By
Alex Smith |
MSC Cruises’ first Meraviglia-Plus ship, MSC Grandiosa, has successfully finished her pre-inaugural cruise after being delivered by shipbuilder Chantiers d’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France at the end of October. The vessel, now the largest in the cruise line’s fleet, sailed from Saint-Nazaire on the evening of 31 October, travelling around Brittany before arriving in Le Havre late on 1 November.
The ship features a range of technological innovations which reduce her environmental impact. She is the first ship in the cruise line’s fleet to feature a selective catalytic reduction system, reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by 80%. There’s also a hybrid exhaust gas cleaning system that cuts sulphur emissions by 97%. These technologies, along with an advanced waste water treatment system, mean the ship will be more environmentally friendly than MSC Cruises’ previous ships, using 28% less fuel than the Fantasia class.
“MSC Cruises has since its inception embraced a commitment to environmental stewardship and ways to minimise and continuously reduce our environmental footprint both at sea and ashore with the use of innovative, leading-edge and effective technologies across our entire fleet,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises. “With each new ship we raise the bar of environmental performance and our ultimate goal is zero-emissions operations. MSC Grandiosa moves us another significant step forward in that genuine ambition.”
The ship is the first in the Meraviglia-Plus class and will be joined by sister ship MSC Virtuosa in October 2020. She is 15 metres longer than the Meraviglia-class vessels, which has increased capacity to 6,330 guests. The extra length also allowed MSC Cruises to extend the indoor promenade, which is covered by a 93-metre LED dome, the longest screen at sea.
Appearing along the lengthened promenade are the two new speciality restaurants, including L’Atelier Bistro, which exhibits 26 original drawings by the French Impressionist Edgar Degas and offers French cuisine in a café setting. The other is Hola! Tapas Bar by renowned Spanish chef Ramón Freixa.
Entertainment options include performances by Cirque du Soleil, with two new shows designed exclusively for MSC Grandiosa, alongside six Broadway style theatre shows each week. Guests can also enjoy an F1 simulator, virtual reality maze, interactive cinema and a full-size bowling alley.
MSC Grandiosa will travel to Hamburg, Germany for a four-night christening celebration. She will then depart on an inaugural cruise to Genoa, Italy, before sailing seven-night itineraries in the Mediterranean.