MSC to Offer Year Round Departures from New York.

According to the Miami Herald, MSC Cruises intends to offer year round departures from New York starting in 2007.

Rick Sasso President of MSC Cruises USA says that the line chose New York due to its high population and heavy concentration of Italian Americans.

The move is MSC's first outside of South Florida. Since entering the North American cruise market in th 1990s MSC has offered depatures on two ships from Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale Florida during the winter months, however the line has historically focused on the European market.

Beginning in April 2007 the MSC Lirica will shift to New York and offer year round itineraries to Bermuda, the Caribbean and Canada. Meanwhile the MSC Opera will continue to sail from Port Everglades, it will be joined by the MSC Musica.

The MSC Lirica will join ships from Norwegan Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line that are also offering year round sailings. In addition the City of New York will be spending $150 million to improve the passenger terminals in both Manhattan and Brooklyn.

For more information about any of MSC's itineraries or those of other lines offering departures from either New York or Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale please visit www.mycruiseplanner.net or call My Cruise Planner at 1-866-286-9827