MSC Musica to debut in 2006

MSC Cruises has unveiled details of its first megaship, the 2,550-passenger MSC Musica . Currently under construction in France and slated to debut in spring 2006, Musica will serve as the line's new flagship, with nearly 1,300 passenger cabins (85% of them outsides) and more than 242,000 square feet of public space. Sixty-five percent of all staterooms will have balconies.

Among the highlights of the new vessel will be a three-deck waterfall in the central foyer; a three-deck main theater; a variety of restaurants, including a sushi bar and a panoramic "garden" restaurant with columns and frescoed ceilings; a 13,000-square-foot spa; an 8,000-square-foot casino; and a number of themed bars, including a wine-tasting bar, piano bar, a "well-being" bar in the spa, and so-called "Cozy Bar" (for a cappuccino or after-dinner aperitif).

The Mediterranean is more than just a destination for MSC Cruises, it's their home. That's why they know its ports of call and both the well-known and their secret attractions. Their itineraries will transport you to the hidden corners of history, culture and nature in the land of Roman baths, crumbling ruins, Napolean's birthplace and sun-baked villages that are all part of the vastly diverse Mediterranean seaside.