Cruise Critic Announces Partnership with MSC Cruises

From Online Conversations to Onboard Parties

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Mar 02, 2017, 09:00 ET

EWING, N.J., March 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cruise Critic^®, the world's leading cruise reviews site and online cruise community, today announced a new partnership with MSC Cruises, the world's largest privately-owned cruise line, to expand the Cruise Critic Meet & Mingle program. Starting March 2017, MSC Cruises will host Cruise Critic Meet & Mingle parties, allowing people who have been chatting online to meet in person while onboard.

"We're delighted to partner with MSC Cruises to offer this fantastic opportunity for people who have connected online, through Cruise Critic, to meet up in person," explained Mike Ewing, General Manager, Cruise Critic. "Cruising is a wonderfully social experience and with this program in place it's even easier to enjoy meeting new friends at sea. We're thankful to MSC Cruises for offering such a warm welcome to our members."

"MSC Cruises is committed to offering our guests the best vacation experience possible and, for those who love to cruise, part of that experience is the opportunity to meet and make friends with like-minded people," said Roberto Fusaro, president of MSC Cruises USA. "MSC Cruises is thrilled to partner with Cruise Critic to host Meet and Mingle parties on board the ultramodern and beautiful MSC Divina so that members can socialize with each other as well as have the unique opportunity to chat with the ship's officers."

Cruise Critic makes it easy for cruisers to find others who will be on their next cruise through its Roll Call forums. People can register free of charge and chat with other cruisers - often making friends months before they leave home. Through Meet and Mingle partnerships with eight cruise lines, Cruise Critic extends the experience by offering cruisers the opportunity to meet while onboard. Cruise Critic has similar agreements in place with Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Crystal, Royal Caribbean, Silversea and Viking Ocean cruise lines.

Through the partnership with MSC Cruises, attendees will have the chance to meet some of the ship's officers and staff, as well as online friends, in addition to enjoying complimentary refreshments and hors d'oeuvres. Cruise Critic members participating in the Meet and Mingle party will also receive a souvenir group photo.

Meet and Mingle parties will be available on all MSC Divina cruises, beginning on March 4, 2017, provided at least six people register to participate. MSC Divina sails the Caribbean year-round from PortMiami. Those interested in participating should visit http://www.cruisecritic.com/rollcall.

About MSC Cruises:
MSC Cruises is the world's largest privately-owned cruise line and brand market leader in Europe, South America and South Africa. As one of the world's leading global cruise lines, MSC Cruises sails to over 150 destinations worldwide, including year-round in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

About Cruise Critic
Cruise Critic® is an online cruise guide, offering a comprehensive resource for cruise travelers, from first-time cruisers to avid cruise enthusiasts. The site features more than 160,000 cruise reviews and hosts the world's largest online cruise community where travelers share experiences and opinions with fellow cruisers. Cruise Critic was the first consumer cruise site on the Internet, launched in October 1995 by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, Inc.

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www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.citymaps.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.thefork.com (including www.lafourchette.com, www.eltenedor.com, www.iens.nl and www.dimmi.com.au), www.gateguru.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.housetrip.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.jetsetter.com, www.niumba.com, www.onetime.com, www.oyster.com, www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.tingo.com, www.travelpod.com, www.tripbod.com, www.vacationhomerentals.com and www.viator.com.