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MSC Grandiosa

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MSC Grandiosa
MSC Grandiosa in Kiel, 2022
History
Malta
NameMSC Grandiosa
OwnerMSC Cruises
OperatorMSC Cruises
Port of registryValletta,  Malta
Ordered1 February 2016[1]
Builder
Yard numberG34[2]
Laid downJuly 2018[3]
Launched5 January 2019[3]
Sponsored bySophia Loren[4]
Christened9 November 2019[4]
Acquired31 October 2019[5]
In service2019–present
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Class and typeMeraviglia Plus-class cruise ship
Tonnage181,541 GT[6]
Length331.43 m (1,087.4 ft)[5]
Beam43 m (141 ft)[5]
Height65 m (213 ft)[5]
Decks19
Speed22.3 kn (41.3 km/h; 25.7 mph)[5]
Capacity
  • 4,842[5] (double occupancy)
  • 6,334[5] (maximum)
Crew1,704[5]

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.[7] She commenced operations on 10 November 2019.[8]

History

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Construction and debut

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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] Each new vessel was designed to be larger than their older Meraviglia-class sisters, at 181,541 GT, with a maximum passenger capacity of 6,334 guests.[9]

On 15 November 2017, on the day of the ship's steel-cutting ceremony at the STX France shipyard, MSC Cruises announced that the name of the first Meraviglia Plus-class ship would be MSC Grandiosa.[9][10] Her coin ceremony was performed in July 2018 and her float-out occurred six months later, on 5 January 2019.[3][11] She successfully completed her sea trials in September 2019.[12] MSC Grandiosa was delivered to MSC Cruises in a ceremony at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard on 31 October 2019.[13] Following her delivery, MSC Grandiosa sailed her first voyage from the shipyard to Hamburg for press events and her christening,[14] with calls in Rotterdam[15] and Le Havre.[16]

On 9 November 2019, the ship was christened in a ceremony by her godmother, Sophia Loren, whilst being moored in the river Elbe.[4] The ship later returned to her dock at the Port of Hamburg before embarking on her inaugural cruise the following day, on 10 November 2019.[4] Her inaugural cruise set sail on 10 November 2019 from Hamburg to Genoa via Southampton, Barcelona, and Marseille, and was also hampered by a storm that forced the cancellation of Lisbon.[17][18]

Operational career

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Beginning on 23 November 2019, MSC Grandiosa began sailing weekly Mediterranean itineraries for her inaugural season, calling in Genoa, Rome, Palermo, Valletta, Barcelona, and Marseille.[19][17] On 30 December 2019, at the Port of Palermo, the ship struck the Vittorio Veneto pier with her stern on the port side when maneuvering to dock.[20] Minor damage was reported on her stern and the pier, but no injuries were reported, and the ship left for Valletta later that day.[20]

MSC Grandiosa was originally expected to continue sailing in the Mediterranean until repositioning to Santos, Brazil in autumn 2020 to begin cruising in South America for the 2020–2021 season, which would have made her the largest passenger ship to ever homeport in South America.[21] However, after the COVID-19 pandemic forced MSC to reduce its operations and redeploy its fleet, MSC Grandiosa was ultimately scheduled to continue sailing Mediterranean cruises through 2021.[22] On 16 August 2020, she also became MSC's first ship to resume operations amid the pandemic, and the first major cruise ship overall to restart operations in the Mediterranean since the cessation of cruises earlier in the year.[23][24]

On 25 November 2023, she arrived in Santos, Brazil to begin cruising for the 2023-2024 Brazilian Season, calling in Búzios, Salvador, and Maceió. MSC Grandiosa is confirmed in the 2024-2025 Brazilian Season with the same itineraries.

On 16 May 2024, MSC announced she will start 7 day eastern and western Caribbean itineraries sailing from Port Canaveral Florida beginning in December 2025.

