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Pierfrancesco Vago News

14 Nov 2023

MSC Cruises Orders Two Cruise Ships from Chantiers de l’Atlantique

(Photo: MSC Cruises)

MSC Cruises confirmed it exercised options for two new World Class cruise ships from French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique. The liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered newbuilds, currently referred to as World Class 3 and 4, will be delivered in 2026 and 2027. MSC Cruises also holds an option for a fifth ship in the series.The newly ordered ships will be an evolution of the World Class vessels, MSC World Europa and MSC World America, which already perform better than the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) requirement.

20 Jul 2023

$560M Explora I Delivered for MSC's New Luxury Cruise Brand

Explora I is the first of four new luxury cruise vessels for MSC's new luxury travel brand, a four ship buy totalling $2.6B. Image courtess Fincantieri

MSC Group Cruise Division -- Explora Journeys -- saw the launch by Fincantieri of Explora I, the first of four new luxury cruise vessels for MSC's new luxury travel brand. The first ship cost $560m, part of a four-ship newbuild plan for a cumulative $2.6B.The event was attended by Gianluigi Aponte - Founder and President of the MSC Group, Pierfrancesco Vago - Executive President of the Cruise Division of the MSC Group, the godmother of the ship Zoe Africa Vago, and for Fincantieri Pierroberto Folgiero…

16 Nov 2022

Largest Italian-built Cruise Ship Delivered to MSC

MSC Seascape (Photo: Fincantieri)

MSC Group’s Cruise Division on Wednesday officially took delivery from shipbuilding group Fincantieri of its new flagship MSC Seascape, said to be the largest and most technologically advanced cruise ship ever built in Italy.The vessel is the 21st to join the MSC Cruises fleet and the fourth to have been built by Fincantieri as part of a €7 billion investment package for 10 ships. The shipyard will also build six new vessels for MSC’s luxury travel brand, Explora Journeys.The 170…

18 Oct 2022

Cruise Industry Making Headway Toward Net Zero

© Biletskiy Evgeniy / Adobe Stock

The global cruise industry continues to make progress as it works to achieve its goal of net-zero carbon cruising by 2050, though the need for development and deployment of sustainable marine fuels remains.The 2022 Global Cruise Industry Environmental Technologies and Practices Report from trade group Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reveals an increasing number of vessels launching over the new few years that will be able to incorporate zero-emissions propulsion when available as well as the growing investment to equip ships to plug in to shoreside electricity where available.

06 Jul 2022

Fincantieri to Build Hydrogen-powered Cruise Ships for MSC's Explora Journeys

(Photo: Fincantieri)

Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri on Wednesday announced it has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Explora Journeys, the luxury travel brand of the MSC Group's cruise division, for the construction of two hydrogen-powered luxury cruise ships.EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI will feature a new generation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines that will tackle the issue of methane slip and will also be equipped with industry first environmental technologies and solutions, including a containment system for liquid hydrogen that will enable them to use this promising low-carbon fuel.

31 May 2022

Fincantieri Floats Out EXPLORA I Luxury Cruise Ship

Credit: Fincantieri

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri on Monday announce the float out of EXPLORA I, the first of four luxury cruise ships ordered by the Cruises Division of MSC Group for its new luxury brand Explora Journeys. The float out took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.The vessel construction began in June 2021, and the ship is expected to enter service at the end of May 2023. At the same time, the construction of EXPLORA II, the second ship of the new brand, is proceeding with delivery expected in summer 2024.The float-out ceremony was attended…

26 Jul 2021

Largest Italy-built Cruise Ship Delivered

MSC Seashore - Credit: Fincantieri

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has said it has delivered the MSC Seashore - the largest cruise ship to be built in Italy - to the cruise division of MSC GroupAlso, Fincantieri said Monday that MSC Seashore's sister ship MSC Seascape was under construction at the Monfalcone shipyard. MSC Seascape is expected to enter service in the winter of 2022.Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the Cruise Division of MSC Group, said the construction of MSC Seashore is an investment that generates an impact on the Italian economy of almost 5 billion euros and the employment of up to 4…

08 Jul 2021

MSC Unveils New Miami Cruise Terminal

(Image: Fincantieri)

MSC Group's Cruise Division has signed a contract with Fincantieri for the construction of a new mega cruise terminal at PortMiami, a North America and the Caribbean cruise hub.The new terminal reflects an investment of approximately €350 million ($414.4 million) and will be made up of a multi-level central body to serve as many as three latest generation ships at the same time, with up to 36,000 travelers transiting every day. Designed by the award-winning global architecture firm Arquitectonica…

