SCRATCH BERMUDA FOR NOW: MSC Cruises , which has signed film legend Sophia Loren as a spokesperson to reflect its "Beautiful, Passionate, Italian" essence, has revised itineraries and vessel deployments, given recent ship orders and expanding presence in Europe and elsewhere. The moves help position MSC for more growth, according to Rick Sasso, president and CEO.“Our original plans to bring the MSC Musica to Florida in the fall of 2006 and MSC Lirica to New York by spring 2007 will be delayed,” Sasso says. Instead, MSC Cruises will add more 11-night Caribbean cruises from Florida and continue sailing MSC Musica in Europe for winter 2007. Previously scheduled cruises from New York in 2007 are postponed. MSC Cruises has advised Bermuda that it will not operate the MSC Lirica there in 2007, but will continue talks for 2008.“With the MSC Musica now scheduled to stay in Europe all year, we will bring MSC Opera back to Florida to join MSC Lirica and revise our fall and winter Caribbean sailing calendar to include many more 11-night cruises to the deep Caribbean and Panama, itineraries that have been extremely successful for us,” says Sasso. For details, visit
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