Cruise ship sliced in two at start of £160 million Renaissance Project for MSC

Clean cut: MSC Armonia is sliced in two

Work has started on MSC Cruises’ €200 million (£160 million) project to stretch four of the line’s ships. The first, MSC Armonia, was cut in two in a dry dock in Palermo, Sicily, today; over the next few weeks a pre-fabricated 24 metre mid-section will be welded in place, adding extra cabins, public rooms, and crew space.

The Renaissance Project will then repeat the procedure on sister ships MSC Sinfonia, MSC Opera, and MSC Lirica, all built between 2003 and 2005.  They are each 251 metres long, measuring 60,000 gross tons, and carrying 2,199 passengers.

After the lengthening, they will be 275 metres long, 65,000 gross tons, and with an extra 193 cabins, a total passenger capacity of 2,679.  The work involves each ship being cut in two just forward of the funnel, and then separated to make way for the new section.

Lift and separate: The two sections of the ship are slowly dragged apart

The modifications include installation of passenger cabins in place of a public lounge on Deck 7; installation of balconies for cabins on Deck 9; new lounge, library and teen club on Deck 6; children’s clubs and improvements to the buffet on Deck 11; and a refit of the pool area with a children’s water park on Deck 12.

Each ship will take approximately nine weeks to lengthen and refit. The new-look Armonia is scheduled to leave the dockyard on November 17. Work will start on Sinfonia in January, Opera in May and Lirica in August.

Ready to roll: the new 24-metre mid section 

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Oman Set For Cruise Boost

Now that it has dedicated its Sultan Qaboos port in Muscat exclusively to cruise ships only, Oman is expected to become one of the most popular ports in the Middle East.

 

In 2013, Muscat, the port of Oman, had 13 cruise ships calls with 13,000 passengers; this year, it is expected to get a whopping 120-plus calls, with up to 250,000 passengers - a massive 1900 per cent increase.

 

Martin Tanner, marketing manager at Jetline Cruise, explained: “The biggest draw to the area has always been the allure of Dubai, with Oman being a bonus secondary port of call to visit. Now that the port in Muscat has been designated exclusively for cruise ships and, with the 2022 World Cup being held in Qatar, interest in the area is set to boom.

 

“Currently there are only a small number of cruise ships which visit Oman. However, now is the time to visit the country to experience the heritage and culture where unspoilt beaches and romantic sunset camel safaris in the desert makes a unique and memorable winter holiday.”

 

Jetline are currently featuring Oman, with a tempting fly-cruise from London to Dubai on March 20, including a stay for two nights room only in a 5-star hotel before embarking MSC Cruises' Lirica for a six-night Middle Eastern cruise to Abu Dhabi, Khor Al Fakkan and Muscat. This package costs from £999 per person based on two adults sharing accommodation and includes return flights, accommodation and full board cruise.

 

More info: visit www.jetlinecruise.com or call 0800 082 2186.

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Try Some Arabian Nights With MSC

Having recently announced their return to the United Arab Emirates for the 2013/14 winter season, MSC Cruises are now offering a series of seven-night cruises from only £819 per person - plus up to £150 free onboard credit per cabin.

From November 23 until March 29, MSC will offer these 'Arabian Nights' voyages from Dubai on board MSC Lirica, calling in Abu Dhabi and Khor al Fakkan (UAE), and Muscat and Khasab (Oman), with an overnight stay in Dubai allowing guests to enjoy the vibrant nightlife of this glittering oasis of the desert.

On board, guests will appreciate Lirica's elegant surroundings, with traditional wood and brass features, while there is plenty to keep both young and old entertained, from a game of mini-golf to simply relaxing by the pool admiring the rugged Arabian coastline. Guests will also be able to indulge at the the superbly-equipped wellness centre, which offers a variety of tempting treatments.

With exciting ports of call, as well as a variety of new excursions, there is plenty to explore and discover ashore. Guests will be able to pick and choose from a range of activities, from an exhilarating experience of the Khor al Fakkan desert dunes in a 4x4 to a mystical tour of Muscat. For a spot of fun, experience the Ferrari World theme park in Abu Dhabi, go backstage at the Yas Marina f1 circuit or take in an aerial view of Dubai by hydroplane.

The seven-night cruise, departing November 23 and 30 and December 7, including return flights from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle or Glasgow starts from just £819 per person. The free onboard credit applies to outside or suite cabins on a double occupancy basis.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's premier cruise-agent specialists.

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MSC Cruises Introduces French Antilles

MSC Cruises is delighted to announce the introduction of the French Antilles as a new destination for the 2012-2013 winter season. Complemented by an extensive array of fascinating shore excursions, this is an unmissable opportunity for guests to experience this idyllic region at first hand. 

