By
Rebecca Gibson |
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri laid the first of four new 350 tonne keel sections for MSC Cruises’ MSC Armonia at its Palermo yard on 19 May.
The keel-laying ceremony marks the beginning of MSC’s Renaissance programme, which involves the €200 million transformation of its four Lirica-class ships.
Over the next three months, Fincantieri will build and lay three more keel sections, while the whole block is due to be inserted into MSC Armonia’s mid-ship section when she arrives at the yard for her refit on 31 August.
During the refit, Fincantieri will add around 200 cabins – for both the passengers and crew – and new entertainment spaces, such as a spray park with a pathway of water features and water cannons. In addition, the onboard boutiques will be expanded to include a new perfumery and refreshed interiors. MSC Armonia is scheduled to depart the yard for Genoa, Italy, on 17 November, before sailing to the Canary Islands.
“With today’s laying out of the new block, the transformation of our Lirica-class ships is truly starting,” said MSC Cruises’ CEO Gianni Onorato. “In November 2015, it will be like having a whole new fleet: bigger, more comfortable, technologically enhanced and answering the needs of a clientele that is becoming more and more demanding. The Renaissance programme will allow us to enlarge our fleet and to raise our standards even more.”
Built between 2003 and 2005 at the STX France shipyards in Saint-Nazaire, MSC’s four Lirica ships will be 275m long, weigh 65,000 gt and carry up to carry 2,680 travellers each after the Renaissance programme is completed in 2015.
Next year, MSC Sinfonia will enter drydock from 12 January to 16 March, while MSC Opera will undergo renovations from 2 May to 4 July. MSC Lirica will be renovated between 31 August and 9 November.