Seashore is the latest flagship of its fleet, delivered by the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone last summer and used for a short period in the Mediterranean, based in Genoa
Ocean Cay – The island is there. The Caribbean as well. The ship cannot be missing. The treasure, at this point, MSC hopes to bring it directly on board, growing on the US market, the first in the world for cruises with 13 million annual passengers in 2019, pre Covid.
The Geneva-based company is aiming for a progressive reopening of its borders (Covid repercussions permitting) and on a triple commercial operation: a brand new ship, the MSC Seashore, already seen this summer in Genoa, particularly suitable for hot climates for the enjoyment of the large outdoor spaces. A new 450 million euro terminal in Miami (construction starts on 13 December 2021) to handle up to 36 thousand passengers a day. And an island in the Bahamas, Ocean Cay, which until 2019 was a wasteland, a former sand pit full of ferrous materials and industrial sediments, of which 7,500 tons have been removed, to plant 70,000 palm trees and shrubs.
MSC obtained a 99-year concession from the Bahamian government and transformed it into “its” Caribbean port, but focusing on re-naturalization: no resorts, few buildings for those who will live there and for souvenirs, palm trees and beaches. But also a coral reef regeneration project conducted together with the University of Miami, with the aim of planting in the 64 nautical miles declared a nature reserve – and visited by sea turtles – corals selected in the laboratory and more resistant to climate change.
“Ocean Cay is not (only) a private island, it is a marine ecosystem recovery project. We didn’t need to turn it into a theme park or a resort, the ship already is. true element of uniqueness “, underlines the executive president of Msc Pierfrancesco Vago, which pushed for the project, which cost around 200 million.
The private island of MSC Cruises
For all these reasons, MSC organized the baptismal ceremony of the Seashore in Ocean Cay on November 18th, with the godmother of all time, a flamboyant Sophia Loren.
Seashore is the latest flagship of its fleet, delivered by the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone last summer and used for a short period in the Mediterranean, based in Genoa; it is the largest cruise ship ever built in Italy, even if Fincantieri already has the construction of its sister ship, the Seascape, in its belly, which has just touched the water in Italian shipyards. In the French shipyards, on the other hand, the World Europa is being built, the first ship in the fleet that it will be powered by liquid natural gas and will have Genoa as its port of departure.
But Seashore is also the ship with the highest ratio between passengers (there are 2200 cabins) and outdoor spaces, with innovations such as infinity pools on the lower decks. A ship whose concept recalls America, which MSC would like to conquer, as explained by Leonardo Massa, managing director for Italy, focusing on what distinguishes the European company from its main American competitors: “If they are very good at making hamburgers on an industrial scale, we must be the pizza “. In other words, Italian style in hospitality and design and great attention to the gastronomic offer. The business plan of MSC expects overall growth from 3 million passengers transported in 2019 to 5.5 million in 2029.
But the Covid variable is still a reality. The sector has restarted after the terrible blow of 2020, “also because – adds Massa – the perception has changed: thanks to strict safety protocols, cruises have become from a place to be avoided to a safer place, because they are the archetype of the” social bubble “. In fact, we have attracted new customers since the summer of last year, from the youngest looking for a social life to the elderly who wanted to feel safer “.
Everyone on board is vaccinated and tamponed before boarding and the tampon is repeated at regular intervals. The crew cannot disembark. There are three doctors and eight nurses on board.
However, the opening of tourist trips from Italy to the US is not enough, according to the company: “Today an Italian passenger cannot go for tourism to the Bahamas or Mexico, countries touched by our cruises. He must do the quarantine on his return. We expect that the government can evaluate corridors for a sector that has shown that it can guarantee a good level of security “, asks the CEO Gianni Onorato, who was called for an inter-ministerial meeting on this very issue.
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