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Look for ‘big news’ from MSC Cruises USA
18/11/2005
Just this week in Paris, MSC Crociere md Pierfrancesco Vago inked the contract for two post-Panamax newbuilds that will be among the industry’s largest ships. Now MSC Cruises USA promises some big news.
Rick Sasso, president and ceo of MSC Cruises USA, is summoning media to a Nov. 29 event in New York.

‘MSC Cruises is coming to the Big Apple with some really big news,’ the invitation reads. A company spokesman told Seatrade Insider there will be more than one major announcement that day.

The possibility of MSC deploying a ship from the Northeast is a good bet. The company has been considering expanding beyond its seasonal Fort Lauderdale/Caribbean base for some time, with Sasso in the past stating that ‘Bermuda and all other summer quality destinations are part of our exploration.’

Watch this space.

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If not those two, then OPERA or LIRICA.

[ 11-19-2005: Message edited by: BR BOB ]

Not sure about the talks with Sir Richard Branson and whether it includes Virgin being part of MSC’s cruise business. I’ve said this before in ’MSC inks new order for Nov. 9’. If MSC Cruises has the same philosophy of its container shipping business, it won’t happen, if they are more open-minded, then who knows.

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MSC plans year-round cruises from New York
29/11/2005
In an effort to take a bigger bite of U.S. market share, MSC Cruises will begin sailing year-round from the Big Apple starting in April 2007. A Lirica-class ship – most likely MSC Lirica but possibly MSC Opera -- will offer varied voyages to the Caribbean, Bermuda and Canada/New England, announced Rick Sasso, MSC Cruises USA’s president and ceo.
In other news, actress Sophia Loren will become the centerpiece of the company’s new branding campaign, launching next year. The U.S. nationwide campaign will include television, billboards and subway advertising, with particular focus on the Northeast and Florida, Sasso said.

Details on the promotions and on the New York-based itineraries will be finalized in coming weeks.

MSC Cruises enjoys ‘enormous popularity in Europe but maybe not as much in North America – yet,’ Sasso said in making the announcement at a news conference in New York. Placing a ship in the market year-round will help to boost this fast-growing brand’s profile among North American travel agents and consumers.

‘It has been more than 30 years since a European brand has homeported in the city of New York and offered year-round cruising,’ Sasso noted, adding that Italian brands like Home Lines and Sitmar were famous for their New York sailings.

‘Why New York and not Brooklyn, not Philly?’ Sasso said. ‘Those ports may come. New York is a worldwide attraction.’ He added that further itinerary expansion is planned.

On hand for today’s announcement, Andy Alpers, president of the New York City Economic Development Corp., said that more than 1 million passengers are expected to cruise from the city in 2006, up from approximately 900,000 this year. ‘More Italians are living in New York than any other city outside of Italy,’ he noted.

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Originally posted by bulbousbow:
BR BOB, seems your predictions will happen. Now it is only a matter of which ship it will be, MSC LIRICA or OPERA? What about the pier, Manhattan or Brooklyn? Manhattan would be best, true?

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Cheers

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CGT wrote:
It was just stated in the article above that it will be Manhattan, and not Brooklyn. At least MSC has some sense...

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You are right CGT.

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‘Why New York and not Brooklyn, not Philly?’ Sasso said. ‘Those ports may come. New York is a worldwide attraction.’ He added that further itinerary expansion is planned.

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It sounds like Brooklyn is a future possibility. Is that (really) a bad move?

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