A European record that smacks of Italy, for various reasons. Today in Saint-Nazaire, an Atlantic location where the historic French shipyards are based, of which the Italian Fincantieri recently took over 66,6% (later dropped to 48% to leave control to Paris) for almost 80 million, revealed the largest cruise ship ever built for a European owner, i.e. the Italian-Swiss MSC. Upon delivery of MSC Meraviglia, the latest jewel 315 meters long and 65 wide, and weighing almost 172 thousand tons, the French president Emmanuel Macron is also present: right at the beginning of his mandate the deal was closed which saw Stx France , which employs 2.600 people and generates 1,4 billion in turnover, to pass from Korean hands to Fincantieri.
The vessel, flying the Maltese flag, it is capable of accommodating 5.700 passengers and will initially be used in the Mediterranean. For Saint-Nazaire it is the first major delivery after that, a year ago, of the largest cruise ship ever in the world, the Harmony of the Seas of the US Royal Caribbean Cruise. Then the months of tension, the long negotiation with Fincantieri and now a relaunch that could affect the entire cruise ship sector: according to estimates, in 2017 there will be 25,3 million cruise passengers worldwide, with an increase in bookings and also orders for new ships.
The launch of MSC Meraviglia, also called "the eighth wonder of the world", will take place on Saturday 3 June in Le Havre, in the north of France, on the occasion of the celebrations for the 500th anniversary of the founding of the city and its port. The godmother of the event will be Sophia Loren, once again under the banner of Italian spirit. The first official itinerary, from 11 June and with prices starting at 459 euros, is the one that connects Marseilles, Barcelona, Valletta, Messina, Naples and Genoa.
