The Aker Yards in St Nazaire, France, have conducted the floating out ceremony of the MSC Splendida, the newest state of the art addition to the MSC Crociere fleet.
At 6.45am on 21 July, accompanied by a fleet of eight tugboats in line with tradition, the Splendida was floated out, to reach the dock about half a mile away where she will remain until her construction has been completed.
The Splendida and her sister ship MSC Fantasia are the two largest ships to be built by a European ship owner.
Both will weigh 133.500 tonnes, making them six times as tall as the Tower of Pisa, equivalent to a 23-floor building.
Each will have 1,637 cabins able to accommodate 3,274 passengers (on double basis) and 4,000 on full capacity.
The ships have 27,000 square metres of public areas including a theatre with seating for 1,649 plus the wellbeing centre – Aurea Spa, measuring 1,615 square metres.
Additionally these ships will have six restaurants each, including two buffet areas, 20 bars and lounges, four pools, 12 hydro massage pools, sports bar, jazz bar, shops, casino, disco, Formula 1 simulator, 4D interactive cinema, squash court and a children’s and teenager’s area of 400 square metres with a pool, waterslide and dedicated teenagers’ disco.
These two ships will herald a new era for cruises by introducing MSC Yacht Club, a six star VIP area with 99 elegant suites, dedicated butlers and communal spaces furnished to the highest standards. While the countdown to MSC Fantasia’s launch has already started (christening in Naples, 18 December, 2008), MSC Splendida will be christened in Barcelona during July 2009.
MSC Splendida is the sister ship to MSC Fantasia which is joining the fleet in six months time.
Then six months later her twin, MSC Splendida will also join the fleet.
These two ships are the first in the fleet to offer an exclusive VIP area, the MSC Yacht Club, plus an elegant wellbeing centre – the Aurea Spa. Both will be at the forefront of environmental protection, including an innovative water treatment process and energy efficient technology.
MSC Splendida, just like her twin, represents the fulfilment of a product that has a year round appeal, for example both ships will be equipped with an advanced system that allows the pool area to be used during the winter season too.”
MSC Splendida will call at Malta for the first time on 15 July, 2009, only three days after her christening ceremony, and every following Wednesday for 20 weeks up to the middle of November.
Travelling on the MSC Splendida, the most beautiful ship in the world, on eight-day cruises, Maltese and Gozitan passengers will be visiting Taormina, Rome, Genoa, Portofino, Marseilles, Aix-en-Provence, Barcelona, Tunis and Sidi-Bou-Said.
Hamilton Travel are exclusive general sales agents for the Maltese islands for MSC Cruises.