Save up to £600 in MSC Cruises turn of year sale

MSC Cruises are offering customers the chance to save up to £600 per cabin in its turn-of-year sales campaign which started this week. The offer is applicable on selected summer sailings around the Mediterranean in 2015 and on selected winter 2015/2016 itineraries.

MSC Preziosa sailing in the Mediterranean

MSC Cruises are known for offering family-friendly cruises that represent exceptional value for money, particularly on fly-cruises. Whilst many sailings are available as cruise-only offers, some allow you to bundle in flights and transfers. These fly-cruises take the hassle out of finding suitable flights and separate transfers between the airport and port. You just pay one price and MSC Cruises sort out all the paperwork.

Furthermore, unlike some other cruise lines who use budget carriers for their fly-cruise offers , MSC Cruises offer return flights from London Gatwick airport flying with British Airways. If you live too far away from Gatwick then MSC Cruises is offering the option of regional flights to Gatwick plus overnight airport hotel stay, or the chance to add car parking and a one-night hotel stay via a new partnership with A2B Transfers. Additional fees apply, and this service is subject to availability.

Discounts apply to selected summer 2015 fly-cruises on six ships. Choose MSC Magnifica and MSC Musica for Eastern Mediterranean itineraries or MSC Preziosa, MSC Divina, MSC Fantasia and MSC Armonia for Western Mediterranean itineraries. All applicable cruises depart from either the romantic city of Venice or the historic port of Genoa.

Summer sale rates start from just £549 per person based on a seven-night MSC Fantasia sailing in April 2015. This offers a discount of £300 per person from the brochure prices. If you would prefer a cabin with a view then upgrades to balcony cabins are available on all seven-night sailings for just £200 per person. Cabin availability and cruise fares are subject to availability.

Promotional fares are also available for a wide range of winter 2015/2016 itineraries sailing in the Mediterranean, The Canary Islands, the Emirates and the Caribbean.

Giles Hawke, executive director UK & Ireland for MSC Cruises, said: “These great offers are sure to be really popular so holidaymakers should get in quickly to ensure they get the sailing and cabin they want."

(Photo credit to  MSC Crociere)

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Latest deals from MSC Cruises

Last-minute deals from MSC Cruises for December –  do something different this festive season.

Mediterranean: For a pre-Christmas boost try an 11-night eastern Med sailing aboard MSC Sinfonia. Departing December 8 2014 from Genoa, the ship visits Civitavecchia, Heraklion, Istanbul, Valletta, Messina, and Genoa. Prices start at £599 per person, including return flights from London with British Airways and transfers.

Caribbean: Guests can indulge themselves on a two-week trip around the Caribbean aboard MSC Divina – and grab a free upgrade to a balcony cabin. Operating out of Miami the 14-night Caribbean itinerary, departing December 13 2014, calls at Falmouth, George Town, Cozumel, Great Stirrup Cay, Philipsburg, and San Juan. With free upgrade a balcony cabin starts at £1,339 per person including return flights to Miami with British Airways from London, transfers, plus Fantastica onboard experience (free room service and option of breakfast in cabin).

Dubai: MSC Orchestra (above) heads to Dubai for the first time this winter for seven-night cruises of the UAE. Departing December 20 2014, the sailing calls at Abu Dhabi, Khor Al Fakkan, Muscat, Khasab, and Dubai. Prices start at £1,149 per person, including return flights from London, Manchester or Glasgow with Emirates and transfers.

All prices are per person and, unless stated, are based on two sharing. Remember that kids cruise free with MSC Cruises (paying only flights and port taxes).

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Colombia Reels In Thomson

By Editor Simon Veness

The tourism board of Colombia has joined the growing band of Caribbean cruise organisations to stage a big push for more ship visits, with the announcement of a return to the country by Thomson Cruises.

Following the recent promotion of the port of Santo Domingo by the tourism ministry of the Dominican Republic (see our recent blog on this link), Colombia is now firmly in the spotlight for a cruise boost in 2014 and beyond.

Proexport Colombia - the country's tourism agency - and Thomson Holidays got together in London this week to reveal that, after a three-year hiatus, the Thomson Dream will start calls in Cartagena once more, adding still further to the country's cruise business revival.

The 1,506-passenger ship will sail from Montego Bay, Jamaica, on regular seven-night cruises to the Southern Caribbean from January-March 2015, with a full itinerary to Panama and Costa Rica as well as Cartagena. 

President of Proexport Colombia, Maria Claudia Lacouture, explained: "According to estimates by Thomson Cruises, 99% of passengers will come from Europe. This is a market that we have been exploring for the promotion of the cruises sector and on which we will place special emphasis in 2014 to increase the number of international travelers to the country."

Historic Cartagena is one of the Caribbean's oldest cities, and visitors will be able to experience the cobblestone streets; follow in the footsteps of Nobel Prize winner for Literature, Gabriel Garcia Marquez; or just enjoy the great variety of local restaurants and cafes.

During the 2012/13 season, 275,662 cruise passengers arrived at Colombian ports, representing an increase of 5.9% over 2011/12, and other recent developments include the announcement of MSC Cruises bringing its new mega-ship MSC Divina to the Cartagena in 2014. In addition, Spanish line Pullmantur expanded its ship capacity in Colombia with the Monarch, which arrived for the first time earlier this year.

