MSC CRUISES UNVEILS FOUR NIGHTS OF GRAND CELEBRATIONS FOR THE HAMBURG CHRISTENING OF MSC GRANDIOSA

·         The star-studded Christening events will feature big name presenters and artists presenter Michelle Hunziker, Jochen Schropp, Annemarie & Wayne Carpendale and Mousse T.

·         The MSC Village on the banks of the Elbe will livestream the festivities to thousands of Hamburg residents

·         3 Michelin-star German chef Harald Wohlfahrt will design the menu for the Gala Dinner

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MSC Grandiosa see on sea trials Image: MSC Cruises

With just one month until the Christening of the first Meraviglia-Plus generation ship, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Cruises has announced an exciting line-up for the star-studded four-night celebration. With international and German celebrities, the events have been designed for international guests from all around the world as well as special events for the city of Hamburg.

The celebrations will commence with the arrival of the ship in Hamburg on the November 6 and that evening will see the start of four nights of illuminations in the Blue Port by renowned international light artist Michael Batz. From 20 different locations, light installations will bathe the port in blue symbolising the colour of the sea and MSC Cruises’ commitment to the ocean. With respect for the environment and the climate, many small lights with low energy consumption will be used. In this way, a sympathetic ensemble image is created, crowned by the sparkling silhouette of the Elbphilharmonie and the illumination of the MSC Grandiosa.

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the stunning Elbphilharmonie hamburg’s opera house seen at night

Each night on board, MSC Grandiosa will also host German musical artists in the lead-up to the main event.

The traditional Christening ceremony will take place on board the ship, making MSC Grandiosa the true star of the show. With different celebrations taking place all over the ship, guests will have a chance to discover everything that the stunning ship has to offer. The proceedings will be hosted by Michelle Hunziker, who launched MSC Seaview in June 2018. Born in Switzerland and now a popular star in Italy, the talented actress, TV presenter, model and singer embodies the international spirit of MSC Cruises. She will be joined on board by co-host TV host & actor Jochen Schropp, one of the most likeable entertainers in Germany.

On the banks of the River Elbe, the purpose-built MSC Village will welcome 5,000 people so that the city can join the celebrations from 5pm, enjoying food trucks and live music on the evening of the Christening. Presenters Annemarie & Wayne Carpendale, probably the most popular family on German TV, will be hosting the events ashore, linking live to the ceremony on board.

MSC Grandiosa takes her place centre stage in the middle of the River Elbe for the culmination of the evening’s events with a special light show at the Elbphilharmonie concert halls as the ship passes by. The official naming of the ship will then take place by MSC Cruises’ Godmother Sophia Loren and a stunning fireworks display will be launched.  The Port of Hamburg is known as “the gateway to the world” and so MSC Grandiosa will then pass through a spectacular gateway of blue night as she returns to her dock, symbolising the new ship’s entry to the world.

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MSC Cruises Godmother Sophia Loren Image: MSC Cruises

No MSC Cruises Christening event would be complete without a glamourous Gala Dinner on board, with a gourmet menu created by German chef royalty, Harald Wohlfahrt. Chef Wohlfahrt was voted one of the Top 10 Chefs in the World and is the only German chef to hold a three Michelin Star rating for 25 years in a row.

Guests will round off the evening in the iconic 93-metre-long Mediterranean promenade, Galleria Grandiosa, dancing the night away to music from popular German DJ Mousse T. with live vocals from British singer Emma Lanford. The duo have toured together worldwide and will definitely get the party started!

About MSC Grandiosa

Not only will MSC Grandiosa become MSC Cruises newest flagship but she will also become the Company’s most environmentally advanced ship to-date. The new ship is setting the standard for the future as she is equipped with some of the latest cutting-edge environmental technology including a state-of-the-art Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and next-generation Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) system and has been designed to meet the world’s strictest environmental standards set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

MSC Grandiosa is the first Meraviglia-plus generation ship and will offer a richness of guest experiences, from world-class entertainment with two brand new Cirque du Soleil at Sea shows, a wide choice of international dining options, original activities for families to an enhanced MSC Yacht Club. MSC Grandiosa will become the second MSC Cruises ship to feature ZOE, the world’s first virtual cruise personal assistant and new updates to the innovative MSC for Me digital innovation program.

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MSC Grandiosa in numbers

 

MSC Grandiosa will depart Hamburg on November 10th to commence her inaugural cruise to Genoa. From November 23rd MSC Grandiosa will commence 7-night itineraries in the Mediterranean calling Genoa, Civitavecchia, Italy; Palermo, Sicily; Valetta, Malta; Barcelona, Spain and Marseille, France.

I will be on board MSC Grandiosa for two days while she is in Southampton so be sure to follow my social channels for updates and the latest from MSC largest ship to date.

To find out more about MSC Grandiosa visit here.

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MSC CRUISES AND FINCANTIERI UNVEIL FURTHER DETAILS OF MSC SEASHORE AT COIN CEREMONY

New ship to feature the latest and most advanced environmental technology, including a state-of-the-art Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system and a next-generation Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) system

–          Further enhanced ship design and intelligently distributed deck space adds new dimensions for guest experience at sea, from accommodations to dining and entertainment including the highest ratio of outdoor space per guest of any ship in the company’s fleet

seashore-schiffsansicht.8uhyzp71A traditional maritime coin ceremony today took place at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, when the keel was laid for MSC Seashore.  At the milestone event, MSC Cruises revealed details of the significantly transformed overall design and new features of the ship.

MSC Seashore will be the Company’s longest ship – 339 metres – when she enters service in June 2021, the first of two enriched “Seaside Evo” Class ships with the latest available environmental technology, extended public spaces, more cabins and the highest ratio of outdoor space per guest of any ship in the company’s fleet.

