MSC Cruises and Fincantieri have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the construction of four ultra-luxury cruise ships for a total value in excess of EUR 2 billion (USD 2.3 billion).
The ships, the first of which will be delivered in spring 2023, will have gross tonnage of approx. 64,000 GRT and feature 500 cabins.
The remaining three ships will come into service one per year over the following three years.
“It is off the back of the great success of our ship-within-a-ship luxury concept that our guests asked us to enter into the ultra-luxury segment, as a natural evolution of the MSC Yacht Club. These ships will be able to offer unique itineraries, thanks to their size, and the guest services will be taken to another level, including our personalized MSC Yacht Club butler service, available 24/7,” Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman, said.
“The award-winning Seaside and Seaside-Evo class have already been recognised as ground-breaking and innovative designs. We are now introducing another new class, which will establish a new standard of ultra-luxury at sea with ships that will showcase the quality and highest standards that are associated with Made in Italy.”
According to Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, with this project Fincantieri can count on 53 cruise ships in its order book.
The order will bring MSC Cruises’ orderbook to eight ships at Fincantieri. MSC Cruises’ overall investment plan accounts for a total 17 new ships to be built by 2027, for an overall investment of EUR 13.6 billion.
Of these, three have already come into service since June 2017: MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview. Two more – MSC Bellissima and MSC Grandiosa – will be delivered in February and October 2019, respectively.
Source: http://worldmaritimenews.com