More info: visit www.colombia.travel/en/; for Thomson Cruises, call 0871 231 4691 or visit www.thomson.co.uk/cruise.html.

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MSC's Artisanal Partnerships At Sea

Ahead of MSC Divina’s upcoming full-time move to Miami and her Caribbean cruise offerings, MSC Cruises has announced a series of exclusive partnerships with some of the world’s most popular food and beverage companies.

Guests will be able to take their pick from an array of fine 'extras' aboard the line's flagship, and enjoy additional high quality tastes and delicacies.

Taste the smoothest coffee at sea

To start the day in style, MSC has partnered with Segafredo Zanetti, widely considered the best gourmet coffee brand both in Italy and worldwide. The official coffee for all 12 ships in the company’s state-of-the-art fleet, the partnership will be taken to even greater heights on board MSC Divina, whose Caffè Italia will boast beautiful Segafredo branding, showcasing the best of the brand and its intriguing history.

A fresh caress of artisanal gelato

Joining forces with masters of Italian confectionery Venchi, MSC is also bringing the very best in artisanal gelato to MSC Divina’s travellers.

Venchi has been making to-die-for desserts since 1878 and owes much of its success to the use of 100 per cent natural ingredients and exclusive recipes. Divina will boast a beautifully branded Venchi Gelateria next to the main pool area, where guests of all ages will enjoy a gelato menu of classic favourites and innovative new flavours to match each season.

And stylish dining options

MSC Divina will feature the 30-seat evening-only upscale Ristorante Italia, offering an ultra-high-quality ‘table d’hôte’ menu every night, and spectacular 115-seat regional alternative, Eataly Steakhouse, fashioned after the famed Eataly steakhouse in Manhattan.

A boutique Eataly marketplace will also be available for guests to purchase authentic Italian products, including olive oils, dried pastas, artisanal sweets and aged balsamics.

 

More info: call MSC Cruises in the UK on 0844 561 1955 or visit www.msccruises.co.uk.

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a fabulous offer for all new subscribers this year - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to win a cruise in our free prize draw offer. See this link!

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MSC Highlights New Caribbean Voyages

MSC Cruises is offering guests the opportunity to cruise the Caribbean with flights from London from just £1,319 per person, on board the first full winter season of their smart MSC Divina, the third of their grand 133,500-ton Fantasia-class series, which was launched in May 2012.

This 11-night voyage departs from Miami - where she will be home-ported year-round from November - on December 10, and calls at Falmouth (Jamaica), Oranjestad (Aruba), Willemstad (Curacao), Cristobal (Panama), Cozumel (Mexico) and back to Miami.

Inspired by Sophia Loren and named after the glamorous star, Divina brings its guests all the elegance and timeless glamour of the golden age of sea travel. Offering spacious yet sumptuous comfort and an immense variety of sports and leisure facilities, the ship also prides itself on world-class entertainment. Guests will also delight in the opulent surrounds of the MSC Aurea Spa wellness centre on board. Other features include two dramatic Swarovski crystal staircases to make a grand entrance in the main atrium, the fun-packed Aqua Park and a choice of five restaurants. 

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

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Even More From MSC Yacht Club

Last year, MSC Cruises took the market by storm with the launch of MSC Yacht Club, an innovative high-end offering located on the foredecks of designer flagships MSC Fantasia and Splendida. Far from resting on its laurels however, the family-owned Italian company has announced a comprehensive array of new features will make the Yacht Club experience even more outstanding.

First and foremost, a number of changes on board have made the Yacht Club an entirely self-contained private area of deluxe suites, all enjoying direct lift access to its private facilities and to the Aurea Spa, where dedicated treatment rooms are provided for Yacht Club guests.

Meanwhile, the already sophisticated gourmet dining experience has been transformed by making the most prestigious restaurant on board each flagship - L'Etoile on Fantasia and L'Olivo on Splendida (above) - exclusively for Yacht Club guests. Located in a panoramic position on the same deck as the dedicated reception area, guests enjoy an open sitting service, so they can dine in their private restaurant at any hour desired.

Typical of MSC attention to detail are the several new and personal touches accompanying these substantial additions, including a bottle of premium Prosecco and a bowl of fresh fruit in each cabin together with a series of “sweet surprises” throughout the voyage. Yacht Club members are also invited to attend an exclusive cocktail party once the ship has sailed. Guests will, of course, continue to enjoy priority check-in, embarkation and disembarkation, as well as free drinks from their in-suite mini-bars and in the Yacht Club facilities.

MSC Yacht Club is an exclusive ship-within-a-ship; currently located on Fantasia and Splendida, it will be replicated on a third ship, MSC Divina, currently under construction and set to launch in 2012.

Here, served by its own Concierge Reception, is a private world of luxurious facilities, including superior suites complete with wood panelling, marble whirlpool bathrooms and widescreen TVs with Nintendo Wii consoles; a bespoke pool and solarium complex; Top Sail panoramic private lounge serving gourmet snacks and drinks all day and private lift access.

Adding special distinction, the Yacht Club also offers a classic butler service, available 24 hours a day.

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