MSC partners with Cirque du Soleil

Mediterranean-based cruise line MSC Cruises is to partner with Cirque du Soleil, bringing a new entertainment programme on board its Meraviglia ships.  

The productions will take place inside specially-built aft lounges, which will hold 450 seats – including a 200-seat restaurant. The 1,000sq metre spaces are being specifically designed for the shows at a cost of €20 million.

Cirque du Soleil productions will take place six nights a week during sailings, with two performances each night.

MSC Cruises has four Meraviglia ships in the pipeline.  The first, MSC Meraviglia, is due to launch in June 2017 and will sail its inaugural season in the western Mediterranean.

Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises said: “MSC Cruises is a company built on innovation, from the unique ships we design and build to the on-board experiences we conceive and create.

“Together with Cirque du Soleil are now designing a totally new, live entertainment experience for our guests. It’s this commitment to innovation, and the vision and creativity that only a family-owned company can apply, that make MSC Cruises so distinct.”

Yasmine Khalil, President 45 Degrees, Cirque du Soleil’s special projects company, added: “We have found in MSC a long-term partner with a clear vision about trends in the cruising industry and a strong desire to be the leader by taking entertainment on board to a whole new level.  For Cirque du Soleil, this is what inspires us and provides us with a great creative challenge that we require for each new relationship and project that we embark on.”

Picture provided by Derek Key