EUR 2 billion-plus order for four 500-cabin vessels.
MSC Cruises has just announced the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of four “ultra-luxury” cruise ships.
The first vessel will be delivered in the northern Spring of 2023, will have 500 cabins and have gross tonnage of approximately 64,000GT. The remaining three ships will come into service on an annual basis over the ensuing years.
The ships will introduce “ground-breaking options for guest comfort and relaxation,” according to MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago. “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,” he said.
“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 personalised MSC Yacht Club butler service, available 24/7,” Vago added.
The new order brings MSC’s pipeline of new ships to a total of 17 additional vessels to be constructed by 2027, for an overall investment of EUR 13.6 billion.
MSC Cruises Australia MD Lynne Clarke said the ship orders announced tonight would be “as close as it comes to a private yacht experience”.
More information in tomorrow’s Travel Daily and in Cruise Weekly next week.