Tag Archives: MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises unveils plans to build fifth Meraviglia class vessel

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MSC Meraviglia

MSC Cruises aggressive fleet expansions plans are set to continue after the brand revealed plans to build a fifth Meraviglia-class vessel.

The line announced its decision to build a ship, due to be delivered in 2023, during a ceremony today (June 14) at the Saint-Nazaire shipyard in STX France.

The vessel will be the 13th ship to be built during MSC Cruises’ 10-year investment plan which will see the line double its capacity by 2020 and more than triple it by 2026.

Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ executive chairman, said: “Our fifth Meraviglia-class cruise ship will bring a new generation of cutting-edge environmental technology to the market, benefiting from a new generation of LNG-powered engines.

“This will help us further reduce our environmental footprint and advance in our journey of constant improvement.”

The line also revealed at the event that the fourth Meraviglia-class vessel would be called MSC Virtuosa, which underwent its steel cutting ceremony today.

For the first time in Saint-Nazaire’s history, three cruise ships belonging to a single cruise brand are under simultaneous construction at the shipyard.

MSC’s agreement with STX France to add another ship to its order book represents an investment of €900 million.

Thursday’s event was held to mark three shipbuilding milestones: the steel cutting ceremony of the fourth Meraviglia class vessel, the coin ceremony of MSC Grandiosa and the float of MSC Bellissima.

MSC Bellissima will be christened at a ceremony in Southampton on March 2 2019.

The event will be attended by more than 2,000 guests, including VIPs and important British stakeholders.

MSC Cruises chief warns yields could drop amid mass growth

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MSC Seaview

Cruise line yields could fall in the future due to the volume of new ships entering the market in the next decade, according to the boss of MSC Cruises.

A total of 106 ships are expected to launch between 2017-26, including 12 alone from MSC Cruises. Other mainstream cruise brands such as Royal Caribbean International has six ships on its order books and Norwegian Cruise Line has seven. 48 expedition and luxury ships are also planned.

Asked whether occupancy levels were at risk of falling from so much growth, chief executive Gianni Onorato told delegates at the ITT Conference in Sicily: “No, we are not crazy. But in difficult times it can have an impact on yields more than occupancy. So I think this will be more of an issue than occupancy levels.”

Onorato said the slowdown in cruise bookings last year in the UK was due to a “lack of capacity” in 2017 and said he was very “optimistic” about the British market going forward.

He said the biggest challenge facing cruise lines was future proofing ships which are built to last 20 years.

“Knowing what guests want in 2040 when you’re building them now is very difficult to predict so we need to have a flexible mindset and be able to follow guests’ needs (in terms of technology) but at the same time maintain human contact,” Onorato said.

Port of Civitavecchia opens new Terminal Amerigo Vespucci

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Port of Civitavecchia opens new Terminal Amerigo Vespucci
The new Terminal Amerigo Vespucci is the first purpose-built, permanent cruise terminal in Civitavecchia (Image: Roma Cruise Terminal)

Port operator Roma Cruise Terminal (RCT) opened the first purpose-built permanent cruise terminal at Italy’s port of Civitavecchia on 18 May 2018.

Designed by Studio Vicini Architetti, the new €20 million (US$23 million) Terminal Amerigo Vespucci covers an area of 12,500 square metres, making it one of the largest in Europe. It was built during an 18-month project that started in November 2016 and involved almost 60 local companies.

Terminal Amerigo Vespucci will be able to handle large cruise ships and around 5,000-6,000 passengers. The ground floor of the terminal boasts an atrium and a 4,200 square metre luggage hall, while the first floor features a VIP area, a bar, a waiting area and 60 check-in desks. There is also space to increase the number of check-in points to 120 to accommodate any future growth in cruise traffic. In addition, there are offices for port staff and a small museum that will showcase historical artefacts from the local Lazio region.

Passengers will embark or disembark cruise ships from two passenger boarding bridges designed by ADELTE.

RCT is jointly owned by Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.