WORLD'S FAVOURITE TOY PRODUCER TO DESIGN AND EQUIP UNIQUE SHIPBOARD LEGO® PLAYROOMS, BUILDING ON THE “LEGO EXPERIENCE” ALREADY AVAILABLE FLEET WIDE

MSC Cruises and the LEGO Group have joined forces to create the shipboard LEGO® playrooms and entertainment options for families with children.

Under the agreement, the LEGO Group will design new play areas on MSC Armonia which is being renewed and lengthened under MSC Cruises' Renaissance Programme*. MSC guests will have the opportunity to discover it from November 2014.

The LEGO Group will supply a broad selection of its world-famous construction toys and games, which are certain to capture the creative imagination of the young and young-at-heart, from 0 – 99 years old.

“This agreement will bring a new level of family enjoyment with this top class global brand that showcases excellence in this field”, says Lynne Clarke, MSC Cruises Managing Director. “MSC Cruises has been offering the LEGO toys on all 12 ships in the fleet, but this is an opportunity to bring MSC guests more dedicated products and areas for our younger travellers”.

MSC Cruises CEO Gianni Onorato said: “The LEGO Group and MSC Cruises are both family businesses – built on strong values – that are recognized the world over, so our two companies are a great match. The LEGO Group bricks and toys are close to the hearts of millions of people who grew up playing with them, and with this partnership we hope to give our younger guests some magical memories that they'll treasure forever. We're proud to be able to make The LEGO Group a contributor to the MSC cruise concept, and I know our younger guests are going to love this exciting new addition.”

Among a raft of enhancements to create unforgettable, fun and stress-free family cruises, the Renaissance ships will have separate clubs and facilities for five age groups, namely Baby (under 3s); Mini (3-6); Junior (7-11); Young (12-14) and Teen (15-17).

When the renewed MSC Armonia resumes active service on 19 November, 2014 with an inaugural cruise from Genoa, Italy, to France, Spain, Gibraltar and Portugal, her dedicated offerings of LEGO play materials will include:

• LEGO® DUPLO® for under-3s, including fun games and challenges
• Classic LEGO® bricks and Vertical Play Wall for 7-11 year olds
• “Building Happening” for 6-11 year olds – themed builds with limited bricks
• One LEGO EXPERIENCE DAY per cruise where all participants get a special LEGO® Master Builder Diploma
• Two-metre LEGO mascot, called Sailor Walkabout, will join the MSC Cruises crew to meet and greet youngsters and add fun to onboard parades and events.

All these features will be available free of charge, and will be replicated on the two new additional ships of the MSC fleet to be delivered in 2017.

MSC Armonia will showcase her renovations on 19 November 2014 Grand Voyage cruise from $929 per person twin share for 10 nights to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands

Details: 1300 028502 (Australia), 0508 4278 473 (New Zealand), www.msccruises.com.au 

*About the Renaissance Programme

In December 2013, MSC Cruises unveiled the €200m Renaissance Programme, an ambitious two-year operation to take our four Lirica class ships back to the shipyard and back to the drawing board. Under Renaissance, the Lirica class ships will be lengthened by around 24 metres, and an array of key spaces, such as restaurants and bars, sundecks and entertainment areas will be overhauled and enhanced. This enormous feat of engineering, which we have entrusted to world-class Italian shipbuilders Fincantieri, will leave MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Opera resized and revitalized.

In December 2013 MSC Cruises CEO Gianni Onorato announced the project in Rome, saying: “The Renaissance Programme represents a huge investment, reaffirming once again our company's dedication to high standards, cutting-edge technology and continuous product innovation. MSC Cruises' ships are works of art in their own right and the Renaissance Programme is going to make our fleet - already renowned for its unrivalled style and elegance - even more competitive.”

** On 20 March 2014 MSC Cruises signed a letter of intent (LOI) with STX France for the construction of two new cruise ships, with an option for two more. The two vessels are due for delivery in 2017 and 2019.

On 22 May 2014 MSC Cruises signed a contract with Fincantieri, in Italy, for the construction of two new cruise ships, with an option for one more. The two new ships will be delivered in November 2017 and May 2018.

About MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is the market leading cruise company in the Mediterranean, South Africa and Brazil and operates across the globe. MSC Cruises sails year-round in the Mediterranean and in the Caribbean and offers a wide range of seasonal itineraries in northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the French Antilles, South America, Southern Africa, as well as in Dubai, the Emirates and Oman. Its modern fleet comprises twelve ships: Fantasia-class MSC Preziosa, MSC Divina, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia; Musica-class MSC Magnifica, MSC Poesia, MSC Orchestra, and MSC Musica; Lirica-class MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia, MSC Opera and MSC Lirica. MSC Cruises is the only company in the world to receive the "7 Golden Pearls" award from the Bureau Veritas in recognition of its high level of quality management and environmental responsibility. MSC has also achieved ISO 9001 and ISO 22000 certification for the quality and food safety of all aspects of its catering, both on shore and on board. MSC Cruises believes that global leadership brings increased responsibility towards the physical and human environments in which it operates. As such, MSC entered in a long-term partnership with UNICEF in 2009 to support educational programmes for children in Brazil. The partnership was renewed early 2014, this time to support UNICEF's efforts to tackle famine and malnutrition in developing countries and in emergency situations. Since the beginning of the partnership, MSC collected three million euros in MSC guests donations.