Page 16 - 366977 LP247663A Travel Matters 76pp A4 (September 2022)

NEWS
16
SEPTEMBER 2022
MSC VIRTUOSA TO SAIL YEAR-ROUND FROM SOUTHAMPTON
MSC Cruises has announced that MSC Virtuosa will offer year-round cruises from Southampton for winter 2022/23 and summer 2023.
This will be the first time that the line has continuously operated one of its vessels from the UK year-round.
Antonio Paradiso, Managing Director – UK and Ireland, MSC Cruises, comments: “Since MSC Virtuosa first came to the UK, the feedback from our guests has been incredible and the ships have been a huge hit. The increased appetite for stress-free no-fly cruises out of the UK combined with the benefits of the new state-of- the-art Horizon Terminal has resulted in huge demand.
“The continued deployment of one of our newest and most innovative ships out of the UK is just further proof of the continued importance of the UK market, which began with our first
full ex-UK season back in 2018. Since then, we have gone from strength to strength and we are committed to offering the best possible experience for our guests from the UK
and Ireland.”
MSC Virtuosa will now replace MSC Preziosa’s itineraries this winter offering the newly introduced ‘Northern Pearls’ itinerary from Southampton to Hamburg for Berlin in Germany; Zeebrugge for Bruges and Brussels in Belgium; Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Le Havre for Paris in France.
“MSC Virtuosa’s deployment for winter will see us increase our capacity for the season and will provide an even more attractive offering for our guests looking for a winter break without having to take a flight.”
In summer 2023, MSC Virtuosa will replace MSC Grandiosa offering a range of itineraries from mini cruises, 7-night sailings through to longer cruises. Further details of the full programme will be released soon.