Having announced the opening of a new MSC Cruises office in Shanghai and a new management and operations team based there, MSC Cruises is taking another step to further improve its ability to serve the Chinese cruise market by deploying MSC Splendida in China as of May 2018.
Built in 2009, the 137,936 GRT MSC Splendida will also become one of the largest. most modern cruise ships operating in the region. She features 1,637 cabins, 76% of which come with a balcony, and can accommodate a total of 4,363 guests.
In her new positioning, MSC Splendida will join MSC Lirica, which has been serving the Chinese market since May 2016 and has recently moved to her new homeport in Tianjin, to serve the North China market during the winter season.
Speaking earlier at a press conference in Beijing, Gianni Onorato, MSC Cruises’ Chief Operating Officer, commented: “Deploying MSC Splendida to the shores of China is a further testimony of our commitment to this key growth market. In fact, since it came into service MSC Splendida has been the most popular ship for Chinese and other Asian guests cruising the Mediterranean with us.”
“MSC Splendida represents a second, strong step towards meeting the growing demand for our unique product and ultra-modern ships by Chinese guests. She will also undergo significant dry-dock enhancement in late 2017, ahead of her deployment, to further improve and customise her already amazing range of services.”
MSC Splendida will also introduce the MSC Yacht Club to the Chinese market. The MSC Yacht Club is an exclusive, “ship-within-a-ship” high-end concept that is unique to MSC Cruises and is designed for the most discerning guests who desire exclusivity and privacy. Offering a broad range of private facilities, MSC Yacht Club’s guests benefit from exclusive services including a 24-hour personal butler, dedicated concierge reception as well as priority boarding and disembarkation. MSC Splendida will be the only ship to make this high-end offering available to Chinese guests in their home market.
MSC Splendida’s itinerary will include popular cruise destinations in China, Japan and Korea.