MSC World America Completes First Year of Service

MSC World America Completes First Year of Service

The MSC World America recently completed its first year of service after entering service for MSC Cruises on April 12, 2025.

As part of the company’s World-class series, the vessel was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France.

Along with its sister ship, the MSC World Europa, the 5,400-passenger ship debuted as the largest ship in MSC’s fleet.

With a series of tweaks aimed at the U.S. market, the MSC World America was designed for year-round service in the Caribbean.

After crossing the Atlantic with no guests onboard, the vessel made its official debut in Florida, following a christening ceremony at MSC’s new cruise terminal in PortMiami.

Actress Drew Barrymore served as the vessel’s godmother, cutting the ribbon that broke a celebratory bottle on the bow of the ship.

The MSC World America then kicked off a series of seven-night cruises to destinations in the Eastern Caribbean and the Bahamas.

For its maiden voyage, the LNG-powered ship sailed to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and San Juan in Puerto Rico, as well as MSC’s private island destination of Ocean Cay.

As it enters its second year of service, the MSC World America will continue to offer weeklong cruises from its homeport of Miami.

In 2026, the vessel’s schedule includes itineraries to both the Western and Eastern Caribbean, visiting a range of destinations, such as Cozumel in Mexico and Roatán in Honduras.

MSC is now getting ready to add two additional World Class ships to its fleet in the near future, including the MSC World Asia.

While its name pays homage to Asia, the 208,500-ton vessel is set to offer year-round cruises in the Western Mediterranean starting in December 2026.

In late 2027, the company is welcoming the MSC World Atlantic, which will sail from Port Canaveral to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

MSC World America Completes Second Set of Sea Trials

MSC World America Completes Second Set of Sea Trials

The MSC World America recently returned to St. Nazaire, France, after completing a second set of sea trials.

Set to be delivered to MSC Cruises in late March, the vessel is currently in the final stages of construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard.

After embarking on its first sea trials in December, the World America sailed from St. Nazaire on Jan. 18, 2025, for a new series of tests.

During the trials, various systems and aspects of the ship’s operations are tested, including its manoeuvrability, speed and safety equipment.

As the second ship in the company’s World Class series, the MSC World America is scheduled to enter service for MSC Cruises in April.

After being delivered by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard, the LNG-powered vessel will cross the Atlantic with no guests onboard.

Following a series of pre-inaugural events in Florida, the 5,400-guest ship is set to welcome its first paying guests on April 12, 2025.

Sailing from Miami, the MSC World America will offer a series of seven-night cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas during its maiden season.

The year-round deployment includes visits to destinations in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Honduras and more.

Celebrity Ascent Completes Sea Trials

Celebrity Ascent Completes Sea Trials

The Celebrity Ascent has successfully completed its sea trials, according to a statement from the company.

The ship’s captains, brothers Demetrios and Tasos Kafetzis oversaw the tests conducted in the Bay of Biscay near the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, where the Celebrity Ascent has been under construction.

Sailing from Ft. Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, the Celebrity Ascent is offering a four-night Western Caribbean preview voyage on November 22, 2023, followed by a three-night Bahamas preview getaway on November 26, 2023.

A seven-night Eastern Caribbean maiden voyage will depart the South Florida port on December 3, 2023, kicking off the ship’s inaugural Caribbean season, featuring seven-night itineraries rotating between popular Eastern and Western Caribbean destinations such as the Bahamas, Mexico and Grand Cayman; and San Juan, Tortola and St. Kitts, respectively.

Then, the Celebrity Ascent will head to the Mediterranean for a 2024 summer season of sailings, including a nine-night Italian Riviera and France itinerary; and the 12-night Best of Greece and Italy itinerary.

MSC Preziosa Turns Ten Years Old

MSC Preziosa Turns Ten Years Old

The MSC Preziosa is completing ten years this month. Built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, the 140,000-ton vessel was delivered to MSC Cruises on March 13, 2013.

After leaving the French facility, the vessel offered a pre-inaugural cruise to the Mediterranean. Sailing to Portugal, Spain, France, Morocco and Italy, the one-way voyage ended in Genoa – where the ship was christened before officially entering service.

The ship was joined by the MSC Lirica and the MSC Splendida during the ceremony, which took place on March 24, 2013, and was attended by Sophia Loren, the Italian actress that served as godmother of the Preziosa and most of MSC’s newbuilds.

According to MSC, the event also included a high-profile gala dinner, and entertainment from top Italian and international performers in the company of celebrities, media, authorities and the company’s top management.

