Winter holidays on the high seas

With the holidays just around the corner, now is the time to plan the Christmas or New Years of your dreams. MSC Cruises has developed a variety of itineraries to meet every traveller’s needs. Whether you want to lounge poolside as you glide past Caribbean islands, or enjoy the history and heritage of the Greek Isles, MSC Cruises has a trip just for you.

If you want to treat yourself, of surprise someone you love, these carefully choreographed routes through the Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea are the perfect gift this holiday season.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA:
MSC Cruises’ new addition, MSC Fantasia will be christened on December 18th in Naples, and its inaugural journey will coincide with the 8 nights Christmas cruise. Depart from Genoa on a luxurious and stunning cruise around Greece and Egypt in the Mediterranean Sea. Stops include the island of Rhodes, with its lively atmosphere and lush flora fauna; Alexandria, Egypt, where one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the Pyramids – is just outside your door; Messina, which boasts the historic Greek theatre, Taormina, and Naples, where guests can explore the beautiful historic centre or make a side trip to Capri or Pompei. (*Departing on 20 December)

Celebrate the New Year with elegance and style on the MSC Fantasia from Naples or Genoa on an 8-night Western Mediterranean cruise stopping in Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar. The cities of Barcelona and Lisbon are the first two ports of call, where exploring the streets makes this cruise even more magical. Continuing on to Malaga, with its splendid cathedral and the nearby Costa del Sol, the ship will make its final stop in Civitavecchia, where passengers can go onto Rome to see the Imperial Forums or tour the city, admiring its Baroque era architecture. (*Departing on 28 December)

Likewise, the ship of elegance and style – MSC Poesia will offer different itineraries through the Eastern and Western Mediterranean.

This 11-night cruise exploring Greece, Egypt, Cyprus, Turkey, and Crete is a unique opportunity to see some of the most stunning sites along the Mediterranean. At Katakolon passengers will be treated to the architecturally perfect site at Olympia, while Athens and the island of Rhodes provide a perfect way to soak up history. In Alexandria, Egypt guests can visit the Valley of the Kings or the city of Cairo, before cruising on to Limassol – on the Island of Cyprus – and Marmaris – in Turkey. The ship will reach Heraklion on the Island of Crete, where guests can discover the legendary Knossos Palace built for King Minos, and finish their journey in the beautiful Italian city of Naples.
(*Departing on 18 December)

Alternatively, depart on December 29 from Genoa, this extensive journey through France, Greece, Egypt, Malta and Tunisia will ring in the New Year in style. The first stop is Ajaccio, home to the house in which Napoleon Bonaparte was born. Messina, a city famous for its lively culture and perfectly preserved Greek theatre, is the next port of call, followed by the picturesque island of Rhodes. Alexandria is home to the pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus and the Valley of the Temples with the enigmatic Sphinx, and even more art and culture can be found in Valletta, whose cathedral holds Caravaggio’s famous “Beheading of St John the Baptist”. After a stop in Tunis, the final port of call is Naples, where passengers can end their fabulous journey with a trip to Pompeii, the Roman city buried under Vesuvius’ lava. (*Departing on 29 December)

CARIBBEAN SEA:
Depart with MSC Lirica from Fort Lauderdale, Florida for this 7 nights ultimate Caribbean journey that begins heading toward Cayo Levantado, where guests can soak up the sun, sand and silence on picture-perfect beaches or explore the forest of the peninsula’s interior. Road Town on Tortola Island is the next port of call, followed by breathtaking Philipsburg on the island of St. Maarten. Nassau in the Bahamas archipelago allows guests to take in the incredible natural beauty of the tropical fruit, colourful fish, white beaches and lazy palm trees. Enjoy a relaxing journey back through the sea and celebrate the end of the year under the gorgeous rays of the Caribbean sun. (*Departing on 20 December)

Also, New Year in the tropics is surely a one-of-a-kind experience on the MSC Lirica. The ship will depart from Fort Lauderdale and explore Florida, Mexico, the Cayman Islands and the Dominican Republic. A stop in lush isle of Key West makes for a perfect start to the journey, which moves on to Cozumel in Mexico, where Mayan ruins dot the land and the pristine waters of Xel-Ha Lagoon beckon swimmers. Grand Cayman provides passengers with a Caribbean island adventure before the final stop at Cayo Levantado for an unforgettable excursion on Samana Bay. (*Departing on 27 December)

OCEANIC CROSSING:
Fill the winter holidays with the sights and sounds, history and culture of an unforgettable 17-night transatlantic cruise – MSC Orchestra - that covers both the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas. Depart from Genoa, stopping first in Marseilles for a tour of the famous, historic city centre or the Palais des Papes in Avignon. The cruise will then continue on to Barcelona, where guests can spend an entire day wandering through the Gothic Barrio and visit Gaudì’s Sagrada Familia. A change of pace comes next at the lively souk of Casablanca, where romance and history are forever intertwined.

Before reaching the Atlantic Ocean, the ship will stop at Funchal on the island of Madeira, for a guided tour of the island’s striking panoramas and quaint fishermen’s villages. The whirlwind of history and tours is put on hold for five gorgeous days of sailing, during which the ship will reach the Caribbean Sea.

The ship then stops at Pointe à Pitre on the island of Guadalupe, and afterwards beautiful St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. Continuing on to colourful Puerto Rico, guests can tour the sixteenth century city of San Juan, ending their excursion in Fort Lauderdale, just a stone’s throw from the nightlife of Miami. (*Departing on 16 December)

For more information and bookings, log on to Msccruisesasia.com.