Design and specifications

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MSC Grandiosa measures 181,541 GT[6] and houses 2,421 passenger cabins for a total guest capacity of 6,334 passengers.[5] The ship also employs 1,704 crew members.[5] She has a length of 331.43 metres (1,087.4 ft), a beam of 43 metres (141 ft), a height of 65 metres (213 ft), and a maximum speed of 22.3 knots (41.3 km/h; 25.7 mph).[5] She is also MSC's first cruise ship to be equipped with a selective catalytic reduction system that helps to reduce the ship's nitrogen oxide emissions by 80 percent, along with a closed-loop exhaust gas cleaning system that reduces her sulfur emissions by 97 percent.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b Stieghorst, Tom (1 February 2016). "MSC confirms $1.7B order for Meraviglia Plus ships: Travel Weekly". Travel Weekly. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  2. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (5 May 2020). "Chantiers de l'Atlantique: delivery of MSC Virtuosa postponed by several months". Mer et Marine. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Coming in 2019: MSC Grandiosa, the first Meraviglia Plus Generation ship". MSC Cruises. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d "MSC Cruises Unveils Four Nights of Grand Celebrations for the Hamburg Christening of MSC Grandiosa" (Press release). MSC Cruises. 9 October 2019. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Corporate Information & Media Room". MSC Corporate Information & Media Room (Press release). MSC Crociere, S.A. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  6. ^ a b "MSC Grandiosa (9803613)". LR ships in class. Lloyd's Register. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  7. ^ "New Video Tour Highlights MSC Grandiosa". Cruise Industry News. 31 July 2019. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  8. ^ Peters, Gary (10 October 2018). "Sales open for MSC Grandiosa". Cruise Trade News. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  9. ^ a b Bond, Mary (15 November 2017). "MSC Cruises reveals name of first Meraviglia-Plus ship, lays keel for Bellissima". Seatrade Cruise News. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  10. ^ Kosciolek, Ashley (15 November 2017). "MSC Cruises Cuts Steel for First Meraviglia Plus-class Ship, MSC Grandiosa; Coin Ceremony Held for MSC Bellissima". Cruise Critic. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  11. ^ "MSC Celebrates Float Out of Grandiosa". Travel Agent Central. 7 January 2019. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  12. ^ "MSC Grandiosa Completes Sea Trials". Cruise Industry News. 2 September 2019. Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  13. ^ "MSC Grandiosa Delivered". Cruise Industry News. 31 October 2019. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  14. ^ Baratti, Laurie (27 September 2019). "MSC Cruises Reveals Details of the Grandest Launch for MSC Grandiosa". TravelPulse. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  15. ^ "MSC Grandiosa Makes Maiden Call in Rotterdam". Cruise Industry News. 4 November 2019. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  16. ^ "MSC Grandiosa Calls in Le Havre". Cruise Industry News. 2 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  17. ^ a b "MSC Grandiosa's Maiden Voyage Now Open for Booking". Travel Agent Central. 10 October 2018. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  18. ^ Coulter, Adam (12 November 2019). "MSC Grandiosa Inaugural Voyage Delayed Due to Bay of Biscay Storm, Two Ports Skipped". Cruise Critic. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  19. ^ "MSC Grandiosa To Introduce New Smart Features To "MSC for Me"" (Press release). PR Newswire. 13 June 2019. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  20. ^ a b Thakkar, Emrys (30 December 2019). "New Mega 181,000-ton Cruise Ship Strikes Pier". Cruise Hive. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  21. ^ Mathisen, Monty (10 September 2019). "MSC Grandiosa to South America for 2020-2021". Cruise Industry News. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  22. ^ "MSC Announces Winter Program; New Protocols Onboard". Cruise Industry News. 22 June 2020. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  23. ^ "MSC Grandiosa: First Mediterranean cruise launches after five-month pause". BBC News. 16 August 2020. Archived from the original on 17 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  24. ^ Peruzzi, Luca (17 August 2020). "MSC Grandiosa departs Genoa, signalling return of big ship cruising in the Med". Seatrade Cruise News. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
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