Monfalcone, Italy (July 26, 2021): The Cruise Division of MSC Group today officially took delivery of its new flagship MSC Seashore – the largest cruise ship to be built in Italy. An intimate ceremony was held to mark the occasion as tradition dictates at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone and was attended in person by MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago; other members of the Aponte and Aponte-Vago families; Giampiero Massolo and Giuseppe Bono, Chairman and CEO of Fincantieri; as well as representatives from MSC’s new builds team, along with executives and workers from the shipyard.
During the ceremony, which pays tribute to centuries-old maritime traditions, Roberto Olivari, Fincantieri’s shipyard director, presented an ampoule containing the water that first touched the hull when the ship was floated out earlier this year to Giuseppe Galano, Master of MSC Seashore.
MSC Seashore sister ship, MSC Seascape, is currently under construction at the Monfalcone shipyard and due to come into service in winter 2022.
Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the Cruise Division of MSC Group, commented, “The construction of MSC Seashore constitutes an investment that alone generates an impact on the Italian economy of almost five billion euros and has employed up to 4,300 workers over the last two years. Furthermore, with its entry into service, this new flagship will activate an important economic and employment driver, generating an equally significant further economic fallout every year.”
In the current context, the delivery of this new ship therefore represents a decisive sign of reasoned optimism, which testifies to the confidence of our Group both in the future of the cruise sector, and in the capacity of Italian manufacturing and industry. In total, our investment plan in Italy with Fincantieri - in addition to the three ships already built, including MSC Seashore - currently envisages the construction of another five units, capable of generating an additional overall economic benefit for the country of over 13 billion euros.”
“With our resumption of cruises from U.S. ports around the corner on August 2nd and the arrival of MSC Seashore in Miami this fall, our guests have even more choice for a memorable vacation this coming year cruising The Bahamas and Caribbean.” said Rubén Rodríguez, president of MSC Cruises USA. “MSC Seashore will bring guests closer to the sea with the most outdoor space of any of our ships, incredible new spaces and features that build on our already popular Seaside class, and frequent visits to our beautiful private island destination, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.”
Fincantieri CEO Giuseppe Bono stated, “MSC Seashore is the fourth cruise ship that we have delivered in Italy during this still extremely demanding year, demonstrating the effectiveness of our production and management system. All these milestones, and others to come, have been successfully achieved and this is never taken for granted. This is why I consider this ship not only the best symbol of recovery for the whole cruise sector, but also of the capability of the Group to leverage its competences and soundness to fully preserve our workload.”
MSC Seashore, The Ship
MSC Seashore is the first Seaside EVO ship, an evolution of the game-changing and pioneering Seaside class, joining sister ships MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview, which launched in 2017 and 2018 respectively. This class of ship is renowned for its innovative and glamorous design features and is conceived to connect guests with the sea.
MSC Seashore offers a host of new features, venues, and experiences for guests, as 65% of the public areas have been reimagined to take the guest experience to a new level. The ship offers 140,000 sq. ft of outdoor space, the most outdoor space of any MSC ship sailing from the U.S., with numerous outdoor bars and dining, pools and deck area for relaxing and sunbathing, as well as different vantage points around the ship to take in the sea views.
For more on MSC Seashore, please visit https://www.msccruisesusa.com/cruise/ships/msc-seashore.
Summer in the Mediterranean
MSC Seashore will commence her inaugural season in the Mediterranean offering the popular ‘Six Pearls’ itinerary calling the Italian ports of Genoa, Naples, with visits to Pompeii, and Messina in Sicily; Valletta, Malta; Barcelona, Spain; and Marseille, France.
MSC Seashore’s Arrival to the U.S. and Winter in the Caribbean
MSC Seashore will arrive to the Miami for the first time on November 18, 2021 after an epic 18-night repositioning cruise to North America departing October 31 from Genoa.
Beginning Nov. 20, MSC Seashore will be MSC Cruises’ newest ship to cruise from the U.S., offering seven-night cruises in the Caribbean calling San Juan in Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie in St Thomas; Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic; and finally, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in The Bahamas – MSC Cruises’ new private island destination in The Bahamas. A highlight of MSC Cruises’ itineraries in The Bahamas & Caribbean, Ocean Cay offers guests over two miles of white sand beaches in an eco-friendly environment with activities for all ages. Guests can enjoy a relaxing day in a cabana overlooking the turquoise waters or explore the area with dedicated excursions including snorkeling, paddle boarding, jet skiing and more.
Latest and Most Advanced Environmental Technology
MSC Cruises is committed to building some of the most innovative cruise ships in the world, and this innovation also applies to environmental performance. With a long-term objective to achieve net carbon neutral operations by 2050, each new ship represents another step towards this goal, alongside other investments to help accelerate the development of next-generation environmental technology.
MSC Seashore is no exception, featuring the latest-generation environmental technologies and equipment that will minimize their impact. This includes hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) and cutting-edge selective catalytic reduction systems (SCR), achieving a 98 percent reduction of sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions and reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 90 percent. The wastewater treatment system has been designed in line with the International Maritime Organization’s MEPC 227(64) Resolution and achieve purification standards that are higher than most wastewater treatment facilities ashore.
New RINA notations
MSC Seashore has received two additional class notations from the classification society RINA. The first is the Sustainable Ship notation, as the vessel features some of the most advanced environmental technologies currently available. This is a goal-based notation assignable to ships that demonstrate they meet sustainability-related requirements, reflecting the strategic sustainability goals adopted by the UN.
The second is the Biosafe Ship notation for infection risk mitigation (also achieved by MSC Grandiosa), a goal-based and voluntary notation that certifies the ship is equipped with systems, components and has a layout and operational procedures that reduce infection risk.
MSC Seashore Key Specs:
- Length/beam/height: 1,112 ft / 134 ft/245 ft
- Gross tonnage: 170,400
- Guests: 5,877 (max capacity for short international voyage)
- Cabins: 2,270
- Crew: 1,648
- Maximum speed: about 22.4 knots
- Flagship of MSC Cruises global fleet
- 19th cruise ship to join MSC Cruises’ fleet