Cruise Division of MSC Group now to offer both Explora Journeys and MSC Cruises under the same in-market structure in UK & Ireland

Cruise Division Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago – “Aim is to improve access to both brands to the travel trade community to further support their opportunities for growth on the back of our continued investments.”

The Cruise Division of MSC Group is enhancing support to trade partners in UK & Ireland, by bringing sales functions and other brand-dedicated resources for Explora Journeys, under the same umbrella.

Antonio Paradiso, Managing Director for MSC Cruises UK & Ireland, will now assume in-market responsibility for Explora Journeys, creating greater synergies which will benefit the travel trade community.

Commercial agreements in place with trade partners will be unchanged. Similarly, commercial conditions for the two brands will remain distinct and unchanged also going forward.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division of MSC Group, said, “This is another demonstration from MSC Group of how we aim to grow and develop further the relationship with the travel trade community which has played such a vital role in our growth to date, and continues to do so with both our brands.  This more simplified structure will provide easier access for our trade partners, especially travel advisors, leading to mutual and rewarding benefits for all sides. Most importantly, it will allow the travel trade community to benefit from the continued investments we are making in both brands, thus providing travel trade partners with expanded opportunities for growth.”

In UK & Ireland Explora Journeys will continue to have its own dedicated specialist team for sales, marketing, contact centres and public relations. Additional brand-dedicated resources will support in each market, to ensure this new approach’s timely success.

This structure will also be adopted in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, South Africa, Brazil, China and Japan.

Explora Journeys’ first ship EXPLORA I will make her maiden journey on 17th July from Southampton, UK with a 15-night sailing to the Norwegian fjords, the Arctic Circle and Copenhagen in Denmark.