Two of MSC Cruises' Newest Ships to Sail 2009-10 Caribbean Season

North American cruise passengers will be able to experience the Caribbean on two of MSC Cruises' newest and largest ships when MSC Poesia and MSC Magnifica arrive in Fort Lauderdale for their inaugural 2009-10 Caribbean seasons.

In addition to sailing on the two newest of the line's "Musica" class ships, passengers can select from a variety of roundtrip itineraries that include 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings and four different 10-night itineraries. Itineraries feature many of the most popular ports of call as well as several exciting not-so-often visited ports, such as Playa del Carmen, Curacao and Aruba, on select itineraries.

Cruise-only rates begin at $499 per person, double occupancy for 7-night cruises and $749 per person, double occupancy for 10-night itineraries. Government fees and taxes are additional, as is a fuel surcharge.

As with all MSC Cruises' sailings, kids ages 17 and under sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults.

Photo Courtesy of MSC Cruises

Shipboard Features
Both MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia feature 1,275 staterooms, of which 80% are outside staterooms and 65% have a balcony. There will be 236,000 square feet of public spaces, 2 pools and 4 hot tubs, plus a 13,000-square-foot spa. On each ship, guests can select from four restaurants, including a Sushi Bar alternative dining restaurant.

In addition, MSC Magnifica features a Magrodome that allows guests to enjoy the pool area no matter what the elements.

MSC Magnifica's Itineraries
MSC Magnifica will be christened on Dec. 5, 2009 in Hamburg, Germany. She will depart two days later on a 19-night "Grand Passage to the New World" to Port Everglades that calls in Amsterdam, Dover, Lisbon, Funchal, Fort de France, St. John's, Charlotte Amalie and San Juan.

Once in Fort Lauderdale, MSC Magnifica will sail roundtrip 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries through April 7, 2010. "Eastern Caribbean Enchantment" itineraries call at San Juan, Phillipsburg, Roadtown and Nassau; Western Caribbean "Island Treasures & Ancient Temples" itineraries call at Key West, Playa Del Carmen, Georgetown, Montego Bay and Nassau.

On April 17, 2010 she will sail a 7-night "Bermuda - Paradise in Pink" itinerary that calls at King's Wharf, Bermuda and Nassau, Bahamas.

MSC Magnifica will depart April 24, 2010 on a 19-night "Bluewater Adventure Across the Atlantic" that stops in New York City, King's Wharf, Ponta Delgada, Lisbon, La Coruna and Dover before arriving in Copenhagen.

MSC Poesia's Itineraries
MSC Poesia arrives in Fort Lauderdale Nov. 10, 2009 for her inaugural Caribbean season following a 17-night "Grand Transatlantic Adventure." Her itineraries will feature some of the most popular destinations, such as Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba and Panama.

MSC Poesia's itineraries include:

• "Happy Holidays, Caribbean Style" - 7-night Eastern Caribbean departing Dec. 20, 2009, calling in San Juan, St. John's, Philipsburg and Nassau;
• "Caribbean and Confetti New Year's" - 7-night Western Caribbean celebration departing Dec. 27, 2009, calling at Playa del Carmen, Georgetown, Montego Bay and Nassau;
• "Southern Sunswept Caribbean" - 10-night Southern Caribbean itineraries departing Nov. 10, 2009 and Feb. 17, 2010, calling in Curacao, Bonaire, Grenada, St. Lucia, Antigua and the Bahamas;
• "Remarkable Rainforests and the Panama Canal" - 10-night Deep Western sailings departing Dec. 10, 2009, Jan. 18, 2010 and Feb. 27, 2010, calling in Grand Cayman, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Mexico;
• "Dazzling Dutch Caribbean and the Panama Canal" - 10-night southwest Caribbean experiences departing Nov. 20, 2009 and Feb. 7, 2010, calling in Curacoa, Aruba, Colombia, Panama and Mexico; and
• "Tropical Splendors, European Charm" - 10-night southeast Caribbean itineraries, sailing Nov. 30, 2009, Jan. 8 and 28, 2010, calling in Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, Barbados, Martinique, St. Maarten and the Bahamas.

The ship will depart North American waters on March 9, 2010 on a 17-night "Island-Hopping Across the Atlantic" sailing that includes calls in San Juan, Phillipsburg, Funchal, Malaga, Palma, La Valletta and Dubrovnik, before arriving in Venice.

For more information about MSC Cruises and its exciting line-up of ships and itineraries, visit www.msccruisesusa.com or a local travel professional.