Celebrate Spring on a MSC Cruises Caribbean Cruise

‘Kids Sail Free,’ Baseball Theme Cruises Highlight Spring Cruise Offerings

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (JANUARY 26, 2009) – The weather in much of the country is still in winter’s grip, and, according to MSC Cruises, that makes this the perfect time to plan a great spring cruise vacation.

Combining Italian zest for life, an iconic American theme cruise and outstanding values, a 7-night cruise on the MSC Orchestra or 10-night cruise on MSC Lirica from Fort Lauderdale to the sunny islands of the Caribbean offers a perfect way to say good-bye to winter and celebrate the arrival of spring.

Here’s a sampling of the special opportunities MSC Cruises is offering this spring:

A family cruise vacation to make this year’s “spring break” special without breaking the bank. MSC Cruises makes it easy to take the entire family on a Caribbean cruise vacation with its kids cruise free offer. Kids ages 17 and under always cruise free when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults (government taxes and fees are additional, per person).

As spring training gets underway, sail with the Major League Baseball heroes of your youth on two special “Baseball Greats” theme cruises: Guests on the March 28 and April 11 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruises of MSC Orchestra, will meet and spend quality time with some of the greats of “America’s Pasttime” who will be onboard to share their memories and offer tips for budding ballplayers. One of the highlights of the cruise is the free autograph session.

Special values for Boomers and Senior Cruise vacations: Senior and Boomer cruise prices on all 2008-09 Caribbean cruises of MSC Lirica and MSC Orchestra begin at just $499 per person, double occupancy (cruise only, not including government fees and taxes) on 7-night itineraries and $699 per person, double occupancy on 10-night itineraries – savings of up to 50 percent from regular prices. At least one guest in the stateroom must be a senior of 50 years of age on the cruise departure date.

A great value for multi-generational family cruise vacations and reunions. When you combine the senior cruise vacation (Boomer/Senior) Saver rates with kids cruise free an MSC Cruises’ Caribbean cruise is a fantastic value and a memorable experience ideal for multi-generational family cruise vacations and reunions.

For more information about MSC Cruises’ Caribbean spring celebration offers, visit www.MSCCruisesUSA.com or a local travel professional.

MSC Cruises currently has the most modern fleet in the world with nine ships: MSC Fantasia (the largest ship ever built for a European ship owner), MSC Poesia, MSC Orchestra, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia MSC Opera, MSC Lirica, MSC Melody, cruising in the Mediterranean year round and seasonally in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, North and South America, the Indian Ocean and South Africa. MSC Splendida and MSC Magnifica will be launched, respectively, in 2009 and 2010. MSC Cruises is the only company to receive the "6 Golden Pearls" award from the Bureau Veritas in recognition of its high level of quality management and environmental protection.

New Virtual 2009 Europe Cruise Brochure from MSC Cruises

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (JANUARY 28, 2009) – Guests can get a close-up look at all that MSC Cruises has to offer for the 2009 Europe season with the new virtual cruise vacation brochure now available online.

The 57-page Northern Europe cruise brochure, which is now available at www.MSCCruisesUSA.com, provides guests and travel agents an easily accessible way to view what they can expect when they choose to explore Europe the European way onboard an MSC Cruises ship.

The cruise vacation brochure covers itineraries from March through November and provides the following:

• An overview of the MSC Cruises ambiance and amenities available on an MSC Cruises sailing
• Itinerary information for the line’s Mediterranean and Northern Europe cruises
• Cruise ship details for the line’s nine ships, including information about the line’s two largest ships, MSC Fantasia (launched in December) and MSC Splendida (scheduled to debut in July). Both ships feature the line’s luxurious MSC Yacht Club, a dedicated VIP area with 99 beautiful, spacious suites fitted out to the highest standards, special restricted-access areas and exclusive, personalized butler service and a concierge.

About MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises currently has the most modern fleet in the world with nine ships: MSC Fantasia (the largest ship ever built for a European ship owner), MSC Poesia, MSC Orchestra, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia MSC Opera, MSC Lirica, MSC Melody, cruising in the Mediterranean year round and seasonally in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, North and South America, the Indian Ocean and South Africa. MSC Splendida and MSC Magnifica will be launched, respectively, in 2009 and 2010.

MSC Cruises is the only company to receive the “6 Golden Pearls” award from the Bureau Veritas in recognition of its high level of quality management and environmental protection.

For more information about MSC Cruises and its 2009 North European cruise season, visit www.MSCCruisesUSA.com or a local travel professional.

Sail on MSC Cruises Spectacular Winter Sailings to Quebec and New York City

Cruise Line to Begin Sailings from New York City, Quebec in 2010

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (JANUARY 2009) – MSC Cruises, long a leader in the European cruise market and a growing presence in the Caribbean cruise winter market, will be adding Canada and New England cruises to its offerings in 2010.

MSC Magnifica, currently under construction and scheduled to debut in March 2010, will be sailing a series of Fall Foliage cruise vacations from both New York City and Quebec in the fall of 2010 before sailing to Fort Lauderdale to join MSC Lirica for the 2010-11 Caribbean cruise season.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for residents of the Northeastern United States and Canada to enjoy an MSC Cruises vacation experience on one of the line’s newest and most elegant cruise ships without having to add in the cost and time of airfare,” says Richard E. Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises (USA), Inc.

