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MSC Cruises dives into ultra-luxury segment with 4-ship order

PHOTO: MSC Cruises
'The guest services will be taken to another level' on the new ships, Pierfrancesco Vago said
MSC Cruises and Fincantieri signed a memorandum of agreement to build four 500-cabin, ultra-luxury ships for a total value in excess of €2bn.

64,000gt each

The ships, the first of which will be delivered in Spring 2023, will measure approximately 64,000gt.

The remaining three ships will come into service one per year over the following three years.

MSC Cruises promised a highly innovative design with groundbreaking options for comfort and relaxation. The ships also will feature the latest environmental technology and other cutting-edge maritime solutions.

Evolution of the MSC Yacht Club

'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,' Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises, 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 continued, ‘I am especially pleased to be able to further extend our partnership with Fincantieri through this new order. The Seaside and Seaside-Evo class have already been recognised as groundbreaking 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."’

Fincantieri leadership

Fincantieri CEO Giuseppe Bono expressed pride that 'two great brands—an Italian one and one with a strong Italian DNA, well-known all over the world—today announce an important construction program. We are extremely satisfied that to launch a new class of ships in the luxury segment, MSC Cruises has acknowledged that our project will allow it to create a new generation of cutting-edge units from a technological and safety point of view, and with particular attention paid to passenger comfort.

Giuseppe Bono ceo of Fincantieri, stated: “It is with pride that two great brands – an Italian one and one with a strong Italian DNA -, well-known all over the world, today announce an important construction program. We are extremely satisfied that, to launch a new class of ships in the luxury segment, MSC Cruises has recognized that our design will help them create a new generation of ships that will be cutting edge  both in terms of  safety and technological content, and with particular attention paid to passenger comfort. With this project Fincantieri can count on 53 cruise ships in its order book, confirming its position as absolute market leader”.