Tag Archives: Fincantieri

Silversea debuts third new cruise ship in nine months

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Silversea Cruises has debuted its third new cruise ship in nine months, after christening Silver Dawn in Lisbon, Portugal on 31 March.

The vessel, which is the third in the Muse class and the 10th ship to join the fleet, was inaugurated during a traditional christening ceremony followed by a gala dinner. Both were attended by executives from Silversea Cruises, parent company Royal Caribbean Group, shipbuilder Fincantieri, local dignitaries and other invited guests.

During the ceremony, guests watched a bagpipe performance, a theatrical re-telling of the story of Silversea’s Muse-class ships, a blessing from a religious leader, speeches from dignitaries, and singers reciting the national anthems of the USA, Italy and Portugal. Finally, godmother Nilou Motamed, an Emmy-nominated television personality and former editor-in-chief of several culinary publications cut a ribbon to trigger a champagne bottle to smash on the ship’s hull to close the ceremony.

“Celebrating the naming of Silver Dawn in Lisbon marked an incredibly proud moment for all involved,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO at Royal Caribbean Group. “I thank and congratulate Roberto Martinoli [president and CEO of Silversea] and our entire team, including Captain Failla and the crew, as well as everyone at Fincantieri, our shipbuilding partner. Silver Dawn is a jewel in the Silversea fleet and speaks to Royal Caribbean Group’s commitment to delivering the best vacation experiences in a responsible way.”

Silver Dawn can accommodate 596 guests in 298 ocean-view suites, 96 per cent of which have a private veranda. The vessel is the first to debut Silversea’s new Otium wellness programme, which is inspired by the cruise line’s Italian heritage and ancient Roman culture, where ‘otium’ denoted a period of time dedicated exclusively to leisure. It will provide guests with customised, multi-dimensional wellness offerings across the ship, including curated spa treatments, gourmet snacks, champagne, signature cocktails, bespoke in-suite experiences and more.

In addition, guests sailing on Silver Dawn will benefit from the next iteration of Silversea’s immersive S.A.L.T. culinary programme, which launched in 2021 on the other Muse-class ships.

“An evolution of our unique take on luxury, Silver Dawn is the third Silversea ship to be named in the last nine months,” said Martinoli. “As well as S.A.L.T., our immersive culinary programme, Silver Dawn enriches guests’ travels with Otium, our indulgent new wellness programme, which is inspired by the ancient Roman lifestyle. She really is magnificent. I extend my gratitude to Jason Liberty and all involved at Royal Caribbean Group, as well as to the team at Silversea, Fincantieri, and Captain Failla and his crew—our most valuable asset. Moreover, I proudly welcome Nilou Motamed as the godmother of Silver Dawn.”

Speaking about her role as godmother, Motamed said: “It’s a great honour to have been selected as the godmother of Silver Dawn and to have been on board for her naming ceremony in Lisbon. Growing up in multiple countries [Iran, France and the USA] has helped me recognise that one of our deepest common bonds, wherever we go, is food. Like many of Silversea’s guests, I always pair my cultural explorations with culinary ones. That’s why I’ve loved seeing the world through Silversea’s S.A.L.T. programme. I’ve dedicated my career to celebrating authentic, local cuisines and cultures. For me, nothing is more rewarding than connecting with people over a shared meal.”

Silver Dawn embarked on her maiden voyage on 1 April, sailing from Lisbon to Barcelona, Spain. The vessel will sail Mediterranean itineraries until November 2022 and then cross the Atlantic Ocean, via the Canary Islands, to begin a season of voyages in the Caribbean and Central America.

MSC Breaks Ground on New Miami Cruise Terminal

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The Cruise Division of MSC Group today broke ground for its new $350 million cruise terminal in Miami which when it opens will be North America’s largest, according to a statement from the company. 

The four-story building with four embarkation decks will be able to accommodate up to 36,000 passenger movements a day, and feature enough berthing space to serve three latest-generation ships simultaneously, the company said.

The Cruise Division of MSC Group and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri announced a partnership in July 2021 whereby Fincantieri Infrastructure would construct the state-of-the-art facility which will feature a striking design by award-winning global architecture firm Arquitectonica.

The new terminal will be able to accommodate MSC Cruises’ largest and most environmentally advanced cruise ships, including its current flagship, the MSC Seashore, and the line’s future liquified natural gas-powered World Class ships. 

