On 24th April MSC Cruises announced it will deploy the MSC Divina from Miami yearround in 2016. The decision will allow a global audience to benefit from added itineraries and increased availability of the MSC Cruises brand in the Caribbean.

The 139,072gt/2012 built and 3,502-guest MSC Divina had been set to return to Miami for her winter Caribbean season in November 2015 before returning to Europe again in April 2016. Instead, the redeployed ship will remain at her Miami home port and offer 24 seven-night itineraries to multiple Caribbean ports.

On 28th April the 137,936gt/2009 built MSC Splendida arrived at Southampton on her maiden call (above). This year the ship is making several calls whilst on itineraries based in Hamburg. She also became the largest ship to visit Dublin Port on 11th May.

Meanwhile French shipbuilder STX France cut the steel for the first Vista class ship for MSC Cruises on 20th April, thus opening a new chapter in the company’s fleet history. The name of the new ship, MSC Meraviglia, was announced by the cruise line at the steel-cutting ceremony in Saint-Nazaire. MSC Cruises signed a letter of intent (LOI) with STX France for the construction of two new cruise ships in March 2014.

Under the deal, there is an option for construction of two more ships. The two 315m long, 43m wide and 167,600gt ships are due for delivery respectively in 2017 and 2019. The 5,700 passenger capacity ships will boast 2,250 guest cabins and around 820 crew cabins for 1,536 crew.