MSC Cruises, the world's largest privately owned cruise company, took delivery of the MSC Bellissima, a ship built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, a world leader in cruise ship construction. This marks the third Meraviglia to be built simultaneously at these shipyards in Saint-Nazaire, France. MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l'Atlantique held a double celebration, as in addition to the delivery of the MSC Bellissima, the MSC Virtuosa Coin Ceremony took place.
The event was attended by Gianluigi Aponte, founder and Chairman of the MSC Group, and Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises. Representing Chantiers de l'Atlantique was its Managing Director, Laurent Castaing, and the event was well-attended by local and regional authorities.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, commented: “Today’s delivery of this new ship marks a new chapter in the history of our partnership with Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Together, we have brought to life 14 innovative cruise ships, paving the way for the company’s planned growth. In the coming years, we will build much more together, extending the reach of our fleet. Furthermore, the beauty and elegance of MSC Bellissima, along with its cutting-edge maritime and environmental technology, testify to our commitment to the constant pursuit of innovation.”
Laurent Castaing , CEO of Chantiers de l'Atlantique, stated: “This impressive ship is yet another example of the fruitful, long-term collaboration that has developed between MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l'Atlantique over the past 20 years. With each new ship delivered, we both dedicate our expertise and innovative capabilities to earning the trust of our customers: this is undoubtedly a true success story for both companies.”
Like the rest of the MSC Cruises fleet, MSC Bellissima pushes the boundaries of ship design and construction. As a testament to the company's commitment to sustainability, MSC Bellissima incorporates some of the most advanced technological advancements in environmental protection. These include state-of-the-art exhaust gas purification and wastewater treatment systems, as well as systems for preventing hydrocarbon spills from the engine rooms and ballast water treatment systems. Furthermore, this new ship features several energy efficiency improvements, from waste heat recovery methods to LED lighting.
MSC Bellissima is also equipped with innovative technology designed to enhance the passenger experience. This ship is the first in the MSC Cruises fleet to feature ZOE, the first virtual personal cruise assistant powered by Artificial Intelligence, designed to enrich the MSC for Me. This personal assistant with voice recognition, available in all cabins on MSC Bellissima, is programmed to answer hundreds of questions about the cruise.
With the delivery of this new ship, MSC Bellissima becomes the fourth vessel that MSC Cruises has added to its fleet in less than two years. As part of MSC Cruises' unprecedented new ship construction plan, another 13 next-generation ships will be added to its roster by 2027. These will include four large World Class ships, with a capacity for nearly 7,000 passengers, as well as four smaller ships designed for the ultra-luxury segment.
MSC Bellissima is the second Meraviglia-class to join the MSC Cruises fleet. Like MSC Meraviglia, it is a year-round vessel with numerous indoor and outdoor public spaces. At 315 meters long, it is designed to access the vast majority of ports worldwide.
That same afternoon, MSC Bellissima set sail for Southampton, UK, where the inauguration ceremony will take place on March 2nd. On the 4th, it will depart on its inaugural itinerary, calling at several Spanish ports—A Coruña, Valencia, and Barcelona—before its final destination, Genoa.
MSC Bellissima will have a strong connection to Barcelona during its inaugural season, as it will serve as the embarkation port for this first season, during which the ship will offer cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean. In November of this year, it will be based in the United Arab Emirates, with weekly cruises departing from Dubai. Then, in spring 2020, it will begin operating in China.
Meanwhile, MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l'Atlantique celebrated the MSC Virtuosa Coin Layout Ceremony, an event that takes place in the early stages of a ship's construction, when the keel is laid. MSC Virtuosa will become the fourth Meraviglia-class in the MSC Cruises fleet and the second of three Meraviglia Plus-class, a larger and improved version of the Meraviglia, with more cabins, more public spaces, and other additional features.
Tradition dictates that two long-serving employees of the shipyard, along with the ship's owner, act as godparents, placing two coins under the keel of the vessel under construction as a symbol of good fortune. Today, Elise Guérin, Project Manager at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, and Helen Huang, President of MSC Cruises in China, had the honor of performing this historic task.
