GENOA, Italy -- MSC Cruises' newest ship, the Opera, will be christened June 26 here with actress Sophia Loren as its godmother.

It will be the second time Loren has played the godmother role: Last year she christened the Opera's sister ship, the Lirica.

MSC Cruises earlier this month took delivery of the Opera, a 60,000-ton, 1,760-passenger vessel, from the Chantiers de l'Atlantique yard in Saint-Nazaire, France.

The Opera will sail in the Mediterranean before redeploying to Fort Lauderdale in November for a season of seven-day alternating eastern and western Caribbean cruises.

Meanwhile, kids will cruise for free on MSC Cruises' European-based ships this summer.

Children under the age of 14 who share a cabin with two adults can sail free on nearly all the Mediterranean and Baltic itineraries offered on MSC Cruises' six ships, including the two newest, the Opera and the Lirica.

To contact reporter Rebecca Tobin, send e-mail to [email protected].

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