MSC Cruises has ordered another Meraviglia-class mega cruise liner.
Built by STX France, the line will take delivery in 2023 for the ship which becomes the ninth on order or currently under construction.
The 4,816-passenger hybrid ship will have the capability of running on liquefied natural gas.
MSC Cruises CEO Gianni Onorato said he didn’t want to miss the boat in securing a new construction slot at the shipyard.
"Today there are only three top-qualified yards able to build cruise ships. We’re not the only ones building ships. The yards are quite busy. We try to take our position there in order to ensure the growth of the company," Onorato said.
The announcement of the order came as STX cut steel for the fourth Meraviglia class vessel which already has a name – MSC Virtuosa.
It was a busy day for the cruise line and yard as MSC Bellissima was floated out.
With the new ship the MSC fleet will grow to 13 ships by 2026.
STX said it is the first time in the yard’s history it has had three ships from a single cruise line under construction at the same time.
