This weekend MSC Cruises celebrated an important milestone in the construction of it’s newest luxury cruise ship MSC Seaside.
Together with shipbuilder Fincantieri, MSC Cruises celebrated the float out of MSC Seaside in the Monfalcone shipyard where the vessel is under construction. MSC Seaside is one of the two groundbreaking mega-ships that MSC Cruises will launch between June and December 2017.
MSC Seaside will be the first ship in the MSC Cruises’ fleet to be christened in the United States, sailing in the Caribbean year-round from the Port of Miami starting in December 2017. MSC Seaside will be the fifth MSC ship offering cruises in the Caribbean.
At the ceremony Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Chief Executive Chairman, said: “This is another exciting milestone in our ambitious expansion plans as we see the second of our 11 next-generation cruise ships entering the final stages of her construction. MSC Seaside has been specifically designed to provide our guests with a unique on board experience in warmer regions and boasts one the highest ratios of outdoor space in the industry so that guests can enjoy a range of open-air activities such as dining and drinking al fresco, strolling along the promenade or simply taking in the beautiful sea views from the privacy of one of the many balcony staterooms.”
He continued: “We are delighted with the strength of sales for MSC Seaside so far, from both American and European guests alike. The Caribbean continues to be an ever popular destination for travelers. With the addition of MSC Seaside, we are further strengthening our ability to serve this demand in this key region with five cruise ships for the winter 2017/18 season, each bringing our own, distinctive Mediterranean flair and elegance to the Caribbean vacation experience.”
Also speaking at the ceremony Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, said: “Seeing this ship taking shape has a value which is not only symbolic for the group that I lead, but also for me personally. We acquired the order for the construction of it, along with a sister ship, in 2014, at the turn of an unprecedented crisis and an equally extraordinary explosion of the market. We placed such great ambitions for this order, undertaking to give the owner a state-of-the-art product, able to meet its vision of modern cruising. Being successful with a prototype and such a recognizable design, which confirms our commercial and technology leadership in this sector, makes us doubly proud of the result.”
Known as the “ship that follows the sun” MSC Seaside is the first in a new and innovative generation of cruise ships being built for MSC Cruises. The ship will feature catwalks with glass balustrades and a glass floor giving guests the feeling that they are walking on water. The catwalk on the top deck spans 30 metres with views from the top of the ship; the other two are part of a 360° open air promenade offering an array of bars and restaurants.
Accommodations on MSC Seaside are specially designed to meet the needs of a variety of cruise guests, in particular families and their children, groups, sun-lovers who want private outdoor space and those who are looking for the exclusive style and luxury of the MSC Yacht Club. 76% of all cabins are situated on the outside of the ship so guests will never be far away from sea views.
With 11 different restaurants including 5 specialty restaurants, MSC Seaside will offer one of the more extensive choices of specially designed indoor and outdoor restaurants at sea, featuring cuisines from around the world and 20 distinct bars each with their own individual character.
The entertainment spaces on board MCS Seaside have been designed to offer a wide choice of performances and shows with a stunning new 934 seat theatre and comedy club. Other features include family entertainment such as a full-sized bowling alley and a 5D cinema.
For thrill-seekers who want to experience the sensation of flying at sea, MSC Seaside will feature a 120 meters zip line, the longest on any cruise ship currently at sea. Taking off from the funnel at the top of the ship, guests will whiz across the length of the ship landing at the aft.
With four slides and attractions for all ages MSC Seaside will offer the most interactive and originally-designed aqua park at sea, including: Slideboarding, Duelling High-Speed Aquatubes, an aqua park designed specifically for little cruisers and a ropes course.
In addition to the amazing fun on board MSC Seaside will bring its guest to stunning destinations in the Caribbean, Georgetwon in the Cayman Islands, Cozumel in Mexico and Nassau in the Bahama’s. In addition, starting October 2018, the ship will call at MSC Cruises’ own Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
At 323 metres long with a GRT of 160,000 tonnes, the ship will feature a maximum capacity of 5,179 guests. MSC Seaside is the first of two identical ships in the Seaside generation. Her sister ship is set to enter service in 2018, while a third one – reflecting an existing option for one additional Seaside generation ship – would be delivered by 2021.