Guests who book a stateroom on one of MSC Cruises’ exciting 2009 Europe sailings by July 31 will receive an Extra Early Booking bonus in the form of shipboard credit.

The amount of the shipboard credit will be determined by the type of stateroom:

— Interior stateroom — $25 shipboard credit per person (maximum $50 per stateroom)

— Oceanview — $50 shipboard credit per person (maximum $100 per stateroom)

— Balcony — $100 shipboard credit per person (maximum $200 per stateroom)

Guests who book early reap significant savings on the line’s Mediterranean and Northern Europe itineraries. Rates begin at $799 per
person, double occupancy for a 7-night cruise. Plus, children under age 17 always sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults; guests need only deposit $100 per person.

“The ‘Beautiful. Passionate. Italian.’ ambiance coupled with the exotic destinations creates a true cultural experience at an exceptional value, particularly with the ‘kids sail free’ offer,” says Richard E. Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises (USA).

With MSC Cruises, guests can choose from 80 ports of call as they sail Europe the European way, visiting the hidden treasures of the Eastern Mediterranean, the historic landmarks of the Western Mediterranean and the richness of Northern Europe.

A New Era of Ships in the Mediterranean

MSC Fantasia, debuting this December, and sister-ship MSC Splendida, entering service in June 2009, are the largest ships built by a European ship-owner. Each will feature an exclusive VIP area with 99 spacious suites (up to 700 square feet), plus a bar, solarium, 2 Jacuzzis, pool with sky dome and butler service.

After her christening in Naples, MSC Fantasia will alternate two 8-night Eastern and Western Mediterranean itineraries from Genoa. The ship will then sail 11-night Western Mediterranean and Canary Islands itineraries from Genoa through March 1, 2009, when she begins 7-night “Mediterranean Fantasy” itineraries from Barcelona.

MSC Splendida begins her inaugural season June 29, 2009, sailing “The Splendid Mediterranean” 7-night Western Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona through November.

Here are some highlights from MSC Cruises’ 2009 Mediterranean
itineraries:

— MSC Poesia (debuted spring 2008) alternates 11-night “Eastern Mediterranean and Egypt” and “Western Mediterranean and Canary Islands” itineraries from Genoa. In April, she begins 7-night “Turkish Treasure and Croatian Coasts” Eastern Mediterranean itineraries from Venice.

— MSC Armonia: 7-night “Wonders of the Aegean” Eastern Mediterranean from Venice, April-October.

— MSC Melody: 7-night “Islands of the Tyrrhenian Sea” Western Mediterranean from Genoa, May-October.

— MSC Musica: 7-night “Greek Islands in the Sun” from Venice, April-October.

— MSC Rhapsody: 11-night “Egyptian Antiquities,” “Ancient Moorish Kingdoms” and “Grand Black Sea” Eastern Mediterranean from Genoa, March-October.

— MSC Sinfonia: 7-night “Sparking Rivieras” Western Mediterranean from Livorno, April-October.

— MSC Opera: 7-night “Jewels of the Adriatic” from Trieste, fall 2009.

— MSC Orchestra: 8-night “Iberian Discovery” from Barcelona, fall 2009.

— MSC Lirica: 7-night “Mediterranean Marvels” from Civitavecchia (Rome), fall 2009.

MSC Cruises in Northern Europe

MSC Cruises also will have three ships in Northern Europe in 2009. Itineraries include:

— MSC Lirica: 11-night “Treasures of the Russian Czars,” “Fairytale Towns and Towering Fjords” and “Voyage to the Top of the World” itineraries from Dover, May-August.

— MSC Opera: alternating 11-night “Czarist Russia Revealed” and “Land of the Midnight Sun” from Copenhagen May-June; alternating 7-night “Baltic Beauty and Russian Treasures” and “Route of the Vikings” from Copenhagen July-August.

— MSC Orchestra: alternating 7-night “Baltic Castles and Russian Palaces” and “Fascinating Fjordlands” from Copenhagen May-September.

For the convenience of guests, MSC Cruises offers alternate departure ports, such as Bari, Valencia, Kiel and Amsterdam, on many itineraries. Check with your local travel professional.

For more information about MSC Cruises’ extensive selection of European sailings, visit http://www.msccruisesusa.com or a local travel professional.

SOURCE MSC Cruises / PRNewswire