25 Mar 2021

Total to Supply LNG to MSC Cruises' Ships in Marseille

Sistership of Total future LNG bunker vessel in Marseille

French oil and gas major Total has struck a deal with cruise line MSC Cruises to supply around 45,000 tons per year of LNG to MSC Cruises’ upcoming LNG-powered cruise ships to make calls in the port of Marseille (France).According to the statement on Thursday, MSC Cruises’ LNG-powered vessels will be amongst the most technologically advanced cruise ships in the world, bringing a range of environmental innovations to the market, including a 50-kilowatt, LNG-powered solid oxide…

01 Feb 2021

Chantiers de l’Atlantique Delivers Cruise Ship MSC Virtuosa

(Photo: MSC Cruises)

MSC Cruises on Monday took delivery of its new flagship, MSC Virtuosa, built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint Nazaire, France.The occasion was marked by a small and private ceremony held at the shipyard attended by MSC Cruises' executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago, his wife Alexa Aponte-Vago and their children, as well as representatives from MSC Cruises newbuilds team along with shipyard executives and workers.“The delivery of MSC Virtuosa at such a challenging time for our industry symbolizes how as a family company we continue to look at the longer term and build our future…

20 Aug 2020

Fincantieri Floats Out MSC Seashore

(Photo: Fincantieri)

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri announced Thursday it has floated out the new cruise ship MSC Seashore at its shipyard in Monfalcone. The vessel has been moved to a wet dock where interior outfitting work will continue until delivery to MSC Cruises in July 2021.MSC Seashore, which will be MSC Cruises’ longest ship at 339 metres and the largest and most innovative ever built in Italy, is the third of four vessels in MSC Cruises’ Seaside class, following MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview launched in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

10 Aug 2020

MSC Will Resume Cruises on August 16

MSC Grandiosa (Photo: MSC Cruises)

Switzerland-based MSC Cruises announced Monday that it will resume "full-experience" cruise operations on select ships in the Mediterranean starting from mid-August.The cruise lines flagship MSC Grandiosa will sail in the West Mediterranean from August 16 and MSC Magnifica in the West Mediterranean from August 29. The ships will be the first to implement a new health and safety protocol that has been approved by the relevant national authorities along the ships’ itineraries.Pierfrancesco Vago…

30 Mar 2020

MSC Cruises Spain President Emiliano González Passes Away

Emiliano González (Photo: MSC Cruises)

Emiliano González, President of MSC Cruises Spain passed away on March 25 in Madrid at the age of 68.González joined MSC Cruises Spain as Commercial Director in 2002, becoming Country Manager in 2004. He restlessly worked to turn MSC Cruises into one of the country’s most popular cruise lines and witnessed the entry into service of the 17 innovative cruise ships in MSC Cruises’ fleet. In 2017 he moved on to become President of MSC Cruises Spain. Leaving his commercial responsibilities aside…

03 Nov 2019

Steel Cut for 1st LNG-fueled Ship in France

MSC Cruises, a global cruise line registered in Switzerland and based in Geneva, has held a steel-cutting ceremony for its first new-generation World-Class ship at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.The first of five liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered cruise ships on order, MSC Europa is the first LNG ship to be built in France.On the occasion of the cutting of the first steel ceremony held in Saint-Nazaire, MSC and Chantiers de l’Atlantique unveiled a groundbreaking R&D project named PACBOAT.The project focuses on the integration of a new fuel cell technology demonstrator onboard the first of four MSC Cruises’ World Class of vessels, due for delivery in 2022.

15 Mar 2019

MSC Orders Four Cruise Ship

MSC Cruises and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri  signed the final contracts for the construction of four luxury cruise ships.The announcement follows the initial signing of a memorandum of agreement between the two parties in October 2018. The contracts, subject to shipowner financing, have a total value exceeding $2.2 billion.As per the terms of the agreement, the first of the four ships will be delivered by Spring 2023. The remaining three will come into service one per year over the following three years through 2026.Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC’s Cruises Division, said: “With this now firm order, MSC is entering a new segment that bears significant potential globally.

