MSC CRUISES TO HOMEPORT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEW YORK CITY WITH YEAR-ROUND SAILINGS ON ONE OF WORLD’S BIGGEST AND MOST INNOVATIVE SHIPS

• MSC Cruises to offer year-round cruises from New York City starting April 2023

• MSC Meraviglia to sail itineraries including Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and the breathtaking Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

• Sales for the summer 2023 season open tomorrow

Geneva, Switzerland – March 8, 2022 – The world’s fastest-growing cruise brand will start sailing from New York City next year. MSC Cruises announced plans today to bring the modern and glamorous MSC Meraviglia to the Big Apple to offer year-round cruises, homeporting at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal starting in April of 2023 and making it easier than ever for guests to enjoy the stunning beauty of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

The announcement marks a significant milestone for MSC Cruises, the contemporary brand of the Cruise Division of MSC Group. It represents the first time one of the line’s ships will homeport in the northeastern United States year-round, and it further enhances the brand’s North American presence by complementing the rich choice of ships and itineraries out of PortMiami and Port Canaveral in the Orlando area.

On board MSC Meraviglia, guests will have a wide variety of vacation options, ranging from 6 to 11 nights, with destinations covering the Caribbean, Bermuda, New England and Canada. They can start booking summer 2023 cruises from New York City tomorrow, March 9, via MSCCruises.com or their preferred travel advisor.

Rubén Rodríguez, President, MSC Cruises USA, said: “New York City was the natural choice when we picked our next U.S. port because it’s so accessible, whether the guest is coming from somewhere nearby or from around the world. We designed our mix of itineraries to take advantage of New York’s geographic flexibility, so that you can soak up the springtime sun in the Caribbean, head to Bermuda over the summer, or go north to see Canada’s natural beauty in the fall. MSC Meraviglia was a huge hit when she first came to New York in 2019. Our guests really appreciated the ship’s modern and glamorous features, as well as her state-of-the-art environmental technologies, and we are sure we’ll see strong demand when she returns.”

New York City Itinerary Highlights:

• Caribbean itineraries of either 7 or 8 nights, featuring calls in Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve—MSC Cruises’ beautiful private island in The Bahamas.

• Bermuda itineraries lasting 6 nights and offering three days docked at King’s Wharf combined with several relaxing days at sea.

• Northern itineraries of either 10 or 11 nights, featuring calls at Boston, Massachusetts; Portland, Maine; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia; and Saint John, New Brunswick. (11-night itineraries include an additional call in Newport, Rhode Island.)

MSC Cruises’ entry into the Northeast is the latest example of the European-based line’s long-standing focus on the overall North American cruise market, which includes bringing more international travelers into the region and continuing to place its most advanced ships at U.S. ports. MSC Cruises is the fastest-growing cruise line in the world, on the back of an ambitious new-build plan that saw 7 highly innovative ships coming into service since 2017, including two in 2021 and two more arriving later this year.

Last year, the cruise line added Port Canaveral as a permanent homeport with a mix of 3, 4 and 7-night cruises aimed at maximizing options for easy getaways just a short drive from the Orlando area’s world-renowned mix of attractions. Further south, MSC Cruises is building the largest and most advanced cruise terminal in North America at PortMiami, which will be able to accommodate three of the line’s largest ships simultaneously once complete.

As the third-largest cruise brand worldwide—and market leader in Europe, South America and the Arabian Gulf region—MSC Cruises prides itself on offering international dining, world-class entertainment, award-winning family programs and the very latest user-friendly technology on board. With this addition of New York City as an embarkation port, the line aims to attract even more North American guests as well as those from around the world.

About MSC Meraviglia

At 1,034 feet long and 214 feet tall, with an impressive 19 decks and capacity of up to 5,700 guests, MSC Meraviglia is a vacation destination in its own right—packed with innovative features to provide an unforgettable experience:

• 10 different types of staterooms to choose from, including solo cabins, popular balcony cabins, and stylish accommodations in the MSC Yacht Club (a luxury “ship within a ship” featuring butler service, along with exclusive restaurant, lounge and pool areas).

• Galleria Meraviglia, a promenade lined with shops, restaurants and bars that stretches more than 300 feet and lined with an impressive LED sky screen.

