Thursday 28 August 2014

MSC CRUISES’ “MARATHON” GRAND VOYAGE FROM EUROPE TO SOUTH AMERICA

Fit MSC Cruises passengers who book the 20-night Grand Voyage of MSC Magnifica from Hamburg to Buenos Aires on November 8, 2014 will have the chance to lace up the running shoes and compete in the inaugural Tenerife Marathon in the Canary Islands.

The cruise ship’s timely visit to Santa Cruz de Tenerife on November 16 means budding athletes will be able to stretch the legs in the first ever held event.

On leaving the German port, passengers will benefit from 12 relaxing days at sea as well as calls in eight diverse destinations. The ship will call in at Le Havre, in France, and Southampton, in the UK, and gateways to Paris and London respectively. Her next port of call will be Lisbon, the beautiful capital city of Portugal, where guests will be able to explore the quaint city streets.

MSC Magnifica will then set sail for the Canary Islands, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife in particular before heading towards Brazil where she will call at Recife, Salvador de Bahia and Rio de Janeiro. Her final destination will be the harbour on the River Plate and Argentinean capital, Buenos Aires.

“This Grand Voyage, priced from $A1819pp, twin share ($NZ2229pp, twin share) will offer a unique opportunity for passengers to put on the running shoes and take part in the very first Tenerife Marathon when MSC Magnifica calls in Santa Cruz de Tenerife,” said Lynne Clarke, managing director of MSC Cruises Australia and New Zealand. “There will be three running options available at varying levels of difficulty,” she said.

Among them will be the 8 km course an urban route which offers runners a perfect opportunity to see the city on the move, the starting line a stone’s throw from the ship. The second option will be the half marathon, a 21km course around the town of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and along the coastal road overlooking the ocean.

For the truly dedicated runners among MSC Magnifica guests is the full marathon, a 42km route that starts at the harbour of Santa Cruz, then cuts through the city centre towards the coastal road. Application deadline for participating is October 25, 2014 www.maratondetenerife.com/ingles

For those who choose not to run, Santa Cruz, which sits at the crossroads between Europe and Africa, has bustling markets, a vibrant culture, mouth watering seafood and breathtaking views. A full program of excursions will be available on the day, so that runners and non-runners alike can make the most of the island’s highlights, including day trips marked by great shopping and beach opportunities in buzzing tourist towns, and memorable encounters with nature at its best.

As the ship makes its way between its various enchanting ports of call, an entertaining enrichment program will be available to MSC guests. Lectures about the ports of destinations and related themes – Canary Islands, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador de Bahia, the great navigators in history, etc. – various arts and crafts workshops, light-hearted games and different classes (tai chi, dance, etc.). Our MSC chefs will also make guests’ mouths water with the finger-licking food served 20 hours a day on the ship, including a wide range of local delicacies according to the ports of call.

Following the race, MSC Magnifica will set sail to South America, including Brazil. After a few days at sea, during which tired runners will be able to rest and recover, passengers will discover the captivating landscapes and warm cultures of Brazil, from palm-fringed beaches, tropical islands and forests, to captivating metropolises with colourful neighbourhoods in one of the world’s most fascinating regions.

The final destination, Argentina, will be reached on November 28. Travellers will bask in the springtime warmth of Buenos Aires, birthplace of the Tango. The sights and sounds of La Boca and San Telmo can be visited before or after savouring the delicious fresh produce that defines Argentinean cuisine in the Palermo neighbourhood.

“An MSC Grand Voyage is truly a journey of a lifetime, where you can discover the world and amazing destinations from the comfort of an MSC Cruises ship, and in the knowledge that you will be looked after with the greatest of Mediterranean care,” said Lynne.

More information can be found on www.msccruises.com.au 

No comments:

Post a Comment