New MSC cruise ship to be named MSC Grandiosa

MSC Cruises has announced its next new cruise ship will be named MSC Grandiosa, which will feature the first fine art museum at sea, during the steel-cutting of the ship at the STX France shipyard.

The new 6,334 passenger, 177,000 GT Meraviglia-Plus cruise ship will debut in 2019, as part of an expansion plan which will see the fleet increase by 11 ships by 2026. MSC Meraviglia was the first ship to launch as part of the expansion earlier this year, and currently offers Mediterranean cruises. MSC Seaside is expected to make its debut next month sailing from Miami. MSC Seaview – a sister to MSC Seaside – will launch in June 2018, followed by MSC Bellissima in March 2019. A further Meraviglia-Plus ship will set sail in 2020, followed by a third Seaside class ship in 2021, and four World class ships between 2022 and 2026.

MSC Grandiosa will elevate the features and facilities found aboard MSC Meraviglia – such as the Cirque du Soleil at Sea shows – and introduce new exciting options for guests.

MSC Cruises executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago commented: “MSC Grandiosa is named to signify magnificence and grandeur, a fitting name for this even richer, ultra-modern mega-ship. With MSC Grandiosa we continue to innovate in product. Just as MSC Cruises ‘democratised’ the luxury cruise experience when we were the first cruise brand to introduce a ship-in-ship luxury concept – the MSC Yacht Club – we are now doing the same for art and culture with the very first fine art museum at sea. MSC Grandiosa will be the third of only four MSC Cruises ships to exclusively feature Cirque du Soleil at Sea, hosted in the uniquely complex, custom-built Carousel Lounge.”

Itineraries, and further information about the ship will be announced at a later date.