MSC Launch New Aurea Suites

MSC Cruises' acclaimed spa and well-being offerings are to be further enhanced by the launch of its stunning new Aurea Suites. This deluxe accommodation will be available on board MSC Fantasia from November 5 and on MSC Splendida from November 13. Aurea Suites will also be found on MSC Divina, the company's newest flagship that will join the fleet from next May.

Named after the ships' state-of-the-art Aurea Spa and located on the prestigious upper decks, the Aurea Suites comprise 28 luxuriously appointed cabins, each formerly part of the deluxe MSC Yacht Club offering.

Guests who book an Aurea Suite will receive a superb wellness and spa package which includes a welcome cocktail at the spa bar, unlimited access to the Thermal Suite (Turkish bath, spa bath, sauna and relaxation room), a personal appointment with an Aurea Spa doctor, a 30-minute relaxing facial treatment and, last but not least, a solarium session. A stay in an MSC Cruises' Aurea Suite will be a one-of-a-kind experience.

Aurea Suite prices start from £1779 per person on Fantasia and from £1229 per person on Splendida, both for an 11-night cruise including flights.

For more information, visit www.msccruises.co.uk or contact the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

More Dining Choice From MSC

MSC Cruises is rolling out a new programme across its entire 11-ship fleet to provide more flexible dining choice this month.

In keeping with the industry as a whole and a general move to a dine-when-you-want approach for evening meals, MSC guests can now enjoy a more casual dining experience, with the buffet restaurants introducing an evening service with no fixed sitting times.

Thus passengers are now free to dine at a time to suit them, giving them more choice and flexibility with the rest of the leisure facilities aboard the company's modern fleet.

Younger guests should particularly welcome the idea of short, informal feeds – particularly as MSC’s buffet restaurants will be extending the wide choice available to include the company’s legendary fresh pizza and, on many of the ships, a delicious range of kebabs as well!

In addition, the famly-owned Italian company will now be offering complimentary American coffee and a range of teas not just during breakfast and buffet dining, but 24 hours a day.

These thoughtful innovations are just in time for the big Mediterranean cruise this year, with more ships than ever before plying the waters of the Med, giving passengers even greater choice for a memorable cruise holiday.

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.

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.

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.

MSC Lirica to be based in Abu Dhabi

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Abu Dhabi's ambition to become an international cruise hub has received a significant boost following the signing of a landmark co-operation agreement between Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and MSC Cruises that will see the company deploy one of its top vessels to the UAE capital on a home-port basis from October 2011. Abu Dhabi's Mina Zayed Port will serve as the primary embarkation and disembarkation point for MSC Lirica.

Surrounding Lirica's 19 regional forays will be repositioning cruises from and to Genoa in Italy. On October 14, 2011, the vessel will depart Genoa for a 17-day/16-night maiden voyage to Abu Dhabi, where she will begin her maiden regional season.

A southland course will take Lirica through the Mediterranean, calling at Naples and Port Said (Egypt), before going through the Suez Canal and reaching Aqaba (Jordan). The vessel stops in Salalah and Muscat in Oman, then Dubai, before reaching her home port in Abu Dhabi. The luxury ship then leaves the UAE for Genoa on March 9, 2012.

With regional tours departing Abu Dhabi every Sunday from October 28, 2011, Lirica will travel round the Arabian Gulf peninsula to Muscat, before turning round en route for the UAE's eastern emirate of Fujairah on the Indian Ocean. It will continue heading north to Bahrain, then sail southwards to Dubai, before completing its journey in Abu Dhabi.

For further information log on to http://www.msccruises.co.uk/ or visit specialist agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

MSC offers fantastic prices to the Caribbean

By guest blogger Steve Newman

MSC Cruises is offering fantastic prices to the Caribbean. MSC Poesia will be cruising in the Caribbean from 1 November 2010 to 6 March 2011.

Customers can choose from a wide variety of itineraries ranging from 7, 10 and 11 night sailings. A 7 night cruise starts from £399 per person whilst a 14 night cruise starts from £550 per person. With these unbeatable prices there is also an opportunity to combine itineraries and gain extra savings. Furthermore MSC Cruises has just launched a Caribbean Mini brochure dedicated to the British market. The brochure features full details about MSC Poesia, her itineraries and prices.

For further information or to book a cruise with MSC Cruises visit www.msccruises.co.uk or visit dedicated cruising specilaists The Cruise Line.

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?

Maiden Port of Call for MSC Poesia

By guest blogger Steve Newman

MSC Poesia sailed to Southampton on a maiden port of call during its Ocean Voyage Cruise on the 7th of September. This was the first time the ship has called to Southampton port.

MSC Cruises marked the event by inviting travel agents, consumers, press and MSC Club members on board for the day, where they enjoyed a ship tour and lunch. Prior to dining in the Ii Palladio restaurant, guests were presented with a food demonstration on how to make an Italian classic, gnocchi.

Other highlights of the day included a presentation by Agustin Garcia from the Spanish Tourist Board and Susana Roel Cabal of La Coruna Port Authority, who were invited onboard following a recently formed collaboration between MSC Cruises and the Spanish Tourist Board to promote Mediterranean sailings and Spain as a destination.

MSC Poesia is currently cruising to the United States where it will tour North America and Canada, including New York (above) before positioning to the Caribbean for the winter cruiser season.

MSC also cares about the welfare of children as the company recently forged a partnership with UNICEF to fund a community project aimed at providing disadvantaged children in Brazil with a high quality education.

Find out more at http://www.msccruises.co.uk/

New edition of World of Cruising!

The Autumn edition of World of Cruising magazine goes to print this week, with readers getting their copies on September 20, and it is definitely one to look forward to.

