MSC Cruises has been named the official global cruise partner of Chelsea Football Club.
The announcement was made exactly 100 days before MSC Bellissima’s naming ceremony in Southampton, which ambassadors from the Premier League club are now expected to attend.
The multi-million-pound deal includes LED perimeter advertising, VIP hospitality, star player engagement as well as a dedicated digital marketing presence.
The partnership will run from January 1 until June 2021.
On the partnership, Gianni Onorato, the line’s chief executive, told Travel Weekly: “What we are doing with Chelsea is very familiar for MSC Cruises – it is the right choice for us.
“Chelsea is a club which is known all over the world, and particularly in the two areas where we are investing heavily – Asia and North America.”
Onorato said MSC Cruises had other partnerships with other football clubs around Europe, in countries such as Germany, Spain and Italy.
Travel agents around Europe will have chances to attend Chelsea matches, Onorato added.
Antonio Paradiso, MSC Cruises’ managing director for UK & Ireland, said: “3.1 billion people engage with Premier League football so you can imagine the opportunity we now have.
“We are talking about millions and millions of [Chelsea] fans. It is opportunity to raise awareness of the MSC Cruises brand.”
The line has just begun its 10-year plan to build 17 new ships between now and 2027.