MSC Cruises, the Geneva based cruise company, said it will deploy additional two ships in the eastern Mediterranean next year, in response to soaring demand for its cruises in the region.

"Between May and November 2015 MSC Poesia (2,550 passengers*) and MSC Magnifica (2,518 passengers) will homeport in Venice, calling at Bari or Brindisi (Italy), Katakolon (Greece), Izmir and Istanbul (Turkey) and Dubrovnik (Croatia)," the company said in a statement.

Currently, MSC Preziosa (3,502 passengers) sails these routes alone, but mounting interest in the eastern Mediterranean, and Turkey in particular, has increased demand for MSC cruises sailings to that part of the world.

The extra capacity means MSC Cruises will be able to carry more than 1,500 additional guests to the region, which is densely packed with fantastic destinations steeped in history, culture and unforgettable experiences.

Turkey among the top MSC destinations in 2014

MSC Cruises can today reveal its three best-selling itineraries from the 202 currently available aboard the 12 ships of the fleet. MSC sails year-round in the Mediterranean, and operates seasonally in northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean and South America, southern Africa, as well as the Emirates and Oman.

The most popular MSC Cruises itinerary in 2014 was sailed by MSC Preziosa this summer out of Venice, calling at Bari, Katakolon, Izmir and Istanbul, before returning to Venice via Dubrovnik

In the second place was a Western Mediterranean cruise, departing Genoa for Naples, Messina, Tunis, Barcelona and Marseilles. This itinerary will be sailed by MSC Fantasia from mid-April to mid-November 2015.

A northern European itinerary came third, with both MSC Orchestra and MSC Sinfonia sailing the Baltic Sea, respectively from Warnemünde and Kiel. While MSC Orchestra called at Stockholm, Tallinn, St Petersburg and Copenhagen, MSC Sinfonia’s calls were at Copenhagen, Gdynia, Helsinki and St Petersburg.