SIX REASONS TO SAIL NORTHEN EUROPE THIS WINTER ON MSC EURIBIA

Geneva, Switzerland - October 26, 2023 – MSC Cruises is offering 7-night sailings to some of the most sought-after destinations in Northern Europe this winter onboard MSC Euribia, the line’s newest flagship. From November 2023 through April 2024, guests can embark on a journey sailing to Hamburg (Germany), Rotterdam for Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Zeebrugge for Bruges and Brussels (Belgium), Le Havre for Paris (France), and Southampton for London (UK).

Guests looking for an extended stay on board will have the opportunity to embark on a 21-night unique itinerary in January to the Northern Pearls with added stops in Portugal, Spain, Morocco and the Canary Islands, all full of rich cultural sites and stunning natural marvels.

MSC Euribia is MSC Cruises’ second vessel powered by liquified natural gas (LNG), which is the cleanest marine fuel commercially available at scale, and is one of the most energy-efficient ships in the industry. The ship features a range of technologies and solutions that minimize the impact on the air and marine environment. These include advanced onboard wastewater treatment systems and waste management handling. The ship has also been designed with the future in mind, allowing for the opportunity to easily incorporate future fuels, such as synthetic or bio-LNG, as they become available at scale.  

Whether it’s exploring each destination’s renowned historical landmarks, admiring winter landscapes, or enjoying the ship’s fantastic amenities, world-class entertainment, and gourmet dining options, MSC Euribia’s winter sailings offer guests the opportunity to create lasting memories.

Itinerary highlights include:

1. EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF WINTER IN NORTHERN EUROPE

The winter season provides a wonderful opportunity to discover the magic of Northern Europe’s cities with fewer crowds during one of the most festive times of the year. MSC Euribia’s itineraries will offer guests the chance to explore stunning destinations, showcasing the best of the region with a wealth of enriching adventures and cultural attractions to discover. From strolling alongside the enchanting canals of Amsterdam to exploring the medieval charm of Bruges and visiting Hamburg’s charming Christmas markets, MSC Euribia offers memorable experiences for every type of traveler.

1. WORLD-CLASS ENTERTAINMENT

On board, MSC Eurbia offers round-the-clock entertainment for guests of all ages. During the 7-night itineraries, the ship will host incredible shows in the Delphi Theatre and Carousel Lounge—including live music from one of the largest big bands at sea—along with leisure activities throughout the day to unwind and enjoy the ship. For guests looking to etch their names in the record books, Guinness World Records will be on board with unique live shows and opportunities for guests to break records.

1. ENRICHING FAMILY OFFERINGS

MSC Cruises brings its award-winning family offerings to new heights on MSC Euribia, with seven rooms filled with entertainment options for children and teenagers. The revolutionary kids’ area features more than 7,500 square feet of interior space with each room catering to different age groups from 0 to 17 years old. For the first time in the fleet, the ship features MSC Foundation Lab with a slate of activities dedicated to educating children and teenagers on environmental subjects. Extended space in the Teens Club makes room for activities including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, VR, foosball and table tennis. Plus, the toys onboard are selected to ensure they are as environmentally friendly as they are fun.

1. ELEGANT WINING & DINING

Guests can expect plenty of delectable dining and drink experiences on board. Five of the 10 dining venues are specialty restaurants like the brand-new Le Grill, a stylish French bistro-meets-steakhouse, and Kaito Sushi & Robatayaki, a spin on one of MSC Cruises’ mainstays featuring Robatayaki for the first time. Guests looking for cocktails can head to one of the ships’ 21 bars and lounges, featuring five outdoor and 16 indoor venues. The new Helios Wine Bar allows guests to discover the story behind their favorite glass of wine using state-of-the-art multi-touch tables activated by digital coasters. The cutting-edge bar allows guests to dive into the history, grape varieties, and wine-making region for the glass in hand.

1. AN ARRAY OF SHOPPING POSSIBILITIES

A modern and vibrant shopping experience awaits guests on MSC Euribia, boasting the largest retail area of any cruise ship, full of immersive and unique spaces. Guests can treat themselves to the ship’s new Luxury Plaza, offering workshops, discovery sessions, one-to-one consultations with a personal shopper, and tastings. Whether it’s discovering some of the most sought-after watchmaking brands from prestigious Maisons in the TimeVallee boutique, indulging in Davidoff cigars and an extensive selection of distinctive Scottish Single Malt whiskies in The Liquors and Cigars area, or choosing from the widest selection of tech in the fleet in the Shopping Gallery, there’s something for everyone.

