Cruise & Ferry Interiors 2020

8 5 MSC Cruises works with the shipyard and its external design partners to create detailed drawings of every onboard space before construction begins areas and guest accommodation. To ensure they deliver a design concept that matches our vision for elegant and innovative ships, we provide the external designers with a very clear and detailed brief that includes a comprehensive list of the operational needs and technical constraints related to the steel structure. This is the phase where every single detail must be meticulously planned, designed and developed to ensure the ultimate in guest satisfaction. MSC Cruises’ owners, the Aponte family, are heavily involved at this stage. The family’s Mediterranean maritime heritage spans some 300 years and plays an intrinsic role in our design philosophy, so they help with picking materials, colour schemes, furniture, fixtures and equipment to ensure the perfect MSC Cruises experience. We continue to work in partnership with the Aponte family throughout the entire process to ensure that their vision and our brand values are naturally incorporated into the design of every newbuild. To ensure that every ship delivers the very best experience that MSC Cruises has to offer, we must also collaborate closely with all the designers, architects, contractors and other parties involved in the newbuild project. Everyone has different views and requirements, so we must try and accommodate these where possible. For example, some designers might want to remove pillars, bulkheads and structural elements to try and follow the design concept, but this can be challenging to do successfully as we must take technical and budgetary constraints into consideration before changing any elements. Ultimately, everyone is aiming for the same goal: to shape pieces of steel into a wonderful and unique ship that will deliver a great experience for our guests. We’re currently following this process to build multiple new vessels including the Seaside Evo-class and luxury ships, which will be constructed by Fincantieri, and the Meraviglia Plus-class and World- class vessels, which will be built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique. My role is to ensure that the design and functionality of each ship class is impeccable and that all vessels showcase the very essence of the MSC Cruises’ brand and the Aponte family’s trademark blend of traditional elegance and innovative design. CFI Antonio Di Nenno is an architect director at MSC Cruises “My role is to ensure that the design and functionality of each ship class is impeccable” Photo: Fincantieri