Tag Archives: MSC Poesia

MSC to suspend Tunisia calls for winter season

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MSC Cruises said the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Tunisia has led it to suspend calls there for the 2015-16 winter season.

The line said its previously scheduled calls at La Goulette from Nov. 15 to April 23 on the MSC Prezisosa will be replaced by calls in Malta.

The MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia during their voyages from Venice to Santos in Brazil and Buenos Aires in Argentina, respectively, in November and December 2015 will spend a full day in Alicante, Spain, instead of La Goulette/Tunis, MSC said.

Authorities in Tunisia declared the state of emergency after two terrorist attacks on tourists there in the past four months.

MSC Cruises Northern Europe ended successful season in 2014

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The North European season 2014 goes for MSC cruises to the end and the three MSC ships stationed in Germany goodbye. The MSC Magnifica leaves on 12 October 2014 after 22 attempts, the port of Hamburg. It is replaced by the MSC Splendida, which is in the summer season 2015, as the largest passenger ship in the Hanseatic city.

The port of Hamburg says “Goodbye” to the MSC Magnifica. This popular cruise ship brought two summers thousands passengers from Hamburg to the most beautiful coasts of northern Europe. On October 12, they will start from the Hanseatic city from last ports in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and the UK. In November, the MSC Magnifica then takes her three-week Grand Voyage to South America, where it crosses in winter 2014/2015. The two stationed in Kiel and Warnemünde MSC ships, MSC Orchestra and MSC Poesia have left Germany in September and will be stationed in the coming winter in Dubai and South America. The MSC Poesia had a total stored in the last season 18 times of Warnemünde, the MSC Orchestra 19 times of Kiel.

Photo: MSC Cruises

“We look back on an extremely successful season in Germany. Our three ships were booked straight through “ , said Michael Zengerle, CEO of MSC Cruises. “Now we look forward to the summer of 2015, and particularly on the MSC Splendida, with which we will provide three premieres in Hamburg: MSC sends the first time one of its flagships from a German port of departure from the north, our guests can book for the first time the MSC Yacht Club from Germany and the MSC Splendida will also be the largest passenger ship serving of the Hanseatic city of cruises. “

Photo: MSC Cruises

The MSC Splendida is on May 1, 2015 will have their big in Hamburg: The ship of the Fantasia-class of MSC with 330 meters and a gross tonnage of 138,000 will be the largest positioned in the Hanseatic city cruise ship with a capacity of 1,637 cars. The baptized by Sophia Loren in 2009 luxury liner is a total of 12 times set sail and start on eight different routes ports in Great Britain, France, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands as well as in Norway and Iceland. These range from a mini-cruise with four nights to two-week trips. With the MSC Splendida MSC Cruises are in the upcoming summer season about 30 percent more capacity on high demand routes from Hamburg. This MSC responds to the continuing boom in Northern Europe cruises. The three MSC ports in northern and eastern Germany are especially popular with German visitors because of their convenient accessibility.

The MSC Splendida is on the North Europe routes from summer 2015 for the first time an exclusive luxury range available: the MSC Yacht Club, a “ship in the ship” concept for guests who want to be pampered on board in a luxurious ambience and a private atmosphere especially. The MSC Yacht Club includes accommodation in spacious suites in a prime location in the bow of the ship and an all-inclusive drinks deal. Guests may also make use of separate areas such as a restaurant and sun deck as well as use of specific services claim, including them is a personal Butler around the clock.

The MSC Splendida offers its guests a cruise experience at the highest level. The varied gastronomic offer, with 21 bars and five restaurants serving Mediterranean and international cuisine ensures guests every day a new taste experience. The five pools and hot tubs 12 aboard guarantee fun for everyone. A special highlight is the covered and heated pool. This bathing is a pleasure even on chilly days in the far north. The generous Aurea Spa features a sauna, fitness center and elegant massage cabins to relax. Also, tennis, basketball, squash and jogging are possible on board. There is every night in the theater seats 1,600 comprehensive high-class Broadway shows. In addition, on board among others include a 4D cinema, a Formula 1 simulator, bowling, casino, Internet cafe and a disco.

Also in Warnemünde will begin in summer 2015 with the newly refurbished and modernized MSC Sinfonia a new ship, the anfährt on 16 runs many attractive ports in the North and Baltic MSC Cruises. From Kiel MSC Orchestra will happen this coming summer from a total of 19 times and visited, among other things, the port cities of Stockholm, Helsinki and St. Petersburg.

MSC maintains market presence and touts return to ex-UK

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By Phil Davies

MSC maintains market presence and touts return to ex-UK MSC Cruises is maintaining capacity in the UK market despite withdrawing departures from Southampton after this year.

The Italian line is concentrating on fly-Med sailings in 2015 with dedicated charter flights to serve five ships from Venice and its two biggest vessels MSC Fantasia and Preziosa sailing year-round from Barcelona and Genoa.

Regional connecting flights will be commissionable at 5%.

But UK, Ireland and Australia executive director Giles Hawke (pictured) does not rule out a return to ex-UK cruises in the future.

Hawke, speaking ahead of the 2015/16 programme going on sale on Wednesday – the earliest date ever – revealed that the company aims to more than triple UK passenger numbers from 60,000 this year to 200,000 by 2017.

He would not be drawn on when or if MSC would return to ex-UK departures, but said there would be eight calls in either Southampton or Dover next year which will allow agents to make ship visits.

“We will more than replace our ex-UK capacity with our fly-Med programme,” he said, indicating that MSC would be the biggest player in the sector in 2015 with departures covering both the western and eastern Mediterranean.

The company has taken 500 pre-registrations from consumers ahead of the on-sale date and expects strong trade support, with early booking offers such as discounts of up to £200 off the brochure price and free cabin upgrades for bookings made between April and June.

Prices lead in at £499 per person based on a seven-night fly-cruise from Barcelona on newest ship MSC Preziosa on December 6, 2015.

Other options include the first ship with upgraded MSC Yacht Club facilities – MSC Splendida – sailing in northern Europe.

Hawke said: “I believe we will return to ex-UK cruising but first we want to build the brand and consumer demand to justify us having one of our biggest ships operating out of Southampton.

“We want to build a brand that the consumer understands and one that commands the kind of prices it deserves.”

MSC Opera is being withdrawn to be stretched in size alongside three other Lirica-class ships following this year’s season of departures from Southampton.