MSC Cruises and Fincantieri celebrated the launch of the MSC Seaview today. The ceremony took place at the Monfalcone shipyard in Italy, where the ship is being built. The MSC Seaview is the second model in the Seaside generation of cruise ships, based on a highly innovative prototype designed for warmer climates and engineered to allow passengers to enjoy the sun and sea like never before during their cruise. It is scheduled to enter service in June 2018, six months after the MSC Seaside begins its Grand Voyage from Trieste, Italy, to Miami, USA, in December 2017.
MSC Seaview will sail the Mediterranean for the first time during the 2018 summer season, offering tourists the chance to enjoy the region's gems and discover seven different and vibrant ports in four different countries, all without unpacking: Genoa, Naples, Messina, Valletta, Barcelona, and Marseille. After this inaugural season, the ship will follow the sun to Brazil and the Southern Hemisphere for the 2018-2019 winter season, with an itinerary that includes Santos, Ilha Grande, Búzios, Porto Belo, and Camboriú.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, commented: “The launch of MSC Seaview is another significant milestone in the expansion of our fleet. It will be the third new MSC Cruises ship to enter service in just 12 months, as part of our 10-year investment plan that includes the delivery of six new ships by 2020.” “MSC Cruises sets the standard for ship design, and each new class of ship entering service is designed to meet the needs of tourists of different ages, demographics, and vacation preferences. With MSC Seaview, in particular, our vision has been inspired by our passion for the sea, and we aim to attract passengers seeking more than just the classic elements of a vacation (sun and sea), offering them a unique, fully immersive, and interactive maritime experience during their cruise.” Mr. Vago concluded: “The presence of MSC Seaview in the Mediterranean and Europe will help us push the boundaries even further, as one of the most innovative cruise ships in existence will be sailing in an area with which we have a very special relationship and which is a fundamental part of our business.
Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, stated: “MSC Seaview is a challenge that Fincantieri is proud to have successfully undertaken, as demonstrated by today’s milestone. It is a spectacular vessel, the second of a new generation that is putting all our best technical and management skills to the test, especially considering that its launch is taking place less than nine months after the prototype that launched this class of ships, MSC Seaside. These two fantastic ships require a real effort, and our Group will deliver them to meet the owner’s high expectations in terms of reliability and product quality.”
Launching is a crucial moment in the construction of a cruise ship, as it marks the first time the vessel comes into contact with water. The ship is flooded in the dry dock and moved to a floating dock for the final stage of its construction. The exterior of the vessel is now complete, and work is focused on finishing the interiors, fittings, and furnishings. Measuring 323 meters in length and with a gross tonnage of 154,000, the ship will have a maximum capacity of 5,179 passengers. MSC Seaview is the second of two identical ships in the Seaside class. Its sister ship, MSC Seaside, is scheduled to enter service in November of this year. MSC Seaview will be the third next-generation cruise ship to enter service in just 12 months, following MSC Meraviglia (June 2017) and MSC Seaside (December 2017).
