Madrid, June 13, 2019 – MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately owned cruise company, headquartered in Switzerland and the market leader in Europe, South America, South Africa, and the Gulf, is set to launch its sixth connected ship later this year. This is the MSC Grandiosa, which will be christened in the Port of Hamburg on November 9 and will offer new, high-end features for MSC for Me.
MSC for Me is a multi-channel digital program that allows passengers to interact with the ship and crew members anytime, anywhere, to better meet their needs, save them time, and help them make the most of their vacation. Since its introduction on board MSC Meraviglia in 2017, MSC Cruises has implemented this digital innovation program on four more ships (MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview, MSC Splendida, and MSC Bellissima), each adding more features to enhance the guest experience.
In March of this year, ZOE, the world's first virtual personal cruise assistant, was launched for MSC for Me aboard MSC Bellissima. This innovative AI-powered voice-activated technology will also be incorporated into MSC Grandiosa later this year. Along with ZOE, MSC Cruises has added a range of passenger-centric digital innovations to its market-leading connected experience for 2019.
MSC Cruises CEO Gianni Onorato notes that “innovation is the foundation of everything we do at MSC Cruises, and technology never stands still. Since launching our industry-leading digital innovation program, MSC for Me, in 2017, we have continued to research and implement the latest technologies specifically designed to enhance our passengers’ experience, ensuring they can make the most of the wide range of services, activities, and facilities we offer on board our ships.”.
The new features being introduced this year encompass not only the onboard experience but also the pre-cruise phase, allowing passengers to better plan everything they want to experience before embarkation. These services include the option to book packages through the MSC for Me app and add them to their personal itinerary. Meanwhile, new onboard services such as the Friends and Family Locator and MSC for Me Chat help travelers stay connected with their fellow travelers. All of these innovations are designed to save passengers valuable time so they can fully enjoy their vacation.
New tips for planning your trip before boarding
To help passengers plan their cruise before boarding, the MSC for Me app is available for download, allowing them to easily book services. Before embarking, guests can take advantage of the following new features of MSC for Me:
- NEW! Passengers can now browse and select prepaid packages to make their vacation even more enjoyable*. A variety of beverage and specialty restaurant selections, as well as shore excursions, are also available to explore and book in advance at the best price.
- NEW! Passengers can now start planning their time on board by adding pre-booked experiences to their personal pre-cruise schedule, whether it's excursions, specialty restaurant reservations, or the exciting shows of Cirque du Soleil at Sea.
- NEW! Pre-registering a credit card through the app before the cruise is one less thing guests will need to do when boarding, giving them more time to enjoy their vacation once on board.
New features to make the most of your time on board
- NEW! Friends and Family Locator. This new paid service ensures that friends and family traveling together never get lost. Guests can purchase a special MSC for Me wristband with Bluetooth technology and see where each other is, locating them on the ship's map displayed in the MSC for Me app. This new feature complements the Kids Locator service introduced in 2017, giving parents peace of mind knowing their children's location on board at all times.
- NEW! MSC for Me Chat. From now on, passengers can message each other directly through the MSC for Me app, without needing to purchase an onboard Wi-Fi package. To start chatting, simply scan the QR code in your travel companion's app.
- NEW! ZOE, developed in collaboration with HARMAN and Samsung Electronics, is MSC Cruises' industry-leading Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool. It is available in all cabins and suites on MSC Bellissima and coming soon to MSC Grandiosa. Capable of speaking seven languages, ZOE answers hundreds of questions about the cruise and can provide information about onboard facilities, offer guidance and suggestions, and assist with booking services.
- NEW! The handy "what to eat" feature has been added to the MSC for Me app, so guests can discover local ingredients and dishes to try while sailing from one destination to another. For example, in Barcelona, they'll be encouraged to try "la bomba," one of the city's most iconic tapas, which is a potato croquette served with two different sauces: a white garlic aioli and a delicious, spicy tomato sauce.
In addition to the new features introduced this year, MSC for Me also offers:
- Check in via mobile to save time on boarding day and make it simpler.
- Exploring the ship using an interactive map in the MSC for Me app helps passengers move around quickly and easily with step-by-step instructions.
- Guests can plan their cruise in real time, stay informed about onboard events, activities and daily must-sees, in-cabin television and interactive screens throughout the ship.
- NFC wristbands will connect passengers to the ship's services, allowing them to book them via interactive digital screens, open their cabin door, and more.
More information about MSC Grandiosa
MSC Grandiosa is the third ship in the innovative Meraviglia generation and the first in the Meraviglia-Plus class. It will become the fifth new-generation ship launched by MSC Cruises in just two and a half years.
The Meraviglia-class ships have been designed to meet all the needs of today's cruiser. Their exceptional design and wide range of amenities and entertainment make them ideal for the whole family. Designed for year-round use, they can call at most international ports worldwide.
MSC Grandiosa will become the largest ship in the MSC Cruises fleet with evolved facilities, more cabins and suites, more public areas and new features.
The company's new flagship will be christened on November 9th in the port of Hamburg. Following the glamorous event, it will sail the Mediterranean for the winter season, visiting iconic destinations such as Barcelona, Palermo, Marseille, and Valletta in Malta.
For more information about MSC For Me and MSC Grandiosa, visit www.msccruises.es
