Golden Age of Cruising

 If there was ever a Golden Age of Cruising it is now with the most incredible ships and all kinds of operations.

Visiting the new MSC Crociere flagship MSC PREZIOSA just adds to this feeling. And she is a precious giant floating resort and cruise liner. Yes she is very much a ship, beautiful, full of life and hightech. 

MSC PREZIOSA was delivered by STX Europe in St. Nazaire on 14 March and Lisbon was the first port of call ever on the shake downcruise now in course with ETA in Genova on 22 March and the christening ceremony on 23rd with Sofia Loren and the high profile officers of MSC and the world of cruising.

The new MSC PRZIOSA is a magnificent, beautiful giant: 139.000 GT, 3500 pax, 23 knots... All this at the cost of 550 million Euros.

PREZIOSA is the fourth sister ship in the MSC FANTASIA class and the 12th new ship built in France for MSC in ten years: total cost 6 billion euros and as a result MSC is now the third largest cruise company and the largest independent cruise operator.

MSC PREZIOSA made her inaugural call to Lisbon on 16 March 2013.

She berthed at the Santa Apolónia Cruise Terminal with GRAND HOLIDAY to her stern. 

She is now doing the positioning cruise from St. Nazaire to Genova calling at Cadiz, Casablanca, Valencia, Barcelona and Marseilles.

She will be back in Lisbon this November ona transtalantic "Grand Voyage" to Brazil.

All photos taken in Lisbon on 16 March 2013 by Luís Miguel Correia.

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia