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‘Time to cruise again… We are back!’ says MSC Cruises’ Paradiso

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Clockwise from top: MSC Cruises' Paradiso, Young and Burnett toast the start of MSC Virtuosa's maiden season; the vessel preparing to leave from Southampton port; the Union Jack projected from the ship's LED sky dome as passengers embark
‘It’s time to cruise again, we are back!’ was the message from MSC Cruises’ MD UK & Ireland, Antonio Paradiso aboard MSC Virtuosa during the vessel’s second week sailing the UK.

‘I’m still emotional, I’ve been emotional throughout the first cruise,’ he continued, alluding to the vessel’s maiden voyage on May 20. ‘Social media is looking good… More importantly, they [passengers] feel safe.’

He went on to describe the experience on board as ‘intimate,’ adding that he had ‘underestimated’ it. Raising a glass in celebration of the first vessel to restart sailing in the UK since the pandemic began, he concluded, ‘I’m really happy.’

A significant evolution

‘This is a significant evolution for us,’ added cruise director Gene Young. ‘It’s life changing… this is how we provide for our families. It’s an inspirational experience.’

A career highpoint

Hotel director, Alistair Burnett, recounted scenes of ‘people almost in tears coming up the gangway’ on MSC Virtuosa’s maiden voyage last week and said he considered it ‘a career highpoint.’