MSC CRUISES AND FINCANTIERI CELEBRATE FLOAT OUT OF MSC SEASHORE
- MSC Seashore will be the second MSC Cruises new ship to come into service in 2021 as part of the Company’s continued investment plan
- New flagship to feature the latest and most advanced environmental technology
- Further enhanced design will offer more staterooms, bars, lounges and restaurants, and the highest ratio of outdoor space per guest of any ship in the Company’s fleet
Geneva, Switzerland and Trieste, Italy (August 20, 2020) — The float out of MSC Seashore took place today at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. This is a major milestone in ship building as it is the first time a new vessel touches water and sees the ship enter the next phase of construction. MSC Seashore, which will be the Company’s longest ship at 1,112 ft. and the largest and most innovative ever built in Italy, has now been moved to a wet dock until her delivery in July 2021 to allow for work on her interior.
MSC Seashore will become the third of a total of four vessels in MSC Cruises’ innovative and ground-breaking Seaside class of ships, following MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview, which launched in 2017 and 2018 respectively, and the first of two enriched Seaside Evo ships with newly designed public spaces, more staterooms and the highest ratio of outdoor space per guest of any ship in the Company’s fleet. More than 65 percent of the ship has been enhanced to make MSC Seashore a significant evolution of her sister ships.
Giuseppe Bono, CEO, Fincantieri, commented: “The float out has always been one of the most satisfying moments for those involved in the construction of a ship. It is also the occasion to further strengthen everyone’s commitment, because when the ship touches the sea, a lot of work has already been done, but much more still lies ahead. This applies even more to “MSC Seashore,” which will become the new flagship of MSC Cruises: a record-breaking ship, that focuses on innovation, technology and design, and emphasizing the Fincantieri leadership.” Bono concluded, “The uncertain situation that we are experiencing worldwide adds even more important value to this day, which bodes well not only for MSC Cruises and for our company, but for the entire cruise industry.”
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, MSC Cruises added: “We are committed to our new builds program, which with each new class of ships sees us innovating and setting new standards in the industry. MSC Seashore will in fact be the largest and most innovative cruise vessel ever built in Italy, featuring the latest and most advanced environmental technology currently available. She will also be one of two new ships for which we will receive delivery in 2021, thus underlying our belief in the long-term growth prospects of the sector — as also demonstrated by the return to service of our first ship earlier this week as well as the investments made in our new health and safety operating protocol which is already setting a new standard for the industry.”
Very Latest Environmental Technology
The 169,500 GT ship with a maximum capacity of 5,877 guests (4,540 double occupancy), will be equipped with the latest technologies to minimize her environmental footprint.
MSC Seashore will be fitted with a state-of-the-art selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system to reduce nitrogen oxide by 90 percent and a next-generation advanced wastewater treatment system (AWTS) to treat wastewater to a very high quality where the end product is of a better standard than most land-based municipal waste standards around the world.
These features will add to other effective environmental technologies deployed on MSC Seashore, and across the Company’s fleet, to minimize and continuously reduce environmental impact, and ensure even cleaner air emissions, including cutting-edge hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) that removes 98 percent of sulphur oxide from ship emissions; advanced waste management systems; ballast water treatment systems approved by the United States Coast Guard; latest-technology systems for the prevention of oil discharges from machinery spaces and various effective energy-efficiency improvements — from heat recovery systems to LED lighting. Additionally, MSC Cruises currently has on order three LNG-powered vessels, one of which is currently under construction.
MSC Seashore will also be fitted with shore-to-ship power which connects a docked cruise ship to a port’s local power grid to further reduce air emissions. This feature is broadly available across MSC Cruises’ entire fleet and has been standard across all of the Company’s new ships since 2017.
Enhanced and Enriched Design
MSC Seashore, as with the other iconic Seaside generation ships, offers a range of breath-taking and stand-out design features to enable guests to connect with the sea, such as the spectacular Bridge of Sighs, stunning panoramic aft elevators and stylish glass-floor catwalks.
