Two more for MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises has confirmed to ALSTOM a contract for the construction of two 1,650 cabin cruise ships, following a letter of intent signed last June. These newbuildings will be the largest ever ordered by a European ship owner, with a length of 333 metres and a width of 38 metres. They will each have a capacity of up to 3,887 passengers and more than 1,300 crew members.

The first ship will be delivered in spring 2008 and the second in spring 2009. They will be built in the shipyard of Chantiers de l?Atlantique (France), a subsidiary of ALSTOM.

Alstom Marine has already built two 800 cabin cruise ships for MSC Cruises, ?MSC Lirica? and ?MSC Opera?, delivered respectively in March 2003 and May 2004. Two other 1,275 cabin cruise ships, ?MSC Musica? and ?MSC Orchestra?, are currently under construction at the shipyard of Saint-Nazaire and will be delivered for the 2006 and 2007 seasons.