• 20 bars and 12 restaurants, including the popular Butcher’s Cut steakhouse and Kaito Sushi and Teppanyaki.

• Indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs, along with a water park and ropes course.

• A variety of theatrical extravaganzas in our 985-seat theater.

• The extensive MSC Aurea Spa, providing massage therapy, body treatments, facial treatments, and a dedicated thermal area.

• 6,000 square-foot gym featuring state-of-the-art equipment from Technogym™.

• MSC Kids’ Club for children from 0-17 years old, with dedicated areas for babies, toddlers, children and teens, along with the Lego® Experience.

MSC Meraviglia is fitted with innovative technology and solutions to minimize her environmental footprint. These include an exhaust gas cleaning system for cleaner emissions; an advanced wastewater treatment system; smart heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC) to recover heat from machinery spaces; and LED lighting and smart devices to significantly save energy. This is all part of MSC Cruises' commitment to provide guests with the best vacation experiences at sea in a sustainable fashion.

To learn more about MSC Meraviglia, click here.

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

MSC Cruises’ stunning private island destination in The Bahamas is the centerpiece of a breathtaking 64-square-mile marine reserve designed to connect guests with nature, making it the perfect spot to take a deep breath and relax. The island will be a highlight of many of MSC Meraviglia’sitineraries and offers white sandy beaches where chairs, umbrellas, and cabanas await guests for a relaxing day of soaking up the spirit of The Bahamas while surrounded by sweeping panoramas of crystal blue waters at every turn.

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve is home to the MSC Foundation’s Super Coral Program, which aims to develop and refine methods to reverse the decline in coral reefs. The Foundation is working with scientists from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School and Nova Southeastern University to pioneer methods for rebuilding damaged reefs with coral species that are more resilient to environmental threats like ocean pollution and warming.

To learn more about Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, click here.

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MSC CRUISES SAILS TOWARD RESUMPTION OF U.S. CRUISING WITH SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF SIMULATED VOYAGE

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (July 20, 2021) — MSC Meraviglia, MSC Cruises’ glamorous ship resuming cruises from Miami August 2, returned to PortMiami today after its 3-night simulated cruise, visiting Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises’ private island destination, in The Bahamas. The successful completion of the simulated voyage marks not only a key milestone toward the Company’s resumption of cruises from the U.S., but also a significant step its global plan for more than half of MSC Cruises’ fleet back at sea by the end of this summer.

“We are getting closer to bringing our guests back to sea from the U.S., and come August 2, they will finally have the opportunity to again enjoy everything they know and love about our rich experience, with gourmet dining, world-class entertainment and immersive experiences on board. And, with Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve still new to many of our guests, they can also now step onto our natural paradise when cruising The Bahamas, spending the day and evening enjoying activities like paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkeling and more,” said Rubén Rodríguez, President of MSC Cruises USA. “We are grateful to our volunteer guests who helped us complete this significant milestone, demonstrating the strength of our protocol to protect our guests, crew and the communities we visit, as well as the  memorable cruise vacation we offer.”

Guests participating in the simulated cruise experienced life on board MSC Meraviglia, all under the protection of MSC Cruises’ health and safety protocol, including mask-wearing indoors, social distancing, enhanced sanitization and more. Cruisers dined in the main dining room and specialty restaurants, participated in activities and entertainment throughout the ship and visited ashore in Nassau and Ocean Cay with a number of immersive protected shore excursions — all part of MSC Cruises’ safe and enjoyable cruise experience.

MSC Cruises’ Upcoming U.S. Resumption this Summer 

With MSC Cruises’ simulated sailing successfully completed, MSC Meraviglia will officially resume cruising from the U.S.on August 2, 2021, beginning with 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas, featuring Ocean Cay. The ship will then add 7-night cruises on September 18 to The Bahamas & Caribbean. MSC Divina will be MSC Cruises’ second ship to return to cruising from the U.S. with 3-, 4- and 7-night itineraries beginning September 16 from Orlando (Port Canaveral), a brand-new homeport for MSC Cruises.

