MSC Cruises Poised for Landmark Years in 2008, 2009

With two major additions to its growing modern fleet and an expanded variety of itineraries, 2008-09 will be a landmark year for MSC Cruises. MSC Cruises will add two new ships to its fleet in 2008, including the newest in its “Musica” class of Panamax vessels and its largest ship ever.

One of the line’s newest ships, MSC Orchestra, will join MSC Lirica sailing Caribbean waters during the 2008-2009 Caribbean season.

Sister ship to MSC Musica and MSC Orchestra, MSC Poesia is slated for spring delivery. The ship is 89,600 gross registered tons, 961 feet long and 108 feet wide and can host 2,550 guests (double occupancy). Like its sister ships, MSC Poesia will have more than 236,800 square feet of public space and 80 percent of the outside staterooms will have balconies.

The line’s largest ship ever, MSC Fantasia, is scheduled to be delivered in the latter part of 2008. She will sail alternating Canary Island and Egypt itineraries. MSC Fantasia is first of two post-Panamax ships on order by the cruise line.

MSC Fantasia and sister ship MSC Serenata (scheduled to debut in 2009) will be the largest ships commissioned by a European ship owner to date. At 133,500 gross registered tons, 1,093 feet long, and 125 feet wide, each will have a passenger capacity of 3,900 and 1,313 staff members.

Both MSC Opera and MSC Lirica will be sailing 7-night itineraries in Mediterranean waters in the fall of 2008, with MSC Opera sailing the Greek islands and Dubrovnik from Trieste and MSC Lirica from Genoa and Rome, calling at France, Spain and Morocco.