MSC's Giles Hawke tells ICFR why the cruise line has opted to homeport MSC Opera in Cuba this winter
By
Rebecca Gibson |
What factors led MSC Cruises to choose Havana as a homeport for MSC Opera this winter?
With Cuba opening up for international trade and our unique position as a privately owned Europe-based shipping company, this was the ideal opportunity to offer our customers a new and unique destination for their cruise holiday this winter. No other major cruise line currently features Havana as an embarkation point. Plus, we start each itinerary with a two-night stay onboard the ship in Havana to give our guests the perfect chance to experience the outstanding MSC Cruises service while exploring this unspoilt and vibrant island.
How have MSC Cruises' passengers and travel agents responded to the new offering?
Exceptionally well – we’ve already booked a large number of guests who want to experience Cuba from a cruise ship and enjoy everything the destination has to offer, while visiting some other Caribbean islands at the same time. There appears to be a pent-up demand for Cuba and we’re helping to satisfy this demand through the deployment of MSC Opera. Our customers trust us to look after them, deliver a seamless holiday experience and take them to places where they can discover new experiences and sights and these itineraries will allow us to do exactly that.
Does MSC plan to homeport in Cuba again in future, perhaps for a longer period of time?
It’s still early days and we’ve only made the decision for this coming winter, but our intention isn’t to dip in and out of destinations. We want to work with host countries, build demand and support with our travel agents and customers, and develop a consistent offering where MSC Cruises becomes known for particular destinations and regions. I am highly confident that Cuba will become a permanent fixture as a cruise destination for MSC Cruises, especially given early customer demand and support from the Cuban government. Clearly we need to deliver great holidays during this coming winter to ensure future success in this region, and this is something we are committed to doing.