New York City will serve as the backdrop for the naming ceremony of MSC Cruises' newest ship, the MSC Seascape, when it enters service later this year. The cruise line has announced plans to hold the ship's naming ceremony at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, December 7, 2022. The event will be attended by local officials, key partners, leading travel agents, media from around the world, and international celebrities and artists. And, of course, no naming ceremony would be complete without Sophia Loren, playing her iconic role as godmother of MSC Cruises' 18th ship.
Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Group's Cruise Division, commented: “We are particularly excited to celebrate this momentous milestone in New York City, which holds a special place in our Group's history, having received ships from MSC Group's cargo division since 1985.
MSC Seascape will be the first ship in the cruise line to be named after New York, reflecting MSC Cruises' commitment to the North American cruise market and its upcoming expansion into New York and the Northeast with year-round cruises available from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal starting in April 2023.
MSC Seascape will sail to Miami immediately after the ceremony for an inaugural Caribbean season, with 7-night itineraries from PortMiami:
- Eastern Caribbean: With stops at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and Nassau in the Bahamas, San Juan in Puerto Rico, and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.
- Western Caribbean: With stops at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Cozumel in Mexico, George Town in the Cayman Islands and Ocho Rios in Jamaica.
MSC Seascape will offer an immersive experience that connects passengers with the sea through cutting-edge design and stunning outdoor spaces for relaxing, dining and entertaining:
- 2,270 cabins, with 12 different types of suites and balcony cabins
- 11 dining venues and 19 bars and lounges
- 6 swimming pools
- MSC Yacht Club
- A seafront promenade of more than 500 meters that brings passengers closer to the ocean.
- A spectacular Bridge of Sighs, with a glass floor
MSC Seascape's environmental technologies will include selective catalytic reduction systems in each of its four engines, reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 90% and converting the gas into harmless nitrogen and water. Separate hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems will remove 98% of sulfur oxides from the ship's emissions.
The vessel is equipped with state-of-the-art wastewater treatment systems. It will feature advanced waste management systems, ballast water treatment systems, cutting-edge systems for preventing oil spills from machinery spaces, and several effective energy efficiency improvements, from heat recovery systems to energy-saving LED lighting. The vessel will also have an underwater radiated noise management system to reduce and isolate potential effects on marine mammals.
