GENEVA — MSC Cruises celebrated the float out of its new MSC Seaview at a ceremony held at the Monfalcone shipyard in Italy on Aug. 23.
As the second of MSC’s Seaside generation of cruise ships, MSC Seaview is designed specifically for warmer climates and will come into service in June 2018, just six months after its sister ship MSC Seaside debuts and arrives in Miami in December 2017.
MSC Seaview will sail its inaugural 2018 summer season in the Mediterranean, visiting seven ports from four countries, including Genoa, Naples, Messina, Valetta, Barcelona and Marseille. Following the season, the ship will head to Brazil and the Southern Hemisphere for the winter 2018-2019 season, with ports of call in Santos, Ilha Grande, Buzios, Porto Belo and Camboriu.
Water enters the dry dock for MSC Seaview to float for the first time
“The float out of MSC Seaview is another significant milestone in the expansion of our fleet,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises. “She is part of a 10-year investment plan that will have already seen the delivery of six new ships by 2020.”
Much like her sister ship, MSC Seaview will feature the innovative ‘condo on the beach’ design, bringing guests closer to the sea with more outdoor space per guest than ever before. This includes a 360-degree outdoor promenade, situated lower to the ocean than that of other ships, with outdoor shops and dining. The ship will hold 4,134 passengers based on double occupancy, with 2,066 staterooms, 76% of which will have an ocean view or balcony. Some of the balconies will be terraced with both sun-soaked and covered areas, so guests can sun bathe and relax from the privacy of their own staterooms.
MSC Seaview ahead of the floating out ceremony
“At MSC Cruises, we are truly leading the way with our ship designs, as each new class of ships that we bring into service is rooted in meeting the needs of travelers of different ages, demographics and holiday desires,” added Vago. “With MSC Seaview, in particular, our vision has been inspired by our passion for the sea and we are appealing to guests who are seeking the classic elements of a holiday – sun and sea – taken to the next level with a one-of-a-kind fully immersive and interactive seaside experience even whilst cruising at sea.”
MSC Seaview
The float out is a key milestone in the construction of a cruise ship, marking the completion of the ship’s exterior. The dry dock is flooded and the vessel meets water for the first time before being moved to a wet dock. Now, in the final phase of construction, work begins to complete the interiors, fixtures and furnishings.
