- MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia will set sail with 5,000 guests to sail simultaneously, but on different routes, around the world for approximately 117 and 119 days respectively, touching all five continents, over 30 countries, and over 50 major tourist destinations
Genoa is the cruise capital of the world. A round-the-world tour will depart from Liguria’s capital at the same time today for the first time in history, marking the first time two tours depart on the same day.
In the late afternoon, MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia – among MSC Cruises’ most advanced ships – will set sail with 5,000 guests to sail around the world simultaneously, but on different itineraries, for 117 and 119 days, visiting all five continents, 30 countries. , and more than 50 major tourist destinations.
This world premiere on the international cruise scene is a further confirmation of MSC Cruises’ long-term and strategic commitment to Italy and Genoa – the company’s most important port in the world – and was marked by a ceremony organized on board MSC Magnifica with representatives of numerous authorities, institutions, and management of MSC Cruises, including Leonardo Maso, General Manager of MSC Cruises for Italy.
The ceremony was opened by the broadcast of 33 “flags” that displayed the flags of the main countries touched by the ships, with the presence of the president of the Liguria region, Giovanni Totti (via video link), Augusto Sartori and Francesca Corso, i.e. the advisor for tourism, transport and work of the Liguria region and the advisor for territorial marketing and youth policy of the municipality of Genoa, the top management of Špediport, representatives of the Financial Guard, Customs Agency, Priveza operators, Assarmatori and Federlogistics.
The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Edoardo Rixi, who was unable to attend the event due to prior commitments, addressed: “My warmest congratulations for the results that MSC is achieving, especially in the cruise sector, with a commendable attention to innovation, also commercial solutions and sustainability, in one with a great capacity for international projection”, expressing:
“Great gratitude for the commitment shown over the years in order to favor the landing places of our country, and especially the Genoese who contribute to their growth.
“The fact that Genoa is the departure port for these wonderful trips around the world is an additional confirmation of the importance of Ligurian ports in the cruise sector – said the president of the Liguria region Giovanni Totti – Cruises are an important resource for Ligurian tourism, which just closed in 2022 with a record 15 million visitors, and has ports of embarkation and docking for so many ships, with passengers in transit from all over Europe and the world, is a real ace in promoting the beauty of our region.
Maritime tourism – continues Totti – from yachting to ferries that pass through the world of cruises, has been confirmed as strategic for Liguria and an opportunity for development for the future”.
“Worldwide Cruises has always been the flagship of the cruise lines. It is therefore particularly important for us to celebrate this double appointment in Genoa, a city that hosts the most important port in the world for MSC Cruises and where we expect to carry around one million passengers in 2023, returning to pre-Covid levels. , said Leonard Massa.
“World cruises are always very successful,” Massa added, “as demonstrated by the excellent sales results of World Cruise 2024, which will again see MSC Poesia as the protagonist and will also depart from Genoa on an unforgettable journey of 121 days to discover many of the most beautiful and fascinating places on the planet, following travelers to discover 52 destinations in 31 countries”.
The Ligurian port thus continues to confirm its strategic importance for MSC Cruises, having recorded the movement of 932,000 passengers in 2022, with 12 ships out of 21 of the entire fleet sailing under Lanterna, and preparing to welcome around 1 million tourists this year. In mid-April, the arrival of the new MSC World Europe, the largest “green” ship in the world that can accommodate almost 7,000 passengers, is expected in the Ligurian capital.