Cruising New Magazine April 2019 April 2019 Edition | Page 31

Luxury Ships Order Confirmed
Shortly after the naming ceremony of
MSC Bellissima, MSC and Fincantieri
announced the signing of the final
contracts for the construction of four
luxury cruise ships. The announcement
follows the initial signing of a
memorandum of agreement between
the two parties in October 2018.
The contracts, subject to shipowner
financing, have a total value
exceeding EUR 2 billion. As per the
terms of the agreement, the first of the
four ships will be delivered by northern
Spring 2023. The remaining three will
come into service one per year over
the following three years through 2026.
All four vessels will have gross tonnage
of approximately 64,000 GT and
will feature the latest maritime and
environmental technologies available.
Each equipped with 481 guest suites,
they will also showcase a highly-
innovative design and introduce
ground-breaking options for guest
comfort and relaxation. The vessels,
which will sport a new funnel and
instead of cabins and balconies,
there will be double bed suites and
verandas, will operate under a new
brand name with its own senior
management team.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive
Chairman of MSC’s Cruises Division,
said: “With this now firm order, MSC is
entering a new segment that bears
significant potential globally. While
we already serve the premium market
with the MSC Yacht Club featured on
MSC Cruises’ fleet, our new true luxury
brand will deliver to this separate and
fast-growing segment with super-yacht
vessels and an experience to match
that. Additionally, we are proud to
partner again with Fincantieri for the
development and construction of yet
again another highly-innovative and
exclusive class of ships.”
NEXT ISSUE JUNE 2019...
My 4 day adventure continues as I explore MSC Bellissma
Since starting to work with Fincantieri,
in 2014, MSC has also ordered four
ships for its contemporary MSC Cruises
brand, for a value of EUR 3.2 billion. The
first two of these vessels, MSC Seaside
and MSC Seaview, are already in
service. The next two vessels will be
delivered in 2021 and 2022, with MSC
Seashore already under construction
at Fincantieri’s yard in Monfalcone.
www.worldwidecruisecentres.com.au
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