MSC Cruises has announced that they will be deploying MSC Splendida to China in May 2018 introducing the luxurious MSC Yacht Club to Chinese cruisers.
MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately owned cruise line, is looking to expand in the Chinese market and recently opened a new MSC Cruises office in Shanghai. The cruise line currently has one cruise ship in China, MSC Lirica sailing out of Tianjin.
Built in 2009, 137,936 GRT MSC Splendida will become one of the largest, most modern cruise ships operating in the region. She features 1,637 staterooms — 76 percent of which feature 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 to great success the Chinese market since May 2016 and has recently moved her homeport to Tianjin, to serve the thriving North China market during the winter season.
Gianni Onorato, MSC Cruises’ Chief Executive Officer, gave the following statement about adding a second cruise ship in China: “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 customize her already amazing range of services.”
MSC Splendida will also introduce the MSC Yacht Club to the Chinese market. This 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 will visit cruise ports in Japan, Korea, and in China. Complete detailed itineraries will be released in the coming months.
