MSC CRUISES NAMES FIRST SEASIDE EVO SHIP 'MSC SEASHORE' AS FIRST STEEL IS CUT AT FINCANTIERI SHIPYARD

Entering into service in spring 2021, the first Seaside EVO ship will become an even larger and richer sister ship in the Seaside Class

Geneva, Switzerland / Monfalcone, Italy, 26 November 2018 – MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately-owned cruise company and leading cruise brand in Europe, South America, South Africa and the Gulf, and Fincantieri, heir to the great tradition of Italian shipbuilding and one of the largest shipbuilding groups in the world, today cut the first steel of MSC Seashore, the first of two MSC Cruises Seaside EVO ships currently on order at Fincantieri. At a ceremony held at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago and Fincantieri’s Chief Executive Officer Giuseppe Bono launched the cutting of the first steel of this new ship.

Coming into service in Spring 2021, the 169,400 GT MSC Seashore will be the first in its kind, further enriching MSC Cruises’ Seaside Class of ships with new cutting edge features including: an additional lounge at the aft part; a further enhanced MSC Yacht Club covering three forward decks; specialty restaurants at the level of the promenade at deck 8 for dining al fresco whilst being close to the sea; a larger number of whirlpools across the ship; and 200 additional cabins as well as even more generous public spaces. Moreover, the Seaside EVO ships will be equipped with the latest advanced environmental technology, including a selective catalytic reduction system; exhaust gas cleaning technology; state-of-the-art waste management and recycling systems; advanced water treatment systems; and an advanced energy and heat recovery system, as well as other technology and measures to further increase energy efficiency.  

MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said: “With the Seaside Class, we introduced to the market one of the more innovative cruise ship prototypes all-around – our fifth out of six to-date – thus setting a new industry standard for others to follow. Today, only one year after MSC Seaside entered into service, we are taking this award-winning concept to the next level by starting the construction of a further evolved and even richer ship. MSC Seashore is an example of our commitment to bringing the most innovative and technologically-advanced tonnage to the sea, and will be bestowed with the latest and best maritime and environmental technology available.”

The CEO of Fincantieri, Giuseppe Bono, stated: “The design of this ship is the perfect symbol of what Fincantieri has become and of what the Group today represents on the international market scene and at an overall industrial level. MSC Seashore is designed to impress: first of all due to her size, she will be by far the largest ship ever built in Italy, allowing us to further increase our management standards, but even for her top-class technological level. She is a prototype that we developed based on a one-of-a-kind and hugely successful platform as Seaside is demonstrating to be”. Bono then concluded: “Over and above that, we are very proud to contribute to the growth of MSC Cruises, a company which is emerging as one of the major market players”.    

Today’s event marked another milestone in MSC Cruises’ industry-unprecedented 10-year development plan for 17 additional new mega ships, with four new ships currently under construction at the same time. MSC Seashore is the seventh ship to be built under this plan and will become the 19th ship MSC Cruises has built since its inception in 2003. Additionally, the coming into service of the first Seaside EVO ship will take innovation in cruise ship building to yet another level of excellence, much like the introduction of the original Seaside prototype has set a new standard for the industry to follow.

MSC Seashore is inspired by MSC Cruises’ vision for cruising in warm waters and balmy weather, in a unique setting. She will follow the bold and innovative design of the Seaside Class, with a wrap-around promenade on Deck 8, offering guests a myriad of choices for outside dining and relaxing. Her name, much like for her predecessors MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview, is meant to reflect this new way of enjoying the cruising experience – first introduced on MSC Cruises’ Seaside Class – by bringing guests closest to the sea to enjoy that also while at sea.

In addition to offering even more space and an even richer experience, Seaside EVO ships will have greater dimensions, even more generous public spaces, more cabins, a larger MC Yacht Club, and will be hosting a total of up to 5,632 guests.

MSC Seashore will be joined merely 18 months later by a second Seaside EVO ship in autumn 2022.

Technical ship specs

• Length/beam/height: 339m/41m/74m
• Gross tonnage: 169,400 GT
• Guests: 5,632
• Crew: 1,648
• Guest cabins: 2,270
• Maximum speed: 21.8 knots
• Delivery date: spring 2021
• 19th cruise ship to join MSC Cruises’ fleet since its inception in 2003
• First extended version of the Seaside Class
• Man hours required to construct the ship: over 10 million
• Number of Fincantieri employees involved at the yard – during construction: up to 4,000
• Sister ship: a second Seaside EVO sister ship is scheduled for autumn 2022