Following the launch of the MSC Fantasia, in Naples last December, MSC Cruises has christened its new flagship, MSC Splendida, in splendid style in the Spanish port city of Barcelona. Sister ship to the MSC Fantasia, her arrival expands MSC Cruises’ fleet to 10 vessels.
The event featured song and dance performances by renowned artists, including a Flamenco performance by Joaquin Cortes, a display of Castells -the Catalan tradition of human towers, as well as a concert by world famous tenor Jose Carreras, accompanied by the Orquestra Simfonica del Valles. Completing the ceremony was the parade of the ship’s officers and the traditional cutting of the ribbon by Italian screen legend Sophia Loren, godmother of MSC Splendida.
Capable of carrying up to 3,959 passengers, the ship boasts 1,637 staterooms (80% offering ocean views) and the luxurious MSC Yacht Club, a 99-suite club area designed to provide a 6-star experience at sea, complete with full butler service. Like the MSC Fantasia, the vessel offers over 26,941 square meters of public space, where guests can enjoy recreational facilities such as the expansive theatre, Aurea Spa, 4 restaurants, bars and lounges, a disco club, casino, shopping, bowling alley, Formula One simulator and the Aqua Park featuring 150 fountains which illuminate at night to the rhythm of music.
MSC Splendida is also the latest in a new generation of energy efficient cruise ships and is the first ship to be recognized by the Bureau Veritas with the “Energy Efficient Design” award for its use of best-practice standards throughout its design and onboard systems to conserve energy. She also joins MSC Fantasia in receiving the “Bureau Veritas Six Golden Pearls” designation for compliance with the 3 highest international standards in environment, health and safety, and food safety.
MSC Splendida will cruise the Mediterranean and the European Atlantic seaboard, calling at Alexandria, Ashdod, Athens, Barcelona, Casablanca, Crete, Genoa, Madeira, Malta, Malaga, Naples, Olympia, Rhodes, Rome, Taormina, Tenerife and Tunis.
For more information, visit www.msccruises.com.
