MSC Virtuosa

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.[9][1] 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 is currently slated to enter service in April 2021.[6][7]

MSC Virtuosa
MSC Virtuosa under construction in Saint-Nazaire, 2020
History
Name: MSC Virtuosa
Owner: MSC Cruises
Operator: MSC Cruises
Ordered: 1 February 2016[1]
Builder:
Cost: €800 million (2016)[2]
Yard number: H34[3]
Laid down: 27 February 2019[4]
Launched: 29 November 2019[5]
Acquired: 1 February 2021[6]
In service: 2021 (scheduled)[7]
Identification:
General characteristics
Class and type: Meraviglia Plus-class cruise ship
Tonnage: 181,000 GT[8]
Length: 331.3 m (1,087 ft)[8]
Beam: 43.0 m (141 ft)[8]
Height: 64.9 m (213 ft)[8]
Decks: 19
Speed: 22.3 kt (21,900 long tons; 24,600 short tons)[8]
Capacity:
  • 4,842 (double occupancy)[8]
  • 6,334 (maximum capacity)[8]
Crew: 1,704[8]

History

Construction

On 1 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".[1][2] 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.[10]

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.[11] Her coin ceremony was performed on 27 February 2019.[4] She was floated out on 29 November 2019 and moved to a wet dock to complete construction.[5][12]

Debut

MSC Virtuosa was originally scheduled to be delivered in October 2020[13] 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.[14] She is currently expected to enter service on 16 April 2021 with four cruises in the Mediterranean before relocating to Kiel to operate cruises in Northern Europe.[6]

Operational career

MSC Virtuosa was scheduled to begin sailing weekly itineraries in the Western Mediterranean in fall 2020.[6] However, due to the construction delays, MSC Grandiosa will replace all of the ship's scheduled itineraries through the winter 2020–2021 season.[15] In spring 2021, she is scheduled to cruise in Northern Europe and the Baltic region,[5] before re-positioning to Dubai in the fall, where she will be based throughout the winter, sailing 7-day itineraries in the Persian Gulf to the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.[16]

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.[5] She will also be capable of running on shorepower when docked at ports.[5]

References
  1. Stieghorst, Tom (1 February 2016). "MSC confirms $1.7B order for Meraviglia Plus ships: Travel Weekly". www.travelweekly.com.
  2. Gibson, Rebecca (2 February 2016). "MSC Cruises orders two Meraviglia-Plus ships from STX France". CruiseandFerry.net. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  3. Groizeleau, Vincent (30 January 2019). "Saint-Nazaire: Nouvelle mise sur cale en vue". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  4. Staff, C. I. N. (27 February 2019). "Coin Ceremony Held for MSC Virtuosa". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  5. "MSC VIRTUOSA'S FLOAT OUT CAPS MONTH-LONG TRIPLE CELEBRATIONS FOR MSC CRUISES". MSC Press Area. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  6. S.A, MSC Crociere. "Corporate Information & Media Room". www.mscpressarea.com. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  7. 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. "Corporate Information & Media Room". MSC Press Area (Press release). MSC Crociere, S.A. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  9. "Cruise ship information | Virtuosa| MSC Cruises". MSC Cruises Global Website. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  10. "MSC Cruises reveals name of first Meraviglia-Plus ship, lays keel for Bellissima". Seatrade Cruise News. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  11. "First Steel Cut for MSC Cruises' Meraviglia-Plus II". World Maritime News. 14 June 2018.
  12. "#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.
  13. "MSC Virtuosa's Float Out Caps Month-Long Triple Celebrations for MSC Cruises". MSC Cruises. 2 December 2019.
  14. Staff, C. I. N. (1 February 2021). "MSC Cruises Takes Delivery of MSC Virtuosa". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  15. "MSC Announces Winter Program; New Protocols Onboard". Cruise Industry News. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  16. 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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