MSC Cruises' newest Meraviglia Plus-class ship was christened by Sophia Loren in Port Rashid, next to the Dubai Cruise Terminal, marking the start of the ship's inaugural season in the Arabian Gulf. The ship is the second cruise ship to be launched in Dubai and the largest to operate from a homeport in the Arabian Gulf.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 59 – December 2021
Sophia Loren, as usual, was the star of the inauguration ceremony, along with MSC Cruises' CEO, Pierfrancesco Vago, who thanked the United Arab Emirates for its invaluable support during the cruise industry's recovery from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also stated that they will continue to promote the destination worldwide and that they are here to stay, employing hundreds of people in the Emirates, with Port Rashid being a key port for the company. MSC Cruises has established itself as the market leader in the Arabian Gulf, and the cruise line alone accounts for approximately half of all cruise passengers departing annually from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The Virtuosa is the largest cruise ship the company has ever had in the country, and after its inauguration it began the first of several 7-night cruises from Dubai visiting Oman, Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island and for the first time, Dammam in Saudi Arabia until March 2022.
It features a bar served by a humanoid robot.
This was the second time a cruise ship christening ceremony has taken place in Dubai. The Costa Deliziosa was christened in 2010 ahead of its inaugural cruise season in the region. The Dubai Cruise Terminal expects to welcome 126 cruise ship calls and more than 500,000 cruise passengers for the upcoming 2021/22 season, its first year of operation since the pandemic.
MSC Virtuosa, the ship.
The name MSC Virtuosa pays homage to the exceptional skills and expertise of the "virtuoso" architects and engineers at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyards who designed and built this innovative vessel. This new cruise ship is one of the two largest in the MSC Cruises fleet, along with its sister ship MSC Grandiosa, both incorporating a wide range of innovations and demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental responsibility.
This new cruise ship is one of the two largest in the MSC Cruises fleet, along with its sister ship MSC Grandiosa.
The ship reduces its emissions by up to 98% for sulfur oxides (SOx) and 90% for nitrogen oxides (NOx) thanks to state-of-the-art technology that also distributes and conserves energy efficiently by incorporating intelligent heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. It also features an advanced wastewater treatment system.
Galleria Virtuosa:
This gallery boasts the longest LED dome at sea, featuring specialty restaurants and shops—a unique space and popular meeting place. It's common to see groups of families or friends enjoying afternoons and evenings filled with entertainment. In fact, the company is known for its focus on families. It currently has partnerships with LEGO to design and build children's and youth areas on board its ships, as well as various activities.
Other facilities:
The MSC Virtuosa offers five swimming pools, including a spectacular water park for children and adults. The Atmosphere Pool covers 1,700 m² with over 10 m² of public space per passenger. The MSC Spa features a thermal area, massage area, treatments, and beauty services. There is also a panoramic gym equipped with Technogym technology and an exclusive solarium located on deck 19.
In terms of leisure and entertainment, shows are presented in innovative areas such as the Carousel Lounge and the multifaceted Karaoke Bar, Comedy Club, and TV Studio. Younger guests can enjoy a large park and sports field where they can play sports during the day and dance at night.
Dining plays a key role at Virtuosa. Ten restaurants and 21 bars offer a diverse menu to suit all tastes. Authentic culinary options are available in ten distinct settings, including the new Indo-Chinese restaurant, where you can savor Vietnamese dishes with a French twist.
MSC Virtuosa also features the world's first humanoid bartender at sea in the Starships, a space that blends bar service and entertainment, featuring cutting-edge technologies designed to create a futuristic atmosphere: 3D holograms, an immersive digital art wall and a 12-seater interactive digital table, offering the possibility of exploring space with your own personalized galactic journey.
The company has collaborated with experts from robotics and automation, interior design, and entertainment and digital experience solutions to create a custom-designed space, featuring a humanoid robot named Rob as its star. Rob will prepare and serve cocktails and personalized drinks while interacting with customers, just like a human. Human bartenders will also be on hand to assist and prepare unique drinks as part of the overall experience.
The longest LED-domed gallery at sea is undoubtedly one of the star attractions of the MSC Virtuosa.
To place their orders, customers use vertical digital kiosks. In addition to all the skills of a bartender—pouring liquors, juices, and syrups; shaking, creating, or stirring drinks; and even garnishing them—this humanoid robot speaks eight languages (English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese), so no tourist will be able to resist him.
While the idea of a robot serving the table might seem impersonal, nothing could be further from the truth. Rob uses his LED-lit face to convey emotions, interacting with guests using witty and engaging language, telling jokes, changing his facial expressions, and even showing off his dance moves. Another touch of distinction.
