MSC Cruises today welcomed MSC Virtuosa, the latest addition to its fleet, a highly innovative and environmentally conscious vessel. Following tradition, the flag-raising ceremony, this year a small and private affair, was held at Chantiers de l'Atlantique (Saint Nazaire, France) at the shipyard where MSC Virtuosa received its official ensign and best wishes. In attendance were Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, his wife Alexa Aponte-Vago, and their children, as well as representatives from MSC Cruises' new builds team and shipyard executives and employees.
Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO, commented , “My family and I couldn’t miss the opportunity to personally welcome the newest member of our fleet. The delivery of MSC Virtuosa, at such a challenging time for our industry, symbolizes how our family business continues to look to the long term and build our future.”
“To that end,” Mr. Vago continues, “we remain committed to building the most environmentally innovative ships in the world, equipped with the most advanced technology at sea. Almost equally important is that with each new ship, we continue to push the boundaries of innovation in our product offerings, creating a unique and novel experience for our passengers. On MSC Virtuosa, this includes the world’s first humanoid waiter at sea, who will be the star of an immersive and futuristic experience featuring cutting-edge technology. Our dining options have also been enhanced with two new international restaurant concepts, giving passengers the opportunity to travel and discover this gastronomy. This, of course, is in addition to the experience we already offer, including theatrical performances, award-winning family entertainment, world-class passenger technology, our iconic 101-meter-long gallery with its LED dome—the social heart of the ship—and much more.”
Laurent Castaing, CEO of Chantiers de l'Atlantique, said: “I am proud of what our teams have achieved together, despite the challenging health situation. With the construction of MSC Virtuosa, we have reached a level of finish and performance that will allow MSC Virtuosa to offer its future passengers the very best the cruise world has to offer. The sixteenth ship that Chantiers de l'Atlantique has built for MSC Cruises is, therefore, a benchmark that will be hard to surpass!”
When it comes to the environment, MSC Virtuosa has some of the most advanced technologies currently available, including: hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) and state-of-the-art selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems; wastewater treatment systems designed in line with International Maritime Organization resolution MEPC 227(64); shore-to-ship electrical connection; and a radiated underwater noise management system, with hull and engine room designs that minimize the acoustic impact of sound, reducing its potential effects on marine life, among others.
MSC Virtuosa has received 11 Gold Pearls from Bureau Veritas for its innovative aspects, particularly its environmental protection, health, and hygiene measures. MSC Virtuosa is, in fact, the first cruise ship in the world to receive the BIORISK rating from Bureau Veritas, recognizing its ability to mitigate and manage the risks of contagious diseases among passengers.
Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises, commented that “our long-term goal is to achieve a zero-impact cruise operation, and that is the path we are on. As we work with our partners to identify new technologies that bring us closer to this goal with each new ship we build and put into service, we continue to equip our ships with the latest and most effective technologies on the market.”
The company's new flagship, MSC Virtuosa, will enter service for the summer season from April 16 with 3, 4 and 10 night Mediterranean cruises, before moving the ship to its new home port in Kiel, where it will begin its Northern European itineraries from May 8.
MSC Virtuosa is the sister ship of MSC Grandiosa, the first ship to return to sailing this summer, which has already welcomed more than 40,000 passengers under MSC Cruises' pioneering health and hygiene protocol. It currently offers 7-night itineraries in the Western Mediterranean.
2021 will see two new state-of-the-art ships from MSC Cruises – the second being MSC Seashore – bringing the fleet to 19 ships, with four more expected to be delivered by 2025.
MORE ABOUT MSC VIRTUOSA
Innovative passenger technology. All MSC Cruises ships launched since 2017 feature MSC for Me, the connected cruise experience designed to enrich the onboard experience and help passengers make the most of their vacation. The MSC for Me wristband allows passengers to enjoy the ship without needing to carry their cruise card, providing a seamless and contactless experience, whether paying for purchases, booking services, opening cabin doors, or enabling contact tracing as part of current health and hygiene measures.
MSC Yacht Club. MSC Virtuosa features an enhanced MSC Yacht Club, a yacht-within-a-ship concept, offering the exclusivity and luxury of a private club while maintaining the same entertainment and leisure options as the rest of the ship. Passengers have a 24-hour butler at their disposal and an exclusive reception area, as well as luxurious private facilities including a gourmet restaurant, an elegant lounge, and a spacious, secluded pool area.
Award-winning family offering. As a family-owned company, MSC Cruises has always put families' needs at the heart of the cruise experience. The award-winning family offering has plenty to keep the whole family entertained. With great facilities designed in collaboration with LEGO and Chicco, a range of kids' clubs for all ages, an action-packed daily activity program, and much more.
Inspiring itineraries. The company's new flagship will spend its inaugural season in Northern Europe, based in Kiel, Germany, with two wonderful itineraries. To make embarkation easier for Spanish passengers, MSC Cruises offers the option of a cruise and flight from Madrid, Barcelona, and Malaga. Before changing its homeport to the United Arab Emirates in November for its winter season, MSC Virtuosa will offer 10-night cruises from Malaga in September and October. From November onwards, it will offer 7-night cruises with stops in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, and Doha.
Air emissions: MSC Virtuosa and MSC Seashore will have hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems on all their engines. This technology achieves a 98% reduction in sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions. As with MSC Grandiosa, these ships will be equipped with state-of-the-art selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems that reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 90%.
Both ships will be equipped with ship-to-shore electrical connections, allowing them to plug into shore power when the infrastructure is available in the port where they are docked. This minimizes engine use while berthed, leading to a substantial reduction in emissions when the ships are near urban areas.
Wastewater: Both ships will be equipped with advanced wastewater treatment systems designed in accordance with International Maritime Organization Resolution MEPC 227(64), with higher purification standards than most land-based wastewater treatment facilities. The ballast water treatment systems will prevent the introduction of invasive species into the marine environment through ballast water discharges.
Marine life protection: Both ships will be equipped with an underwater radiated noise management system, with hull and engine room designs that minimize the acoustic impact of sound, reducing its potential effects on marine fauna, particularly marine mammals in the surrounding waters.
Energy efficiency: A wide range of energy-efficient equipment helps reduce and optimize engine use. This includes intelligent ventilation and advanced air conditioning systems with automated energy recovery loops that redistribute heat and cooling to reduce demand. The ships utilize LED lighting controlled by intelligent management systems to further enhance their energy-saving profile. Thanks to partnerships with shipyards, all new builds are equipped with remote energy monitoring and analysis systems, enabling real-time shore-based support to optimize onboard operational efficiency.
Some facts – MSC Virtuosa
- 19 bridges named after famous composers
- 331 meters long, with more public space and cabins
- 21 bars, 4 main restaurants and 5 specialty restaurants with 2 new restaurants and a new specialty bar
- A 945-seat theater that offers large-scale productions every night
- 12 different cabin types, including 190 family cabins that can be connected to make super family cabins, with up to 6 people, or Super Family Plus cabins with up to 12 people
- 5 swimming pools, including one with a retractable roof on bridge 15
- A Himalayan bridge on deck 19 with a circuit 80 meters over the water
- 168 square meters of retail with 11 different stores
