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Godmother Sophia Loren names MSC Seaview in Genoa, Zucchero entertains

(Photo: Ivan Sarfatti)
Capt. Pier Paolo Scala applauds godmother Sophia Loren, in red, beside him, as the confetti flies
Saturday evening in Genoa, the newest addition to the ever-growing MSC Cruises fleet and new flagship MSC Seaview was christened in true MSC style in the presence of a suite of stars, VIPs, key travel partners and international media as well as top management from MSC Cruises and its parent company MSC Group.

Gianluigi Aponte, MSC Group’s founder and executive chairman Pierfransesco Vago attended and together with the Aponte and Aponte-Vago families greeted godmother Sophia Loren on stage as she cut the ribbon to launch the bottle of champagne to name her 13th MSC Cruises newbuild.

The christening ceremony was hosted by star of Italian TV, Swiss-born Michelle Hunziker who welcomed to the stage ‘father of Italian blues’ Zucchero Fornaciari who sang one song and later gave a concert on the top deck of Seaview after the gala dinner.

Italian children’s choir perform as UNICEF ambassadors

TV star Lorella Cuccarini hosted a special moment as Italian children’s choir Piccolo Coro Dell'Antoniano performed as the UNICEF ambassadors, to acknowledge the important partnership that seeks to improve the lives of children and their families in developing countries and those affected by crises.

Also performing was Matteo Bocelli, son of the world-famous Andrea Bocelli who sang at the christening of MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview’s sister ship in Miami last December.

Bocelli sang as the officers paraded, an important tradition to honour the crew from the ship.

Spotted in the crowd: celebrity chefs, models and other cruise line execs

Also present at the ceremony was Ramón Freixa, the Spanish two Michelin-starred chef who has now extended his partnership with MSC Cruises to develop his first restaurant at sea on board MSC Seaview.

Pan-Asian chef Roy Yamaguchi was attending his second MSC christening along with other stars such as Spanish model and actor Jon Kortajarena, Brazlian presenters and actors Giovanna Ewbank and French television personality Ariane Brodier.

Spotted in the naming ceremony crowd were Silversea's Manfredi Lefebvre and Carnival Corp. & plc's Arnold Donald.

MSC Seaview will commence her maiden voyage from Genoa on Sunday.