Most ships at berth at the new Miami terminal will be able to plug into the local power grid, in line with PortMiami’s plans to enable shore power connectivity.

Rubén Rodriguez, President, MSC Cruises USA, said, “Our new terminal at PortMiami represents MSC Cruises’ commitment to growth in North America and will help drive our expansion in South Florida by offering our guests an unbeatable experience that starts before they ever step onboard. It’s also part of our larger sustainability goals, which include deploying our most modern and environmentally advanced ships to North America, the continued development of our one-of-a-kind Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, and our pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. We’re proud of our partnership with Fincantieri, PortMiami and Miami-Dade County, and it’s a privilege to be able to contribute to the region’s continued growth and vitality.”

Claudio Gemme, CEO of Fincantieri Infrastructure, added, “We are very pleased to be able to work with MSC, Miami-Dade County and PortMiami on such an ambitious project as the new terminal. It represents for us a significant result from a strategic point of view because it rewards the choice to extend to new areas the skills acquired in the field of large infrastructures. When the works are completed, here in the world cruise capital, passengers from all over the globe will be able to admire the superior quality of our work even before boarding the ship.”

Mayor Daniella LevineCava, Miami-Dade County, said, “In Miami-Dade County, we are forging ahead with future-ready investments that will stimulate growth and expanded opportunities for our local economy. As this port continues to develop, the opportunities for our community, whether in jobs, contracts, and services, can only increase. MSC’s new mega cruise terminal will significantly impact the entire region. Once complete, the facility will service three new-generation passenger vessels simultaneously, handling up to 36,000 passenger movements per day. Additionally, this architectural marvel will allow the line to deploy some of its most environmentally high-performing ships including its World-class fleet.  A big thank you to MSC Cruises and Fincantieri for their partnership.”

Aside from the terminal building itself, the new complex – which is currently projected to be completed by the end of 2023 – will include a multi-level parking garage for 2,400 vehicles, new road construction to ensure traffic flows smoothly, and a total of three berths capable of accommodating the largest of cruise ships. The company will build two of those new docks; Miami-Dade County will construct the third. The project also involves the construction of related shore infrastructure, including water supply stations and four-passenger embarkation decks.

Norwegian Cruise Line Introduces New Norwegian Viva; Sailing Summer 2023

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Norwegian Cruise Line today unveiled Norwegian Viva, the next ship in its new Prima Class set to sail in 2023..

The Norwegian Viva will be delivered from Fincantieri and will begin sailing Mediterranean itineraries in June 2023, homeporting in key Southern European port cities including Lisbon, Portugal; Venice (Trieste) and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; and Athens (Piraeus), Greece.

She will then sail the Southern Caribbean for her 2023-2024 winter season offering cruises from San Juan.

Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line, said: “Norwegian Viva sets the standard in the premium segment, illustrating our commitment to pushing boundaries in four main areas: wide open space, service that puts guests first, thoughtful design and experiences beyond expectation. We have taken everything our guests love to the next level with this brand-new class of ships designed with them in mind.”

Norwegian Viva will have hull art designed by Italian graffiti and sculpture artist Manuel Di Rita, commonly known as “Peeta,” who also illustrated the hull design on Norwegian Prima. 

“Norwegian Viva, the second of six Prima Class vessels being built with us, reinforces the great collaboration between Norwegian Cruise Line and Fincantieri,” said Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager Merchant Ships Division at Fincantieri. “We were extremely satisfied that Norwegian Prima, the first of the new class, earned record-breaking bookings and we are excited to see how Norwegian Viva will live up to her sister ship. As we proved our resilience during these challenging times, this announcement represents another testament to Fincantieri´s global leadership role in the cruise sector.”

The ship will be 965 feet long, 142,500 tons and accommodate 3,219 guests, according to a press release.

“The vessel will not only offer the highest staffing levels and space ratio of any new cruise ship in the contemporary and premium cruise categories and the largest variety of suite categories available at sea but will also boast a redefined The Haven by Norwegian, NCL’s ultra-premium keycard only access ship-within-a-ship concept,” the company said. “The Haven’s public areas and 107 suites designed by Piero Lissoni, one of Italy’s most renowned designers, will feature an expansive sundeck, a stunning infinity pool overlooking the ship’s wake and an outdoor spa with a glass-walled sauna and cold room.”