MSC Cruises¡¯ 4,500-passenger MSC Meraviglia¡¯s April 22 launch of Bahamas and Florida, Canada and New England, and Bermuda cruises from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal inaugurated the New York cruise market¡¯s sole year-round service.

MSC Meraviglia¡¯s deployment will create ¡°a sizeable and ongoing economic impact to the region,¡± said MSC officials in a statement.

The ship will bring more than 200,000 domestic and international?visitors?to New York annually, according to Cruise Lines International Association and NYC Economic Development Corporation data.

MSC Meraviglia¡¯s Brooklyn-departing itineraries will target a combination of the operator¡¯s traditional European-American passenger base and millions of Northeast-based cruise vacationers, who will enjoy a new regional drive-to port?option.

¡°Greater New York right the whole northeast is important to us, said Reuben Rodriguez, MSC USA¡¯s president, ¡°but especially New York. [New Yorkers] tend to buy longer cruises they tend to buy their cruises farther out,¡± he said.

¡°New Yorkers are a little farther ahead than the average and they tend to travel internationally more,¡± continued Rodriguez. ¡°So not only are they booking Caribbean cruises, they're booking [international] cruises.

Rodriguez said New York area cruise vacationers also ¡°Tend to buy better cabins, generally suites and Yacht Club [accommodations]. ?¡°So New Yorkers aren't just a great target audience for us.¡±

Diverse Itineraries

MSC Meraviglia will sail to the Bahamas and Florida on seven-day to 11-night sailings calling at Miami and Port Canaveral, Florida; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico and Nassau and MSC¡¯s Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas.

Beginning in August, the ship embarks on five- and six-night sailings to Kings Wharf, Bermuda. The ship will spend several days in port, enabling guests to tour the island extensively.

This fall, MSC Meraviglia will offer 10- and 11-night cruises to Newport, R.I., Boston and Portland, Me. plus Saint John, Halifax, Charlottetown and Sydney, Canada.

Launched in 2016, the 171,598-ton MSC Meraviglia is a mainstream market mega-vessel featuring extensive indoor and outdoor facilities and amenities, including a large pool deck with a retractable roof.

A shipboard entertainment area is equipped with a full-sized, two-lane bowling alley, an interactive XD cinema, a flight simulator, a video game arcade and an MSC Formula Racer.

An indoor sportsplex space features a full-sized court for?basketball, tennis, squash, volleyball, pickle ball, mini golf and five-to-a-side soccer. Other outdoor facilities include pools and hot tubs, an expansive water park featuring three twisting slides, and the Himalayan Bridge, an intricate ropes course.

MSC Meraviglia¡¯s MSC Yacht Club accommodations feature upscale ¡°ship within a ship¡± amenities, facilities and services, including butler service and an exclusive restaurant, lounge, and pool area.

Other interior highlights include the Galleria Meraviglia, a promenade extending 315 feet and lined with shops, restaurants and bars, topped with an LED sky screen ceiling.

Dining and beverage options include 12 restaurants including the Butcher¡¯s Cut steakhouse, the HOLA! Tacos and Cantina eatery, and the Kaito Sushi and Teppanyaki restaurants.

The ship¡¯s MSC Aurea Spa provides massage therapy, body treatments, facial treatments, and offers a dedicated thermal area. MSC Meraviglia¡¯s 6,000-square-foot gym features state-of-the-art equipment and overlooks?the main pool deck from floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

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