Cruise
Information Center
|
Cruise Information Center
|
|
|
New Builds Strengthen MSC Cruises’ Position As The Leading European Cruise Line
Artist Drawing of New Ship Photo Courtesy of Chantiers de l' Atlantique
MSC Cruises has announced it will further expand its rapidly growing fleet of contemporary European-style cruise ships. The line, headquartered in Naples, Italy, has signed a contract with Chantiers de l’Atlantique confirming an order for construction of yet another Panamax ship, with delivery slated for March 2008, along with confirming the option for an additional ship. The joint announcement was made on March 14 by Italy-based MSC Cruises (USA) President and CEO Richard E. Sasso and Patrick Boissier, CEO of Chantiers de l’Atlantique. The ship will be the fifth of the line’s confirmed orders. MSC Cruises currently has contracts with Chantiers de l’Atlantique to build two Panamax and two post-Panamax vessels. The latest addition and option are for Panamax vessels in the same class as the 89,600-ton MSC Musica, which is having her inaugural sailing July 1. MSC Orchestra, the second Panamax ship, is scheduled to join the fleet in 2007. The line has also contracted for two post-Panamax newbuilds, MSC Fantasia and MSC Serenata. The addition of this fifth new order will increase the line’s fleet to 12 ships by 2009. "We have come a long way since 2002, when we had three ships in service. This move further solidifies MSC Cruises’ position as the leading European cruise company and the fastest-growing cruise line," says Sasso. "We are committed to making investments that confirm MSC Cruises as the dominant force in the European cruise market." Like its sister ships MSC Musica and MSC Orchestra, the newbuild will feature cutting-edge technologies and innovative design. The ship will carry 2,500 passengers and have more than 242,000 square feet of public area. In addition, 85 percent of the staterooms will be outside accommodations and 65 percent of the total number of staterooms will have balconies. MSC Cruises has a long-standing relationship with Chantiers de l’Atlantique, which has thus far produced four vessels in the line’s current fleet: MSC Lirica, MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia, and MSC Opera. MSC Cruises currently has a fleet of seven ships – MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Opera, MSC Melody, MSC Rhapsody, and MSC Monterey – and offers itineraries in the Mediterranean (year-round), Northern Europe, Transatlantic, Caribbean, South America and South Africa. For additional information on MSC Cruises, please visit their website at MSCcruises.com
|
Copyright ©2003 // 2004 // 2005
Cruise Information Center LLC
|
