MSC Splendida

File:MSC Splendida in Geirangerfjorden 20150604 1.jpg in June 2015.]]

MSC Splendida was completed in 2009 at a cost of $550 million and is a sister ship to MSC Fantasia, originally, she was to be named MSC Serenata, but the name was changed in May 2007 to MSC Splendida{{cite news |url=http://www.msccruises.com.au/default.asp?action=article&ID=40903 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829015959/http://www.msccruises.com.au/default.asp?action=article&ID=40903 |title=MSC Serenata is renamed MSC Splendida |date=31 May 2007 |publisher=MSC Cruises |archivedate=29 August 2007 |accessdate=2 January 2008}}{{cite web |title=MSC Serenata is Renamed MSC Splendida |url=http://www.yourcruiseyourway.com/2007/06/01/msc-serenata-is-renamed-msc-splendida/ |date=1 June 2007 |work=yourcruiseyourway |accessdate=9 July 2009 |archive-date=20 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720071556/http://www.yourcruiseyourway.com/2007/06/01/msc-serenata-is-renamed-msc-splendida/ |url-status=live }} She measures 137,936 GT, and is 333.30 m long with a beam of 37.98 m, a height of 66.81 m and a draft of 8.29 m. Her capacity is 3,900 passengers.{{cite web|url=https://www.ship-technology.com/projects/mscsplendidacruisesh/|title=MSC Splendida Cruise Ship|website=Ship Technology|access-date=1 May 2020|archive-date=23 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023212818/https://www.ship-technology.com/projects/mscsplendidacruisesh/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/iowans-on-cruise-ship-expected-to-be-home-soon/524-151b24b2-64f3-435f-a6a7-14b01e8ec0b2|title=Iowans on cruise ship expected to be home soon|website=weareiowa.com|date=9 March 2020|access-date=1 May 2020|archive-date=18 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518161158/https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/iowans-on-cruise-ship-expected-to-be-home-soon/524-151b24b2-64f3-435f-a6a7-14b01e8ec0b2|url-status=live}} The two Neopanamax vessels were to be the largest ships in a European cruise line's fleet at the time of delivery.{{cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/604-53007-msc-serenata-is-renamed-msc-splendida.html|title=MSC Serenata Renamed MSC Splendida|last=Staff|first=C. I. N.|date=31 May 2007|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com|language=en-gb|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110112247/https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/604-53007-msc-serenata-is-renamed-msc-splendida.html|archive-date=10 November 2019|access-date=}}

The then-unnamed vessel was part of a two-ship order made by MSC Cruises with STX France on 16 November 2005, for a tentative delivery in spring 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/13636-msc-expansion-two-new-ships-ordered.html|title=MSC Expansion, Two New Ships Ordered|last=Newsletter|first=C. I. N.|date=16 November 2005|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com|language=en-gb|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110112244/https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/13636-msc-expansion-two-new-ships-ordered.html|archive-date=10 November 2019|access-date=}} Construction began on then-MSC Serenata on 12 April 2007 with the steel-cutting. The ship was launched from the shipyard on 18 July 2008.{{csr|register=MSI|id=9359806|shipname=MSC Splendida |accessdate=30 January 2020}} She began her sea trials on 21 May 2009 and completed them on 27 May 2009. The ship was delivered to MSC Cruises on 4 July 2009.{{cite web |title=MSC Splendida completes trials |url=http://www.shipmanagementinternational.com/?p=1115 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913150814/http://www.shipmanagementinternational.com/?p=1115 |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 September 2012 |date=27 May 2009 |work=Ship Management International |accessdate=10 July 2009 }} She embarked on her maiden voyage on 4 July 2009{{cite web|title=MSC Splendida Pre-Christening Voyage |url=http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200905/1242991245.html |date=22 May 2009 |work=Free Press Release |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003193717/http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200905/1242991245.html |archivedate=3 October 2012 }} and returned 11 July, to be officially named on 12 July 2009, in Barcelona by Sophia Loren, her godmother.

