| FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (August 25, 2009) – | | | | music with Juan Carlos in a traditional performance |
| For many, the Caribbean evokes visions of | | | | • View the bioluminescent organisms that |
| sunbathing, shopping and sightseeing. Travelers | | | | make the fish and kayak glow when you immerse |
| seeking that plus a more experiential Caribbean cruise | | | | your hands in the water during a kayak adventure |
| need look no further than MSC Cruises for an | | | | • Swing from tree-to-tree and |
| unforgettable vacation with exciting shore excursions. | | | | platform-to-platform on a series of pulleys and cables |
| MSC Cruises offers guests the opportunity for some | | | | for a canopy adventure 10-70 feet above the |
| exciting – even adventurous – experiences | | | | tropical rainforest |
| on its 2009-10 Caribbean itineraries. Several shore | | | | Cruise-only rates begin at $549 per person, double |
| excursion options enable guests to explore the | | | | occupancy. Shore excursions are additional. |
| Caribbean over land (by train, bicycle, 4X4, ATV, bus | | | | 10-Night Caribbean Experiences |
| or horseback), above and beneath the sea | | | | MSC Poesia’s 10-night Deep Caribbean cruises |
| (snorkeling, SCUBA diving, in a glass-bottomed boat, | | | | (departing Fort Lauderdale November 20 and 30 and |
| and on a catamaran or kayak) and through the air | | | | calling at Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; |
| (attached to a cable between 100-foot-high trees). | | | | Cartagena, Colombia; Cristobal, Panama; Playa del |
| There is also the chance for unique ecological | | | | Carmen, Mexico; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Basseterre, |
| experiences and, of course, plenty of fun and sun. | | | | St. Kitts; Bridgetown, Barbados; Fort de France, |
| There’s limited space available for shore | | | | Martinique; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Nassau, |
| excursions, so advance reservations prior to sailing | | | | Bahamas) offer a variety of shore excursion |
| are recommended. | | | | experiences as well. While in Antigua, for example, |
| MSC Poesia’s 7-night Western Caribbean | | | | guests can go horseback riding on the beach, take a |
| roundtrip sailings from Fort Lauderdale (January 16, | | | | catamaran to the northwest coast of the island for |
| February 6, 13 and 27, March 13 and 27, and April 10) | | | | some snorkeling, or go bottom fishing. |
| call at Key West, Florida; Playa del Carmen, Mexico; | | | | Cruise-only rates begin at $799 per person, double |
| Georgetown, Grand Cayman; Montego Bay, Jamaica, | | | | occupancy. Shore excursions are additional. |
| and Nassau, Bahamas. Among the many shore | | | | The ship’s Caribbean featuring Panama 10-night |
| excursion options available are: | | | | sailing (departing Fort Lauderdale on December 10) |
| Playa del Carmen | | | | calls at Georgetown, Grand Cayman; Cartagena, |
| • Snorkel the Mayan Riviera and explore | | | | Colombia; Cristobal, Panama; Puerto Limon, Costa |
| underwater caverns | | | | Rica, and Playa del Carmen, Mexico. |
| • Glide over marine life in a clear-bottom | | | | Among the many shore excursions available on this |
| kayak | | | | itinerary are a Mangroves Ecological Tour via canoe in |
| • Swim with the dolphins | | | | Cartagena. In Cristobal, guests can opt to explore the |
| • Go horseback riding | | | | Portobelo and Gatun Locks to admire the Panama |
| Grand Cayman | | | | Canal, kayak the Gatun Lake, and encounter monkey |
| • Feed, interact and play with Southern | | | | watch at Gamboa. |
| Stingrays at Stingray City | | | | Cruise-only rates begin at $749 per person, double |
| • Certified divers can explore reefs and | | | | occupancy. Shore excursions are additional. |
| wrecks Introductory SCUBA lesson – after | | | | Whether you are interested in adventure, exploration, |
| training in a swimming pool, participants go on a | | | | history, shopping, architecture, relaxation or just |
| shallow reef dive | | | | some plain old fun in the sun, MSC Cruises’ |
| • Board a Reef Roamer glass bottom boat | | | | Caribbean itineraries offer something for everyone. |
| for a glimpse of the shipwrecks | | | | With the line’s “Kids Sail Free” offer |
| Montego Bay | | | | (ages 17 and under sail free when sharing a |
| • Go white water rafting on Martha Brae | | | | stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults), the entire |
| • Take a river tubing safari in the White | | | | family can enjoy a memorable Caribbean getaway.All |
| River Valley | | | | prices quoted are cruise-only; government fees and |
| • 4X4 Jeep safari through Fern Gully, Murphy | | | | taxes are additional for all guests. Some restrictions |
| Hill and Dunn’s River Falls | | | | may apply on shore excursions. For more information, |
| • Explore Ocho Rios and Dunn’s River | | | | visit or contact a local travel professional. |
| Falls | | | | Check out our website for a wide array of theme |
| Nassau• Drive to Fort Fincastle for a | | | | cruises at Become a fan on Facebook. Follow us on |
| panoramic view of the island | | | | Twitter. Watch us on You Tube. For more |
| • Ride in a boat for a narrated cruise through | | | | information about MSC Cruises, visit or a local travel |
| the harbor and then enjoy a narrated walking tour of | | | | professional. |
| Atlantis Resort | | | | ### |
| • Sail in a catamaran | | | | About MSC Cruises: |
| • Snorkel the Athol Island Park | | | | MSC Cruises has the most modern fleet in the world |
| Cruise-only rates begin at $549 per person, double | | | | with ten ships: MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia (the |
| occupancy. Shore excursions are additional. | | | | largest ships built for a European ship owner), MSC |
| Cruise the Eastern Caribbean on MSC Poesia for 7 | | | | Poesia, MSC Orchestra, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia, |
| nights from Fort Lauderdale (January 9, 23 and 30, | | | | MSC Armonia, MSC Opera, MSC Lirica and MSC |
| February 20 and March 6). Calling at San Juan, Puerto | | | | Melody. The fleet cruises year round in the |
| Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Tortola, British Virgin | | | | Mediterranean and seasonally in Northern Europe, the |
| Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas), shore excursions | | | | Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, North America and |
| include the following: | | | | Canada, South America, the Indian Ocean, South and |
| • Explore the El Yunque Rainforest by foot | | | | West Africa. MSC Magnifica launches in 2010. MSC |
| while surrounded by exotic plants and waterfalls | | | | Cruises recently forged a three-year, million-dollar |
| • Visit the Bacardi Rum Distillery and tour Old | | | | partnership with UNICEF to fund a community project |
| San Juan | | | | in Brazil while increasing awareness of this cause |
| • Experience the passion and fire of Spanish | | | | onboard its ships. |