All cruises will feature Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, named Best New Cruise Destination, where guests can enjoy the island’s natural beauty, discover local marine life and soak up the spirit of The Bahamas. With ships docking at the island from early morning into the evening — and in some instances overnight — guests can spend a full day enjoying two miles of pristine, white sand beaches and activities including stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, thrilling wave runner rides and more.

Health & Safety Measures

MSC Cruises’ top priority is protecting the health and safety of its guests, crew and the communities the Company’s ships visit. All MSC Cruises’ ships cruising from the U.S. will sail under the protection of the Company’s comprehensive health and safety protocol which includes universal COVID-19 testing at embarkation for all guests, weekly testing of crew, physical distancing, mask-wearing, protected shore excursions for guests who are not fully vaccinated, enhanced sanitation measures and personal hygiene recommendations, such as increased hand-washing and sanitizing stations, and specific additional requirements and restrictions for not fully vaccinated guests. For additional details on MSC Cruises’ health and safety measures and additional requirements for not fully vaccinated guests, please visithttps://www.msccruisesusa.com/health-and-safety-measures.

For more information on MSC Cruises’ first cruises from the U.S. and to book, guests should contact their preferred travel advisor, or visit here.

To learn more about MSC Cruises’ comprehensive health and safety protocol, visit here.

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IT’S OFFICIALLY TIME TO SET SAIL AGAIN! MSC CRUISES’ U.S. SUMMER 2021 VOYAGES OPEN FOR SALE

 MSC Meraviglia and MSC Divina to offer 3-, 4- and 7-night cruises from Miami and Port Canaveral to The Bahamas and Caribbean, featuring Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

Guests can book with confidence knowing that MSC Cruises will operate under its industry-leading health and safety protocol, enabling safe and enjoyable cruising since last summer

Guests can book for a limited time with Free Drinks & Wi-Fi (Up to $1,100 in value) 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (June 17, 2021) — MSC Cruises – the world’s third largest and fastest-growing cruise brand — has officially opened its U.S. summer 2021 cruises for sale aboard the ultramodern MSC Meraviglia and the glamorous MSC Divina, with 3-, 4- and 7-night itineraries available from Miami and Orlando (Port Canaveral), starting this summer. Both ships will sail under the protection of MSC Cruises’ industry-leading health and safety protocol that has enabled the Company to offer safe and enjoyable cruises since August 2020 for tens of thousands of guests.

“It’s time to cruise again, and we are incredibly excited to open our U.S. summer 2021 cruises for booking and take a step closer toward bringing our guests back on board our ships in the U.S. this summer,” said Rubén Rodriguez, president of MSC Cruises USA. “Looking ahead, our guests have so much to look forward to, with a choice of quick getaways or week-long vacations from Miami or our brand-new home port in Port Canaveral, all visiting our new private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. And, later this year, guests will love our newest ship to hit U.S. waters, MSC Seashore, when she makes her Miami debut this November. Given our experience cruising in Europe since last summer, we are eager to bring our safe and enjoyable cruises back to the U.S. and remind our guests of the enriching and memorable experience MSC Cruises offers.”

MSC Cruises’ Restart Itineraries

MSC Meraviglia, MSC Cruises’ award-winning, ultramodern cruise ship, will resume cruising on August 2, 2021, offering three- and four-night cruises visiting The Bahamas and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Starting September 18, 2021, the ship will alternate between seven-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries. Itinerary highlights include:

• August 2, 2021: Guests can be the first to sail again from the U.S. on this four-night cruise from Miami visiting Nassau, Bahamas and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Prices start at $509 per person for a balcony stateroom.

• September 18, 2021: MSC Meraviglia’s first seven-night cruise since resuming operations, embarking from Miami and visiting Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve; Nassau, Bahamas; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve for a second visit. Prices start at $649 per person for a balcony stateroom.

• September 25, 2021: Seven-night cruise from Miami visiting Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve; Costa Maya, Mexico; Cozumel, Mexico; and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve for a second visit. Prices start at $639 per person for a balcony stateroom.

As the second ship to restart in the U.S., the glamorous MSC Divina will resume cruising a range of 3-, 4- and 7-night itineraries to The Bahamas and Caribbean, embarking from MSC Cruises’ newest U.S. home port, Orlando (Port Canaveral). Itinerary highlights include:

• September 16, 2021: Guests can welcome MSC Divina back to sea with a three-night cruise from Port Canaveral visiting Nassau, Bahamas and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Prices start at $239per person for a balcony stateroom.

