By
Rebecca Gibson |
MSC Preziosa, the twelfth addition to the MSC fleet and the fourth of the line’s Fantasia-class vessels, was christened by Italian actress and godmother, Sophia Loren, during a ceremony in Genoa, Italy, on 23 March 2013.
The ceremony, inspired by the theme of preciousness, included a traditional parade by the ship’s officers, a gala dinner prepared by a team of Michelin-starred, Eataly chefs and entertainment by international artists including Italian comedians Ale and Franz, actress Katia Follesa, singer Gino Paoli and Ennio Morricone, who conducted a 55-piece orchestra, as well as the Genoa Russian Ballet College, who performed a sequence from Swan Lake. A laser show was projected onto La Lanterna, Genoa’s famous lighthouse, while over 10,000 guests from the ceremony, MSC Opera and MSC Splendida took part in a ‘flash mob’.
“This evening we celebrate MSC Preziosa, her sparkling beauty and outstanding features, from the longest single rider body waterslide on the waves, Vertigo, to the first two Eataly restaurant at sea,” said MSC Cruises CEO Pierfrancesco Vago. “And at the very heart of tonight’s celebrations is not only this magnificent ship, but also the city of Genoa, MSC Preziosa’s new homeport and a key MSC Cruises homeport since the start of our expansion programme in 2003.
MSC is scheduled to deploy nine ships from Genoa this year, while more than 800,000 travellers will embark, disembark or transit, during a total of over 211 calls at the port.
Vago added: “The city continues to show a keen understanding of the major economic impact that MSC brings to the entire region, and tonight is the perfect opportunity to celebrate this unique and longstanding partnership.”