MSC Magnifica is a Musica-class cruise ship operated by MSC Cruises. Constructed by STX Europe in Saint-Nazaire, the ship was launched in January 2009, completed in January 2010, and entered service in March 2010.
MSC Cruises announced the suspension of all North American itineraries until 30 June 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The vessel is long, with a beam of . The 93,330-gross ton vessel can reach a maximum speed of . MSC Magnifica has 1,259 cabins – 2,550 passengers can be carried at double occupancy, while 3,605 can be carried at full capacity. The ship has 1,027 crew.
MSC Magnifica was floated out of her dry dock in a launching ceremony on 16 January 2009. A 72-hour sea trial period was completed on 17 January 2010. A flag-changing ceremony was held on 25 February 2010 in Saint-Nazaire. The ship christening on 6 March 2010 at a ceremony in Hamburg by the godmother to the MSC Cruises fleet, Italian actress Sophia Loren.
MSC Magnifica received criticism in April 2014 after it was revealed that Brazilian police had to rescue eleven crew members on board that were living in 'slave-like conditions' whilst docked in Salvador, Brazil.
On May 9, 2014, during the celebration of the 825th Hamburg Port Anniversary, the song "Seven Nation Army" was played using the horns of MSC Magnifica as it entered the harbor.
On 5 January 2019, MSC Magnifica began her first World Cruise. The ship departed from Genoa and sailed for 119. MSC Magnifica visited 6 continents, 32 countries and 49 destinations. The ship returned to Genoa on 3 May 2019.
MSC Magnifica undertook a second World Cruise leaving in January 2020. The 116-night cruise started at Genoa on 5 January 2020 and intended to call at 43 ports in 23 countries. The vessel was scheduled to end her World Cruise in Genoa on 30 April 2020.
The ship was not allowed to dock in Dubai, and instead on 6 April made a "technical stop" in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where a 75-year-old German heart patient and a Sri Lankan chef, who had made a successful plea on social media to be allowed to repatriate himself, were disembarked. The Sri Lanka Navy took charge of them; On 14 April, the German woman who evacuated the ship died. German Woman Who Was Evacuated From MSC Magnifica Cruise Ship Dies 14 April 2020 HIRU NEWS
On 20 April 2020, MSC Magnifica docked in Marseille, France, letting out all its passengers and terminating the cruise. MSC Cruises stated that no passengers and no crew members had shown any coronavirus symptoms. Some passengers had previously disembarked in Australia in mid-March and planned to fly to Europe, according to one report. The rest of the ship's guests had continued to France.
Incidents
Coronavirus pandemic
External links
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