The inaugural voyage begins on November 30 when MSC Lirica departs from Genoa, Italy, for a 16-day transatlantic cruise, arriving at her new home port in Martinique just over two weeks later.  

Lirica's course will take her from the Mediterranean through the Atlantic and on to the Caribbean, with scheduled stops in Marseilles, Barcelona, Funchal and, after five full days at sea, Bridgetown in Barbados. Scheduled stops then follow in Saint George in Grenada, Basseterre in Saint Kitts & Nevis and Castries in Saint Lucia, arriving in Fort-de-France in Martinique on December 15.

From December to February 16, 2013, Lirica has a full schedule of ten 7-day/8-night cruises, departing every Saturday from Fort-de-France and every Sunday from Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. 

During these Caribbean experiences, guests will discover not only the breathtaking beauty but also the rich history of the islands, with scheduled stops in St John’s in Antigua & Barbuda; Road Town on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands; Santo Domingo and La Romana in the Dominican Republic and Philipsburg in St Maarten. 

The French Antilles will bid farewell to Lirica on February 23, when she starts her 16-day/15-night return cruise to Genoa. Scheduled stops are Pointe-à-Pitre, Castries, Funchal, Malaga, Barcelona and Marseille.

For more information follow this link to the UK's leading cruise agent specialists, the Cruise Line Ltd.

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Great Early Booking Deals With MSC

By guest blogger Steve Newman

MSC Cruises recently announced that its 2011-12 winter collection will include the United Arab Emirates as a brand new destination.

To celebrate, MSC Cruises is offering amazing early booking prices, meaning the cost of an 8 day, 7-night cruise will start from an unbeatable £399 per person. Flights to Abu Dhabi are available on request at a discounted price of £500 per person. This incredible promotion will run from until November 15.

The elegant MSC Lirica will be based in Abu Dhabi and Dubai for her busy 2011-12 winter season. Her itinerary includes nineteen 8 day, 7-night cruises from Abu Dhabi, with departures every Sunday from October 20, 2011, to March 4, 2012, and from Dubai, with departures every Friday from October 28-March 9.

With guaranteed sunshine, spectacular scenery, unbeatable shopping and the deluxe surroundings, cuisine and hospitality that are MSC standards, this is one deal that is definitely too good to miss!

For further details vist http://www.msccruises.co.uk/ or call the cruise specialist agents at The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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MSC Cruises Remembers The Fallen

By guest blogger Steve Newman

On Sunday November 14, 2010, the nation will once again remember the fallen from 1914 through to Iraq and Afghanistan.

To mark Remembrance Sunday, MSC Cruises will be offering military veterans and those currently serving in the armed forces, together with their families, an amazing 50% discount off all 2011 Mediterranean Summer sailings. The reduction will apply to all new bookings made from November 11-15.

Customers should be registered with the MoD and provide a valid service number. One cabin will benefit from the discount (regardless of its occupation) per service number provided. Discount applies on the cruise portion only; flights and other additional services can be booked at usual rates.

In addition to the discount, as with all MSC cruises, children under 18 travelling in the same cabin as two adults cruise for free.

For more information, log on to MSC Cruises or check out specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line on 0800 008 6677.

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MSC add Middle East Cruises

By guest blogger Steve Newman

The elegant MSC Lirica (above) will be based in Abu Dhabi and Dubai for the first time for her busy 2011-2012 winter season. The itinerary of the MSC Cruises vessel includes a full schedule of nineteen 8-day/7-night voyages from Abu Dhabi, with departures every Sunday from October 30, 2011, to March 4, 2012, and from Dubai, with departures every Friday.

The 59,000-ton Lirica, which has capacity for a total of 2,069 guests in 780 cabins, will call at the port of Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman, Al Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, the island Kingdom of Bahrain and include two unforgettable nights in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the UAE.

On October 14, 2011, the ship will depart from Genoa for a 17-day maiden cruise to Abu Dhabi, to start her first ever season in the region. Her southbound course will take her to Naples and Port Said, through the Suez Canal to Aqaba in Jordan, then Salalah and Muscat in Oman and finally to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Arabia will say farewell to Lirica five months later when she starts her northbound return cruise with scheduled stops in Al Fujairah, Muscat, Salalah, Safaga, Aqaba, Port Sokhna (Egypt), Port Said and finally Naples and Genoa.

For more information, got to www.MSCcruises.co.uk

Have you checked out what's happening at The Cruise Show held in Birmingham in October and London in March?

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