He adds, “MSC Magnifica is ideal for Fall Foliage cruises. With nearly 80 percent outside staterooms and a magrodome (retractable roof over the swimming pool), guests can appreciate the beauty of Mother Nature throughout the cruise.”

A full MSC Magnifica review, which is scheduled to debut in March 2010, will depart Venice on Sept. 4, 2010 on an 18-night transatlantic cruise to New York City. Along the way, it will call at Bari, la Vallette, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon, Ponta Delgada and King’s Wharf (Bermuda), arriving in New York City on Sept. 22.

The cruise ship will then sail the following itineraries for Canada and New England cruises:

• 10 night roundtrip, departing Sept. 22 and calling in Sydney, Charlottetown, Quebec, Halifax and Newport

• 7 night New York City to Quebec, departing Oct. 2 and calling in Halifax, Charlottetown and Corner Brook

• 7 night Quebec to New York City, departing Oct. 9 and calling in Sydney, Bar Harbor, Boston and Newport

• 7 night New York City to Quebec, departing Oct. 16 and calling in Halifax, Sydney and Charlottetown

• 9 night Quebec to Fort Lauderdale, departing Oct. 23 and calling in Sydney, Boston, Newport and New York City

The cruise itineraries can be combined, making them ideal for those who want a longer, roundtrip experience or even a 16-night cruise vacation from New York City to Fort Lauderdale.

For more information about MSC Cruises, visit www.MscCruisesUSA.com or a local travel professional.

2009-2010 Carribean Cruises Featuring MSC Poesia

Introducing our new 2009-10 Caribbean cruises program
featuring cruise ship MSC Poesia.

The new MSC Magnifica, cruise ship currently under construction at STX France, was expected to be completed earlier than scheduled to join MSC Poesia in North America for the 2009-10 Caribbean program. The ship will now be completed on her original delivery date in Spring 2010. As a result, MSC Poesia's Caribbean program will include MSC Magnifica's 7nt cruises, and feature itineraries of 3, 5, 7, 8, and 10-nights throughout the Caribbean sea and to Bermuda during the winter season before returning to Europe in spring 2010.

MSC Poesia cruise ship will arrive in Fort Lauderdale Nov. 10, 2009, after a 17-night transatlantic cruise from Venice. Her Caribbean season will include the following:

*5 night sailings: Nov. 10, Nov. 15 and Jan. 3
*10 night itineraries - beginning Nov. 20
*7 night cruise Christmas itinerary, departing Dec. 20
*7 night New Year's itinerary, departing Dec. 27
*7 night itineraries - a variety of itineraries Jan. 16-April 10
*7 night Bermuda cruise itinerary – departing April 17, features 3 nights in Bermuda
*3 night Bahamas cruise departing April 24


MSC Poesia cruise ship departs Fort Lauderdale April 27 on an 18-night transatlantic cruise to Kiel.

MSC Magnifica is expected to arrive in North America in Fall 2010 to inaugurate MSC Cruises' first Canada/New England program. The MSC Magnifica, complete with magrodome for magnificent views, will sail roundtrip Fall Foliage itineraries from New York and Quebec City before sailing to Fort Lauderdale to join MSC Lirica for the 2010-11 Caribbean cruise season.

For Reservations or Information Visit MSCcruisesUSA.com


Call 1.800.666.9333

MSC Orchestra Cruise Ship is Here

With tug boats spraying a watery welcome, MSC Orchestra arrived in Port Everglades today to begin her inaugural season of Caribbean sailings. MSC Orchestra is the largest of the line's ships to sail in North American waters. At 92,400 gross tons, the MSC Orchestra can carry 2,550 passengers and the majority of staterooms have private balconies. With more than 236,800 square feet of public areas and 5 restaurants (L'Ibiscus, Villa Borghese, La Piazzetta, Four Seasons, the Shanghai Chinese Restaurant - the only dedicated Chinese restaurant at sea), 10 bars (two of which are open air), 3 meeting and conference rooms, a 21-foot by 12-foot outdoor LED screen, and the 16,146 square-foot Body and Mind Spa, MSC Orchestra represents the perfect combination of grace and style. MSC Orchestra will sail alternating 7-night roundtrip European cruises itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Jan. 10-April 18, 2009 A special 7-night roundtrip Bermuda sailing departs Fort Lauderdale April 25. During her inaugural season, MSC Orchestra will host baseball greats on its Jan. 24 Western Caribbean itinerary, and its Feb. 28, March 28 and April 11 Eastern Caribbean itineraries. On each of these special sailings, unique insight into the world of Major League Baseball as seen through the eyes of some of the greats of the game. Click here for more info. MSC Orchestra is scheduled to depart Fort Lauderdale May 2, 2009 on an 18-night voyage that will include a two-day visit to New York before heading eastbound to Copenhagen. On each sailing, guests will enjoy the line's highly acclaimed entertainment, European-style ambiance, dishes from "La Cucina Italiana," and top-of-the-line pampering. For reservations & information call 1.800.666.9333