MSC Virtuosa

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MSC Viruosa at the Port Of Liverpool (2021)

MSC Covid Virtuosa
MSC Virtuosa, Saint-Nazaire september 2020.jpg
MSC Virtuosa under construction in Saint-Nazaire, 2020
History
NameMSC Virtuosa
OwnerMSC Cruises
OperatorMSC Cruises
Ordered1 February 2016[4]
Builder
Cost800 million (2016)[8]
Yard numberH34[2]
Laid down27 February 2019[5]
Launched29 November 2019[1]
Acquired1 February 2021[3]
In service2021[6][7]
Identification
General characteristics
Class and typeMeraviglia Plus-class cruise ship
Tonnage181,541 GT[10]
Length331.43 m (1,087.4 ft)[10]
Beam
  • 43 m (141.1 ft) (moulded)
  • 50 m (164.0 ft) (max)[10]
Height64.9 m (213 ft)[9]
Decks16
Speed22.3 kt (21,900 long tons; 24,600 short tons)[9]
Capacity
  • 4,842 (double occupancy)[9]
  • 6,334 (maximum capacity)[9]
Crew1,704[9]

MSC Virtuosa is a Meraviglia-Plus class cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises. Built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, she is the second ship in the Meraviglia-Plus class and sister ship to MSC Grandiosa.[11][4] Originally scheduled to debut on 8 November 2020, her delivery and entry into service was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She was delivered to MSC Cruises on 1 February 2021 and entered service in May 2021.[6][3][7]

History[]

Construction[]

On 2 February 2016, MSC Cruises announced that they had converted their options for two new ships into firm orders, with the new vessels being a part of a sub-class that evolves from the cruise line's original Meraviglia-class platform, dubbed "Meraviglia Plus".[4][8] Each new vessel was designed to be larger than their older Meraviglia-class sisters, at 181,000 GT, with a maximum passenger capacity of 6,334 guests.[12]

On 14 June 2018, MSC Cruises celebrated the steel-cutting for the second Meraviglia Plus-class vessel and also announced her name as MSC Virtuosa at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard.[13] Her coin ceremony was performed on 27 February 2019.[5] She was floated out on 29 November 2019 and moved to a wet dock to complete construction.[1][14]

Debut[]

MSC Virtuosa was originally scheduled to be delivered in October 2020[15] and sail her maiden voyage on 8 November 2020 from Genoa. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, construction delays arose at the shipyard and slowed the ship's construction progress.[7] The delivery took place on 1 February 2021 with a traditional flag ceremony at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard.[16] She is currently expected to enter service on 20 May 2021 sailing from Southampton.[17]

Operational career[]

MSC Virtuosa was scheduled to begin sailing weekly itineraries in the Western Mediterranean in autumn 2020.[3] However, due to the construction delays, MSC Grandiosa replaced all of the ship's scheduled itineraries through the winter 2020–2021 season.[18] She will enter service on 20 May 2021 with a series of three and four-night cruises from Southampton, before beginning seven-night cruises around the British Isles on 12 June with three embarkation ports in England and Scotland.[17] These cruises will sail to ports such as Portland, Liverpool, Greenock and Belfast and are exclusively for UK residents.[19] She was originally scheduled to cruise in Northern Europe and the Baltic region for the spring 2021 season, however these cruises will be operated by MSC Seaview instead.[20] She will re-position to Dubai in autumn 2021, where she will be based throughout the winter, sailing 7-day itineraries in the Persian Gulf to the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman.[21]

Design and engineering[]

Like MSC Grandiosa, MSC Virtuosa will be equipped with a selective catalytic reduction system that helps to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 80 percent, along with a closed-loop exhaust gas cleaning system that reduces ship sulfur emissions by 97 percent.[1] She will also be capable of running on shorepower when docked at ports.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "MSC VIRTUOSA'S FLOAT OUT CAPS MONTH-LONG TRIPLE CELEBRATIONS FOR MSC CRUISES". MSC Press Area. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  2. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (30 January 2019). "Saint-Nazaire: Nouvelle mise sur cale en vue". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c S.A, MSC Crociere. "Corporate Information & Media Room". www.mscpressarea.com. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c Stieghorst, Tom (1 February 2016). "MSC confirms $1.7B order for Meraviglia Plus ships: Travel Weekly". www.travelweekly.com.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Staff, C. I. N. (27 February 2019). "Coin Ceremony Held for MSC Virtuosa". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Romanenko, Maria (24 May 2021). "MSC Virtuosa Departs on Her Second Sailing". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c Groizeleau, Vincent (5 May 2020). "Chantiers de l'Atlantique: delivery of MSC Virtuosa postponed by several months". Mer et Marine. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Gibson, Rebecca (2 February 2016). "MSC Cruises orders two Meraviglia-Plus ships from STX France". CruiseandFerry.net. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Corporate Information & Media Room". MSC Press Area (Press release). MSC Crociere, S.A. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c "MSC Virtuosa (9803625)". LR Class Direct. Lloyd's Register. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Cruise ship information | Virtuosa| MSC Cruises". MSC Cruises Global Website. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  12. ^ "MSC Cruises reveals name of first Meraviglia-Plus ship, lays keel for Bellissima". Seatrade Cruise News. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  13. ^ "First Steel Cut for MSC Cruises' Meraviglia-Plus II". World Maritime News. 14 June 2018.
  14. ^ "#MSCVirtuosa touched water for the first time this past Friday evening, as we celebrated her float out in Saint Nazaire, France". Twitter. 2 December 2019.
  15. ^ "MSC Virtuosa's Float Out Caps Month-Long Triple Celebrations for MSC Cruises". MSC Cruises. 2 December 2019.
  16. ^ Staff, C. I. N. (1 February 2021). "MSC Cruises Takes Delivery of MSC Virtuosa". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b Romanenko, Maria (29 March 2021). "MSC To Deploy Virtuosa for UK Summer 2021 Cruises". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  18. ^ "MSC Announces Winter Program; New Protocols Onboard". Cruise Industry News. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  19. ^ Weekly, Travel. "MSC Cruises' new flagship makes debut on UK coastal sailings". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  20. ^ "SUMMER 2021: MSC CRUISES' FLAGSHIP MSC VIRTUOSA TO PERFORM HER INAUGURAL SEASON AROUND THE BRITISH ISLES GIVING BRITISH GUESTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AN OPPORTUNTY FOR A MUCH DESERVED AND ALL-INCLUSIVE SAFE AND MEMORABLE HOLIDAY". MSC Press Area. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  21. ^ Ebelthite, Shaun (11 December 2019). "MSC Cruises to homeport new Meraviglia Plus-class MSC Virtuosa in Dubai for 2021/22 season". cruisearabiaonline.com. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
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