• October 3, 2021: Seven-night cruise from Port Canaveral visiting Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve; Cozumel, Mexico; and Costa Maya, Mexico. Prices start at $649per person for a balcony stateroom.

As a highlight of MSC Cruises’ itineraries in The Bahamas & Caribbean, all cruises departing from the U.S. will visit MSC Cruises’ private island destination, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, named Best New Cruise Destination. Surrounded by 64 square miles of marine reserve, Ocean Cay offers guests a unique opportunity to enjoy the island’s natural beauty, discover local marine life and soak up the spirit of The Bahamas. With MSC Cruises’ ships often docking at the island from early morning into the evening — and in some instances overnight — MSC Cruises’ guests can spend a full day enjoying two miles of pristine, white sand beaches and a variety of ocean discovery activities including stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, thrilling wave runner rides and more.

Protecting Health & Safety

MSC Cruises’ top priority is protecting the health and safety of its guests, crew and the communities the Company’s ships visit. Prior to its restart in August 2020, MSC Cruises’ worked closely with international health experts — including MSC Cruises’ ‘COVID-19 Blue-Ribbon Expert Group’ — and relevant authorities to develop an industry-leading health and safety protocol that enabled MSC Cruises to be the first major cruise line to resume full-service operations last summer. Since then, MSC Cruises has provided safe and enjoyable cruises for tens of thousands of guests, continuously adapting to the changing environment.

MSC Meraviglia and MSC Divina will welcome guests who are both vaccinated and not fully vaccinated, with a multilayered approach in place for all guests. Guests who are not fully vaccinated will be required to purchase MSC Cruises’ Travel Insurance & COVID-19 Protection Services and will be subject to more stringent protocols on board.  At the present, these include but are not limited to the required purchase of a MSC Cruises sponsored shore excursions in order to go ashore and required testing upon embarkation and while on board. Additional health and safety measures include universal COVID-19 testing at embarkation for all guests, weekly testing of crew, physical distancing, mask-wearing, protected shore excursions for guests who are not fully vaccinated, and enhanced sanitation measures and personal hygiene recommendations, such as increased hand-washing and sanitizing stations.

Fully vaccinated guests will receive MSC Cruises COVID-19 Reassurance protection at no charge, whereas guests who are not fully vaccinated will be required to purchase MSC Cruises Travel Insurance & COVID Protection Services insurance prior to the cruise. Guests are highly encouraged to be fully vaccinated prior to cruises with MSC Cruises; not fully vaccinated guests will need to undergo several additional requirements. For additional details on MSC Cruises’ health and safety measures and additional requirements for not fully vaccinated guests, please visit https://www.msccruisesusa.com/health-and-safety-measures.

Greater Flexibility and More Ways to Save

Guests booking MSC Cruises’ restart sailings on board MSC Meraviglia and MSC Divina can take advantage of excellent value and added flexibility with current promotions and programs. Cruisers can be among the first to sail with MSC Cruises again from the U.S. and Go All In with free drinks and Wi-Fi, totaling up to $1,100 in value. Plus, vacationers can take advantage of added flexibility through MSC Cruises’ popular Total CruiseFlex program, offering guests the flexibility to change their cruise up to 48 hours prior to departure.

For more information on MSC Cruises’ first cruises from the U.S. and to book, guests should contact their preferred travel advisor, or visit here.

To learn more about MSC Cruises’ comprehensive health and safety protocol, visit here.

IT’S TIME TO CRUISE AGAIN! MSC CRUISES TO RESUME CRUISING FROM U.S. PORTS THIS SUMMER

  Announcement follows CDC approval of simulation cruise on MSC Meraviglia departing July 17, 2021

MSC Meraviglia to begin 3- and 4-night cruises from Miami on August 2, 2021 with 7-night cruises beginning on September 18, 2021

MSC Divina to begin 3-, 4- and 7-night cruises from Port Canaveral on September 16

Cruises will be available for booking starting Wednesday, June 16, 2021, with all itineraries featuring MSC Cruises’ new private island destination, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (June 7, 2021) — MSC Cruises – the world’s third largest and fastest-growing cruise brand — is announcing today its restart plans for cruising from U.S. ports beginning this August on two of its most glamorous and modern ships. The announcement follows CDC approval of the Company’s Phase 2A Port Agreements for PortMiami and Port Canaveral as well as the provisional approval of its request to conduct a simulation cruise, to be held on MSC Meraviglia from PortMiami on July 17, 2021.

