MSC Cruises today announced that they have signed a letter of intent to build two more cruise ships with an option to build an additional two. The letter was signed with STX France and will add to the 12 cruise ships that are currently in MSC’s fleet.
The cruise ships are tentatively scheduled to be delivered in 2017 and 2019 and will be the largest cruise ships ever built by MSC. The ships will be 167,000 gross tons and will carry up to 5,700 passengers in 2,250 staterooms.
MSC hinted at Cruise Shipping Miami 2014 that they would like to double their fleet of 12 cruise ships in the next 10 years.
MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman Pierfancesco Vago gave the following statement: ““Growth and development have always been the characteristics that have defined MSC since the very beginning of our journey into the world of cruising. The launch of this prototype and the building of these two new ships confirm our commitment to further growth and to further development. MSC Cruises will expand its capacity by 31%; we will incredibly enrich our offer on board and we will broaden our horizons to ensure we meet the growing global demand in every region. Once again our longstanding partnership with the STX yard has proved key for these plans.”
While there are not many details about these this new class of cruise ships form MSC, we do know that they will have staterooms that are specially designed for families. There will also be an extended MSC Yacht Club on each ship that will have a solarium, private lounge, restaurant, and duplex suites.
MSC has not stated which ports these two new ships will sail from nor the itineraries that they will sail. The cruise line recently moved the Divina to Miami that sails year round cruises to the Caribbean.
The ships will also be the most technologically advanced cruise ships by MSC and will be cleaner and more fuel efficient.
The contact is binding until a financial package is secured.
