Sales have opened for next generation cruise ship MSC World Europa.
The vessel’s design is based on a new platform with a 90-degree plumb bow shaped like an arrow and Y-shaped aft opening onto a 104-metre-long promenade.
A dry stainless steel slide spanning 11 decks called The Spiral will be a key feature of MSC Cruises’ longest ship in the fleet when it enters service in 2022.
The 22-deck ship will be the company’s first vessel to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), claimed to be one of the world’s cleanest marine fuels.
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The size of the ship allows for completely distinct districts, including six pools and 14 whirlpools.
The ship will spend its inaugural season in the Gulf from December 2022 with seven-night sailings from Dubai after making its debut on a special four-night departure from Doha in Qatar.
MSC World Europa will then re-position to the Mediterranean from Dubai on March 25, 2023 to run seven-night cruises calling at Genoa, Naples, Messina, Valletta, Barcelona and Marseille.
The new ship is being built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
MSC Cruises’ executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said: “Quite unlike anything else at sea today, MSC World Europa and the entire MSC World Class redefines the cruise experience in so many ways: from the future-proof on board technologies that this completely new platform introduces for the first time all the way to its ground-breaking marine and interior design features.
“Put it simply, MSC World Europa marks the beginning of a new era for cruising.
“Innovation will and has always been at the heart of our business, driving how with each new class of ships we reimagine the guest experience, the operations as well as every single aspect of the technology that brings it all together.
“Whether it is the new advanced air filters that will be introduced here or the vessel’s iconic and never seen before Y-shape design, MSC World Europa is all about the future.”
He added: “We have a strong, clear vision for the future and we combine that with our own timeless style. MSC World Europa embodies this perfectly – bringing together future-proof technologies, globally inspired urban design and our signature European flair to give our guests a next-level cruise experience.
“Just as importantly, we want to provide our guests not only with a truly unique and memorable holiday but also a sustainable one, so this is an intrinsic part of our innovation programme.
“This is why MSC World Europa, our first LNG ship and our most environmentally advanced yet, signifies another important step forward for us in terms of our long-term vision for zero emissions.”
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