MSC Cruises to sail to Asia

MSC Cruises will be making a splash in Asia for the first time ever, when MSC Orchestra sets sail on an all-inclusive voyage from Dubai to Perth next year.

In 2015, the company's 33-night cruise – departing in February – will stop off in Mumbai and Cochin, India; Colombo in Sri Lanka; Langkawi in Malaysia; Singapore; and Bali, according to Travel Weekly.

The colourful schedule will also take in the best of Australia in the final leg of the month-long cruise, with stops scheduled in Cairns Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle.

Highlighting the emphasis placed on Asia during the voyage, Singapore represents one of two scheduled overnight stops, with Sydney making up the other.

According to the company, there has already been keen interest among passengers in the new itinerary.

Giles Hawke, MSC's managing director for UK and Ireland, told the news provider: "We have had a number of our past passengers asking for an itinerary which will take them to the Far East and Australia and this gives them exactly what they are looking for."