MONFALCONE, Italy -- MSC Cruises executive chairman
Pierfrancesco Vago said that MSC will build two larger versions of the MSC
Seaside, a ship scheduled to make its Miami debut on Dec. 23.
Vago spoke at a christening ceremony for the MSC Seaside at
the Fincantieri shipyard here. He announced that contracts for the ships,
valued at 1.8 billion euros, will be signed with Fincantieri this afternoon.
The ships, to be delivered in 2021 and 2023, will be known by the
name Seaside-EVO, for evolution. They will be 169,000 gross tons and
carry 4,560 passengers at double occupancy, compared with 160,000 gross tons and 4,138
passengers for the MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview. The
ships will be the largest ever built by Fincantieri.
In addition to the Seaside, Fincantieri is constructing the MSC
Seaview, a sister ship expected to debut next spring. The two ships are
distinguished by a broad promenade deck that wraps most of the ship and gives
passengers an expansive view of the ocean.
The MSC Seaside was christened in by Asya Aponte in a
ceremony attended by Italian president Sergio Matarella. Aponte is granddaughter
of MSC owner Gianluigi Aponte.
Another christening ceremony in Miami is scheduled next
month featuring Italian actress Sophia Loren.