The New Year is upon us and there are a lot of interesting things going on in the world of cruising. Whether you are booking a cruise this month or departing on an exciting voyage, we have the most up-to-date information on trends and news surrounding cruising.
This month?s top destination
If you are looking for what?s hot this month, then it doesn?t get better in terms of climate and interest than the Emirates. Escape the winter blues by opting for a ship that takes in ports as fascinating as Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. Enjoy the juxtaposition of tradition with modern architecture and incredible luxury, not to mention stunning beaches and the chance to soak up some vitamin D while temperatures in the UK plummet.
Christmas on board
Christmas has arrived at the MSC fleet, with all of the ships having been dressed up in luxurious decorations for the occasion. Chef Carlo Cracco has put together a stunning array of dishes for the Christmas banquet, meaning guests will dine like kings. Guest artists feature among the seasonal entertainment and the kids will be excited by the arrival of Santa Claus. His sack will be filled with presents from LEGO and Chicco, ready to hand out. With an onboard Christmas market, there really is nowhere better to be this festive season.
Looking forward to cruising from Southampton
We have recently announced that MSC Magnifica will be departing from Southampton from April 2018. This exciting piece of news means that those who don't want to fly to reach their cruise will be able to embark the ship in the UK and start their holiday straight away. Destinations will include Northern Europe and the Mediterranean when they launch.
Buenos Aires looks to attract more cruise ships
The Argentinian administration is undertaking a programme of improving the infrastructure at the port of Buenos Aires in a bid to attract more cruise passengers in the future. The 2016-17 season is proving to be among the quietest for cruise visitors to the city of tango in some time, but it is expected to become a top destination again in the future. A new food area inside the terminal building, bilingual signage and better road connections are all part of the plan. Gonzalo Mortola, port administrator at Buenos Aires, has said he is looking forward to meeting with MSC Cruises in January.
MSC Bellisima goes under construction
Construction has begun on the newest addition to the fleet, MSC Bellisima, which is expected to join our ranks in 2019. The ship is the second of the Meraviglia generation and continues a partnership with STX France, which began when MSC Lirica was built in 2003. Representatives from the two companies attended the steel cutting ceremony at the beginning of this month to mark the official commencement of work on MSC Bellisima.
