Another cruise ship may be set for its debut in China as the MSC Splendida could make its way to become the second MSC ship in the Chinese market in 2018, helping to offset newbuild capacity growth in the Mediterranean.
The 3,900-passenger ship would add more significant capacity to the Chinese market, sailing alongside the 1,560-passenger Lirica, which has been in Shanghai since April 2016.
The Splendida is currently deployed through March 2018, when it will finish a winter season out of Dubai and then is scheduled to head east, according to port bookings in the region – which show the megaship in Asia for the summer.
The 137,969-ton ship could arrive in China as early as April 27, 2018, according to Cruise Industry News estimates.
Currently, MSC has a two-year agreement with CAISSA Touristic Group, a major tour operator in China, with the MSC Lirica. CAISSA essentially charters the ship, overseeing stateroom sales and marketing. The agreement expires in 2018.
