is focusing on ensuring its current fleet is of the highest standard and it is unlikely any new ships will be added within the next three years.

However orders for ships to be introduced after that period are expected to be placed soon.

The Lirica refit is likely to be part of the company’s strategy to build revenue from the UK market, and to help build greater brand awareness.

More balconies will be added to the ships during their refit in order to attract more UK customers.

One of the ships could also sail from the UK on a regular basis.

Hawke reassures agents as he takes on MSC role

By Hollie-Rae Merrick

Hawke reassures agents as he takes on MSC roleThe new UK managing director of MSC Cruises has insisted he is not looking to repeat a strategy he spearheaded at former employee Carnival UK.

Speaking to Travel Weekly on his first day in his new position, Giles Hawke moved to reassure agents that he wouldn’t be “coming in and slashing commission”.

When asked about commission, he said: “I think most of the big commission moves in the market have already been made. The market has been stabilised, discounting is largely gone.

“MSC is in a good place and well positioned and I don’t see going in to the market and slashing commission happening.”

He added: “You do different things at different companies. There isn’t a one size fits all model, whatever the industry you don’t move from one company to another and decide to repeat everything that you did before.

“To reassure travel agents, I haven’t come in here with a mindset to repeat everything I did at Carnival UK.”

Hawke reiterated the importance of travel agents in helping to raise brand awareness for MSC.

He said: “I want people going into travel agents and asking about MSC because they already have awareness and I also want travel agents to know what MSC is all about and to understand the brand.

“I think currently you ask 10 different travel agents to tell you about MSC Cruises and you get 10 different answers.

“I would like 10 agents and 10 answers that are the same.

“I’m in the listening, learning and understanding mode for the next few months – then working out how we market to customers and give them clarity and getting people’s minds more on the brand than they have ever been before.”

Giles said MSC had always been a very trade-focused brand, and maintained that would not change. He said the line would be doing more ship visits and fam trips for agents because agents represent a large proportion of MSCs sales.

In the short term, Giles said he would be meeting with key agents to hear their thoughts on MSC, he hopes to see a many agents as possible before the end of the year.