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MSC Cruises and Chicco to offer childcare products and services on board expanding fleet

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MSC Cruises and Chicco have teamed up to make a range of childcare products available to families in purpose-built children's areas on six ships, including on four newbuildings under construction in STX France (two) and Fincantieri (two).

A wide choice of Chicco equipment, including strollers, bottle warmers and baby backpacks for shore excursions, will be available.

MSC Cruises will also give families a ‘Baby globetrotter’ printed guide packed with information on services and mini-club activities, game ideas, kids menus and tips for family excursions according to the ship’s itinerary.

The collaboration also involves building special areas on two Lirica-class ships within the Renaissance Programme which sees four ships being refitted and lengthened between September 2014 and November 2015.

These areas will also be found on the two 167,700gt ships under construction at STX France for delivery in 2017 and 2019 and on two 154,000gt ships being built by Fincantieri arriving in November 2107 and May 2018.

‘We are enthusiastically starting this new journey with Chicco, a dynamic company that marries an innovative approach with experience and tradition,’ said Gianni Onorato, ceo of MSC Cruises.

‘The partnership with Chicco is set long term as the Italian manufacturer of childcare products will play an essential role also in the design of specific and innovative kids areas in the ships that are being built in France and Italy,’ added Onorato.

‘It is with equal enthusiasm that we have embraced the collaboration with MSC Cruises, a partner and a project in which we have found the same values and the same attention that we give to families,’ commented Claudio De Conto, ceo of Gruppo Artsana, parent company of Chicco.

The Chicco Observatory, a developmental research lab focusing on children under 3 will provide special training for MSC staff who will manage on-board childcare.