MSC Cruises has reportedly stated that its UK business is performing nearly 50% better this year compared with last, partly driven by the growth of fly-cruise sales.

Antonio Paradiso, managing director for the UK and Ireland, said a number of factors are behind the improved performance.

He said this is the first year that MSC Virtuosa is sailing from Southampton every week, but he added that flights are also now in a more “stable” position, Travel Weekly reports

Paradiso was quoted as saying: “In 2022, there were quite a few issues with flights from the UK, so the fact we’ve had a more stable scenario this year has also allowed us to further grow our fly-cruise business to some of the best-selling destinations – Dubai, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean. That was the bit we were missing last year because it was challenging.”

Cruises from Southampton accounted for 80% of the company's business in the UK at one point, with fly cruises generating 20% of the volume. This is now roughly 65% ex Southampton and 35% fly cruises.

 “There are only so many ships you can have in Southampton throughout the season, so I expect the fly-and-cruise business to further grow. Probably next year we’re looking at 40% being fly-and-cruise or something like that,” he was cited as saying.

 “We’re not reducing the capacity from Southampton. It’s just that we want to grow the fly-and-cruise business because there is an appetite for destinations which are pretty much long-haul,” the report concluded.

MSC Cruises operates the 181,541 gross ton MSC Virtuosa from Southampton until the autumn, when it will be replaced by another Meraviglia-Plus call vessel, MSC Euribia, which named in Copenhagen earlier this month.