Last week, at the Aker Yards France shipyards in St. Nazaire, one of the oldest marine traditions was celebrated once again: the Coin Ceremony. Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises, and Jacques Hardelay, managing director of Aker Yards France, sealed two coins into the central block of MSC Magnifica, which will join MSC Cruises' fleet during the spring of 2010.

Following tradition, the first coin was donated by the ship owner and the second by the shipyard. The MSC Cruises' coin - minted in pure gold for the occasion - bears the City of Venice coat of arms as a testament to the deep bond between the company and the Serenissima (Serene) Venice. The other side of the coin shows the traditional rose of the winds, the MSC logo. The Aker Yards France coin is a 1978 50 French francs silver coin.

MSC Magnifica will be delivered to the ship owner in December 2009. It will be the twelfth ship of the fleet and the fourth sister ship of the "Music" class: at 92,400 tons, it will have 1,259 staterooms - of which 80 percent are outside - for a double occupancy of 2,550 guests.

Two other ships are currently being built at the St. Nazaire shipyards: MSC Fantasia and its sister ship, MSC Splendida. Both will be the largest ships ever built for a European ship owner (133,500 tons). MSC Fantasia will be launched in Naples Dec. 18, 2008, while delivery of MSC Splendida is expected in June 2009.
Coin Ceremony for MSC Magnifica In St. Nazaire