MSC Cruises will embark on the largest launch in its history and engage its travel agents most extensively with its new flagship, MSC Grandiosa. The events will begin in St. Nazaire, France, when the company's newest and most innovative ship to date officially enters service on October 31.
Achille Staiano, Vice President of Global Sales at MSC Cruises, commented: “The events organized for the launch of MSC Grandiosa have been carefully planned to offer a comprehensive program of activities, events, and celebrations for travel agents, as well as for the company’s other guests and partners. We have designed an inaugural itinerary for the ship with overnight stays in multiple ports to allow as many travel agents as possible to enjoy its facilities and services overnight or to visit the ship and experience it firsthand.”
Staiano added: “Looking ahead, as MSC Grandiosa will be one of the most environmentally friendly ships at sea, we will use the online learning platform, MSC Masters, to train our travel agents on the environmental management practices we are implementing and the other initiatives we are putting in place. This way, they will be able to understand the latest developments in environmental technology and practices, which will be invaluable information for them and their clients.”
Among the organized events are seven 'All Stars of the Sea' galas, where the company will present awards recognizing the efforts and achievements of travel agencies worldwide, who make MSC Cruises' operations possible in more than 80 countries. Group visits and individual presentations will also be offered to travel agency reception staff, managers, owners, and tour operators.
In Spain, in addition to the aforementioned gala taking place in the port of Barcelona on the evening of November 18th, Maiden Calls will be held in the first ports the ship visits. This will involve the now-famous exchange of plaques between the Port Authority and the ship's top officials.
MSC Grandiosa will be in the Port of Hamburg from November 6 to 10, and will celebrate its official christening on the evening of November 9. The area known as “Blue Port” will be transformed into a maritime stage around the Elbphilharmonie (Elbe Philharmonic)[1]; where twenty specific points will be illuminated in blue to create a symbolic design for the company, also playing with the port's industrial light. Blue is significant for the events as it is the color of the sea, the environment in which the company operates, and forms part of its corporate identity.
For the design of the lighting installations, MSC Cruises collaborated with renowned international artist Michael Batz. Furthermore, in keeping with the company's environmental commitment, he opted for small, energy-efficient lights in many areas.
MSC Grandiosa is equipped with two major new technological innovations, including a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system that will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 90% and transform them into pure water and nitrogen. The vessel is also equipped with an advanced, state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system (AWT), which will allow it to operate in environments such as the Baltic Sea and Alaska with virtually no impact from discharges.
These new features complement other environmental technologies, implemented on the ship and across the Company's fleet, to minimize and continuously reduce environmental impact, including: hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS), which remove sulfur oxides from the ship's emissions; advanced waste management and wastewater treatment systems; ballast water treatment systems; state-of-the-art systems for preventing oil discharges from machinery spaces; and various cutting-edge energy efficiency improvements, from heat recovery systems to LED lighting.
Other highlights of this state-of-the-art ship include:
- Two new exclusive shows from Cirque du Soleil at Sea.
- The Promenade, crowned with a 93-meter-long screen where images and audiovisual animations can be projected throughout the day and night, will be full of shops and restaurants like the new Il Campo.
- An immersive art experience at L'Atelier Bistrot featuring 26 original prints by French Impressionist Edgar Degas.
- New areas dedicated to the youngest passengers on board in collaboration with LEGO® and Chicco.
- The world's first virtual personal cruise assistant, ZOE, in every cabin.
MSC Grandiosa will begin its regular 7-night Western Mediterranean cruises from November 23rd with stops in Genoa, Civitavecchia, Palermo, Valletta, Barcelona and Marseille.
