MSC Cruises will add its popular Butcher’s Cut steakhouse to UK-based ship MSC Preziosa next month.
Antonio Paradiso, managing director UK and Ireland, revealed the restaurant, currently offered on five of the line’s ships – including recently christened flagship MSC Bellissima – would be available onboard Preziosa from May 13.
“UK guests are our priority so we wanted to enhance the experience. People love Butcher’s Cut, and its customer satisfaction scores are amazing, so we wanted to make the change for Brits,” he said.
Paradiso was speaking alongside UK and Ireland sales director Steve Williams as the pair revealed the “overwhelming response from the UK and Irish travel trade” surrounding Bellissima had helped the line surpass 90% of its annual passenger budget, with MSC on track to hit target for the third consecutive year.
“It just goes to show Brexit hasn’t impacted us, and we’re not discounting and flooding the market with last-minute sales,” Paradiso said. “It’s proof of what we’ve been saying – make sure you’re booking early.”
Following the naming of Bellissima in Southampton last month, for which MSC invited 3,000 UK and Irish agents onboard, Williams said his next aim was to highlight MSC’s global product, especially in the Caribbean.
“We want to be known not just as a Mediterranean specialist,” he said. “We’re building two new terminals in Miami, and we have some of our best hardware out there.”
Williams said he would also look at hosting a UK trade fam trip in the region next year, including a visit to the line’s upcoming private island Ocean Cay in the Bahamas, opening in November 2019.
“We might even do a longer fam which would be a lot more beneficial than just seeing the island on a one-off trip,” he added.
MSC Cruises is the world's largest privately-owned cruise company. We're the number one cruise line in Europe and South America.