1. LUXURIOUS MSC YACHT CLUB

Guests seeking the ultimate luxury cruise experience can enjoy the MSC Yacht Club, a “ship within a ship” concept on MSC Euribia providing exclusive areas on board with plenty of personalized service including 24-hour butler and concierge service. A stay in the MSC Yacht Club comes complete with an array of lavish suite options, private facilities including a dedicated pool and sundeck, and a high-end restaurant.

To find out more about MSC Euribia’s northern Europe itinerary options, please click here.

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Notes for Editors:

MSC Euribia features and environmental technologies:

In May 2023, MSC Euribia completed a net-zero greenhouse gas trip on her first voyage from St. Nazaire, France to Copenhagen, Denmark using bio-LNG under a mass-balance system, the most cost effective and environmentally efficient method of delivering the benefits of renewable biogas. MSC Euribia can be powered using LNG, which virtually eliminates sulfur oxides and particulates and reduces nitrogen oxides by 85 percent. It also reduces emissions of greenhouse gases by up to 20 percent (on a CO2-equivalent basis).      

LNG is a transition fuel: the onboard engine technology and fuel systems can already use bio and synthetic LNG today. In the future, the ship design can accommodate retrofits enabling MSC Cruises’ LNG-powered vessels to operate using green methanol. MSC Cruises is committed to deploying drop-in renewable fuels and accelerating the energy transition to net-zero.      

Energy Efficiency

MSC Euribia is one of the world’s most energy-efficient cruise ship in the industry. At the time of her launch, MSC Euribia achieved an International Maritime Organization (IMO) Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) that is 55 percent better than currently required. MSC Euribia emits up to 19 percent less greenhouse gas emissions per passenger per day than her sister ships that use conventional marine fuels. MSC Euribia will also emit up to 44 percent less greenhouse gas emissions per passenger per day than MSC Cruises’ ships built only 10 years ago.

Advanced water and waste treatment facilities

Wastewater is treated to a very high quality, exceeding the standards of many shoreside municipal wastewater treatment systems worldwide. The company’s technology meets the strictest international IMO standards – including the Baltic standard. Advanced waste management systems reduce, reuse, and recycle the waste generated on board.

MSC Cruises is committed to being a net zero GHG emissions brand by 2050

The emissions intensity of ship operations has decreased by 33.5 percent since 2008, and MSC Cruises plans to achieve a 40 percent reduction ahead of the IMO 2030 target. Achieving net zero emissions will require more than finding further operational efficiencies. MSC Cruises is embracing new technologies and switching to non-carbon and renewable fuels. The line is working with fuel providers and others on deploying drop-in sustainable fuels like advanced biofuels and biogas. Looking into the future, green hydrogen and green methanol will likely contribute to decarbonization, as will synthetic e-fuels. The focus of MSC Cruises is the development of scalable solutions that can be used universally.

About MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is the world’s third largest cruise brand as well as the market leader in Europe, South America, the Gulf region and Southern Africa. It is also the fastest growing global cruise brand with a strong presence in the Caribbean, North America and the Far East markets.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, MSC Cruises is one of the two brands that sit within the Cruise Division of MSC Group, the world’s leading and privately held shipping and logistics conglomerate with over 300 years of maritime heritage. MSC Cruises – the contemporary brand - has a modern fleet of 22 vessels combined with a sizeable future global investment portfolio of new vessels, terminals and other assets. The fleet is projected to grow to 23 cruise ships by 2025, with options for six more vessel orders in place through 2030.

MSC Cruises offers its guests an enriching, immersive and safe cruise experience inspired by the Company’s European heritage, where they can enjoy international dining, world-class entertainment, award-winning family programs, and the very latest user-friendly technology on board. To learn more about MSC Cruises’ itineraries and experience on board its ships, click here.

The line’s number one priority has always been the health and safety of its guests and crew, as well as the communities at the destinations its ships serve. In August 2020, MSC Cruises implemented a new comprehensive and robust health and safety protocol to become the first major line to return to sea. To learn more about MSC Cruises’ health & safety protocol, click here.

MSC Cruises has long been committed to environmental stewardship, with a long-term goal to achieve net zero emissions for its operations by 2050. The Company is also a significant investor in next-generation environmental marine technologies, with the objective to support their accelerated development and availability industry-wide. To learn more about the Company’s environmental commitment, click here.

Finally, to learn more about the MSC Foundation, MSC Group’s own vehicle to lead, focus and advance its conservation, humanitarian and cultural commitments, click here.