The laying out of the new block of MSC Armonia’s keel on May 19 marks the beginning of the Renaissance program.
The section being laid out today weighs approximately 350 tons. In the next three months an additional three sections will be built, which are currently being cut in the Palermo yard. The whole block will be finished at the end of July, and will be inserted in the mid-section of the ship at the end of August when MSC Armonia will arrive at the shipyard. Close to 200 cabins will be added, as well as new entertainment spaces and new technological enhancements.
The ships will boast a completely new spray park, with an exhilarating pathway of water features and water cannons. The impressive onboard boutiques will be enhanced with new interiors, more space and an all-new perfumery with display corners dedicated to leading brands. The end of the work is scheduled for November 17, 2014, the day on which the ship will leave the shipyard to sail to Genoa before heading to the Canary Islands.
The Renaissance program, which was announced in December 2013, represents $273 million investment for the four ships of the Lirica class (MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Opera) and will be complete in 2015.
Schedule and Key Figures
MSC’s Lirica class Renaissance program will follow the below dry dock schedule:
• MSC Armonia (2004): August 31 to November 17, 2014
• MSC Sinfonia (2005): January 12 to March 16, 2015
• MSC Opera (2004): May 2 to July 4, 2015
• MSC Lirica (2003): August 31 to November 9, 2015
The four Lirica Class ships were built between 2003 and 2005 at the STX yards in Saint-Nazaire, France. They are currently 251 meters long, weigh 60,000 tons and carry 2,069 travelers. After the “Renaissance Program,” the ships will be 275 meters long, weigh 65,000 tons and carry 2,680 travelers, boasting 193 additional cabins (plus 59 new cabins for crew members).
