MSC Meraviglia

Last updated

MSC Meraviglia
MSC Meraviglia Grand Harbour Malta 20180307 03 (cropped).jpg
MSC Meraviglia in Valletta, 2018
History
Civil Ensign of Malta.svg Malta
NameMSC Meraviglia
Owner MSC Cruises
OperatorMSC Cruises
Port of registry Valletta, Civil Ensign of Malta.svg  Malta
Ordered20 March 2014
Builder STX Europe  (St. Nazaire)
Laid downOctober 2015 [1]
Launched2 September 2016 [2] [3]
Sponsored by Sophia Loren
Christened3 June 2017
Completed31 May 2017
In service3 June 2017–present
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Class and typeProject Vista (MSC) cruise ship
Tonnage
Length315.83 m (1,036 ft 2 in) [4]
Beam43 m (141 ft 1 in) [4]
Draught8.75 m (28 ft 8 in) [4]
Decks15 passenger decks
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed
  • 22.7 knots (42.0 km/h; 26.1 mph) (maximum)
  • 21.8 knots (40.4 km/h; 25.1 mph) (service) [4]
Capacity
  • 4,428 passengers at double occupancy
  • 5,642 passengers maximum [5]
Crew1,536 crew

MSC Meraviglia is a cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises, built at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, by STX France. MSC Meraviglia is the lead ship of MSC's new "Vista Project" vessels, the Meraviglia class, with MSC Bellissima following in 2019. Each vessel has a passenger capacity of 4,500. When it entered service in June 2017, it was the sixth largest cruise ship in the world, behind Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class cruise ships and AIDAnova.

Contents

History

The ship initially operated in the western Mediterranean also cruised in Northern Europe as of summer 2019, but repositioned to the United States for the first time, to New York and Miami, in fall 2019, to sail to the Caribbean as part of a North American expansion program by MSC. [6]

Design and construction

The vessel's name was announced, and steel was cut, at a ceremony held at Chantiers de l'Atlantique on 20 April 2015. [7] The ship was formally named on 3 June 2017 by her godmother, Italian actress Sophia Loren [8] at a ceremony in Le Havre, which also featured French actor Patrick Bruel, musical group Kids United, and comedian Gad Elmaleh. [9]

The building of MSC Meraviglia was shown in the second episode of the Science Channel series, Building Giants , and titled "Monster Cruise Ship". [10]

The ship's facilities include a promenade with a long LED roof, a water park with water slides, a rope course and a theater. The ship overall has less passenger space and more passengers onboard than other similar cruise ships. The ship also has over ten dining areas and a spa. [7]

Incidents

COVID-19 pandemic

On 26 February 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico, Mexican authorities granted permission for MSC Meraviglia, registered in Malta, to dock in Cozumel, Quintana Roo, because she carried a passenger presumed to be infected with COVID-19. The ship was previously denied access to ports in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. [11] Two cases of common seasonal flu were found. [12]

The CDC reported, as early as 22 April, that at least one person who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 had tested positive within 14 days after disembarking. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Caribbean International</span> Norwegian–American cruise line

Royal Caribbean International (RCI), formerly Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL), is a cruise line founded in 1968 in Norway and organized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group since 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MSC Cruises</span> Cruise line registered in Switzerland

MSC Cruises is a Swiss-Italian global cruise line based in Geneva, with operations offices in Naples, Genoa and Venice. It was founded in 1988 in Naples, Italy, as part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). In addition to being the world's largest privately held cruise company, employing about 23,500 people worldwide and with offices in 45 countries as of 2017, MSC Cruises is the third-largest cruise company in the world, after Carnival Corporation & plc and Royal Caribbean Group, with a 10.2% share of all passengers carried in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chantiers de l'Atlantique</span> French shipyard

Chantiers de l'Atlantique is a shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. It is one of the world's largest shipyards, constructing a wide range of commercial, naval, and passenger ships. It is located near Nantes, at the mouth of the Loire river and the deep waters of the Atlantic, which make the sailing of large ships in and out of the shipyards easy.

<i>Oasis</i>-class cruise ship Class of Royal Caribbean International cruise ships

The Oasis class is a class of seven Royal Caribbean International cruise ships. The first two ships in the class, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, were delivered respectively in 2009 and 2010 by STX Europe Turku Shipyard, Finland. A third Oasis-class vessel, Harmony of the Seas, was delivered in 2016 built by STX France. A fourth vessel, Symphony of the Seas, was completed in March 2018. As of March 2022, the fifth Oasis-class ship, Wonder of the Seas, was the largest cruise ship in the world. A sixth ship, as of July 2024'. And now the new 2nd largest cruise ship in the world Utopia of the Seas, with a seventh to follow in 2028.

STX Europe AS, formerly Aker Yards ASA, was until 2012 a subsidiary of the South Korean STX Offshore & Shipbuilding.

<i>Norwegian Epic</i> Cruise ship

Norwegian Epic is a cruise ship of the Norwegian Cruise Line built under NCL's F3 Project by the STX Europe Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. When built she was the third largest cruise ship in the world.

<i>MSC Fantasia</i> Cruise ship operating for MSC Cruises

MSC Fantasia is a Fantasia-class cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises and serves as the lead vessel for the Fantasia class of ships. She entered service in December 2008 and ushered in a new generation of larger ships for MSC Cruises, becoming the largest ship to operate for MSC at the time of delivery. She was also the first vessel to feature the MSC Yacht Club, MSC Cruises ship within ship concept.

