North American guests will be able to experience the Caribbean on two of MSC Cruises’ newest and largest ships when MSC Poesia and MSC Magnifica arrive in Fort Lauderdale for their inaugural 2009-10 Caribbean seasons.
“We are extremely excited to be able to offer our guests this wonderful opportunity. The new MSC Magnifica will surely live up to her name. She will arrive Dec. 26, 2009 directly from her christening to begin her inaugural season as a part of the MSC Cruises’ fleet. Once in the Caribbean, she will join the equally beautiful MSC Poesia, which was introduced earlier this year,” says Richard E. Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises USA.
“The fact that MSC Cruises is sending two of its newest and largest ships to the Caribbean reinforces our commitment to the North American market. We are excited to be able to offer our travel agent partners the opportunity to allow their clients to enjoy the MSC Cruises experience in the Caribbean on such beautiful new ships,” says Sasso.
Cruise-only rates begin at $499 per person, double occupancy for 7-night cruises and $749 per person, double occupancy for 10-night itineraries. Government fees and taxes are additional, as is a fuel surcharge.
As with all MSC Cruises’ sailings, kids ages 17 and under sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults.
In addition to sailing on the two newest of the line’s popular “Musica” class ships, guests will be able to select from a variety of itineraries that includes 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings and four different 10-night itineraries. Itineraries feature many of the most popular ports of call as well as visits to several exciting not-so-often visited ports, such as Playa del Carmen, Curacao and Aruba, on select itineraries.
Shipboard Features
Both MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia feature 1,275 staterooms, of which 80% are outside staterooms and 65% have a balcony. There will be 236,000 square feet of public spaces, 2 pools and 4 hot tubs, plus a 13,000-square-foot spa. On each ship, guests can select from four restaurants, including a Sushi Bar alternative dining restaurant.
In addition, MSC Magnifica will feature a Magrodome that will allow guests to enjoy the pool area no matter what the elements.
Like their sister ships (MSC Musica and MSC Orchestra), both MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia feature sophisticated and elegant decor, attention to detail, the finest in international entertainment and Italian hospitality that will ensure guests enjoy a truly ‘Beautiful. Passionate. Italian.’ experience as only MSC Cruises can present.
MSC Magnifica’s Itineraries
MSC Magnifica will be christened on Dec. 5, 2009 in Hamburg, Germany. She will depart two days later on a 19-night transatlantic “Grand Passage to the New World” to Port Everglades that calls in Amsterdam, Dover, Lisbon, Funchal, Fort de France, St. John’s, Charlotte Amalie and San Juan.
Once in Fort Lauderdale, MSC Magnifica will sail 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale through April 7, 2010. The “Eastern Caribbean Enchantment” itineraries call at San Juan, Phillipsburg, Roadtown and Nassau; Western Caribbean “Island Treasures & Ancient Temples” itineraries call at Key West, Playa Del Carmen, Georgetown, Montego Bay and Nassau.
On April 17, 2010 she will sail a 7-night “Bermuda – Paradise in Pink” cruise roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale that calls at King’s Wharf, Bermuda and Nassau, Bahamas.
MSC Magnifica will depart April 24, 2010 on a 19-night “Bluewater Adventure Across the Atlantic” transatlantic crossing that will stop in New York City, King’s Wharf, Ponta Delgada, Lisbon, La Coruna and Dover before arriving in Copenhagen.
MSC Poesia’s Itineraries
MSC Poesia arrives in Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 10, 2009 for her inaugural Caribbean season following a 17-night “Grand Transatlantic Adventure.” She will sail a variety of itineraries that feature some of the most popular destinations throughout the Caribbean, such as Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba and Panama.
MSC Poesia’s itineraries include:
“Happy Holidays, Caribbean Style” – 7-night Eastern Caribbean departing Dec. 20, 2009, calling in San Juan, St. John’s, Philipsburg and Nassau;
“Caribbean and Confetti New Year’s” – 7-night Western Caribbean celebration departing Dec. 27, 2009, calling at Playa del Carmen, Georgetown, Montego Bay and Nassau;
“Southern Sunswept Caribbean” – 10-night Southern Caribbean itineraries departing Nov. 10, 2009 and Feb. 17, 2010, calling in Curacao, Bonaire, Grenada, St. Lucia, Antigua and the Bahamas;
“Remarkable Rainforests and the Panama Canal” – 10-night Deep Western sailings departing Dec. 10, 2009, Jan. 18, 2010 and Feb. 27, 2010, calling in Grand Cayman, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Mexico;
“Dazzling Dutch Caribbean and the Panama Canal” – 10-night southwest Caribbean experiences departing Nov. 20, 2009 and Feb. 7, 2010, calling in Curacoa, Aruba, Colombia, Panama and Mexico; and “Tropical Splendors, European Charm” – 10-night southeast Caribbean itineraries, sailing Nov. 30, 2009, Jan. 8 and 28, 2010, calling in Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, Barbados, Martinique, St. Maarten and the Bahamas.
The ship will depart North American waters on March 9, 2010 on a 17-night “Island-Hopping Across the Atlantic” sailing that includes calls in San Juan, Phillipsburg, Funchal, Malaga, Palma, La Valletta and Dubrovnik, before arriving in Venice.
For more information about MSC Cruises and its exciting line-up of ships and itineraries, visit www.msccruisesusa.com or a local travel professional.
