Countdown to the Caribbean: MSC Cruises Ready for Exciting Season With MSC
Poesia, Lineup of Theme Cruises

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla., Sept. 14 /CNW/ -- The countdown continues as MSC Cruises prepares for an exciting 2009-10 Caribbean season that includes the much-anticipated arrival of MSC Poesia in North American waters, a wide variety of special theme cruises and interesting itineraries.

The Italian, family-owned line is bringing the elegant MSC Poesia to Fort Lauderdale for a season featuring itineraries of 3-, 5-, 7-, 8- and 10-nights throughout the Caribbean and to Bermuda during the winter season before returning to Europe in spring 2010.

MSC Poesia features 1,275 staterooms, of which 80% are outside staterooms and 65% have a balcony. There will be 2 pools and 4 hot tubs, a 13,000-square-foot spa, and four restaurants, including a Sushi Bar themed restaurant.

MSC Poesia will arrive in Fort Lauderdale Nov. 10 , after a 17-night transatlantic journey from Venice . Her Caribbean season will include:

    
    --  5-night sailings: Nov. 10 and Nov. 15
    --  10-night itineraries - Nov. 20, Nov. 30, Dec. 10
    --  7-night Christmas itinerary, departing Dec. 20
    --  7-night New Year's itinerary, departing Dec. 27
    --  7-night itineraries - a variety of eastern and western itineraries

    Jan. 16-April 10

    --  7-night Bermuda itinerary - departing April 17, features 3 nights in
        Bermuda

    --  3-night Bahamas cruise, departing April 24

    MSC Poesia departs Fort Lauderdale April 27 on an 18-night voyage to
Hamburg.

    Guests can experience an extensive lineup of theme cruises during the
2009-10 season, including:

    --  President's Cruise: Nov. 10, 2009 -- 5-night "Caribbean Escape"
    --  Latin Music: Jan. 23 -- 7-night "Eastern Caribbean Enchantment"
    --  Comedy: Jan. 30 -- 7-night "Eastern Caribbean Enchantment"
    --  Country Music: Feb. 20 -- 7-night "Eastern Caribbean Enchantment"
    --  Oldies Music: March 20 -- 7-night "Eastern Caribbean Dream"
    --  Festa Italiana: April 10 -- 7-night "Island Treasures & Ancient
        Temples"
    --  Baseball Greats: Nov. 20, 2009 10-night "Dazzling Dutch Caribbean &
        The Panama Canal"; 7-night sailings: Jan. 16 and Feb. 6 "Island
        Treasures & Ancient Temples"; March 6  "Eastern Caribbean
        Enchantment"; April 3
        "Eastern Caribbean Dream."
    --  Big Band: Dec. 10, 2009 -- 10-night "Remarkable Rainforests & The
        Panama Canal"
    --  Polka: Jan. 9 -- 7-night "Eastern Caribbean Enchantment"

    --  Baseball Greats & Big Band: Feb. 27 -- 7-night "Island Treasures &
        Ancient Temples"
    

For more about MSC Cruises, visit www.MSCCruisesUSA.com or a local travel professional.

For further information: For MSC CRUISES (USA), Inc., Public Relations Agency, DMOA, [email protected]; [phone]; or MSC CRUISES (USA), Inc., Julianne Carelli, Manager, Public Relations, [phone], or Gail Nicolaus, Director, Marketing Web Site: http://www.msccruisesusa.com