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MSC eyes UK regional expansion and Virtuosa fams

Cruise
Tom Parry
24 May 2021

MSC Cruises is looking to expand regional departures later this year, host agent fam trips onboard its flagship MSC Virtuosa and launch a new “multimillion-pound” advertising campaign, UK and Ireland bosses have revealed. 

This will be the first time the line has continuously operated one of its vessels from the UK year-round

Virtuosa undertook its maiden voyage from Southampton on Thursday (20 May) – becoming the first vessel to resume cruising in the UK amid the pandemic.

Speaking to TTG onboard during the sailing, UK and Ireland managing director Antonio Paradiso said he was “seriously considering” using another ship away from Southampton to offer more embarkations in other British ports when international ex-UK sailings are able to return.

"I would like to have a ship in addition to Southampton that boards people from a different part of England or Scotland. That’s something I want to take into account for future itineraries.