New ship based in Piraeus for summer 2023 for MSC Cruises

At a press conference in Piraeus announcing the summer 2023 calling season of MSC Musica, nearly 200 travel industry members attended.

“As our first ship to be based in Piraeus last year – the MSC Lirica – we said we would increase our capacity to meet the growing demand of Greek tourists and international guests in 2023,” Angelo Capurro, MSC Cruises sales executive director for new emerging markets, said. In our opinion, MSC Musica delivers on that objective, and we are confident that the sailing season will be successful and we will be able to welcome repeat and first-time cruisers on board.

The domestic and international markets will find the seven-night itinerary appealing since both can embark from their local ports. Enjoy fine dining restaurants, world-class entertainment, relaxing bars and lounges, boutique shopping, a relaxing spa, and clubs for toddlers to teenagers in an enthralling cosmopolitan setting.

Everyone can enjoy something here.

Greece will be the first homeport for the MSC Musica. A total of 26 sailings will take place from Piraeus from May through October, including stops in Santorini; Kusadasi, Turkey; Haifa, Israel; Limassol, Cyprus; and Mykonos, before returning to the Athens port.

A two-night “Athens Experience” will be available from July on MSC Cruises’ “Stay & Cruise” packages, which include transfers from the airport to the port and a stay at a four-star hotel.

Aside from the MSC Musica, there will also be five other MSC Cruises ships deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: the MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Splendida, MSC Opera, and MSC Divina. The MSC Poesia will also visit Piraeus as part of its fall itinerary.

Managing Director of MSC Cruises Pierfrancesco Vago said: “In Greece today, cruise tourists bringing economic benefits have already grown more than in 2019.” Greece’s local authorities are doing a great job increasing homeporting operations.

There is no doubt that homeporting is the most substantial economic benefit for any destination. It increases the time tourists spend ashore before and after a cruise, increasing the demand for accommodation. In addition, passengers benefit from spending money on services, food, entertainment, and shopping.

It is estimated that every cruise passenger spends more than Euros 400 at the port of embarkation and at least Euros 100 at each port visited during the ship’s itinerary. As a result of supplying, maintaining, and refueling our ships, homeports also create more jobs.