05 June 2012
MARSEILLE: While screen legend Sophia Loren, French actor Gerard Depardieu and Italian singer, pianist and composer Paolo Conte lent glamour to proceedings, aerial artists Captens Aerobatic Display team provided the adventure quotient at the recent launch of MSC Divina, the latest offering from the MSC Cruises fleet at Marseille in France.
It was perfect compliment to the brand new cruise ship which has many fresh elements to its credit.
Interesting of them being one of the 1,751 cabins, number 16007, is dedicated to Oscar winning actress Sophia Loren. Guests staying in suite number 16007 on deck 16 can revel in the glamour and style of a suite designed for and with the help of Ms Loren.
The MSC Divina is dedicated to Greek mythological with thirteen of the eighteen decks named after the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece. In honour of the Roman gods and goddesses, the spacious, state-of-the-art, 1,600 seat theatre is named the Pantheon, after the 2,000 year old amphitheatre in Rome. An Asian-influenced Aurea Spa is also part of is also part of the cruise.
A pair of staircase is inlaid with Swarovski crystals; each step said to be costing $30,000. Besides the MSC Yacht Club a trend-setting concept designed as a distinguished sanctuary for guests seeking peace, privacy and exclusivity that makes this addition for the MSC Cruise Ship even special.
While over 2.7 million hours were spent on its construction, another 800,000 hours of work were devoted to applying the finishing touches. Of course it is there for all to see.
As for its travel, the Fantasia-class MSC Divina, will homeport from Venice, Italy for the 2012 summer season, calling at many of the most famous sites in the Mediterranean, each one steeped in its own unique history and rich beauty. From June 2, 2012 through to November 3, 2012, MSC Divina has a full schedule of 22 8-day/7-night cruises. Departing every Saturday from Venice, MSC Divina will explore the North-Eastern Mediterranean, calling at Bari, Italy, Katakolon, Greece, Izmir and Istanbul, Turkey, and Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Speaking on the launch occasion Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO, MSC Cruises said, "I am very proud of MSC Divina, the 12th addition to our wonderful fleet and our third Fantasia-class ship.
We could not have found a better choice than Marseille, where the majority of our French guests embark all year round and where MSC ships will call 80 times in 2012, bringing over 280,000 international guests to the region. MSC has also worked alongside the French government with substantial investment in the local cruise terminal and MSC Divina's christening event is the perfect opportunity to show MSC guests the comfort and modernity of a state-of-the-art terminal, a fitting gateway to the unforgettable onboard experience they will discover.-
He also added, "I believe she is the most beautiful ship in our fleet and that her innovations and polished features bring this successful class to perfection.
He informed each Fantasia-class ship represents 5 million working hours and an average investment of $700 million, over 70 per cent of which directly benefited the French economy.
The 139,400-ton Divina will carry 3,502 passengers, and including the staff the total will be 4,345. It can travel at up to 23 knots.
The christening ceremony was also attended by well known classical performer and Unicef Goodwill Ambassador Maxim Vengerov, a supporter of the MSC Cruises and Unicef Get on Board for Children initiative which funds a project for education equality for disadvantaged children in Brazil and which has raised over one million euros to date.
Vengerov took to the stage with local children and released Unicef balloons to mark the occasion. He played for the guests too.
MARSEILLE: While screen legend Sophia Loren, French actor Gerard Depardieu and Italian singer, pianist and composer Paolo Conte lent glamour to proceedings, aerial artists Captens Aerobatic Display team provided the adventure quotient at the recent launch of MSC Divina, the latest offering from the MSC Cruises fleet at Marseille in France.
It was perfect compliment to the brand new cruise ship which has many fresh elements to its credit.
Interesting of them being one of the 1,751 cabins, number 16007, is dedicated to Oscar winning actress Sophia Loren. Guests staying in suite number 16007 on deck 16 can revel in the glamour and style of a suite designed for and with the help of Ms Loren.
The MSC Divina is dedicated to Greek mythological with thirteen of the eighteen decks named after the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece. In honour of the Roman gods and goddesses, the spacious, state-of-the-art, 1,600 seat theatre is named the Pantheon, after the 2,000 year old amphitheatre in Rome. An Asian-influenced Aurea Spa is also part of is also part of the cruise.
A pair of staircase is inlaid with Swarovski crystals; each step said to be costing $30,000. Besides the MSC Yacht Club a trend-setting concept designed as a distinguished sanctuary for guests seeking peace, privacy and exclusivity that makes this addition for the MSC Cruise Ship even special.
While over 2.7 million hours were spent on its construction, another 800,000 hours of work were devoted to applying the finishing touches. Of course it is there for all to see.
As for its travel, the Fantasia-class MSC Divina, will homeport from Venice, Italy for the 2012 summer season, calling at many of the most famous sites in the Mediterranean, each one steeped in its own unique history and rich beauty. From June 2, 2012 through to November 3, 2012, MSC Divina has a full schedule of 22 8-day/7-night cruises. Departing every Saturday from Venice, MSC Divina will explore the North-Eastern Mediterranean, calling at Bari, Italy, Katakolon, Greece, Izmir and Istanbul, Turkey, and Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Speaking on the launch occasion Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO, MSC Cruises said, "I am very proud of MSC Divina, the 12th addition to our wonderful fleet and our third Fantasia-class ship.
We could not have found a better choice than Marseille, where the majority of our French guests embark all year round and where MSC ships will call 80 times in 2012, bringing over 280,000 international guests to the region. MSC has also worked alongside the French government with substantial investment in the local cruise terminal and MSC Divina's christening event is the perfect opportunity to show MSC guests the comfort and modernity of a state-of-the-art terminal, a fitting gateway to the unforgettable onboard experience they will discover.-
He also added, "I believe she is the most beautiful ship in our fleet and that her innovations and polished features bring this successful class to perfection.
He informed each Fantasia-class ship represents 5 million working hours and an average investment of $700 million, over 70 per cent of which directly benefited the French economy.
The 139,400-ton Divina will carry 3,502 passengers, and including the staff the total will be 4,345. It can travel at up to 23 knots.
The christening ceremony was also attended by well known classical performer and Unicef Goodwill Ambassador Maxim Vengerov, a supporter of the MSC Cruises and Unicef Get on Board for Children initiative which funds a project for education equality for disadvantaged children in Brazil and which has raised over one million euros to date.
Vengerov took to the stage with local children and released Unicef balloons to mark the occasion. He played for the guests too.
© Times of Oman 2012
