MSC's all-star theme cruises

Cruise Travel, Sept-Oct, 2005

MSC Cruises' baseball theme sailings were so popular last year that the line is bringing them back for another Caribbean season. MSC Cruises will also feature other theme sailings in 2006, including big-band cruises January 13, March 20, and April 22, plus a February 15 jazz voyage.

The baseball theme series begins with a powerful lineup of baseball greats--including Hall-of-Famers Bob Feller, Ralph Kiner, and Earl Weaver, as well as Amos Otis, Bert Campaneris, and Stan Bahnsen--onboard the MSC Lirica's first sailing of her 2005/2006 Caribbean season, the December 10 seven-night roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale The cruise includes 10 free interactive passenger/player activities, such as a player-hosted trivia game in which guests can test their baseball knowledge, question-and-answer sessions, and a lively story-telling session in which the players share some candid revelations about some of the "characters" of the game." Players will also host pitching, hitting, and defensive-strategy clinics. Perhaps the most popular activity is the free autograph session at the end of the cruise.

Baseball theme cruises are also scheduled for the Jan. 28, Feb. 18, and March 11 seven-night sailings of the MSC Opera and the MSC Lirica's 11-night April 22 itinerary. Participating players on these sailings will be announced at a later date.

While in port, guests can take a "seven-thinning stretch" from talking baseball to explore San Juan's Spanish roots, enjoy the shopping and Dutch culture of St. Maarten, swim with dolphins off the coral sands of La Romana in the Dominican Republic, and enjoy MSC's "private paradise"--the beautiful Dominican Republic island of Cayo Levantado. There will also be ample time to enjoy the Italian cuisine, ambiance, elegance, and exceptional service of MSC Cruises.

For more information contact your travel agent or MSC Cruises (Cruise Travel Magazine), 6750 N. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309; or log on to www.msccruises.com.