Some of the new enhancements include an additional 52 ft. of extended length of the ship, 107,639 sq. ft. of additional deck space for an even greater and more spacious onboard experience, a larger MSC Yacht Club — the all-inclusive ‘ship within a ship’ premium concept — and an enhanced guest flow, with two central meeting points positioned at the middle and forward part of the ship.
MSC Seashore will offer a wider range of accommodation with more suites including 28 additional terraced suites, two suites with private whirlpools and, in the MSC Yacht Club, two new stateroom categories offering 41 Deluxe Grand Suites and two Owner’s Suites with whirlpools.
Families will be able to benefit from modular connected staterooms that can connect to accommodate between six and 10 people, plus bigger and more spacious staterooms for guests needing greater accessibility, with 75 in total available.
Two brand new restaurants will be introduced and five specialty restaurants will be newly located to allow for waterfront seating on the ship’s stunning boardwalk to give guests a greater sea view as they dine al fresco.
MSC Seashore will also have a new double-decker aft lounge, a larger casino and 20 distinct specialty bars, cafes and lounges. The ship will feature a new aft pool design, an enlarged indoor pool and a new interactive waterpark, which will provide thrills and spills for guests of all ages. Clubs for young children and teenagers have been separated from a larger kids’ zone.
The ship will feature the latest customer-centric technology with MSC for Me available across multiple digital channels, offering guests a stress-free way to plan and book the things that matter to them. Guests can access information across a range of digital touchpoints including a useful app, interactive in-stateroom TV, interactive screens around the ship as well as ZOE, the virtual personal cruise assistant, available in every stateroom.
In summer 2021, all three Seaside class ships will be deployed together in the Western Mediterranean. These ships have been designed for the warmer weather making them perfect for the summer season for guests who want to enjoy the sunshine and stunning ocean views in this popular cruise region.
MSC Seashore will offer the popular ‘Six Pearls’ itinerary calling the Italian cities of Genoa, Pompeii, Naples, and Messina; Valletta, Malta; Barcelona, Spain; and Marseille, France. MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview will also operate high-demand 7-night cruises in the West Mediterranean homeporting in Genoa.
Following her an inaugural season in the Mediterranean, MSC Seashore will then head to the U.S. and arrive in Miami in November 2021, sailing 7-night Caribbean itineraries, including stops at MSC Cruises’ private island in the Bahamas, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
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About MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises is the fastest growing cruise brand in the world. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, MSC Cruises is part of the Cruises Division of MSC Group, the privately-held Swiss-based leading shipping and logistics conglomerate.
MSC Cruises’ fleet of 17 modern and innovative ships is one of the most environmentally-advanced in the industry. The Company is committed to environmental stewardship and works to minimize and continuously reduce the environmental impact of its fleet both while at sea and ashore, as well as invest in the accelerated development of next-generation marine and environmental technologies. With a long-term goal to achieve zero emissions, MSC Cruises in 2020 became the first major global cruise line to offset 100 percent of its ships’ carbon emissions that cannot be abated through existing environmental technology (learn more about MSC Cruises’ environmental stewardship practices at https://www.msccruises.com/sustainability.)
MSC Cruises offers an enriching and immersive cruise experience inspired by the Company’s European heritage. Guests can expect to find international dining, world-class entertainment, award-winning family programs and the very latest guest-friendly technology on board.
One of the Company’s main priorities has always been the health, safety and well-being of its guests and crew, as well as the communities at the destinations its ships serve. MSC Cruises introduced a new comprehensive and enhanced health and safety protocol to add to its existing stringent health and safety measures.
The MSC Cruises Division is investing an industry-unprecedented €20.2 billion EUR (≈$22 billion USD) and will bring up to 27 newly built ships into service between 2017 and 2030 to operate under the MSC Cruises brand and the new soon-to-be-announced luxury brand.