MSC Expands China Presence With Splendida Deployment

MSC Cruises will deploy its second ship to China when the MSC Splendida sets sail in May 2018.  

Splendida will join MSC Lirica, which began sailing out of Shanghai in May 2016 and has since moved to Tianjin, as the company’s first two ships in a fledging Chinese market.  

According to MSC CEO Gianni Onorato, Splendida has been “the most popular ship for Chinese and other Asian guests cruising the Mediterranean” and the decision was made in order to meet a growing demand for “ultra-modern ships by Chinese guests.” 

Built in 2009, Splendida can accommodate 4,363 guests in 1,637 staterooms, 76% of which are balcony rooms.  

The Fantasia-class ship will be the first MSC ship with its Yacht Club—the club level program that includes priority boarding and disembarkation, butler and concierge service, access to premium suites and restaurants, custom shore excursions, and admission to an onboard private pool—in the Chinese market.  

MSC has not announced a homeport or itineraries for the ship, though it said it will visit popular ports in China, Japan and Korea.  

The ship will join vessels from most other mass market cruise lines with ships in Asia—and in China in particular. 

Norwegian’s first ship built specifically for the China market, Norwegian Joy, will debut next summer; Royal Caribbean’s new Ovation will spend time in China during its inaugural year; and Carnival Spirit will be the first Carnival Cruise Line ship to sail out of China in 2018.

CLIA CEO Cindy d’Aoust told TMR last month that she expects the Asian market to outpace the North American market in the next 10 years.