MSC Cruises performed the naming ceremony for its newest flagship, MSC Seashore, late Thursday evening, 18NOV, at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in The Bahamas.
The ship set sail on 17NOV from PortMiami to travel to the first ceremony for a cruise ship to be held at a private island, and the celebration was presided over by Sophia Loren, who performed her role as Godmother to an MSC Cruises ship for the 16th time.
The festivities took place both onboard as well as on the island, featuring a gala dinner and live entertainment from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and three-time Grammy Award-winner Nile Rodgers and his band Chic.
“Today is a truly special day for us. MSC Seashore is yet another example of us bringing our newest, most innovative ships to the U.S. market. It’s also special because we are naming her at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, our breath-taking private island committed to the restoration of marine resources and the ongoing conservation of marine life,” said President of MSC Cruises USA Rubén Rodríguez.
“We are excited to showcase Miami’s newest ship and our unique marine reserve in the Bahamas to our travel partners, government officials, friends and special guests.”
MSC Seashore’s naming ceremony also formally inaugurated Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, which opened in DEC 2019 and closed shortly after due to the pandemic. The reserve, part of MSC Foundation’s Marine Conservation Center, includes a laboratory and coral nursery areas located on the island.
The Reserve is key to the Foundation’s Super Coral Program, which seeks to help restore coral reefs in The Bahamas to a healthy state through the propagation of “Super Coral” species and varieties to increase the resilience of the reefs. This work will be done in partnership with the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and Nova Southeastern University (Florida).
MSC Seashore is MSC Cruises’ first Seaside EVO ship, featuring enhancements to the line’s Seaside class designed in the style of Miami beachfront condos. 65 per cent of the public areas have been reimagined to include brand-new spaces, features and experiences for guests. The ship also offers nearly 140,000 square feet of outdoor space, where guests can enjoy the poolside, one of the many bars, relaxing in a whirlpool or simply enjoying the sunshine and breezes from the balcony of their cabin.
Following the naming event, MSC Seashore is scheduled to begin its inaugural 7-night cruise and U.S. season on 20NOV.
