Two More MSC Ships Take to Water

It's full speed ahead for MSC Cruises: Less than one month after the float out ceremony for its upcoming largest-in-fleet MSC Fantasia, two more under-construction new-builds -- MSC Splendida (a sister ship to Fantasia) and MSC Magnifica (fourth in the Musica class) -- have taken to the water.

"Float out" is the shipyard term for an important milestone in the construction of a vessel. The outside or hull of a ship is constructed in a dry dock; once that work is done, the dry dock is slowly filled with water -- which allows the ship to float for the first time. Then, the final leg of work (mostly interior) can begin. MSC Splendida and MSC Magnifica -- under construction at Aker Yards in St. Nazaire, France, and due out in 2009 and 2010 respectively -- completed their technical float outs successfully early in the morning on March 1.

MSC Cruises currently has four ships under construction. MSC Poesia is the next ship to debut in the fleet, scheduled for launch in early April; Fantasia will follow in late 2008. Both ships will sail itineraries in the Mediterranean -- not just in spring, summer and fall, but winter too.