Monday, July 22, 2024
Reading Time: 2 minutesConstructed at France’s Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard, the MSC Splendida officially joined MSC Cruises’ fleet July 12, 2009, with a ceremony in Barcelona.
The MSC Splendida is marking its 15th anniversary this month.
Constructed for MSC Cruises at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, the ship officially joined the company’s fleet on July 12, 2009, during a ceremony held at the Spanish port of Barcelona. Renowned actress Sophia Loren, serving as MSC Cruises’ fleet godmother, christened the vessel.
The MSC Splendida embarked on its inaugural season in the Western Mediterranean the day after the ceremony, offering cruises to Italy, Malta, Spain, and France.. The ship’s standard seven-night itinerary included stops at Civitavecchia, Genoa, Messina, Valletta, and Barcelona, allowing guests to embark from multiple ports.
During the winter season of 2009-10, the 3,300-passenger ship offered extended cruises of ten and eleven nights, which included destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Canary Islands.
The MSC Splendida, a sister ship to the 2008-built MSC Fantasia, was MSC Cruises’ second post-panamax vessel.. Weighing 133,500 tons, it was also the second to feature MSC Cruises’ exclusive MSC Yacht Club concept. This VIP suite enclave, located on the top deck, is accessible only to guests in one of its 90 staterooms and boasts private common areas such as a lounge, library, solarium, and pool deck.
The vessel was initially set to be named MSC Serenata, but its name was changed in the early stages of construction in 2007. MSC Cruises explained that the new name aimed to better reflect Splendida’s beauty and elegance.
The idea for the name change came after Raphaela Aponte, wife of MSC’s owner Gianluigi Aponte, responded enthusiastically to the interior designs by architect De Jorio.
The MSC Splendida continued to sail in the Mediterranean year-round until 2015, when it debuted in Northern Europe and South Ame.