The June 8 all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza opened with a serene ballet performance in front of a screen projecting images of the sea, followed by a troupe of robot-like dancers whose flashing neon costumes produced alternating patterns and arrangements as they moved.
A flavour of the ship’s on board entertainment came next in a burst of colour, as perfomers in vibrant costume sang various pop- and funk songs with high energy dancing, which included acro- and aerial dance, and Latin dance.
A handful of singers took to the stage to perform pop/rock song ‘In the Air Tonight’ by Phil Collins, accompanied by a large orchestra before star act Hadley performed his best-loved songs from ‘True’ to ‘Through the Barricades’ and ‘Gold.’ Ethereal tones filled the Delphi Theatre on Deck 6 where the showcase was held as a local Danish singer wound her way through the audience to perform.
In between the various performances, videos highlighted MSC Cruises’ journey, including its sustainability progress.
Vago highlights ship's sustainability features on World Ocean Day
‘The meaning of a new ship is a milestone rich in meaning – and today is World Ocean Day. I guess it's just a coincidence,’ quipped MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago.
Thanking Denmark, and Copenhagen in particular for hosting the ship during the event, he compared their shared values on sustainability and environmental protection while noting that MSC brings passengers from more than 180 nations to the country each year, generating around €168m for the economy.
On the ship having operated the world’s first net zero GHG emissions voyage June 3-8, he added, ‘Net zero can be done … this makes us so proud. As an industry, we need to continue to invest in research and technology to achieve this every day.
‘MSC Euribia is the most energy efficient cruise ship design in the world. She's 50% more efficient than ships built only 10 years ago. She's also future fuel-ready today … We need renewable fuels at scale.’
Investing in people
MSC Cruises CEO Gianni Onorato described every new ship in the fleet as ‘the sum of our and [passengers’] experience,' while explaining that ‘sustainability means more to MSC Cruises than reducing emissions and providing incredible guest experience. It's the mindset. It's a way of life.’
He described those working for MSC Cruises – from its R&D and technical teams to its seafarers – as ‘the beating heart of the ship.’ Over time, MSC Cruises’ seagoing workforce will be required to learn new technical skills as the ships become more sophisticated, Onorato said, while noting, ‘We are committed and determined to ensure a just transition for our people as we embark and proceed on our decarbonisation voyage. We are committed to invest in the best training available for our people…’
MSC Foundation
Executive Director of the MSC Foundation Daniela Picco described initiatives to help people and communities around the world through its partners and, most recently, its partnership with NatureMetrics, a nature intelligence and environmental DNA specialist committed to advancing understanding of the most endangered marine species.
Sophia Loren
‘Thank you so much for this wonderful applause, I really love you greatly,’ Loren told the crowd as she initiated the bottle smash.
Range of speakers
Speeches also came from Cecilie Hother, UNICEF goodwill ambassador; explorer Mike Horn, MSC CEO Søren Toft and a spokesperson for the destination. German graphic artist Alex Flämig, whose sustainability-focused design adorns MSC Euribia’s hull, attended with a video projected to show the work being carried out.
Baltic region
With MSC Euribia being named in the Baltic region, Cruise Baltic director Klaus Bondam commented, 'Every day in Cruise Baltic, we try our very best to drive the development of cruise tourism in our ports and destinations in a sustainable direction.
'We are very proud that a number of the major cruise lines – including MSC – signed the Memorandum of Understanding, initiated by Cruise Baltic, where cruise lines commit to use onshore power supply if available, as soon as reasonably possible.'
Bondam saluted MSC Cruises, 'for going beyond that commitment with the new actions they are taking: real, tangible and ambitious steps towards creating a sustainable cruise industry – and cruise tourism. Let that be a common inspiration to all of us.'
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