MSC Cruises has announced a new range of shore activities and services for guests, including a new Port Info service aboard their newest ship. They’ve also introduced a variety of new shore excursions for Mediterranean cruises.
Port Info
The Port Info service is a new, complimentary service where guests can stop by to learn more aboard each destination they’re going to visit, and make the most of their day ashore. The Port Info desk will offer expert, tailored information on what to see, where to eat, and how to get there. The Port Info crew members will also help travelers book local transportation such as taxis and train tickets, as well as help out with creating private tours and other fun experiences. This service will be especially helpful for guests who may not speak the local language.
MSC Cruises has developed Port Info with local authorities and tourism boards, which ensures they are always up-to-date with the most accurate information. The crew members serving in these roles have been personally trained by local experts and will be able to offer advice from personal experience. Port Info will also highlight local festivals and events, and when possible, ship port times will be adjusted so that guests can fully experience these events.
The helpful service debuted onboard MSC Meraviglia when the ship launched in June, and MSC plans to extend the service to their entire fleet.
Mediterranean Shore Excursions
MSC Cruises has added 19 new shore excursions in the Mediterranean, including five that are exclusive to guests onboard MSC Meraviglia. They were developed largely with families and foodies in mind, so those with young ones and/or broad taste buds will find something to enjoy.
Family-Focused Excursions:
- Discover ancient Pompeii in Naples through a tour of the city frozen in time after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The adventure is rounded out with a fun question-and-answer game for the kids.
- Walk barefoot at farm Villarè in Messina, famed for its barefoot path where visitors can feel nature with all of their senses – hearing, smell, sight, touch, and taste. Guests end the tour with a tasting of local and organic products.
- Visit the highest point in Barcelona with panoramic views, and then head to the city’s only amusement park, Tibidabo Park. It offers Sky Walk rides, rollercoasters, and more.
Food-Lovers Tours:
- Bake handmade pizza in Naples on the city’s subterranean geothermal rock – hot enough to bake to perfection. The personal creation becomes lunch with some of the area’s most flavorful ingredients.
- Sail along the Maltese coastline in Malta, passing many of Valletta’s iconic waterfront sights including the Cottonera area made up of Senglea, Cospicua, and Vittoriosa – collectively known as The Three Cities. Finish with a wine-tasting session with a view.
Meraviglia-Exclusive Excursions:
- Tour Italy’s largest aquarium in Genoa. The tour gives guests a behind-the-scenes look at marine labs, plankton farming, and jellyfish not usually accessible to the public.
- Take in Messina’s best sights including the Cristo Re Church, “Piazza del Duomo” and its golden Bell Tower, and the nearby cathedral. Along the way guests can stop at a number of small bars and restaurants to taste rice balls and cannoli. The day ends with a bit of passito – a local sweet liquor wine made from raisins.
- Experience Italy like a local in Naples with highlights of the city. Guests will taste the freshest Neapolitan pizza in the San Gregorio Armeno region (known as the ‘street of the Nativity Scenes’), then stop to taste Scaturchio and the famous sfogliatella, a typical Neapolitan cake. The day ends with an authentic Neapolitan coffee at the Gran Café Gambrinus.
- Savor a gastronomic delight in Barcelona, at the world’f first and only museum dedicated to Iberian ham. The tour, of course, ends with a tasting opportunity.
- Enjoy Malta with local tastes and sights including a coach drive to Vittoriosa, one of Three Historic Cities. Travelers can stroll the city’s narrow streets and step back in history to the Church of St. Lawrence and Fort St. Angelo. Then they’ll visit Marsaxlokk, Malta’s largest fishing village, with a chance to browse the local market and try some local snacks.
