MSC Cruises’ UK boss is “already working on” bringing the line’s new flagship vessel – MSC Meraviglia – to British shores for ex-UK sailings.
Speaking to TTG onboard Meraviglia in Le Havre ahead of the 5,714-passenger ship’s christening last weekend, Antonio Paradiso said he believed the new vessel would confirm MSC’s shift from “a European leader to a world leader” in the cruise sector.
Paradiso said his vision was to “have a ship of [Meraviglia class] sooner or later launched in the UK,” adding: “Let’s be honest, I’m already working on it.”
However Paradiso, who took charge of MSC Cruises’ UK business in March last year, added there was “no point rushing things”, and that he was hoping to achieve “organic growth” with the help of UK agents.
He stressed that the line’s UK operations were focused on making a success of its first UK homeport in three years when Magnifica arrives in Southampton next April, with Paradiso suggesting the event could act as a springboard for larger ships coming to UK shores in future.
“I believe let’s start with Magnifica and take things step by step and then go bigger,” he said.
Steve Williams, director of sales, said MSC in the UK was aiming to use the launch of Meraviglia and the homeporting of Magnifica to break into the “top three cruise lines [in the country] within the next three years.
“That’s our goal so [it’s] very ambitious, and there’s a lot of hard work ahead, but we’re really excited and we think it’s absolutely achievable,” he told TTG.
Christened by Sophia Loren last weekend, Meraviglia is the first of 11 “next generation” ships scheduled to join the MSC fleet by 2026.
The vessel is also the largest to be launched by a European line this year and features a number of firsts for the Italian-owned company, including the introduction of its onboard technology platform MSC For Me.
Meraviglia also sees the debut of two specially commissioned shows by Cirque du Soleil which will be performed onboard, as well as an “enhanced” version of MSC’s Yacht Club and an 80-metre LED ceiling above its promenade.
“[Meraviglia class] were made to serve the UK and US market and the idea was to have that wow factor with European glamour,” Paradiso added.
