MSC Cruises took delivery of MSC Meraviglia, a cruise ship that marks the beginning of the second phase of the cruise line’s growth. MSC Meraviglia is the largest cruise ship coming into service in 2017, and is larger than every cruise ship in the world except for the three Oasis class ships from Royal Caribbean.
Earlier today at the STX France shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, MSC Cruises officially took delivery of MSC Meraviglia. During the ship’s flag ceremony, which pays tribute to centuries-old maritime tradition, the company’s newest flagship received her official flag and blessings for good fortune. The Flag Ceremony was attended by Mr Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic and other high-level dignitaries from the French government.
At 171,598 GRT and with guest capacity of 5,714 (4,488 at double occupancy), MSC Meraviglia is both the biggest ship to ever be built by a European ship owner — MSC Cruises — and the biggest to come into service in 2017. She is also one of the six new ships due to come into service between 2017 and 2020 under the Company’s industry-unprecedented investment plan.
Four of these six vessels will be built by STX France, further reinforcing a long-standing partnership that has already produced all 13 vessels in MSC Cruises’ fleet, allowing the Company to grow by 800% from 2003 to 2013.
MSC Cruises — the Swiss-based world’s largest privately-owned cruise line and brand market leader in Europe, South America and South Africa — estimates that its total investment at STX France from 2003 to 2020 will amount to over 7 billion euros (≈$7.8 billion USD), effectively making the Company the country’s number one foreign private investor (when it comes to export contracts.)
Considering that the building of MSC Meraviglia required 1,700 workers per month (over 3,000 per month during peak periods) and nine million man hours, and that the construction work feeds into a network of more than 400 suppliers and subcontractors, the economic effects of this investment are not only widely felt across the country’s geography but also multiplied several times over.
Following her christening ceremony, which will take place in Le Havre on June 3, MSC Meraviglia will start her inaugural season sailing the Western Mediterranean.
During today’s flag ceremony, the shipyard’s pennant and the French flag were lowered, accompanied by the French national anthem, before Laurent Castaing, CEO of STX France, formally handed the ship over to MSC Cruises’ owner Gianluigi Aponte. Mr. Aponte then gave command of MSC Meraviglia to Master Raffaele Pontecorvo before the ship’s flag and MSC Cruises’ pennant were raised.
The honor of cutting the ribbon fell to the ceremony’s godmother, Ms. Zoe Africa Vago, daughter of MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman and Alexa Aponte-Vago, MSC Group’s CFO. After the traditional breaking of the bottle of champagne, three blasts from the ship’s siren signalled the end of the ceremony.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, gave the following statement: “MSC Meraviglia’s coming into service marks a key milestone in the history and future of our Company. She represents the first realization of our long-term vision for further significant growth, which, in its first phase, culminated with MSC Cruises becoming two years ago the number one cruise brand across all of Europe, while on its way to further global growth.”
MSC Meraviglia, the 13th cruise ship to join MSC Cruises’ fleet since its inception in 2003, is 1,034 , 141 feet wide and 214 feet high, with 171,598 GRTs. She is able to travel up to 22.7 knots and has been designed to operate in all seasons and to be able to call in most of the world’s international cruise ports, offering the widest and most exciting range of marine as well as onboard features of any MSC Cruises ship to-date.
The ship will have the following features:
- At full capacity, the ship can accommodate 5,714 guests
- The ship offers 12 distinct dining venues, serving a range of international dining options including five speciality restaurants
- There will be will be exclusive world-class entertainment with 12 Cirque du Soleil at Sea performances each week
- 75% of all staterooms have a balcony and family modular connected staterooms can be joined together to accommodate up to 10 guests
- The ship will be the 5th ship in MSC Cruises’ fleet to feature a Swarovski staircase
- The ship will feature a Mediterranean-style promenade featuring multiple bars, restaurants and shops, as well as the longest LED Sky Screen at sea which will broadcast atmospheric images and entertainment 24-hours a day
- Guests have access to 355,209 sq. ft. of public space across 15 public decks
- The longest LED Sky Screen at sea will broadcast atmospheric images and entertainment 24 hours a day
- There are 7 different kids clubs including a technology lab and a TV studio for the first time on a MSC Cruises ship
- The ship will offer more than 20 hours of daily entertainment
- More than 24 musicians will perform 40 hours of live music each day
- The ship will have a Star Wars pod and a flight simulator
- The ‘Himalayan Bridge’ which spans the ship will allow guests to climb 269 ft. above sea level
- There are 20 bars and lounges on the ship
- Guests will be able to use a NFC bracelet to unlock stateroom doors, make payments on board and book restaurants and shows
- Guests will be able to geolocate their children using the MSC Cruises App thanks to Bluetooth Beacons and wearable technology
- Guests will also be able to embark and disembark from the ship using their bracelet together with their Cruise Card
- Guests will be able to experience shore excursions in advance using Virtual Reality (“VR”) technology
After the closing of the flag ceremony, MSC Meraviglia is due to set sail towards the Port of Le Havre for her christening ceremony on June 3. She will then begin her first sailing along the Atlantic coast, calling at Vigo (Spain), Lisbon (Portugal), all the way to the Mediterranean, calling in Barcelona (Spain), Marseille (France) and eventually Genoa (Italy). She will commence the first regular 7-night itinerary on June 11, sailing from Genoa on to Naples (Italy), Messina (Italy), Valletta (Malta), Barcelona, Marseille and back to Genoa on June 18.
MSC Meraviglia will home port in Miami, Florida for the 2019-2020 winter season.
