MSC Cruises announced it would be building its fifth Meraviglia class cruise ship, the MSC Grandiosa.

The ship will be delivered in 2023 and will be equipped with a new generation of dual-fuel engines that will be LNG powered.

The announcement was made at the Saint-Nazaire shipyard where officials celebrated the Steel Cutting of the line’s fourth Meraviglia class ship, the MSC Grandiosa.

“With the announcement of yet another new vessel, the 13th under our 10-year investment plan, we are affirming our commitment to sustainable growth for our Company. I say this while three more next-generation MSC Cruises are now simultaneously under construction,” Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman 

“Our fifth Meraviglia class cruise ship will bring a new generation of cutting-edge environmental technology to the market, benefiting from a new generation of LNG-powered engines. This will help us further reduce our environmental footprint and advance in our journey of constant improvement. She will be joined at sea by up to four World Class LNG-powered ships, as part of our overall commitment to environmental stewardship through this and other next-generation technologies and solutions deployed fleet-wide.”

About MSC Bellissima and MSC Grandiosa

MSC Bellissima will be christened in Southampton on March 2, 2019 whilst MSC Grandiosa will be christened in Hamburg in November 2019.

MSC Bellissima will also be the first ship to feature the industry’s first digital cruise personal assistant, Zoe as well as the new digital program, MSC for Me. The device will be available in all cabins and in seven languages.

Guests will be able to find out information just from their cabin.

Both ships will bring offer two brand new shows from Cirque du Soleil at Sea created exclusively for MSC Cruises guests.

MSC Grandiosa will have an array of shops and specialty restaurants as well as a new bar and lounge, L’Atelier Bistrot that will offer lounge seating with a stage and a dance floor, impressionist art will be on display in this space will also have “terrace “seating with Parisian Bistrot tables and chairs on the Promenade Throughout the day.

MSC Cruises’ award-winning family offering will also see some new features and on MSC Bellissima this will see the introduction of a fun Grand Canyon theme for the Aquapark and a host of new magic inspired kids entertainment for kids of all ages. The family deck will include the DOREMI Studio Lounge, a dedicated lounge for all family activities, DOREMI Tech Lab, a must visit destination for kids who love technology, as well as facilities designed in partnership with family experts including the LEGO Group and Chicco.

 

The five Meraviglia class ships are;

o   MSC Meraviglia, launched 2017

o   MSC Bellissima, launching March 2019.   Float out ceremony 14/6/18.

o   MSC Grandiosa, launching November 2019. Coin ceremony 14/6/18.

o   MSC Virtuosa, launching 2020. Name announced at Steel cutting ceremony 14/6/18.

o   Meraviglia Plus ship launching 2023

The three ships under construction at STX France are MSC Bellissima, MSC Grandiosa and MSC Virtuosa.