The company held the float-out event for its sister ship MSC Meraviglia today at the STX France shipyards.
MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately owned cruise line, headquartered in Switzerland and a market leader in Europe, South America, and South Africa, today revealed the name of the second ship in its Meraviglia-Class generation: MSC Bellissima. The vessel, which will also be built at the STX France shipyard, will enter service in spring 2019.
Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, commented: “MSC Bellissima is a name that embodies the beauty and splendor of the company’s entire new generation of ultramodern ships, which will feature new amenities and services for guests of all ages. We are delighted to announce this news on the same day that its sister ship, MSC Meraviglia, makes its maiden voyage, a moment that symbolizes the true ‘birth’ of a vessel.”.
The announcement was made this morning during the float-out ceremony of its sister ship, MSC Meraviglia, which will soon become the company's flagship and the first new-generation ship for MSC Cruises, starting in June 2017. The ceremony took place at the STX France shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, in the presence of guests from MSC Cruises and STX France, including Senator Bruno Retailleau of the Loire region, President of the General Council of Loire-Atlantique, Philippe Grosvalet, and the Mayor of Saint-Nazaire, David Samzun.
Gianni Onorato concluded: “Since we opened sales last year for MSC Meraviglia’s inaugural season in the Western Mediterranean, demand has been very positive. This leads us to believe that this is a generation of ships with a bright future ahead and that it has already attracted the attention of tourists from all markets.”
Laurent Castaing, President of STX France, stated: “We are very proud to design and build the new generation of ships for MSC Cruises. We are aware of and very grateful for the trust the company places in our capacity for innovation. More than 12 years have passed since we began our industrial partnership, and we are always excited by the challenges of bringing MSC Cruises' aspirations to life.”.
The float-out trial is a historic milestone in shipbuilding: the dry dock is flooded, and the ship literally touches the water for the first time. Once it moves to the floating dock, the ship is ready for the final phase of its construction. The event provided a unique opportunity to showcase the cutting-edge design that makes the Meraviglia generation the most innovative and exclusive ever built. This includes, among its many onboard amenities and services, the Carousel Lounge, specially designed for Cirque du Soleil, where it will perform and present shows created exclusively for MSC Cruises guests; a 96-meter Mediterranean-style promenade with an 80-meter LED ceiling; and the exclusive MSC Yacht Club, a luxurious yacht within the ship with private facilities spanning three decks.
