Line's first Seaside-class newbuild will sail year-round Caribbean cruises from November 2017
By
Rebecca Gibson |
MSC Cruises’ first Seaside-class newbuild is to homeport year-round in PortMiami, US, when she launches in November 2017.
Named MSC Seaside, the newbuild will be the first MSC ship to be christened in the US and will sail year-round Caribbean itineraries. One of PortMiami’s cruise berths and terminals will be renovated and expanded to accommodate the ship.
“MSC Cruises has the unique opportunity to provide North American guests with a ‘Mediterranean Style Cruise’ experience that no other line is able to offer and guests from around the world a unique setting as it sails to the most sought-after destinations in the Caribbean,” said Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC. “Since bringing MSC Divina to Miami in November 2013, we’ve seen significant demand from consumers in the product, excellent support from our travel agent partners and the growing need for additional MSC Cruises ships in the market.”
Ordered in 2014 as part of MSC’s €5.1 billion expansion plan, MSC Seaside is one of two Seaside-class newbuilds, which will be the biggest cruise ships to have ever been built at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone yard in Italy. MSC also has an option to construct a third ship.
“The Seaside class of ships is part of MSC Cruises’ €5.1 billion fleet expansion plan that will allow the company to double its capacity by 2022,” said. “Today is a very exciting day for the company as this is the first major announcement related to the company’s newbuilds and demonstrates our enthusiasm and long-term commitment to continuing to expand our presence in North America.”
Each of the 154,000gt Seaside-class ships will be able to accommodate up to 4,140 guests at double capacity, the new Seaside ship will be the largest cruise ship ever built by Fincantieri shipyards. Offering 43,500 sqm of public areas, the Seaside ships will have a sea-level promenade that circumnavigates the sides of the ship with outdoor spaces, shops and restaurants. They will also feature a theatre; a terraced balcony; panoramic lifts with sea views; and various systems that aim to reduce fuel consumption by 25%, as well as advanced safety systems. In addition, the ships will have an interactive, multi-storey aqua park with five slides.
Designed by Canadian manufacturer WhiteWater West Industries, the aqua park has two adjacent, high-speed AquaTubes that partially extend over the side of the ship. It also features an AquaPlay and AquaSpray area with tipping-buckets, spray cannons, jets, forts, a rain tree and a mini-slide for young children.
Guests can also enjoy Slideboarding, the industry’s first combined two-storey, 112m slide waterslide and interactive video game experience. As passengers race down the slide on a raft, they use an embedded game controller to match the colours to the flashing strobe lights positioned on various sections of the slide.
Directly connected to the aqua park is the Adventure Trail, a ropes course with towers, rope bridges and slides as they enjoy an amazing bird’s eye view of the water.