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MSC Cruises

With a motto that touts "Premium Class with a True Italian Signature", MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Co.) Cruises came on the scene less than two decades ago in 1988. The company boasts that its fine Italian service is key to its success and is what sets it apart from others in the industry.

MSC definitely has a commitment to hospitality; evident in its fine cuisine, friendly staff, and elegant yet welcoming ships. Currently, MSC Cruises' fleet of ships stands at six, with a new one scheduled to make its inaugural sailing in July 2006. Three of the ships - the Lyrica, Armonia, and Opera - were christened within the last 2 years. The fleet's larger and newer ships feature about 850 cabins while the others have between 500 and 600 cabins. The new MSC Musica will be the largest, with a whopping 1,275 cabins, most with balconies, accommodating more than 3,000 guests and almost 1,000 crew members.

Onboard the ships of MSC Cruises, guests can live "La Dolce Vita." Adults will enjoy the extensive spa services, offering just a little extra pampering during your vacation. There's also a state-of-the-art fitness center, jogging track, pools, and a salon. When you're through catering to the needs of your body, you can stimulate your mind with MSC's Italian lessons or cooking classes. The guest lecture series is also quite popular with travelers and features experts in fields of academia, history, art, music, films, and much more. In the evening, there's lots of music to enjoy, including shows that feature a taste of the Mediterranean, like flamenco dancing, or bands that entertain you with tunes from the Old Country. You can also enjoy gaming at the shipboard casino.

The food on-board is traditional Italian, from pizza to classic family recipes and is sure to please everyone. Guests can pick up a quick lunch by the pool or enjoy an amazing seven-course dinner in the formal dining room.

MSC Cruises boasts a number of itineraries but European and Mediterranean cruises are certainly its specialty. The potential ports of call on their Mediterranean cruises are staggering, ranging from Casablanca, Alexandria, and Tripoli to Lisbon, Marseilles, San Tropez, Venice, Dubrovnik, and Rhodes.

On the Northern European cruises, you'll explore the North and Baltic Seas, stopping at locations such as the Geiranger Fjord, Bergen, Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, and St. Petersburg.

MSC Cruises is also one of the few lines to sail to exotic South Africa, with stops at ports like Victoria in The Seychelles, Mombasa, Cape Town, and Walvis Bay.

The cruise line also sails through the Caribbean, South America, and makes a few east and westbound trans-Atlantic crossings each year.