The two new “Meraviglia Plus” ships will have greater tonnage and larger size.
At the coin-laying ceremony for MSC Meraviglia held today in Saint-Nazaire, France, MSC Cruises, the world's largest privately owned cruise line and market leader in Europe, South America, and South Africa, confirmed in advance the existence of two Meraviglia-class ship options to be built at STX France. The two next-generation Meraviglia-Plus ships, as this new class of vessels has been designated, will be larger and have greater tonnage, with a total of 2,444 cabins and a capacity for up to 8,000 people – including passengers and crew.
The two new units will be delivered in October 2019 and September 2020 respectively. This brings forward by almost two years the delivery of two of the four Meraviglia ships, built at STX France.
These ships will not only be longer and more spacious, capable of stopping at any port in the world, but will also feature the first and only museum of classical and contemporary art on board – another first for MSC Cruises.
The traditional, century-old coin-throwing ceremony, held at the STX France shipyard – with the presence of the Minister of Economy, Industry and Digital Sector, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, and Mr. Edouard Philippe, Mayor of Le Havre and Member of Parliament – provided an opportunity to show the media and other guests the progress made in the construction of the first MSC Meraviglia ship, which will set sail in June 2017.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, stated: “The cooperation with STX-France and the continued growth of our company allow me to confirm today that MSC Cruises will be adding two more ships to its fleet. The two Meraviglia-Plus ships will be longer and larger, and will also feature more amenities and entertainment, further positioning MSC Cruises as the most innovative company in the industry when it comes to ship design and creating experiences for our guests.”.
Laurent Castaing, President of STX France, commented: “This order is part of the unique and outstanding partnership we have enjoyed with MSC Cruises over the years, building their ships. Proof of this lies in our excellent relationship with a demanding client who trusts us. Thanks to the experience gained from our respective teams during these projects, we have learned to innovate together, giving the MSC Cruises fleet outstanding levels of modernity, performance, and safety. We are very proud to contribute to the development and success of our client, whose ambitions have already made them one of the world’s leading cruise lines.”.
MSC Cruises also announced today that MSC Meraviglia will be christened in Le Havre, France. Mr. Vago stated: “Being here at the STX France shipyard, celebrating the coin-tossing ceremony for the eleventh time, reflects our strong ties with France, and of course with the shipyard where all the ships in our current fleet have been built. This makes MSC Cruises the leading foreign private investor in France – having invested more than €8 billion.” “For this reason, I am proud to announce that MSC Meraviglia will be christened on June 1, 2017, in the beautiful French port of Le Havre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From there, it will begin its inaugural season in the Mediterranean, with Barcelona as one of its home ports.”.
The MSC Cruises Meraviglia-Plus class is the new standard of ships for all seasons. At 331 meters long, with the addition of 200 extra cabins and a maximum capacity for around 6,300 passengers, these ships will be the largest able to call at any port in the world, opening up a wide range of itineraries and destinations for guests.
The exclusive spaces for shopping, enjoying fine dining, relaxing, or socializing have been further enhanced. The interior promenade, now an impressive 111 meters long with 95 by 6 meter LED screens above it, will offer unique views throughout the day, creating a magical atmosphere.
Another distinctive element of the MSC Cruises experience is its commitment to providing its guests with the widest range of entertainment. This is demonstrated by the recent partnership with Cirque du Soleil, which will bring exclusive, world-class shows on board MSC Cruises. A dedicated space will be built for this purpose, featuring a specially designed dining area integrated into this entertainment venue.
Furthermore, the Meraviglia-Plus ships will offer a unique cultural experience to guests, featuring the first and only classical and contemporary art gallery at sea. This initiative will allow passengers to discover world culture not only through the itineraries offered, but also onboard, with masterpieces from around the globe, in collaboration with cultural centers, museums of classical and modern art, and public and private institutions worldwide.
Additionally, Meraviglia and Meraviglia-Plus will set new standards for smart ships, as announced in the recent partnership with Samsung, which will bring state-of-the-art technology on board, including everything from screens and mobile solutions to medical equipment, as well as products that will enhance the travel experience for their customers.
The two new ships will be worth 1.6 billion euros, bringing MSC Cruises' investment in the four ships – Meraviglia and Meraviglia-Plus – to a total of 3 billion euros.
MSC Cruises in 2015.
At the press conference following the coin ceremony, Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, said: “In 2015, MSC Cruises experienced unprecedented growth with a 10% increase in sales and a total of 1,700,000 guests worldwide aboard one of the Company’s 12 state-of-the-art ships. In key markets, including Spain, Italy, Germany, and France, this growth translated into further gains in market share.”
During the past fiscal year, the Company further consolidated its leadership in South America and South Africa, while continuing to expand its global reach beyond its Mediterranean and Northern European offerings by becoming the world's first cruise line to have Cuba as a homeport. It also announced the arrival of its first ship to China in May 2016, while strengthening its offerings in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Oman with even more capacity aboard MSC Musica and MSC Fantasia. In the Caribbean, MSC Divina is now sailing year-round from Miami, and MSC Seaside will join the line there starting in December 2017. Furthermore, the Company is the only one in the industry offering two different Caribbean itineraries that include stops in Havana with MSC Opera and MSC Armonia, beginning in December 2016.
Mr. Onorato concluded: “For 2016 we expect an additional 6 percent growth compared to the previous year.”.
