Watch out Viking Cruises, Silversea, Crystal Cruises and maybe even Oceania because MSC Cruises is moving into the luxury scene with four specially designed high-end cruise ships.
Having mastered the mass market scene, MSC Cruises announced last week that it’s ready to take on the luxury sector with vessels that’ll “establish a new standard of ultra-luxury”.
Ooo, how will MSC Cruises top existing butler service, heated wardrobes and suites as large as some houses?
With the first 500-passenger ship arriving in 2023, it’s too soon for specifics. However, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman, Pierfrancesco Vago, said they’ll be an “evolution” to the cruise line’s Yacht Club – a luxury section within MSC ships where guests can pay for exclusivity and privacy.
Vago said that “thanks to their size” the vessels will have “unique itineraries” – indicating they’ll be able to cruise to smaller, less visited ports – and “guest service will be taken to another level”, including personalised butler service 24/7.
The ships to be built by the Italian company, Fincantieri, will also have the latest environmental technology, cutting-edge maritime solutions, highly-innovative design and “ground-breaking options for guest comfort and relaxation”.
The first of the EUR 2 billion investment will arrive in 2023.
New luxury ships will build on MSC’s Yacht Club.
“We are now introducing another new class, which will establish a new standard of ultra-luxury at sea with ships that will showcase the quality and highest standards that are associated with Made in Italy.”
Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises Executive Chairman
MSC Cruises’ four luxury ships are in addition to an existing order for 10 mass market ships to be delivered over the next eight years. Among the new vessels include MSC Bellissima (March 2019), MSC Grandiosa (November 2019) and MSC Virtuosa (July 2020). There’ll also be a sister ship to MSC Virtuosa (2023), two Seaside Evo ships (2021 and 2023) and four World Class ships (2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026).
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