Another MSC Ship In-Service as Opera Welcomes Guests Back in Genoa

Posted on 24 April, 2022 by Spacejunkie2

MSC Opera departing Malta photo credit Spacejunkie2

The MSC Opera is resuming revenue operations for MSC Cruises today in Genoa, Italy. The vessel is kicking a series of summer cruises in the Western Mediterranean, as the 17th cruise ship to return to service for the industry’s fastest-growing cruise company.

With a regular itinerary, the program runs through October and marks the return of Tunisia to MSC’s schedule after a seven-year hiatus.

Departing from Italy, the cruise also sails to Spain and France, with visits to Naples, Palermo, La Goulette, Barcelona, Marseille and Genoa.

Upon concluding the summer program in the Mediterranean, the MSC Opera is set to reposition to the Middle East.

Starting in late November, the vessel will complement MSC’s offering in the region, with itineraries departing from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The MSC Opera debuted in 2004 as MSC Cruises’ second new build. A sister to the MSC Lirica, the 65,000-ton vessel was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard, in St. Nazaire, France.

As part of a €275-million refit plan called Renaissance Program, the ship was enlarged and modernized in mid-2015.

After being cut in half at a drydock in Italy, it received a new 24-meter-long mid-section that allowed the addition of 194 extra cabins, a new lounge and also a kid’s water park, among other features.

Following the refit, which also modernized public areas and existing cabins, the ship’s double capacity was increased to 2,160 guests.

The MSC Opera has drydocked again earlier this month, as it was prepared to resume service.

During the three-week shipyard stay, it underwent routine maintenance, in addition to technical and regulatory work

Continuing the company’s restart program, the Opera is the third vessel to welcome guests back for MSC Cruises this month.

Earlier in April, the MSC Armonia and the MSC Lirica resumed service in the Eastern Mediterranean.

A fourth vessel, the MSC Poesia, is set to return to guest operations soon, launching a program of cruises to Western and Northern Europe on Apr. 30.

New MSC Ship To Be Christened in New York City

Posted on 22 April, 2022 by Spacejunkie2

New York City will serve as the backdrop for an inaugural event when MSC Cruises’ newest U.S. flagship – MSC Seascape – comes into service later this year.

MSC has announced plans to hold the ship’s naming ceremony at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, with Academy Award-Winning star Sophia Loren carrying out her role as godmother to her 18th MSC Cruises ship.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division of MSC Group, commented: “We are particularly pleased to celebrate this momentous milestone in New York City, which holds a special place in our Group’s history, having been served by ships from the MSC Group’s cargo division since 1985. Today, as MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company leads the container shipping sector globally as well as across North America, MSC Cruises has grown to become a major player in the U.S. cruise industry. Having developed a meaningful operation out of South Florida, we are now preparing a major strategic expansion across the East Coast that will see us launch year-round cruises out of New York in 2023. We could not think of a better way of celebrating such a significant milestone than holding MSC Seascape’s – our latest flagship – naming ceremony in this wonderful city that has been an important hub for MSC Group for over three decades.”

MSC Seascape will be the cruise line’s first ship to be named in New York, reflecting MSC Cruises’ commitment to the North American cruise market and its upcoming expansion to New York and the Northeast with year-round cruises available from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal beginning in April of 2023, according to a press release.

Rubén Rodríguez, President, MSC Cruises USA, said: “We are very excited to showcase to New Yorkers our European heritage and the unique international character we bring to cruising, matching the city’s multi-cultural flair. Bringing MSC Seascape to New York City for her Naming Ceremony is a fantastic opportunity for us to host a very special gala event onboard for our valued travel advisors and partners, introducing them to our newest ship. Come next year, New York City will be our third US homeport, alongside Miami and Orlando/Port Canaveral. This is the latest example of the significant investment we’re making in the U.S. and the Caribbean, which includes building the largest cruise terminal in North America at PortMiami and offering Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve as both a stunning tropical destination and a reflection of our commitment to the environment.”

The MSC Seascape will sail to Miami immediately following the ceremony for an inaugural season in the Caribbean.

The ship will be the second Seaside EVO class ship to enter MSC Cruises’ fleet and the fourth vessel in the line’s Seaside class.

The MSC Seascape will offer two different seven-night itineraries from PortMiami including an Eastern Caribbean cruise calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and Nassau in The Bahamas, San Juan in Puerto Rico, and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and a Western Caribbean sailing calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Cozumel in Mexico, George Town in the Cayman Islands and Ocho Rios in Jamaica.

Norwegian Escape Resumes Service After Repairs

Posted on 18 April, 2022 by Spacejunkie2

The Norwegian Escape is back in action. After a month out of service due to a grounding incident, the Norwegian Cruise Line ship welcomed guests back on Saturday in Port Canaveral.

Marking its first cruise since Mar. 12, the 2015-built vessel departed on a seven-night Eastern Caribbean voyage that includes calls in Tortola, St. Thomas, Puerto Plata and Great Stirrup Cay.

The Norwegian Escape ran aground off Puerto Plata on Mar. 14. The ship was freed on the following morning but was said to have suffered minor damage.

With the ship back alongside in the Dominican Republic, guests were sent back to the United States between Mar. 16-18 using charter flights.

Upon returning to its homeport with no passengers on board, the Escape remained docked in Port Canaveral while repairs were being carried out.

A total of five cruises have been affected by the incident. While the Mar. 19, Mar. 26, Apr. 2 and Apr. 9 departures have been entirely cancelled, the Mar. 12 sailing was cut short due to the event.

Upon completing the Apr. 16 Caribbean cruise, the Norwegian Escape is set to cross the Atlantic for a summer season in Europe.

Based in Civitavecchia, Italy, the vessel is offering a series of ten- and 11-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Mediterranean.