Fincantieri floats out MSC Seashore, largest cruise ship built in Italy

16 meters longer

The 339-meter/1,112-foot ship is the third of four in MSC Cruises' Seaside class and first of two in its Seaside Evo series. It is 16 meters/52.5 feet longer than 2017's MSC Seaside and 2018's MSC Seaview.

At 169,500gt with capacity for 5,877 passengers, it is the largest cruise ship built in Italy. Delivery is planned for July 2021.

Changes across more than 65% of the ship

As the first Seaside Evo ship, it sports newly designed public spaces, more cabins and the highest ratio of outdoor space per passenger of any MSC vessel. More than 65% of the vessel has been enhanced to make MSC Seashore a significant evolution from its sisters.

Fincantieri CEO Giuseppe Bono said MSC Seashore highlights innovation, technology and design, adding: 'The uncertain situation that we are experiencing worldwide adds even more important value to this day, which bodes well not only for MSC Cruises and for our company, but for the entire cruise industry.'

MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago noted MSC Seashore will be one of two new ships entering service for the company in 2021 (along with MSC Virtuosa from Chantiers de l'Atlantique, originally planned for 2020), 'thus underlying our belief in the long-term growth prospects of the sector — as also demonstrated by the return to service of our first ship earlier this week as well as the investments made in our new health and safety operating protocol which is already setting a new standard for the industry.'

Environmental components

MSC Seashore will be fitted with a selective catalytic reduction system to reduce nitrogen oxide by 90% and a next-generation advanced wastewater treatment system. Other environmental components include hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems that scrub 98% of sulfur oxide from exhaust, advanced waste management systems, ballast water treatment systems approved by the US Coast Guard and various effective energy-efficiency improvements.

MSC Seashore will also be capable of using shore power, standard across all the company’s new ships since 2017.

Enhancements

The ship will have 10,000 square meters of additional deck space, a larger MSC Yacht Club and improved passenger flow with two central meeting points positioned midships and forward.

A wider range of accommodation, with more suites, includes 28 more terrace suites, two suites with private whirlpools and, in the MSC Yacht Club, two new cabin categories with 41 deluxe grand suites and two owner’s suites with whirlpools.

For families, cluster cabins link two or three adjoining rooms and can accommodate six to 10 people. And there are more spacious cabins for travelers with a disability — 75 in total.

Two new restaurants will be introduced and five specialty restaurants will be relocated to allow for waterfront seating on the ship’s boardwalk for alfresco dining.

MSC Seashore will have a new double-deck aft lounge, a bigger casino and 20 specialty bars, cafes and lounges. The ship will feature a new aft pool design, an enlarged indoor pool and a new interactive water park. Clubs for young children and teens have been separated from a larger kids’ zone.

Western Mediterranean deployment, then Caribbean

In summer 2021, all three Seaside ships will be deployed in the Western Mediterranean. MSC Seashore's ‘Six Pearls’ itinerary includes Genoa, Naples, Messina (Sicily), Valletta (Malta), Barcelona and Marseille.

MSC Seashore will then head stateside, arriving in Miami in November 2021 to sail weeklong Caribbean cruises that include Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.