<i>MSC Magnifica</i> Musica-class cruise ship

MSC Magnifica is a Musica-class cruise ship operated by MSC Cruises. Constructed by STX Europe in Saint-Nazaire, the ship was launched in January 2009, completed in January 2010, and entered service in March 2010.

<i>MSC Preziosa</i> Fantasia-class cruise ship

MSC Preziosa is a Fantasia-class cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises. She entered service in March 2013. She is an enhanced version of her first two class member ships, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia, and is identical to the previous MSC Divina. She debuted on 13 March as the fourth ship in the Fantasia class.

<i>Harmony of the Seas</i> Oasis-class Royal Caribbean International cruise ship

Harmony of the Seas is an Oasis-class cruise ship built by STX France at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, for Royal Caribbean International. With a gross tonnage of 226,963 GT, she is the fourth largest passenger ship in the world, larger than her older sisters Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, but surpassed by her newer sisters Symphony of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas.

<i>Edge</i>-class cruise ship Class of cruise ship

The Edge class is a class of cruise ships operated by Celebrity Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. The class is constructed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique of France. At present, there are four active Edge-class ships: the lead vessel of the class Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond, and Celebrity Ascent. Celebrity Apex was scheduled to begin operations in April 2020, but entry into service was delayed until June 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Celebrity Ascent is the newest ship to debut and welcomed its first guests in November 2023. A fifth ship, Celebrity Xcel is currently under construction.

<i>MSC Bellissima</i> Cruise ship built in 2019

MSC Bellissima is a cruise ship operated by MSC Cruises. She was constructed at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France.

<i>MSC Grandiosa</i> Cruise ship operated by MSC Cruises

MSC Grandiosa 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 first of three Meraviglia Plus-class ships set to operate for the cruise line. She commenced operations on 10 November 2019.

<i>Celebrity Apex</i> Cruise ship operated by Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Apex is an Edge-class cruise ship operated by Celebrity Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Constructed at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, she is the second vessel in the company's Edge class of ships, following the delivery of her sister ship, Celebrity Edge, in 2018. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her debut sailing was from Athens on June 19, 2021 to the Greek Islands.

<i>Wonder of the Seas</i> Oasis-class cruise ship

Wonder of the Seas is a cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International. She was completed in 2022 in the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire France, the fifth in Royal Caribbean's Oasis class of cruise ships. At 235,600 GT, she was the largest cruise ship by gross tonnage, until she was surpassed in 2024 by the Icon-class cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, also owned by Royal Caribbean International.

<i>MSC Virtuosa</i> Cruise ship

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. 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.

World-class cruise ship Class of cruise ships under construction for MSC Cruises

The World class is a class of cruise ships being built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique of France for MSC Cruises. There are four vessels planned, with the lead vessel, MSC World Europa, delivered in 2022.

<i>MSC World Europa</i> Cruise ship to operate for MSC Cruises beginning in 2022

MSC World Europa is a World-class cruise ship of MSC Cruises. LNG-powered, she was built by the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, and as of June 2024 is the world's eighth largest passenger ship and the largest cruise ship in the world that is not owned by Royal Caribbean International currently. MSC World Europa began public operations from 20 December 2022 in a 9-day roundtrip from Qatar after serving as a hotel ship in Doha during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. She became MSC's first World-class ship and will be joined by three sister ships in 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively.

<i>Celebrity Beyond</i> Passenger cruise ship launched in 2021

Celebrity Beyond is a cruise ship owned by Celebrity Cruises, taking its name from the company's slogan. The third in the Edge class, the ship was constructed at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard, and entered service in April 2022. The ship is captained by Kate McCue.

References

  1. ↑ "STX France : Le MSC Meraviglia à moitié assemblé" (in French). 13 April 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "MSC Cruises Reveals Name Of Second Meraviglia Generation Mega-Ship: MSC Bellissima". 2 September 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  3. ↑ "MSC Meraviglia Floated Out at STX France". 2 September 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "MSC Meraviglia (9760512)". BV Fleet. Bureau Veritas . Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  5. ↑ "MSC Meraviglia". MSC Cruises. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  6. ↑ Tribou, Richard. "MSC Meraviglia coming to Miami as part of North American expansion". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  7. 1 2 Wood, Donald (21 April 2015). "Introducing Meraviglia, MSC Cruises' First Vista-Class Ship". TravelPulse.com. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "MSC Meraviglia Finally Gets Her Beautiful Godmother | CruiseBe". CruiseBe. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "The latest giant of the seas, MSC Meraviglia, christened in France". USA Today . Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  10. ↑ "Building Giants: Monster Cruise Ship". Science Channel. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  11. ↑ "MSC Meraviglia cruise ship to dock in Cozumel, Mexico despite coronavirus fears". El Universal (English). 26 February 2020. Archived from the original on 14 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  12. ↑ "Mexico: No Coronavirus on MSC Meraviglia". The Maritime Executive. 29 February 2020. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  13. ↑ "COVID-19 and Your Health". 11 February 2020. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020.

https://www.nbcmiami.com/investigations/2-families-sue-cruise-line-as-numbers-show-spike-in-reports-of-sexual-assaults-at-sea/3213132/

https://www.foxnews.com/us/warning-cruise-passengers-sexual-assaults-hit-new-high-2023-sailings-fbi

https://www.businessinsider.com/msc-cruise-passenger-says-crew-member-sexually-assaulted-her-2023-3

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article229147224.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2023/12/21/msc-bahamas-cruise-itinerary-change/71998967007/

https://abcnews.go.com/US/bahamas-cruise-diverted-new-england-canada-inclement-weather/story?id=105789664

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.