Our headline feature is a look at Hurtigruten's classic Norwegian Coastal Voyage (above), with Steve Newman detailing what makes this route so special with its mixture of fjords, wildlife and unusual ports of call.

It is also the opening element of a two-part adventure cruise special as we visit the small-scale Alaska of American Safari Cruise, a very different and far more personal experience to the big cruise lines.

For ship features, we have a detailed report on P&O's new Azura; the boutique-smart RMS St Helena on its unique South Atlantic voyages; the luxury style of Crystal Serenity; the headline-catching latest newcomer from NCL, Norwegian Epic; the Louis Majesty of specialist Cyprus operator Louis Cruises; and the Spa style of Seabourn Odyssey.

We go in depth with the recently re-branded Azamara Club Cruises, the start-up operations of Voyages to Antiquity and a special head-to-head comparison of Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises with our US expert Steven B. Stern.

And we have all our usual features and news items, including The Admiral, Cruise Fashion, World of Spas, First Timers' Cruising and a special Aft View.

As ever, it all adds up to the best read on the subject and the most impressive coverage of the wide World of Cruising from Europe's longest-running cruise magazine. All aboard now...!

East Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands

By guest blogger Steve Newman

If you’re new to cruising or are simply looking for one of the best cruise-holiday package deals around, then why not have a look at MSC Cruises?

During their South Africa cruise for example, their classic ship MSC Melody (above) will stop off at Port Louis, the capital and main port on the island of Mauritius. Offering an interesting and relaxing day trip on shore, Port Louis is just one of the exciting and varied destinations that you’ll find along the company’s South African cruise itinerary.

Glimpsed from the ship, this island in the Indian Ocean rises out of a shimmering sea, displaying its famous ring of mountains that shelter the bustling harbour and port, a centre of commerce and trade for the island. Historically in Dutch and French ownership, the two cultures have left their mark on this charming city.

Port Louis has conserved many historic and colonial buildings through the years and elegant, well-preserved French buildings from the 17th century are a treat for architecture buffs. Those in the mood for a spot of shopping will find plenty of enticing items, either in the covered markets, the amazing Port Louis Bazaar or along the well-appointed main streets lined with palm trees.

The cruise starts and ends at Durban in South Africa and includes ports of call at Point Des Galets on the fabulous French speaking, wildly tropical island of Reunion with its spectacular scenery and volcano, and Fort Dauphin on Madagascar, one of the world’s most incredible islands with its forests and Lemurs.

MSC also offer mini-cruises in South Africa on MSC Sinfonia. If you need to find out more, have a look at http://www.msccruises.co.uk/

Great choice for 2010

We're accustomed to a wonderful variety of new ships to look forward to each year, but 2010 promises to deliver an absolutely bumper crop of newbuilds, as much for their variety as anything else.

From the 150,000-ton Norwegian Epic (above, with its Aqua Park) and the 220,000-ton Allure of the Seas (sister to the recent Oasis), to the boutique little Independence of American Cruise Lines (3,000 tons) and the chic Le Boreal of Compagnie du Ponant (10,600 tons), this is a line-up that truly offers something for everyone.

The year starts with the latest vessel for Costa Cruises, the Costa Deliziosa, a sister to the Luminosa and the second in this intermediate class of ship for the Italian-based line. MSC Cruises then add the MSC Magnifica, the fourth in their Musica-class vessel, and their 10th ship in all. Quite an upgrade on their traditional, three-ship fleet of just nine years ago!

Celebrity follow up with Celebrity Eclipse in April, the third in their growing and impressive Solstice-class, and, in the same month, P&O Cruises add their biggest ship to date, the 116,000-ton Azura.

May should be a big month for small-ship lovers, with the arrival of the Independence to boost their unique style of American river and coastal cruising. This will be the third vessel of this style and it is obviously proving a big successful with those who enjoy their cruising small-scale.

Le Boreal is the other attractive smaller option, with a truly sumptuous new look for this chic French line. Well worth considering in 2010.

The pace doesn't slow down in June, though, as we welcome the huge Epic of NCL (their biggest-ever ship) and the Seabourn Sojourn of the Yachts of Seabourn, who made a huge splash (ho, ho!) in 2009 with their Odyssey, a ship hailed as a real 'game-changer' in the deluxe end of the cruise market.

Holland America join the newbuild party in July with their Nieuw Amsterdam, an old name for their latest and possibly their smartest (and the fourth ship actually to bear that name) to date. A sister to the Eurodam, this will be the 81st vessel to enter HAL service. Quite a run!

The autumn sees the arrival of Allure of the Seas, and the second of the mind-boggling Project Genesis series of Royal Caribbean. Our World of Cruising magazine hailed Oasis as 'the world's first space ship' recently, as a tribute to both the space-age look and huge amount of space involved in this vessel, and Allure should provide more of the same. Or, as I said last month - It's a cruise ship, Jim, but not as we know it!

One ship which I will be eagerly awaiting is the new Marina of Oceania Cruises in October, with this smart, upmarket line promising to deliver a mid-range ship full of innovation and style and providing a real challenge to the ultra-deluxe lines but with a slightly lower price tag. Definitely one to watch.

Finally, venerable Cunard will debut their latest offering the new Queen Elizabeth toward the end of the year, a 92,000-ton vessel that will maintain the line's great tradition but build on the modern styling that the Queen Victoria showed us last year, or 'the gracious new Cunarder,' as they like to say.

So, if that little lot isn't enough to get everyone excited about the possibilities for cruising in 2010, I don't know what will.

Merry Christmas everyone, and a happy Cruise New Year!