The 58,625gt/2001 built MSC Armonia (pictured) arrived at the Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo on 31st August as the first of four Lirica-class ships to undergo renovations as part the line’s Renaissance Programme. The vessel will remain in dry dock for 11 weeks to be extended with a prefabricated 24-metre section containing 194 extra cabins, which was constructed in May 2014 to be inserted mid-ship once the ship was separated on 10th September.

The two sections of the ship were eased apart to a distance of 30 metres before the 24 metre insertion was slotted into place before the sections were reunited. In addition to new cabins, the ship will be fitted with a new Mini Club and Young Club for children, a Teens Club and additional areas for the Baby Club. The vessel will also offer a library and a refreshed spray park area, which includes a pathway of water features and water cannons.

The MSC Armonia will resume service on 17th November with an inaugural Mediterranean cruise from Genoa to the Canary Islands. Built between 2001 and 2005 at the STX France shipyards in Saint-Nazaire, MSC’s four Lirica-class ships will be 275m long, 65,000gt and carry up to 2,680 travellers each after the Renaissance programme is completed in 2015.

Next year, the MSC Sinfonia will enter drydock from 12th January to 16th March, while the MSC Opera will undergo renovations from 2nd May to 4th July. The MSC Lirica will be renovated between 31st August and 9th November 2015