Cruise Ship Secrets

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