MSC Shuffles Ships To Boost Caribbean Sailings

MSC Cruises was going to bring the MSC Musica to Florida in the fall and MSC Lirica to New York by spring 2007, but instead will add 11-night fall and winter Caribbean cruises from Florida on MSC Opera, and continue sailing Musica in Europe through the winter 2007. Previously scheduled cruises from New York in 2007 have been postponed, as have plans to put Lirica in Bermuda next year (2008 is still on the table, however). The deep Caribbean and Panama itineraries "have been extremely successful for us in previous years," says Richard E. Sasso, MSC president and CEO, which prompted the move. The new Caribbean deployment for winter 2006–07 is as follows: MSC Opera will depart Italy Dec. 2 on a 17-night transatlantic sailing to Fort Lauderdale, where it will do two seven-night holiday sailings before beginning a series of 11-night deep Caribbean and Panama itineraries. It sails for Copenhagen May 9, 2007. MSC Lirica will maintain her previously scheduled sailing calendar and depart April 29, 2007 for Hamburg, Germany. Guests booked on any of the previously scheduled cruises will be accommodated and given special consideration for the new Caribbean sailings. Visit [www.msccruises.com].