Big changes are in the pipeline for when MSC Cruises’ Lirica ship heads into Chinese waters next year.
The ship, which homeports in Shanghai from May 2016, will feature a number of firsts during its first foray in the Far East.
MSC will debut the new optional Cruise Ambassadors service which offers bilingual assistants assigned to individual guests.
The Ambassadors will provide personal concierge style assistance throughout a cruise, including chaperoning duties, social hosting, guiding, and organizing restaurant reservations, entertainment and excursions.
"It is bold innovations like the introduction of cruise ambassadors that we believe will really make the difference to our Chinese guests, and keep them coming back to MSC Lirica," MSC CEO Gianni Onorato said.
Chinese celebrity chef Jereme Leung will lead the shipboard culinary concept which will include a new oriental fusion restaurant Jia Yao.
"We’re really excited about having Jereme Leung at our side in this venture. He has a deep knowledge of Asian cuisines that extends well beyond China’s borders, which is why he’s also instrumental in the development and delivery of other onboard menus," Onorato added.
MSC said about 80% of customer facing crew will be fluent speakers of Mandarin.
The ship will mostly operate short three- and four-night cruises to Japan and South Korea out of Shanghai.
