by Soo Kim, The Telegraph, November 29, 2017
MSC Seaside, the world’s newest high-tech luxury cruise ship will be unveiled today, built with an innovative “beach condo” style structure.
The stylish new flagship of the MSC fleet will be officially welcomed by the cruise line in a flag ceremony later today at the Fincanteri shipyard in Monfalcone, marking its handover from the Italian shipmaker.
Among the ship’s unique design features are a wrap-around seafront promenade (dubbed to be the widest on any ship ever built) tracing the perimeter of the 323m-long ship, dotted by a series of bars and restaurants, while its two 40m-long glass-floored catwalks have been designed to simulate the feeling of “walking on water”.
Other vertigo-inducing highlights include a glass-bottomed pathway (known as the Bridge of Sighs) at Deck 16 where guests can capture never-before-seen views from 40 metres above the ocean, as well as two panoramic glass lifts offering 360-degree vistas while transporting guests between the ship’s main pool areas and other decks.
Designed to “bring guests closer to the sea than ever before”, more than 75 per cent of the 5,179-capacity passenger ship’s cabins offer ocean views, including a selection of adaptable modular cabins that can accommodate up to 10 guests.
Key features: MSC Seaside cruise ship
The new ship also houses the most interactive water park at sea, built with five attractions including the first-ever “slideboarding” facility, featuring 160m-long duelling waterslides. Other entertainment options on offer include the two longest zip lines at sea, each stretching 105 metres, a full-size bowling alley, an interactive 5D cinema and an F1 racing simulator.
The cruise line has also worked with several digital companies including Samsung and Hewlett Packard to deliver what’s said to be cruising industry’s “largest all-encompassing digital innovation programme”, which will be incorporated across the cruise line’s other upcoming nine new ships.
The host of ‘smart’ features on offer includes a new interactive digital navigator that allows guests to find their way around the ship and access relevant information on different areas of the ship, virtual reality shore excursions, interactive photo walls and wristbands designed with NFC (near field communication) that allow contactless, remote control of on-board facilities and tracking devices to help parents geo-locate their children on the ship.
18 of the most luxurious cruise ships on Earth
MSC Seaside is the second new ship to be launched this year by the cruise line, after MSC Meraviglia which was unveiled this summer, and is one of six new ships slated for launch between this year and 2020.
It will make its maiden voyage from PortMiami next month, offering Caribbean itineraries visiting Nassau (Bahamas), Ochos Rios (Jamaica), Georgetown (Cayman Islands) and Cozumel (Mexico). Its 2018 sailings will also include visits to St John’s (Antigua and Barbuda), Freeport (Bahamas), Costa Maya (Mexico), Charlotte Amalie (US Virgin Islands), Philipsburg (Sint Maarten) and San Juan (Puerto Rico).
This article was written by Soo Kim from The Telegraph and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to [email protected].
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