MSC Cruises Makes Plans For New Ship Class

MSC Cruises has plans for an all-new ship class and has signed a letter of intent with shipbuilder STX France for the construction of the first two with an option for two more. MSC’s current fleet of twelve vessels consists of three classes of four each, so that option is a near certainty according to what Richard Sasso, MSC USA’s President, told Cruise Diva while aboard MSC Divina last month.

The first two ships, which will be 1033 feet long and 141 feet wide, with a gross tonnage of about 167,600 tons, boasting 2,250 cabins for guests, nearly 820 crew cabins, and accommodating 5,700 passengers and 1,536 crew members are due for delivery in 2017 and 2019. The new ships will reaffirm MSC Cruises’ dedication to outstanding dining options and out-of-this-world entertainment with new panoramic spaces, a bigger theatre, and a spectacular amusement park connected to an outdoor aqua park, as well as a two-deck ’inside promenade.’

Also among the ships’ new features will be specially designed cabins for families and an extended MSC Yacht Club, the entirely self-contained private club on the prestigious foredecks that will now be completed with a vast solarium, a private lounge and restaurant, and duplex suites.

“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,” said MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago. “Once again our longstanding partnership with the STX yard has proved key for these plans.”

MSC’s new prototype will be the biggest cruise ship ever built by a European ship owner and this new generation of ships will also be cleaner, more efficient, and more technologically advanced. They will be water emission free, while the hulls and propulsion systems will be optimized for better energy efficiency. The installation of scrubbers will allow for fumes to be neutralized and CO2 emissions to be in accordance with the latest evolutions of international maritime regulations.

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