STX France and MSC Cruises have announced the coming into force of the final contract for two new “Meraviglia-Plus” cruise ships.
The two underlying options had been confirmed by MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago on February 1, 2016, and now the two companies have agreed on all ship specifications, meaning that construction will be able to begin in time.
The two next-generation ships, which MSC said are the largest ships ever built for a European cruise line and the second largest globally, will be delivered in October 2019 and September 2020.
The two units are part of MSC Cruises’ $10.2 billion investment plan for 11 new next-generation cruise ships that will come into service by 2026. The “Meraviglia-Plus” ships are a further evolution of the “Meraviglia” class prototype, increasing their GRT to 177,000 with 2,450 guest staterooms. The first of the two identical “Meraviglia” class ships that are currently being built will come into service in June 2017, with 167,000 GRT and 2,250 guest staterooms.
The “Meraviglia-Plus” class will add 200 extra staterooms, for a maximum capacity of 6,300 guests. The ships of both classes will be configured to call at all world cruise ports, MSC said, and will also incorporate STX France’s ECORIZON and other next-generation environmental technologies. Among other things, this will result in air emissions levels that are already in line with all upcoming 2020 regulatory requirements, MSC said.
Other features will include a 1,195-foot-long interior promenade with an LED sky screen ceiling, as well as a show by Cirque du Soleil in the aft lounge and an onboard contemporary fine art museum.
Visit www.msccruisesusa.com