Following the ceremony, the MSC Preziosa kicked off its inaugural season in the Western Mediterranean.

Sailing from Genoa through the end of the European summer, the vessel offered a series of weeklong cruises during its maiden program.

Visiting Italy, Tunisia, Spain and France, the itinerary featured Naples, Messina, La Goulette, Barcelona and Marseille as ports of call.

In November, the MSC Preziosa crossed the Atlantic for the first time ahead of a winter season in Brazil.

Sailing from the Port of Santos during the entire 2013-2014 season, the vessel became the biggest and one of the newest cruise ships ever to sail from the South American country.

Completing MSC’s Fantasia Class, the MSC Preziosa offers most of the amenities of its sister ships, including a three-deck theatre, three pool decks, five restaurants, a complete wellness centre and more.

The 3,500-guest vessel also introduced new features such as Vertigo, a 120-meter-long waterslide, and the Doremi Castle Aqua Park, a water park for children.

 

Musica Marks MSC Cruises’ Full Return to Service

Musica Marks MSC Cruises’ Full Return to Service

A Chocolate Tribute to 'Return to FULL Service' on the MSC Virtuosa last week, Photo Credit SpaceJunkie2.

The MSC Musica is resuming service today in Italy, marking the return to revenue operations of the entire MSC Cruises fleet.

One of the first cruise lines to welcome guests back during the pandemic, MSC has been sailing since August 2020.

After months of limited operations in Europe, the brand has been gradually adding destinations and ships back into its active lineup for the past year.

With the Musica kicking off its summer program in the Eastern Mediterranean, all of the fleet’s 19 cruise vessels are now in service again.

Sailing from Monfalcone every Sunday, the 2006-built vessel will offer week-long cruises to the Greek Islands and Italy through November.

Passengers will also be able to board the ship in Bari before sailing to Santorini, Katakolon and Heraklion.

After completing its European deployment, the vessel is set to cross the Atlantic, ahead of a winter program in South America.

Starting in December, the vessel will serve the Argentinean market, with cruises to Brazil and Uruguay departing from the Port of Buenos Aires.

The MSC Musica originally entered service in 2006, introducing a series of four ships known as the Musica Class.

Built by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, the 92,400-ton cruise ship can carry 2,550 passengers in double occupancy and features more than 236,800 square feet of common areas.

Among them are five different dining venues, including two main dining rooms and a Japanese speciality restaurant.

The vessel is also equipped with two outdoor pool decks, a large spa, a two-deck theatre, a mini-golf course, a nightclub, a casino, a cigar room and several lounges and bars.

As the second ship to resume service for MSC Cruises this month, the MSC Musica follows the MSC Orchestra.

After a winter season in South Africa, the vessel returned to Europe on June 4, kicking off a summer program in the Western Mediterranean.

World's largest cruise ship, Symphony of the Seas, nearing completion

Symphony of the Seas

The giant is almost ready. 

New photos from the shipyard building Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas — the largest cruise ship ever — show the vessel rapidly approaching the finishing stages of construction. 

As seen in the carousel above, the new images of the 230,000-ton ship show an exterior now gleaming with a finishing coat of paint and work well under way on outdoor decks including the Boardwalk amusement zone. Boardwalk will be home to a classic carousel, diner, rock climbing walls, the base of a nine-deck-high slide and more. 

Another highlight of the Boardwalk area, an "aqua theater" that will boast daring high-diving and aerial performances, also can be seen nearing completion in the photos.

Royal Caribbean revealed earlier this month that Symphony would be ready weeks ahead of schedule. Now debuting in March instead of April, the vessel has been under construction for more than two years at the giant STX France shipbuilding facility in St. Nazaire, France.

Symphony was floated out from a dry dock at STX France in June, a construction milestone that marked the end of basic exterior work. It is now undergoing months of finishing work to its interior.

Behold the largest cruise ship ever built, Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas. USA TODAY

Symphony will be more than 3,000 tons bigger than the current size leader in the cruise world, Royal Caribbean's 226,963-ton Harmony of the Seas. Like Harmony, Symphony will be part of Royal Caribbean's record-breaking Oasis Class of ships, though it won't be an exact copy of its sisters. Royal Caribbean has unveiled several new features for the vessel including a first-of-its-kind, two-deck-high family suite with a slide between floors.

Symphony is scheduled to sail to the Caribbean out of Miami starting in November 2018. It'll move to the city after spending its first few months operating voyages in the Mediterranean.

