MSC Cruises has renewed its membership with the “Friends of Venice” Association for 2008. This association distinguishes the contributions made by member companies to promote the city and enhance the city’s image.
As it did in 2007, MSC Cruises will once again sponsor the annual Carnival and the Historic Regatta. For the first time, the company will also sponsor the city’s 2008-09 New Year’s Event.
“MSC Cruises is continuing with its links with the ‘Friends of Venice’,” declared Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO for MSC Cruises. “We are delighted to collaborate with this amazing city. It is a synergy that has many aspects, from cultural to economic. In conjunction with the Council of Venice and the Venice Passenger Terminal, we emphasize the need to safeguard the environment, an issue which is close to our heart. We are once again showing our commitment to this city as we will use it as a home port for our newest ship, MSC Poesia, to be christened in April 2008. In so doing, we will once again increase our passenger footfall through the port of Venice.”
The collaboration between MSC Cruises and Venice will take place on various levels as the company has received from the Mayor of Venice, Massimo Cacciari, the Venice Blue Flag. This award recognizes MSC Cruises’ efforts to safeguard the environment. This voluntary agreement, underwritten by MSC Cruises, significantly reduces carbon emissions as the ships transit through the lagoon of Venice, from the Lido to the Maritime Station.
Also important is the collaboration between MSC Cruisese and the Passenger Terminal of Venice which has, in the last few years, reached an important objective. On Dec. 1, 2007, the Passenger Terminal celebrated its millionth passenger transiting from the Maritime Station. This passenger embarked on MSC Armonia for its transatlantic crossing to Brazil.
MSC Poesia, the newest addition to the fleet, will join MSC Musica, MSC Opera and MSC Sinfonia in making a total of 71 visits to the city during 2008. From March to November, the company is expected to carry more than 420,000 passengers through Venice.
