MSC CRUISES TOASTS MEDITERRANEAN WINE ROUTES WITH ALL-NEW THEMED CRUISES

MSC Cruises is offering a limited series of tantalizing journeys through flavours and cultures with three wine-themed cruises, where guests can delight their palates and hone their knowledge through expert-led tastings and talks, and captivating excursions to wine estates.

Whether in charming Provence, buzzing Barcelona or the historic Roman port of Civitavecchia, ‘On The Wine Routes’ will immerse guests in the fascinating and ancient world of Mediterranean wine production, trade and tradition.

The eight-day / seven-night cruises on MSC Splendida will depart from Genoa, Italy, on 2 and 9 November, and 14 December, making stops in Italy, Tunisia, Spain and France.

They are priced from A$664 per person, twin share.

The November cruises are scheduled to call at Naples and Messina (Italy); Tunis (Tunisia); Barcelona (Spain) and Marseille (France), while the December departure’s Italian stops will be in Civitavecchia, near Rome, and Palermo, in Sicily.

Every On The Wine Routes cruise includes city tours, enlightening talks, tastings of a wide range of fine local wines and qualified insights by Masters of Wine, leading experts on the art, science and business of wine.

The cruise package includes one excursion to a wine producer or cellar in Barcelona, and a high quality beverage package, comprising superior wines served with onboard meals* and a bottle of fine sparkling wine on Gala Night.

MSC Cruises CEO Gianni Onorato said: “Wine is an unbroken thread linking past to present in the Mediterranean, a region whose rich wine culture and history are admired the world over. As the region’s top cruise line it makes absolute sense for MSC Cruises to offer our guests a special wine-themed experience that celebrates this heritage.”

He added: “Many people enjoy a glass of good wine, but some want to take this a step further and learn more about wine, its production, history and so on. On The Wine Routes is a unique chance to discover more about wine in different countries under expert guidance, in an unhurried and enjoyable way.”

*Wines will vary between departures but will always reflect the itinerary.

MSC Cruises is the market leading cruise company in the Mediterranean, South Africa and Brazil and operates across the globe. MSC Cruises sails throughout the year in the Mediterranean and offers a wide range of seasonal itineraries in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, the French Antilles, South America, South and West Africa, and the Red Sea. Its modern fleet comprises eleven ships: Fantasia-class MSC Divina, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia; Musica-class MSC Magnifica, MSC Poesia, MSC Orchestra, and MSC Musica; Lirica-class MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia, MSC Opera and MSC Lirica. In 2013 the fleet will once again increase in size with the addition of MSC Preziosa, who will be christened in March. MSC Cruises is the only company in the world to receive the "6 Golden Pearls" award from the Bureau Veritas in recognition of its high level of quality management and environmental responsibility. MSC has also achieved ISO 9001 and ISO 22000 certification for the quality and food safety of all aspects of its catering, both on shore and on board. MSC Cruises believes that global leadership brings increased responsibility towards the physical and human environments in which it operates. As such, a long term partnership with UNICEF was undertaken in 2009 to fund a community project aimed at providing disadvantaged children in Brazil with a quality education. To date, MSC Cruises has raised over two million euros for the initiative.