23/11/2009

Luxury cruise line, MSC Cruises, is celebrating their landmark millionth passenger. The passenger, who was just 13 years of age, boarded the MSC Fantasia while it was docked in Genoa.

MSC Cruises is family-owned and is one of the most modern cruise lines currently in operation. The cruise line has estimated that they will welcome approximately 1,085,000 travellers before the end of this year. Compared to last year, MSC Cruises has seen a 36 per cent increase in their sales.

The UK and Ireland branch of MSC Cruises has seen its growth rate climb to 60 per cent this year. The cruise line has recognized the growing demand for additional itineraries departing from UK ports. To accommodate the demand, MSC Cruises will base MSC Opera in Dover for several months in 2010.

The Chief Executive Officer of MSC Cruises, Pierfrancesco Vago, noted that the company had grown tremendously over the last five years. Vago added "this increase has not just been a matter of numbers. The high standards of professionalism and technological innovation to which we are committed have also improved the quality of our ships, which are now universally recognised as true gems of Italian excellence in terms of style, elegance, design and ecology."

MSC Cruises currently operates a fleet of 10 cruise ships that are based in several regions. In early 2010, the cruise line will welcome their newest ship, MSC Magnifica. MSC Cruises estimates that it will welcome approximately 1.2 million travellers in 2010.