WHY IT RATES: The Seaside class ships will be equipped with the latest environmental technology. -Janeen Christoff, TravelPulse Senior Writer
MSC Cruises and Fincantieri cut the first steel of MSC Seashore, the first of two MSC Cruises Seaside EVO ships currently on order at Fincantieri. At a ceremony held at Fincantieri's shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, MSC Cruises' Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago and Fincantieri's Chief Executive Officer Giuseppe Bono launched the cutting of the first steel of this new ship.
Coming into service in Spring 2021, the 169,400 GT MSC Seashore will be the first in its kind, as an evolution of MSC Cruises' Seaside Class of ships. New cutting edge features include an additional lounge at the aft of the ship; a further enhanced MSC Yacht Club covering three forward decks; specialty restaurants at the promenade level on deck 8 for dining al fresco close to the sea; more whirlpools across the ship; 200 additional staterooms; and even more generous public spaces. Seaside EVO ships will also be equipped with the latest advanced environmental technology, including a selective catalytic reduction system; exhaust gas cleaning technology; state-of-the-art waste management and recycling systems; advanced water treatment systems; and an advanced energy and heat recovery system, as well as other technology and measures to further increase energy efficiency.
MSC Cruises' Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said: "With the Seaside Class, we introduced to the market one of the more innovative cruise ship prototypes all-around - our fifth out of six to-date - thus setting a new industry standard for others to follow. Today, only one year after MSC Seaside entered into service, we are taking this award-winning concept to the next level by starting the construction of a further evolved and even richer ship. MSC Seashore is an example of our commitment to bringing the most innovative and technologically-advanced tonnage to the sea, and will be bestowed with the latest and best maritime and environmental technology available."
The CEO of Fincantieri, Giuseppe Bono, stated: "The design of this ship is the perfect symbol of what Fincantieri has become and of what the Group today represents on the international market scene and at an overall industrial level. MSC Seashore is designed to impress: first of all due to her size, she will be by far the largest ship ever built in Italy, allowing us to further increase our management standards, but even for her top-class technological level. She is a prototype that we developed based on a one-of-a-kind and hugely successful platform as Seaside is demonstrating to be." Bono then concluded: "Over and above that, we are very proud to contribute to the growth of MSC Cruises, a company which is emerging as one of the major market players."
Today's event marked another milestone in MSC Cruises' industry-unprecedented 10-year development plan for 17 additional new mega ships, with four new ships currently under construction at the same time. MSC Seashore is the seventh ship to be built under this plan and will become the 19th ship MSC Cruises has built since its inception in 2003. Additionally, the coming into service of the first Seaside EVO ship will take innovation in cruise ship building to yet another level of excellence, much like the introduction of the original Seaside prototype has set a new standard for the industry to follow.
MSC Seashore is inspired by MSC Cruises' vision for cruising in warm climates in a unique setting. She will follow the bold and innovative design of the Seaside Class, with a wrap-around promenade on Deck 8, offering guests a myriad of choices for outside dining and relaxing. Her name, much like for her predecessors MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview, reflects a new way of enjoying the cruise experience - first introduced on MSC Cruises' Seaside Class - by bringing guests closer to the sea and helping them enjoy the outdoors.
MSC Cruises' Seaside EVO ships will have greater dimensions, even more generous public spaces, more staterooms, a larger MSC Yacht Club, and will be able to host a total of up to 5,632 guests (approx. 4,540 double occupancy).
MSC Seashore will be joined just 18 months later by a second Seaside EVO ship in autumn 2022.
Technical Ship Specs
- Length/beam/height: 1,112 ft./135 ft./243 ft.
- Gross tonnage: 169,400 GT
- Guests: 5,632
- Crew: 1,648
- Guest staterooms: 2,270
- Maximum speed: 21.8 knots
- Delivery date: spring 2021
- 19th cruise ship to join MSC Cruises' fleet since its inception in 2003
- First extended version of the Seaside Class
- Man hours required to construct the ship: over 10 million
- Number of Fincantieri employees involved at the yard - during construction: up to 4,000
- Sister ship: a second Seaside EVO sister ship is scheduled for autumn 2022
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