Tag Archives: MSC

MSC TO BUILD FOUR 1,000 GUEST LUXURY CRUISE SHIPS

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MSC Seaview in Valletta, Malta
MSC Cruises is continuing its impressive growth in the cruise industry as the company today announced an agreement to build four ultra-luxury cruise ships at Fincantieri.
The 1,000-guest, 64,000-ton ships will enter service in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. The memorandum of agreement is for a total value in excess of two million euro, MSC said and marks the company’s first dedicated luxury ships.
Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman, said: “It is off the back of the great success of our ship-within-a-ship luxury concept that our guests asked us to enter into the ultra-luxury segment, as a natural evolution of the MSC Yacht Club. These ships will be able to offer unique itineraries, thanks to their size, and the guest services will be taken to another level, including our personalized MSC Yacht Club butler service, available 24/7.”
By 2027, MSC will have 25 mega ships in service, up from 15 today. The additional four ships will put the MSC fleet at 29 ships by 2027 with over 98,000 berths and a market capacity of over 5 million guests annually, according to Cruise Industry News estimates.
“I am especially pleased to be able to further extend our partnership with Fincantieri through this new order. The award-winning Seaside and Seaside-Evo class have already been recognized as ground-breaking and innovative designs. We are now introducing another new class, which will establish a new standard of ultra-luxury at sea with ships that will showcase the quality and highest standards that are associated with Made in Italy,” Vago said.
Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, stated: “It is with pride that two great brands – an Italian one and one with a strong Italian DNA -, well-known all over the world, today announce an important construction program. We are extremely satisfied that to launch a new class of ships in the luxury segment, MSC Cruises has acknowledged that our project will allow creating a new generation of cutting-edge units from both a technological point of view, safety and with particular attention paid to passenger comfort. With this project Fincantieri can count on 53 cruise ships in its order book, confirming to be an absolute market leader in all the cruise shipbuilding segments.”

MSC: Countdown Begins for Miami-to-Cuba Cruises

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MSC Cruises is getting ready to launch its Cuba service from Miami aboard the MSC Armonia, starting Dec.10, 2018. The Armonia will depart on Mondays sailing seven days, calling at Montego Bay, Georgetown and Cozumel, before arriving in Havana on Saturday and staying overnight to Sunday.

“Not only will we offer our guests a new itinerary, but also a variety of enhancements to make the Armonia experience that much more memorable,” said Roberto Fusaro, president of MSC Cruises USA. “On board, guests will be able to enjoy fresh entertainment and new culinary choices, while on shore, an overnight in Havana will allow guests to fully experience the culturally vibrant city.”

The Armonia will introduce a new speciality restaurant to the culinary line-up. The 38-seat Surf & Turf will serve a menu for $35, where guests can select an appetizer, main course and dessert from an assortment of options.

The White Lion Pub will introduce a new and complimentary menu featuring handhelds like the Cuban sandwich, a Mojo Chicken Quesadilla, an Avocado and Tuna Salad Wrap, and Spinach and Artichoke Dip to share. The pub will also continue serving a wide selection of beers, including four new additions — Heineken, Newcastle Brown Ale, Murphy’s Irish Stout, and Lagunitas IPA.

The main dining room will serve cold water lobster as part of a special seafood dish at no additional cost. Guests will have the option to dine al fresco, with a reserved outdoor area.

Bringing the Cuban experience on board, one of the bars will be transformed into a “Havana haven,” with a wide range of Mojito cocktails to choose from.

A highlight of the entertainment offering will be the addition of local Cuban music while in port in Havana. Local musicians will join guests on board to play Cuban music during the Saturday evening of the ship’s overnight stay.

The evening theatre entertainment will also undergo a complete review, with a new line-up of performances.

MSC Seaview Christened in Genoa

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Image result for msc seaview christening
MSC Christening in Genoa.

The MSC Seaview was christened on Saturday in Genoa in front of MSC executives, VIPs and key travel partners.

The Seaview will spend the summer in Europe before the 4,140 guest ship moves to Brazil for the winter.

Gianluigi Aponte, MSC Group’s founder and executive chairman as well as the shipowner, attended the ceremony together with the Aponte and Aponte-Vago families.

From the christening of the MSC Seaview

The christening ceremony was hosted by the star of Italian TV, Swiss-born Michelle Hunziker who welcomed to the stage the “father of Italian blues” Zucchero Fornaciari.

TV star Lorella Cuccarini hosted a special moment on stage, and Italian children’s choir, Piccolo Coro Dell’Antoniano, performed as the UNICEF ambassadors.

Also taking to the stage was the young talent of belcanto, Matteo Bocelli, son of the world-famous Andrea Bocelli who sang at the christening of MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview’s sister ship in Miami last December.

Godmother Sophia Loren cut the ribbon to officially name Fincantieri-built MSC Seaview, the 13th MSC Cruises ship.

Gianluigi Aponte and Cardinale Bagnasco

Also present at the ceremony was Ramon Freixa, the Spanish two Michelin-starred chef who has now extended his partnership with MSC Cruises to develop his first restaurant at sea onboard MSC Seaview. Pan-Asian chef Roy Yamaguchi, attended his second MSC Cruises’ ship christening to celebrate his second restaurant at sea, with his first launching on MSC Seaside. Other stars in attendance included Spanish model and actor Jon Kortajarena, Brazilian presenter and actor Giovanna Ewbank and French television personality Ariane Brodier.