MSC Growth Plans: 12 More Cruise Ships for 2 Brands

MSC Growth Plans: 12 More Cruise Ships for 2 Brands

MSC Group has ambitious plans to continue growing cruise capacity, with six more ships for its MSC Cruises brand set to be delivered over the next five years, plus another six ships for new luxury brand Explora Journeys, according to the new Global Cruise Ship Index.

Next up for the MSC  Cruises will be the Seascape, joining the brand from Fincantieri later this year ahead of its New York christening. That will be followed by the World Europa, which will be the company's first LNG-powered cruise ship, and will debut this winter in the Middle East following her delivery from Chantiers de l'Atlantique.

MSC Upcoming Newbuilds:

Cruise Line	Ship	Tonnage	Year Built	Passengers	Yard
MSC	MSC Seascape	169,380	2022	4,560	Fincantieri
MSC	MSC World Europa	205,700	2022	5,400	Chantiers de l'Atlantique
MSC	MSC Euribia	177,100	2023	4,888	Chantiers de l'Atlantique
MSC	Unnamed	205,700	2024	5,400	Chantiers de l'Atlantique
MSC	Unnamed	205,700	2025	5,400	Chantiers de l'Atlantique
MSC	Unnamed	205,700	2027	5,400	Chantiers de l'Atlantique

The Explora Journeys brand will see dramatic growth in the luxury sector, going from one ship to six ships between 2023 and 2028. The company recently announced that ships three and four will run on LNG, while ships five and six will get a new-generation powerplant that will enable the vessels to burn liquid hydrogen.

Explora Journeys Upcoming Newbuilds:

Cruise Line	Ship	Tonnage	Year Built	Passengers	Yard
Explora Journeys	Explora I	64,000	2023	922	Fincantieri
Explora Journeys	Explora II	64,000	2024	922	Fincantieri
Explora Journeys	Explora III	70,000	2026	922	Fincantieri
Explora Journeys	Explora V	70,000	2027	922	Fincantieri
Explora Journeys	Explora IV	70,000	2027	922	Fincantieri
Explora Journeys	Explora VI	70,000	2028	922	Fincantieri

New Royal Caribbean Ship Leaves on Sea Trials

The wonder of the Seas Royals 5th Oasis Class cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean International's new Wonder of the Seas has departed on sea trials from Chantiers de l'Atlantique where she is under construction.

The Oasis-class ship will now spend a few days at sea, testing systems and performance with teams from the shipyard, vendors, class society and other stakeholders aboard. 

Originally set to debut this year, the Wonder will now enter the cruise market in 2022 and become the biggest cruise ship in the world, and the fifth Oasis-class ship in service after the Oasis, Allure, Harmony and Symphony of the Seas.

The ship is being deployed to China and will be the first Oasis-class ship to sail in Asia. She could arrive in the market as soon as spring 2022 should those plans hold. 

Celebrity Edge Delivered

After four years of planning and a 23 month construction period, the 2,900-guest Celebrity Edge was delivered today at Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. At the same time, the yard laid the keep for the next Edge-class ship in the Celebrity Apex.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.'s Chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain and Celebrity's President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo hosted a ceremony aboard Celebrity Edge, while docked in the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The Celebrity Executive Team were also in attendance along with shipyard officials, including General Manager Laurent Castaing, and 1,377 crew members from 72 different countries.

"The Celebrity team has done an outstanding job and I cannot thank the Chantiers de l'Atlantique team enough for delivering this game-changing ship and for their ongoing partnership," said Fain. "Their work continues to transform the way our guests experience the world."

"Today is a very special day for all of us as we have been eagerly anticipating this moment for more than four years," said Lutoff-Perlo. "There are so many aspects of Celebrity Edge that are more groundbreaking than we could have ever imagined, and it is all a testament to the hard work, creativity and talent of everyone who helped bring this magnificent ship to life."

"Thanks to the confidence Celebrity Cruises granted us and to the exceptional level of cooperation between our respective teams, we are proud to have designed and built one of the most innovative cruise ships ever," added Castaing. "This achievement demonstrates once again our capacity to deliver right on time ships of the highest quality to our most demanding customers."

Following the Celebrity Edge check-signing and delivery ceremony, attendees made their way across the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard for the ceremonial keel laying of Celebrity Apex, where a 762-ton block was lifted in the air and a lucky coin was placed on the dock before the block was lowered into position.

On November 6, 2018, Celebrity Edge will begin her transatlantic voyage to her home port at T25 at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Her inaugural season will be spent sailing alternating seven-night eastern and western Caribbean cruise itineraries.

MSC Grandiosa Maiden Voyage Open for Sale

MSC Cruises announced that sales for MSC Grandiosa’s maiden voyage are now open exclusively for MSC Voyagers Club members through October 21, according to a press release.

During this period, members will not only have the first selection of staterooms but also receive a special 5 per cent discount on top of their 5 per cent loyalty discount, MSC said.

Sales will open for all other guests on October 22, 2018.

Launching in November 2019, MSC Grandiosa will become the company’s newest flagship, as the largest in the MSC fleet.

The megaship is currently under construction at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France.

Departing on November 10, 2019, MSC Grandiosa will sail an itinerary through Northern Europe as well as the Mediterranean. Guests can choose a 10- or 13-night sailing, embarking in Hamburg and disembarking in Genoa, Italy or Marseille, France.

The MSC Grandiosa will also call Southampton, UK, Lisbon, Portugal and Barcelona, Spain, with overnight stays in all three ports. 

The MSC Grandiosa will be the second ship to feature the Zoe – the first cruise digital assistant, MSC said.

The MSC Grandiosa will be christened in Hamburg on November 9, 2019, and will make the maiden voyage to her new homeport of Genoa, where she will begin 7-night sailings in the Mediterranean from Genoa starting on November 23, 2019. Ports on the itinerary include Genoa, Civitavecchia, Palermo, Valletta, Barcelona and Marseille. 

Celebrity Edge Sea Trials Underway

Celebrity Edge Sea Trials Underway

The first set of sea trials for the new Celebrity Edge started last week as the prototype ship left the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard on a pre-determined sailing program.

The 117,000-ton ship is due to be delivered from the yard later this year, and is the first of a four-ship order from the Miami-based brand, representing a new and highly innovative class of ship.

Sea trials are generally a test-drive of sorts for ships, where the shipyard, class society, key suppliers and the shipowner observe key performance and safety data. Most prototype ships see multiple sets of sea trials, are their performance criteria are confirmed. 

During sea trials, a ship is tested to its limits, from top speed to manoeuvrability, stopping distance and more.  

Photos: Christophe Dedieu