18 Oct 2018

MSC Cruises Orders 4 Luxury Ships at Fincantieri

Pierfrancesco Vago (Photo: MSC Cruises)

Geneva headquartered MSC Cruises announced plans to enter the ultra-luxury cruise segment with a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the construction of four new vessels from Italian builder Fincantieri. The four cruise ships have a total value in excess of €2 billion and bring the number of MSC Cruises ships to be built by Fincantieri to eight.The first ultra-luxury ship is scheduled for delivery in Spring 2023, followed by one vessel per year thereafter.Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman…

12 Jul 2018

MSC Cruises Plans New Terminal at PortMiami

(Photo: MSC Cruises)

MSC Cruises is eyeing further growth in the North American with a new expansion project in Miami, the cruise line’s exclusive homeport in the U.S. The company announced it has signed an agreement for extended preferential berthing rights as well as of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the construction of a new Cruise Terminal AAA at PortMiami.“The new agreement and expanded partnership with PortMiami and Miami-Dade County is another key step forward in the business growth of MSC Cruises…

14 Jun 2018

MSC Cruises Orders Another Newbuild at STX France

(File photo: MSC Cruises)

MSC Cruises has ordered a fifth Meraviglia class cruise ship at STX France. Due to be delivered in 2023, the vessel will be equipped with a new generation of dual-fuel engines designed to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG).The agreement for the new Meraviglia-Plus vessel represents an additional investment of €900 million (approximately $1.06 billion).With today’s order, MSC will be adding 13 new ships through 2026.The announcement was made at a ceremony held at the Saint-Nazaire shipyard…

08 May 2018

MSC Cruises Raises EUR 8million for UNICEF

MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately owned cruise company and leading cruise line in Europe and South America, has announced today that to date it has raised more than €8 million for UNICEF thanks to the generous contributions of its guests. The funds raised are used to provide malnourished children with Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) such as Plumpy’ Nut and to date more than 6.5 million sachets of RUTF have been delivered to children in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia and Malawi. Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman commented: “We are delighted to have reached this new contribution milestone, thanks to the generosity of our guests. As a family-run Company, we care deeply about the wellbeing of families around the world.

30 Apr 2018

MSC Grandiosa to be Named in Hamburg

MSC Meraviglia officially made her maiden call at the port of Hamburg today, marking the start of her new as well as the brand’s best and most accessible-ever season in Northern Europe. At the traditional exchange of crests attended by Senator Horch from the City of Hamburg as well as representatives from the Ports and other institutions, media and travel partners, MSC Cruises, the Swiss-based world’s largest privately owned cruise line and now for the third consecutive year brand market leader across the whole of Europe, announced that MSC Grandiosa will be christened in Hamburg on 2 November 2019. MSC Cruises Executive Chairman, Pierfrancesco Vago commented, “We are delighted to announce the christening of MSC Grandiosa here in Hamburg.

23 Aug 2017

Fincantieri Floats Out MSC Cruises Newbuild

(Photo: Fincantieri)

The second ship in the MSC Cruises’ Seaside class, MSC Seaview, has entered the final phase of construction at the Monfalcone shipyard in Italy, where MSC Cruises and FINCANTIERI celebrated the vessel’s float out. MSC Seaview is the second of MSC Cruises’ Seaside generation of cruise ships, based on a prototype designed to bring guests closer to the sea, for warmer climates and the ultimate sun and sea cruise experience. She is set to come into service in June 2018, just six months after MSC Seaside will first come into service in December 2017 with her Grand Voyage from Trieste…

16 Nov 2017

STX France Hosts Double Event for MSC Newbuilds

(Photo: MSC Cruises)

Shipbuilder STX France hosted a coin ceremony for MSC Bellissima as well as the cutting of first steel for the MSC Cruises’ first Meraviglia-Plus class ship, representing construction milestones for two of the cruise line’s four new ships simultaneously under construction. The other two vessels, MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview, are currently being built at Fincantieri in Italy. The MSC Cruises newbuilds are part of the company’s 10-year, nearly $10 billion investment plan, under which six of 11 new ships will have come into service between June 2017 and November 2020…

29 Nov 2017

MSC Grows Fincantieri Orderbook

Photo: Fincantieri

Today at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, MSC Cruises officially took delivery of its new flagship MSC Seaside, the second newly-built vessel to come into service for the cruise line in 2017. At the delivery ceremony, MSC Cruises and Fincantieri also signed firm orders for the construction of two Seaside EVO ships, a further evolution of the Seaside Class prototype, for a total investment of €1.8 billion. MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said, “MSC Seaside coming into service marks another key milestone in the history and future of our company…