By
Elizabeth Robinson |
MSC Cruises held a traditional keel-laying and coin ceremony for MSC Bellissima, and cut the steel for its first Meraviglia-Plus class ship at STX France’s Saint-Nazaire yard on 15 November. STX France laid the first block of keel for MSC Bellissima – the line’s second Meraviglia-class ship – and welded two commemorative coins to the steel to bring good fortune to the ship, her crew and all future passengers. Set to debut in March 2019, the 167,600gt vessel will be a sister to MSC Meraviglia and will accommodate more than 5,700 guests.
The shipyard’s team also cut the steel for first Meraviglia-Plus class ship, which the cruise line revealed will be named MSC Grandiosa.
“Today we are celebrating a truly unique moment, as it is the first time that key shipbuilding milestones for two different ships are celebrated on the same day,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ executive chairman. “MSC Grandiosa is named to signify magnificence and grandeur, a fitting name for this even richer, ultra-modern mega-ship.” MSC Grandiosa, which will launch in November 2019, represents an evolution from the Meraviglia class and will weigh 181,000gt. The 331-metre-long vessel will have capacity for 6,334 guests and will feature the first fine art museum at sea. Another highlight onboard MSC Grandiosa – and also MSC Bellissima – will be Cirque du Soleil at Sea.
Among other innovations, the Meraviglia-Plus ships will feature the latest hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems, SCR-Catalysts, waste management and recycling capabilities, emission-reducing energy and heat recovery systems, and wastewater treatment systems.
“The Meraviglia generation of ships is already setting a new standard for the cruise industry and is just one of the three brand new prototypes that we have designed to bring the cruise guest experience to the next level,” said Vago.
MSC Bellissima and MSC Grandiosa are part a €9 billion investment that will see MSC Cruises’ capacity treble with the introduction of 11 new ships in three classes – Meraviglia class, Seaside Class and World Class – over the next decade.