MSC Cruises Expands North American Experience To The Mediterranean In Summer 2015

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MSC Cruises is strengthening its commitment to serving the North American market with the deployment of the MSC Divina to the Mediterranean during the summer of 2015.  The first of the line's ships dedicated to North American travelers, MSC Divina will bring its signature service and onboard experiences to the most sought-after Mediterranean seven-night itineraries beginning May 16 through October 3, 2015.  Once the summer sailings are completed, MSC Divina will enter dry dock in Europe before returning to Miami in November 2015 to continue the popular seven-night Caribbean departures.

Now open for booking, MSC Divina's 2015 Mediterranean season offers special perks for guests who book by July 31, 2014, including an exclusive balcony upgrade and up to $200 onboard credit per stateroom. (Offer valid on all seven-night or more MSC Divina Mediterranean sailings.)

"After exposing MSC Divina to thousands of guests in the Caribbean, customer surveys are showing an increased desire for North Americans to sail onboard MSC Divina in the Mediterranean," said Richard E. Sasso, president, MSC Cruises USA.  "The enhancements made at the start of the Caribbean season to ready MSC Divina for the North American market have certainly paid off with positive ratings and increased repeat business.  This has led to our decision to maintain the MSC Divina onboard product designed around the senses of American taste, entertainment and comfort and expand her offerings into the Mediterranean, the hottest and most desired vacation destination by North Americans today," continued Sasso.

MSC Divina will begin her Grand Voyage on April 26, 2015, from Miami making a stop in New York, King's Wharf, Bermuda and then continuing onto Ponta Delgada, Lisbon, Cadiz, Barcelona, Naples and Civitavecchia.  From May 16, 2015 through September 26, 2015, the ship will sail seven-night Mediterranean cruises departing from Civitavecchia and visiting the ports of La Spezia, Cannes, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Naples and returning to Civitavecchia.

On September 26, 2015, MSC Divina will end her Mediterranean season with a unique 10-night sailing featuring additional calls in Tunisia, Malta, and Sicily. Highlights of MSC Divina's Mediterranean season include:

• Ability to embark two marquee ports: Civitavecchia on Saturdays and Barcelona on Wednesdays, allowing for a customized vacation experience with outstanding pre- and post-cruise opportunities and ample airlift from the United States and Canada. 
• Late night stays in La Spezia enabling guests to visit nearby cities of Pisa, Florence, Portofino and Cinque Terre.
• Call in Naples will allow time to visit Pompeii, Capri, Sorrento, and the Amalfi Coast. 
• An array of shore excursions allowing guests a full immersion into the region with experiences such as an architectural tour of the famed work Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona, attending the Pope's weekly Angelus on St. Peter's Square in Rome, visiting the ancient ruins of Pompeii, and much more.  

Before returning back home to South Florida for a third season of seven-night Caribbean cruises, MSC Divina will receive a series of renovations while in dry dock in Europe including some surprise enhancements specifically tailored to appeal to North American passengers. 

MSC Divina is currently sailing Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from PortMiami which continue through April 2015.

For more information about MSC Cruises, please visit www.msccruisesusa.com, call 1-877-665-4655 or contact your local travel agency.

About MSC Divina
Christened by legendary actress and "diva" Sophia Loren, MSC Divina features 1,751 staterooms, 322,900 square feet of public space, a casino, seven restaurants, 18 bars and lounges, five swimming pools (including an infinity pool), a 4-D Cinema, Formula 1 Simulator, the first Aqua Cycling at Sea, Segafredo Coffee Bar, 2 bowling alleys, theater, gym, spa, internet cafe, conference center, kids and teen areas, Top 18 Solarium and the line's signature ship within a ship, MSC Yacht Club.  

About MSC Cruises
Onboard MSC's twelve vessels, guests enjoy the Mediterranean way of life. From the hospitality to the dining, guests are enveloped in the Mediterranean manner of enjoying life to its fullest. Guests are encouraged to slow down and enjoy everything their MSC vacation has to offer. Kids 11 and under sail free year-round on MSC Cruises with kids 17 and under sailing at reduced rates. 

MSC Cruises is a privately-held, family-owned, Italian cruise line with a fleet of 12 ships: MSC Armonia, MSC Divina, MSC Fantasia, MSC Lirica, MSC Magnifica, MSC Musica, MSC Orchestra, MSC Opera, MSC Poesia, MSC Preziosa, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Splendida.  The fleet cruises year-round in the Mediterranean and seasonally in the Caribbean, Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the French Antilles, South America, South and West Africa, The United Arab Emirates and the Red Sea. Starting November, 2013, MSC Divina began sailing the Caribbean year-round from PortMiami.  For more information, visit www.msccruisesusa.com.

SOURCE MSC Cruises USA