Fincantieri to buy stake in STX France shipyard

STX France shipyard

An agreement has been reached for the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to acquire 48% of the French shipyard in St. Nazaire that is one of a handful of yards that builds large cruise ships.

The French yard is majority-owned by Korean conglomerate STX with the French government a minority 33% partner. The French government would continue to hold its one-third stake, plus veto power over decision-making, the French daily Ouest France reported.

A navy shipbuilder in France, DCNS, would get a 12% stake and a nonprofit called Fondation CRTrieste would be a 7% partner, the paper said.

The agreement, according to Ouest France, includes "commitments, particularly regarding the sustainability of the site and its activities, as well as investment and the maintenance and development of employment."

Fincantieri emerged as the only bidder for the STX stake in the French yard, which has been for sale for several years due to financial pressures at STX.

STX France built the Harmony of the Seas for Royal Caribbean International and has contracts for a fourth Oasis-class ship, plus two Edge-class ships for Celebrity Cruises, due in 2018 and 2020.

With the deal, Fincantieri and Germany's Meyer Werft will be the two major suppliers of big ships to the cruise industry, following Meyer's acquisition of yards in Finland and Fincantieri's investment in the STX France facility.

Two Huge Cruise Ships Ordered By MSC Cruises

Original Story at http://www.cruisehive.com/

Thanks to Cruisehive.com

MSC Cruises has announced the order of two huge cruise ships with STX France. The announcement was made at the cruise lines coin ceremony for MSC Meraviglia which is under construction at the STX France shipyard in St. Nazaire, France.

The two new ships to be built will be slightly larger than MSC Meraviglia and will be known as Meraviglia-Plus class at 177,100 gross tons. Both ships will carry 4,888 passengers at double occupancy and 2,444 staterooms. The first ship will be delivered to MSC Cruises in November 2019 and the second in April 2020. The Meraviglia Plus will be among the largest cruise ships in the world and will help expand the cruise lines expansion in North America, Europe and Asia.

The MSC Meraviglia which is currently under construction is the first of four ships now ordered with STX France. The European based cruise line also has three Seaside class vessels ordered with italian ship builder Fincantieri. We can expect further announcements on the Meraviglia Plus class in the coming months including deployment and onboard features.

MSC Meraviglia will be 167,600 gross tons and will be completed in June 2017. The ship will carry 4,500 passengers along with 1,540 crew members.

Royal Caribbean Release Update On Third Oasis Class Ship

Original report from Cruise Hive~ http://www.cruisehive.com/royal-caribbean-release-update-third-oasis-class-ship/6018

Royal Caribbean have released new photos from the French shipyard where the third oasis class vessel is being constructed.

The unnamed cruise ship is currently being constructed at the STX shipyard in St. Nazaire, France. It will be the same class as Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas but at a slightly larger 227,700 gross tons. take a look at the photos below released by the cruise line:

Not much information has been released yet but we do know that the ship will make its debut in April 2016 so expect more details to be released by Royal Caribbean over the coming months. The ship will feature seven distinct themed areas just like her sister ships. Also we’re pretty sure Royal Caribbean will offer something innovative and new to the cruise industry. Cruise Hive will keep readers informed as new details are released but until then feel free to post in the comments below about what you would like to see featured on the Third oasis class ship.

Celebrity Cruises orders pair of 2,900-passenger ships

Celebrity Cruises said it has ordered two 2,900-passenger ships from the STX France shipyard in St. Nazaire.

The ships are scheduled for delivery in the fall of 2018 and early 2020.

Celebrity’s most recent ship, the 3,046-passenger Celebrity Reflection, was delivered in the fall of 2012.The line recently agreed to send its oldest ship, Celebrity Century, to a new joint venture in China.

Celebrity's parent, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., said the ships are being built under the Project Edge name. RCCL said they will deliver small-ship itineraries with large-ship amenities.

"STX France designs and builds some of the most innovative and stylish cruise ships in the world, and Project Edge offers them the opportunity to again set a new standard for modern iconic architecture,” said Michael Bayley, presdient and CEO of Celebrity.

Contract costs for the ship were not disclosed. With the addition of the two new orders, RCCL said company-wide capacity is scheduled to increase by 2.4% this year, 5.5% next year, 6.7% in 2016, 3.8% in 2017 and 4.3% in 2018.

The 117,000-gross-ton ships will be part of a new class of vessels for Celebrity. the line currently operates five Solstice-class vessels, including Celebrity Reflection, and four Millennium-class vessels.

Celebrity competes in the premium segment with Holland America Line, which has a 2,650-passenger ship called Koningsdam under construction for delivery in February 2016.