FIRST STEPS TOWARDS MSC CRUISES’ RENAISSANCE PROGRAMME

LAYING OUT OF MSC ARMONIA’S NEW SECTION IN PALERMO

The laying out of the new block of MSC Armonia’s keel on 19 May marks the beginning of the Renaissance programme, an important step towards ensuring that all of MSC Cruises’ ships benefit from the latest in terms of technology and comfort.

The section being laid out today weighs around 350 tonnes. In the next three months an additional three sections will be built, which are currently being cut in the Palermo yard. The whole block will be finished at the end of July, and will be inserted in the mid-section of the ship at the end of August when MSC Armonia will arrive at the shipyard.  

Close to 200 cabins will be added, as well as new entertainment spaces and new technological enhancements. The ships will boast a completely new spray park, with an exhilarating pathway of water features and water cannons. The impressive onboard boutiques will be enhanced with new interiors, more space and an all-new perfumery with display corners dedicated to leading brands. The end of the work is scheduled for 17 November 2014, the day on which the ship will leave the shipyard to sail to Genoa before heading to the Canary islands.  

The Renaissance programme, which was announced in December 2013, represents an investment close to €200 million for the four ships of the Lirica class (MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Opera) and will be complete in 2015   

Schedule and key figures  

MSC’s Lirica class Renaissance programme will follow the below dry dock schedule:  

• MSC Armonia (2004): 31 August to 17 November 2014

• MSC Sinfonia (2005): 12 January to 16 March 2015

• MSC Opera (2004): 2 May to 4 July 2015

• MSC Lirica (2003): 31 August to 9 November 2015

The four Lirica Class ships were built between 2003 and 2005 at the STX yards in Saint-Nazaire, France. They are currently 251 metres long, weigh 60,000 tons and carry 2,069 travellers. After the “Renaissance programme”, the ships will be 275 meters long, weigh 65,000 tons and carry 2,680 travellers, boasting 193 additional cabins (plus 59 new cabins for crew members).