MSC Cruises is heading to Cuba, basing the MSC Opera there for the winter 2015-16 season.
Starting in December this year, the 2120 guest ship will homeport in Havana, offering guests 16 Caribbean cruises with a two-night stay in the Cuban capital.
Emerging as one of the completely renovated ships involved in the cruise line’s €200 million Renaissance programme, MSC Opera will cruise to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Mexico with two nights and two and a half days in Havana.
The seven-night Caribbean cruises aboard MSC Opera will be available for booking from July 10 2015. To offer local ground services and shore excursions MSC Cruises will partner with Cubanacan, the Cuba-based group known for its experienced professionals and quality service.
The first cruise will depart from Havana on December 22 2015, following MSC Opera’s Grand Voyage to Cuba from Genoa, departing on December 2 2015.
To ensure that guests can enjoy and discover the capital city, the Grand Voyage will include a call in Havana on December 18, and resume its itinerary in the region before heading back to Cuba for its final call of the journey on December 21.
On April 12 2016, the ship will leave Havana for a Grand Voyage back to Europe, with Warnemünde, Germany as its final destination, arriving on May 7 2016.
“We are particularly proud to make this exciting new destination available to our guests,” MSC Cruises’ ceo Gianni Onorato said.
“The move to Cuba attests to our commitment to offer our guests the best and most sought-after destinations as they become accessible – thus further enhancing our global offering while providing travellers best-in-class experiences and service.
“The inaugural cruise will take place in less than six months from now, but we can confirm the strong demand for the product due to the attractiveness of Cuba as a culture-rich destination, coupled with the fact that it is offered through our distinctive MSC Cruises experience.”