“After what has been a challenging period, we’re thrilled to say it’s finally time to cruise again. We are excited to be officially announcing our restart this summer from the U.S., and Florida in particular, as excitement is building for vacationers to get back to traveling and plan a much-deserved getaway,” said Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises. “We want to thank our guests and partners, as well as Governor Ron DeSantis and the State of Florida, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Miami Dade County, PortMiami and Port Canaveral port officials. and the CDC for their strong support in bringing cruising back to the U.S. so we can get back to doing what we do best, providing our guests incredible and enriching vacations at sea.” 

U.S. Restart Plans

MSC Cruises’ new itineraries from the U.S. on board MSC Meraviglia and MSC Divina will officially open for booking on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. MSC Meraviglia will kick off MSC Cruises’ restart starting August 2, 2021, with 3- and 4-night cruises from Miami to The Bahamas and featuring MSC Cruises’ exclusive new private island destination, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Then, starting September 18, 2021, MSC Meraviglia will add 7-night cruises from Miami to The Bahamas and Caribbean, including Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. MSC Divina will resume cruising from Orlando (Port Canaveral) on September 16, 2021, offering 3-, 4- and 7-night cruise options from to The Bahamas and Caribbean, also including stops at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. 

“With our vast experience cruising in Europe since August 2020 along with our industry-leading health and safety protocol, our guests can book with confidence knowing we are well prepared for a successful restart in the U.S.,” said Rubén Rodriguez, president of MSC Cruises USA. “To ensure the safest experience for our guests, we previously announced a fleet-wide vaccination program for all crew — thanks to the support of The State of Florida, local government and port officials, and our partners,— and we expect that the majority of our guests booking a cruise this summer will plan to be vaccinated prior to sail. The rapid distribution of vaccines in the U.S. has been a positive step toward helping vacationers get back to traveling, and we encourage our guests to take advantage of this added layer of protection when resuming travel this summer. 

MSC Cruises will reveal additional itinerary details for cruises on board MSC Meraviglia and MSC Divina in the coming week, as well as health and safety measures and guidelines for guests. Cruises will welcome both vaccinated and non-vaccinated guests.  Those who are not vaccinated or unable to verify vaccination will be subject to requirements such as additional testing, as well as restrictions, which will be announced at a later date. Details of our current health and safety protocol can be found on MSC Cruises’ website at www.msccruisesusa.com/health-and-safety.

MSC Cruises is also confirming today the cancellation of existing U.S.-based sailings. The decision will affect the schedules of three ships based in Florida: MSC Divina scheduled to sail from Port Canaveral, and MSC Meraviglia and MSC Armonia scheduled to sail from PortMiami, as follows:

• Cruises onboard MSC Divina from July 1, 2021 through to and including September 15, 2021

• Cruises onboard MSC Meraviglia from July 1, 2021 through to and including September 17, 2021

• Cruises onboard MSC Armonia from July 1, 2021 through to and including October 24, 2021

Guests booked on the impacted sailings have the unique opportunity to easily rebook on one of MSC Cruises’ first sailings from the U.S. on MSC Meraviglia and MSC Divina, open for sale on June 16, 2021, or on the brand new MSC Seashore, arriving to Miami this November. Guests impacted by these cancellations — and who have paid in full and booked through MSC Cruises USA or affiliated U.S.-based travel advisors — will be offered a 100 percent future cruise credit (FCC) of the original cruise fare and up to $200 onboard credit, depending on the length of the original cruise. The FCC and onboard credit can be used on any future cruise of choice — on any ship, and any itinerary that is open for sale – or guests can request a refund if they prefer.  For additional details, guests should contact their travel advisor or MSC Cruises directly.