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with a length of 339m MSC Seashore will be MSC largest ship Image: MSC Cruises

Long-standing employees Marianna Cicala, Ground Services Planning Manager, MSC Cruises and Silvia Bozzetto, Production Planning & Control Commissioning of the Monfalcone shipyard, performed today’s ritual as godmothers when they placed two coins under the new ship’s keel as the historical maritime sign of blessing and good fortune.

Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman, said: “Today’s ceremony marks another key milestone in the construction of one of our most innovative all-around ships yet. Most importantly, MSC Seashore – which will feature the latest and most advanced environmental technology currently available – represents another proof of our long-standing commitment to preserve the environment in our ongoing journey to minimise and continuously reduce the impact of our operations.”

 MSC Seashore will be fitted, amongst other, with a state-of-the-art Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system and a next-generation Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) system. SCR’s helps reduce nitrogen oxide by 90 per cent through advanced active emissions control technology. Nitrogen oxide from the engine operations is conducted through a catalyst and converts them into nitrogen and water, both harmless compounds. With AWT’s, wastewater undergoes a comprehensive purification process through a very fine filtration process that transforms it to near tap-water quality.  The system meets the so-called ‘Baltic Standard’ and treats the wastewater to a higher standard than most waste standards available in cities around the world. The new build will also be fitted with shore-to-ship power which connects cruise ships while at berth to a port’s local power grid to reduce further the ship’s emissions.

These new features add to other effective environmental technologies deployed on MSC Seashore and across the Company’s fleet to minimise and continuously reduce environmental impact, including:  cutting-edge hybrid Exhaust Gas Cleaning systems (EGCS) that removes 98 per cent of sulphur oxide from ship emissions; advanced waste management systems; ballast water treatment systems approved by the United States Coast Guard; latest-technology systems for the prevention of oil discharges from machinery spaces and various effective energy-efficiency improvements – from heat recovery systems to LED lighting.

Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri CEO, commented: “The beginning of drydock works of MSC Seashore, the largest ship so far built in Italy, is for us a source of great satisfaction:  she is the symbol of “Evo”, a successful project for our Group, innovating the already futuristic “Seaside” concept, that created two units highly welcomed by the market. It is a real challenge in terms of structural and managerial aspects, which powers the impressive workload for the shipyard and the local area. We therefore are very pleased for such a celebration which seals the fruitful partnership with MSC Cruises and we are confident that there will be other similar moments in the future”.

MSC Seashore is based on the ground-breaking “Seaside Class” prototype with a range of breathtaking design features enabling guests to connect with the ocean such as the spectacular Bridge of Sighs, stunning panoramic aft lifts and stylish glass catwalks. More than 40 per cent of the ship has been redesigned and enhanced, making MSC Seashore a significant evolution and improvement of sister ships MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview.

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Image: MSC Cruises

Some of the new enhancements are visible to the naked eye and include the 16-metres extended length of the ship, 200 additional cabins, a larger MSC Yacht Club and an additional double-deck aft lounge.  The internal architecture has been completely redesigned with two central meeting points positioned at the middle and forward part of the ship, as well as specific measures to further enhance passenger flows.  Overall the ship has 10,000 square metres of additional deck space for an even greater and more spacious onboard experience.

MSC Seashore will offer more suites thanks to the addition of 28 more terraced suites, two suites with private whirlpools and the MSC Yacht Club – the all-inclusive ‘ship within a ship’ premium concept available on MSC Cruises ships – will see two new cabin categories: 41 Deluxe Grand Suites and two Owner’s Suites with whirlpools.

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Image: MSC Cruises

The ship will feature new cabin designs such as cluster cabins for families that link two or three adjoining cabins and can accommodate between six and 10 people, plus bigger and more spacious cabins for guests with a disability – 75 in total – will be available.

Two brand new restaurants will be introduced, including one exclusively for Aurea guests.  There will be a new location for the five specialty restaurants to allow for waterfront seating on the ship’s breathtaking boardwalk to give guests a greater sea view as they dine al fresco.

  • Main restaurants (dining rooms) offer traditional Italian cuisine and wines. Dining rooms are open for Breakfast (7-9:30 am), Lunch (12-noon – 2 pm_ and Dinner with 2 fixed seatings (7 pm and 9:30 pm) with a 7-course dinner menu that also includes vegan and vegetarian meals.
  • Lido Buffet Restaurant
  • Seafood Restaurant
  • Teppanyaki Restaurant
  • Fusion Restaurant
  • Steakhouse
  • Sushi Bar
  • VIP Restaurant
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Double-decker show lounge Image: MSC Cruises

MSC Seashore will have a new double-decker show lounge at the aft part of the ship, a bigger casino and 20 distinct specialty bars.  The ship will feature a new design of her aft pool design, an enlarged indoor pool and a new interactive waterpark will provide thrills and spills for guests of all ages. Clubs for young children and teenagers have been separated from a larger kids’ zone.

The ship will provide all her guests with latest customer-centric technology, including ZOE – the world’s first-virtual personal cruise assistant and an MSC Cruises exclusive in every cabin – and MSC for Me.

MSC SEASHORE FACTFILE

 

IMO No.: 9843792

Launch: 2021

Shipyard:  Fincantieri (Montalcone, Italy)

Building Cost: EUR 900 million

Hull No.: 6283

Class: Seaside-Evo Class

Sister Ships: 

Length:  339 m

Width: 41 m

Gross tonnage:  169,380 GT

Passengers: 5,632

Staterooms & Cabins: 2270

Decks: 9

Cabin Decks: 6

Crew: 1,648

Cruising speed: 22 knots

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