News

World famous actress Sophia Loren will be visiting Dover next year for the launch of the privately owned Italian cruise line, MSC Cruises most exciting and anticipated ship.
 
MSC Poesia, which translates as poetry, will make her debut in Dover on 5 April 2008, during an elaborate overnight pier side event attended by legendary Italian film star Sophia Loren, godmother to the elegant new ship.  Mrs Loren who will be joined by 2000 guests will also christen her before the Poesia sets sail on her pre inaugural voyage from the port on 6th April 2008, bound  for Venice.

At 90,000 tonnes and accommodating 3,013 passengers, with more external balconies than ever before, MSC Poesia will be a sister ship to the hugely popular MSC Orchestra and MSC Musica (launched in 2007 and 2006 respectively).  She will become the 9th ship in the MSC Cruises fleet, which has experienced the industry’s largest fleet expansion in the last 3 years. 

MSC Poesia’s pre inaugural voyage will sail from Dover to Venice for 13 nights and call at ports in Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Morocco and finally Venice, where she will be positioned for the summer of 2008. 
 

Claudia Baino, MD, MSC Cruises UK and Ireland, comments “This is an extremely exciting time for us.  As a European company we have a strong and long term commitment to UK customers and by launching our newest ship here, we are really demonstrating that.”
MSC Cruises is offering a special price to be part of this historical sailing.  Prices start from £958 per person, which includes free car parking in Dover, coach transfers from LHR back to Dover on the return journey and return scheduled air travel from Venice to London.  Achille Staiano, Commercial Manager, MSC Cruises, revealed “Children cruise free on all MSC Cruises, excluding port dues and flights”.
 
Other special prices can be found on summer 2008 MSC Poesia cruises, for example an 8 day sailing from Venice visiting Bari, Katakolon, Izmir, Istanbul and Dubrovnik starts at £698 per person including cruise, transfers and return by scheduled airline.
 
Throughout the summer of 2008 MSC Poesia will offer 8 day cruises in the Mediterranean taking in a variety of beautiful and cultural destinations including Bari, Olympia, Izmir, Istanbul and Dubrovnik, amongst others.  Full details will be listed in a dedicated Poesia brochure, which is available both from travel agents and direct from MSC Cruises from the end of August 2007.  For further details log onto www.msccruises.co.uk or call reservations on 0870 850 4883.