MSC Cruises upcoming MSC Seaside cruise ship has floated out onto water for the very first time. this marks a major construction milestone.
The new class ship was floated out today at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. As tradition a ceremony was held which was attended by shipyard and cruise line executives. This major milestone is the first time the ship touches water, the dry dock is flooded so that the vessel can position to a wet dock for the final stages of construction.
Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman, said:
“This is another exciting milestone in our ambitious expansion plans as we see the second of our 11 next-generation cruise ships entering the final stages of her construction.”
“MSC Seaside has been specifically designed to provide our guests with a unique onboard experience in warmer regions and boasts one the highest ratios of outdoor space in the industry so that guests can enjoy a range of open-air activities such as dining and drinking al fresco, strolling along the promenade or simply taking in the beautiful sea views from the privacy of one of the many balcony staterooms.”
MSC Seaside will now begin its fitting out phase where all the interior spaces start to come together. Once complete the vessel will be delivered to MSC Cruises in December 2017 and will begin Caribbean cruises our of Port Miami, Florida. MSC Seaside will sail year round from Miami and expand the cruise lines operation even further for the U.S. market.
Vago also said:
“We are delighted with the strength of sales for MSC Seaside so far, from both American and European guests alike,” said Vago. “The Caribbean continues to be an ever popular destination for travelers. With the addition of MSC Seaside, we are further strengthening our ability to serve this demand in this key region with five cruise ships for the winter 2017/18 season, each bringing our own, distinctive Mediterranean flair and elegance to the Caribbean vacation experience.”
At 1059 feet long with a GRT of 160,000 tons, the ship will feature a maximum capacity of 5,179 guests (4,140 guests at double occupancy). MSC Seaside is the first of two identical ships in the Seaside generation. Her sister ship — MSC Seaview — is set to enter service in the Spring 2018 and will be based in the Western Mediterranean, while a third one — reflecting an existing option for one additional Seaside generation ship — would be delivered by 2021.
You can take a virtual tour of the upcoming MSC Seaside to discover more.
