“MSC Armonia” delivered in Palermo
“MSC Armonia”, the ship marking the beginning of the Fincantieri and MSC Cruises “Renaissance Programme”, which represents an investment close to €200 million related to the four MSC Lirica Class ships, has left today the Palermo shipyard after little more than 10 weeks since her arrival, occurred on 31 August, Fincantieri said in its press release.
The works have concerned the insertion of an entire prebuilt midship section, launched at the end of July, providing an addition of approximately 200 cabins, as well as new entertainment spaces and new technological enhancements. The impressive onboard boutiques has been enhanced with new interiors, more space and an all-new perfumery with display corners dedicated to leading brands.
The ship has left the shipyard to sail to Genoa, where she will be relaunched amid much fanfare tomorrow for a 10-day inaugural cruise to the Canary Islands.
The “Renaissance Programme”, which was announced in December 2013 by MSC Cruises and Fincantieri, will involve also MSC Lirica, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Opera, and will be complete in 2015.
MSC’s Lirica class “Renaissance Programme” follows the dry dock schedule below:
• MSC Armonia (2004): 31 August to 17 November 2014 √
• MSC Sinfonia (2005): 12 January to 16 March 2015
• MSC Opera (2004): 2 May to 4 July 2015
• MSC Lirica (2003): 31 August to 9 November 2015
The four Lirica Class ships were built between 2003 and 2005 at the STX yards in Saint-Nazaire, France. They are currently 251 metres long, weigh 60,000 tons and carry 2,069 travellers. After the “Renaissance Programme”, the ships will be 275 meters long, weigh 65,000 tons and carry 2,680 travellers, boasting 193 additional cabins (plus 59 new cabins for crew members).