MSC Cruises will kick off a new series of baseball greats theme cruises on the Dec. 13 sailing of MSC Lirica.

The seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale provides unique insight into the world of Major League Baseball as seen through the eyes of some of the greats of the game. Special guests on this itinerary will be Hall-of-Famer Bob Feller, Dave Campbell, Tommy Davis, Jeff Torborg and Stan Bahnsen.

The baseball theme cruise includes free interactive guest/player activities, including a player-hosted trivia game in which guests can test their baseball knowledge, question-and-answer sessions with the players, a passenger pitching contest and a lively story-telling session in which the players share some candid revelations about some of the “characters” of the game. Players will also host pitching, hitting, fielding and base running clinics.

Perhaps the most popular activity is the free autograph session at the end of the cruise.

“Guests have repeatedly told us how much they enjoyed meeting and interacting with the players during past seasons’ baseball theme cruises so it was a natural for us to continue this program for our guests,” says Richard E. Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises USA.

While in port, guests can take a “seventh-inning stretch” from talking baseball to explore beautiful and exciting ports of call — Key West, Florida; Cozumel, Mexico; Georgetown, Grand Cayman; and Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic. In addition to experiencing the different cultures and shore excursions, guests can visit the line’s private paradise on Cayo Levantado. There they will have the option to explore the waters around the island and view humpback whales as they arrive in the warmer Caribbean waters off the coast of the Dominican Republic to mate and enjoy their newborns.

There will also be ample time to enjoy the elegance, Italian cuisine, ambiance, and exceptional service of the MSC Cruises. “Having the legends of the game onboard adds yet another dimension to the MSC Cruises ‘Beautiful. Passionate. Italian.’ experience,” adds Sasso.

Cruise-only prices begin at $449 per person, double occupancy for a category 1 interior stateroom. For a limited time, guests can get a complimentary oceanview stateroom by purchasing a category 5 interior stateroom and receiving an upgrade to a category 6 oceanview stateroom from $629 per person, double occupancy.

This special offer, which expires April 30, represents a savings of up to 50% or more off of retail rates. Government fees and taxes are additional, as is a fuel surcharge for the first two guests in each stateroom. Kids under the age of 17 sail free (except for government fees and taxes) when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults.

MSC Cruises also has a full slate of baseball theme cruises scheduled for winter 2009 Caribbean season. MSC Orchestra, one of the line’s newest ships, will host baseball greats on its Jan. 24 Western Caribbean itinerary, and its Feb. 28, March 28 and April 11 Eastern Caribbean itineraries.

For more information about MSC Cruises and its Baseball Greats theme cruises, visit http://www.msccruisesusa.com or a local travel professional.

MSC Cruises / PR Newswire