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With tug boats spraying a watery welcome, MSC Cruises’ MSC Orchestra arrived in Port Everglades on Jan. 2 to begin its inaugural season of Caribbean sailings. “We are very excited to introduce MSC Orchestra to North America,” said Richard E. Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises (USA). “It is an elegant ship in every respect -- spectacular public areas, and a wealth of choices for dining, entertainment and activities, all with a style that epitomizes MSC Cruises.” MSC Orchestra is the largest of the line’s ships to sail in North American waters. At 92,400 gross tons, the MSC Orchestra can carry 2,550 passengers and the majority of staterooms have private balconies.

The ship has five restaurants -- L’Ibiscus, Villa Borghese, La Piazzetta, Four Seasons and Shanghai Chinese -- 10 bars, three meeting and conference rooms, a 21-by-12-foot outdoor LED screen, and the 16,146-square-foot Body and Mind Spa. MSC Orchestra will sail alternating seven-night roundtrip itineraries from Jan. 10 to April 18, 2009. The Eastern Caribbean itinerary calls at Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. John, Antigua; and Nassau, Bahamas. The Western Caribbean route visits Key West, Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Cayo Levantado. A seven-night roundtrip Bermuda sailing departs Fort Lauderdale on April 25. This itinerary includes three days in King’s Wharf, Bermuda, and a day in Nassau.

During its inaugural season, MSC Orchestra will host Major League Baseball greats on its Jan. 24 Western Caribbean itinerary and its Feb. 28, March 28 and April 11 Eastern Caribbean itineraries. MSC Orchestra is scheduled to depart Fort Lauderdale May 2 on an 18-night voyage that will include a two-day visit to New York before heading eastbound to Copenhagen. The itinerary includes calls at Ponta Delgado, Azores; Lisbon, Portugal; Vigo, Spain; La Coruna, Spain; and Dover, England.