MSC Cruises announced that Oscar-winning actress Sophia Loren will name the cruise line’s 19th ship, the MSC Euribia at a ceremony scheduled for June 8 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In addition to having the Hollywood star name the ship, the ceremony will be hosted by television personality, model and actress Sarah Grünewald, who will serve as the Master of the Ceremony.
Guests can expect the traditional breaking of a bottle of champagne over the bow of the ship, a special gala dinner and a range of live performances, including a DJ set from the popular French DJ and record producer, Bob Sinclar
Following the naming ceremony, the MSC Euribia will start sailing seven-night cruises in Northern Europe departing from Kiel, Germany and Copenhagen, Denmark. The ship will explore Norwegian Fjords including Geiranger, Ålesund, and Flaam.
At the event in Copenhagen, guests will have the chance to catch a glimpse of the new ships’ features and amenities including Street. 2023, artwork by British artist Julian Opie; The Carousel Lounge; MSC Foundation Lab, an area dedicated to kids; five speciality restaurants including Le Grill and more.
The MSC Group and the MSC Foundation have organized an urgent response to support the population in the aftermath of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
The company is closely coordinating with the Turkish authorities, the Italian Foreign Ministry and the Vatican while one of its ferries, departed from the Port of Naples on February 16 heading towards the port of Iskenderun (Alexandretta).
“We feel a strong sense of obligation to act promptly in order to support the people most in need by all means. We are part of a global organization that can set in motion a large-scale operation by involving foundations and associations that we collaborate with all around the world,” said Daniela Picco, executive director of the MSC Foundation.
“As soon as the terrible earthquake in Türkiye and Syria struck, we immediately took action to collect funds, supplies and food, which we can deliver on our ships within a short period of time. This is where the valuable collaboration with the Francesca Rava Foundation comes in, and we thank you for immediately joining this initiative.
“The departure of MSC Aurelia from the port of Naples is an initial example of what we are doing, while we keep on working to provide associations and governments with what we can, so that by sea and by land some comfort can reach those who are presently living in dire situations and, in the future, for the rebuilding of cities and the environment. It is not the first time that the MSC Foundation and the MSC Group have been on the front lines of emergency relief operations: in 2022, we provided extraordinary funding worth millions of euros to offer aid to refugees from Ukraine and led eight emergency relief initiatives in nine countries, strengthening our global emergency capabilities,” added Picco.
The MSC Aurelia was loaded with basic necessities and first aid items that the MSC Group and the MSC Foundation have collected, together with the Rava Foundation.
The cargo onboard included 60 pallets of medical supplies, food, hygiene items, warm clothing and blankets, as well as toys and crayons for children. Additionally, 50 boxes of thermal shirts are being carried on behalf of the Vatican.
When it arrived, the MSC Aurelia served as emergency accommodation, providing those impacted by the earthquake with over 1,000 beds as well as a restaurant and cinema and video-game entertainment for children.
The MSC Foundation is also collaborating with the UN Refugee Agency to ship an additional 100 containers carrying first aid supplies including blankets, mattresses, sleeping bags, kitchen sets, jerry cans and lamps from Jordan via Haifa, the headquarters of the UN Refugee Agency’s warehouses. The items will reach Gaziantep and other cities that were hit the hardest by the earthquake.
Guests at the event had the chance to explore both the new ship and the private island MSC Cruises has officially named its new flagship, MSC Seashore, in a ceremony at its private island Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in The Bahamas.
The celebration was the first naming ceremony for a cruise ship to be held at a private island. Italian actress Sophia Loren served as godmother in the ceremony, the 16th time she has performed the role for an MSC Cruises ship.
Guests at the event had the chance to explore the ship and private island, with festivities taking place both onboard and onshore. Events included a gala dinner and live entertainment from three-time Grammy Award-winner Nile Rodgers and his band Chic.
The naming ceremony also served to formally inaugurate Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, which opened in December 2019 and closed shortly afterwards due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The ground was broken for the MSC Foundation’s Marine Conservation Center, which includes a laboratory and coral nursery areas. The facility will be a key element of the Foundation’s Super Coral Program, which seeks to help restore coral reefs in The Bahamas to a healthy state through the propagation of ‘Super Coral’ species to increase their resilience. This work will be carried out in partnership with the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and Nova Southeastern University.
Following the event, MSC Seashore will begin sailing her inaugural seven-night cruise season from Miami, Florida, on 20 November.
Wetravel2u's Weblog 