The float-out trial of MSC Seashore took place today at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. This is a significant milestone in the ship's construction, as it marks the first time a new vessel touches the water and enters the next phase of construction. MSC Seashore, which will be the company's longest ship at 339 meters and the largest and most innovative ever built in Italy, has now been moved into a wet dock until its delivery in July 2021 to allow for interior work. MSC Seashore will become the third of a total of four ships in MSC Cruises' innovative and revolutionary Seaside class, following MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview, which were launched in 2017 and 2018 respectively, and the first of two Seaside Evo ships enhanced with newly designed public spaces, more cabins, and the highest ratio of outdoor space per passenger of any ship in the company's fleet.
More than 65% of the ship has been improved to make MSC Seashore a significant evolution compared to its sister ships.
Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, commented: “The launching trial has always been one of the most rewarding moments for everyone involved in building a ship. It’s also an opportunity to further strengthen everyone’s commitment, because when the ship touches the water, much work has already been done, but there’s still a long way to go. This is especially true for MSC Seashore, which will become the new flagship of MSC Cruises: a record-breaking ship focused on innovation, technology, and design, and which underscores Fincantieri’s leadership.” Bono concluded: “The uncertain situation we are experiencing worldwide adds even more significance to this day, which bodes well not only for MSC Cruises and our company, but for the entire cruise industry.”
Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises, added: “We are committed to our newbuild program, innovating and setting new industry standards with each new class of ship. MSC Seashore will, in fact, be the largest and most innovative cruise ship ever built in Italy, featuring the latest and most advanced environmental technology currently available. It will also be one of two new ships we will take delivery in 2021, highlighting our belief in the sector’s long-term growth prospects. This is further demonstrated by the return to service of our first ship earlier this week, as well as the investments made in our new health and hygiene operating protocol, which is already setting a new standard for the industry.”
State-of-the-art environmental technology
The 169,500 TB ship, with a maximum capacity of 5,877 passengers, will be equipped with the latest technologies to minimize its environmental footprint.
MSC Seashore will be equipped with a state-of-the-art selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system to reduce nitrogen oxides by 90% and a state-of-the-art advanced wastewater treatment system (AWTS) to treat wastewater to a very high quality, where the final product has a better standard than most land-based municipal waste standards around the world.
These features will complement other effective environmental technologies implemented on MSC Seashore and across the company's fleet to minimize and continuously reduce environmental impact and ensure even cleaner air emissions, including state-of-the-art hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) that remove 98% of sulfur oxides from ship emissions; advanced waste management systems; US Coast Guard-approved ballast water treatment systems; cutting-edge systems for preventing oil discharges from machinery spaces; and various effective energy efficiency improvements, from heat recovery systems to LED lighting.
In addition, MSC Cruises currently has three LNG-powered ships on order, one of which is already under construction.
MSC Seashore will also be equipped with shore-to-ship power, connecting a docked cruise ship to a port's local electricity grid to further reduce air emissions. This feature is widely available across the MSC Cruises fleet and has been standard on all of the company's new ships since 2017.
Improved and enhanced design
MSC Seashore, like other iconic ships of the Seaside generation, offers outstanding design features to allow passengers to connect with the sea, such as the spectacular “Bridge of Sighs”, impressive panoramic elevators at the stern and elegant glass walkways.
Some of the new improvements include an additional 16 meters in length for the ship, 10,000 square meters of additional deck space for an even more spacious onboard experience, and a larger, premium, all-inclusive area, the MSC Yacht Club, plus two central meeting points located midway and forward on the ship that improve the flow of people.
MSC Seashore will offer a wider range of accommodation with more suites, including 28 suites with verandas, two suites with in-cabin whirlpools, and MSC Yacht Club will have two new cabin categories with 41 Deluxe Grand Suites and two Owner's Suites with whirlpools.
Families can take advantage of grouped cabins that combine two or three adjacent cabins and can accommodate between six and ten people, in addition to 75 larger and more spacious cabins for passengers with disabilities.
Two new restaurants will be introduced and five specialty restaurants will be relocated to provide oceanfront seating on the ship's stunning promenade, with the aim of giving passengers better views while dining al fresco.
MSC Seashore will feature a new two-story aft lounge, a larger casino, and 20 bars, cafes, and various specialty lounges. The ship will boast a redesigned aft pool, an expanded indoor pool, and an exciting new interactive water park for passengers of all ages. The kids' and teens' clubs have been separated within a larger children's area.
The ship will feature the latest customer-centric technology with MSC for Me, available across multiple digital channels, offering passengers a more relaxed way to plan and book the things they love most. In addition, passengers can access information through a variety of digital touchpoints, including a helpful app, interactive in-cabin TVs, interactive screens throughout the ship, and ZOE, the first virtual personal cruise assistant on board a cruise ship, available in every cabin.
In the summer of 2021, the three Seaside-class ships will sail in the Western Mediterranean. These ships have been designed for warmer climates, making them perfect for the summer season for those who wish to enjoy the sun and stunning ocean views in this popular cruising region.
MSC Seashore will offer the popular “Six Pearls” itinerary, departing from Barcelona and visiting the Italian cities of Genoa, Messina, Sicily, and Naples, as well as Pompeii and other wonderful destinations such as Valletta, Malta, and Marseille, France. MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview will operate 7-night cruises from Barcelona.
For more information about MSC Seashore, visit: https://www.msccruises.com/en-us/Discover-MSC/Cruise-Ships/MSC-Seashore.aspx