MSC Splendida has cruised the Mediterranean and Far East.{{cite web|url=https://afloat.ie/port-news/dublin-port/item/35814-msc-splendida-s-mediterranean-sister-makes-an-appearance|title=MSC Splendida's Mediterranean Sister Makes An Appearance|first=Jehan|last=Ashmore|website=afloat.ie|access-date=1 May 2020|archive-date=21 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021230847/https://afloat.ie/port-news/dublin-port/item/35814-msc-splendida-s-mediterranean-sister-makes-an-appearance|url-status=live}} She was refurbished in 2017 before deploying to China.{{cite web |url=https://www.trbusiness.com/regional-news/international/msc-splendida-to-be-deployed-in-china-on-may-18/140780 |title=MSC Splendida ship set to be deployed in China on May 18 | Travel Retail Business |date=16 April 2018 |website=Trbusiness The magazine for global retail Duty Free Professionals |access-date=1 May 2020 |archive-date=3 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803141652/https://www.trbusiness.com/regional-news/international/msc-splendida-to-be-deployed-in-china-on-may-18/140780 |url-status=live}} In 2020 March, the ship docked in Palong, Thailand beach during the coronavirus pandemic, after more the 2,700 passengers was disembarked.{{cite web|url=https://www.thephuketnews.com/more-than-2-700-cruise-tourists-arrive-in-patong-75065.php|title=Phuket News: More than 2,700 cruise tourists arrive in Patong|first=The Phuket News|last=Com|date=5 March 2020|website=The Phuket News Com|access-date=1 May 2020|archive-date=2 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302132347/https://www.thephuketnews.com/more-than-2-700-cruise-tourists-arrive-in-patong-75065.php|url-status=live}} The ship is scheduled to serve Southeast Asia until summer 2020 before repositioning to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.{{cite web|url=http://www.mscpressarea.com/en_INT|title=MSC SPLENDIDA MAKES MAIDEN CALL IN KOCHI, INDIA|last=|first=|date=7 April 2019|website=MSC Corporate Information & Media Room|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203054127/http://www.mscpressarea.com/en_INT|archive-date=3 February 2020|access-date=}} The ship is scheduled to be based in Durban for the 2023/2024 cruise season and will serve the South African market sailing to Mozambique, Mauritius, Reunion, Namibia, Port Elizabeth & Cape Town.{{Cite web |url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2022/10/msc-splendida-to-sail-in-south-africa-for-2023-2024-season/ |title=MSC Splendida To Sail in South Africa for 2023-2024 Season |access-date=11 May 2023 |archive-date=11 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511101120/https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2022/10/msc-splendida-to-sail-in-south-africa-for-2023-2024-season/ |url-status=live }}

The ship's horn system is programmed to play multiple songs, including "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions" by Queen, "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes and "Happy Birthday to You".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VZCRWKgh1E |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/2VZCRWKgh1E |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Cruise ship MSC Splendida playing We Will Rock You / Seven Nation Army on its horn|website=YouTube|publisher=HD1080ide|accessdate=28 February 2017}}{{cbignore}}

{{Main|Bardo National Museum attack}}

On 18 March 2015, MSC Splendida was in port in Tunis with Costa Fascinosa when gunmen opened fire on tourists at the Bardo National Museum. Twelve passengers hailing from Japan, Italy, Colombia, Spain, Britain, Australia, Poland, and France, were killed.{{cite web|url=http://www.msccruises.co.uk/uk_en/About-MSC-Cruises/News/MSC-Cruises-Official-Statement-Tunisia-Events.aspx |title=News: MSC Cruises Official Statement on Tunisia Events |accessdate=19 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321234158/http://www.msccruises.co.uk/uk_en/About-MSC-Cruises/News/MSC-Cruises-Official-Statement-Tunisia-Events.aspx |archivedate=21 March 2015 }}

{{see also|COVID-19 pandemic on cruise ships}}

On 23 March 2020, around 14:00 CET, a Thai crew member working aboard as a buffet attendant was medically evacuated via lifeboat after she exhibited symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and was having difficulty breathing.{{efn|She had been suffering from a fever and a sore throat for three days, and her health had been worsening.}}{{cite web|url=https://crew-center.com/msc-splendida-emergency-medical-evacuation-crew-member|title=MSC Splendida Emergency Medical Evacuation of Crew Member | Crew Center|website=crew-center.com|date=23 March 2020|access-date=30 April 2020|archive-date=27 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127160413/https://crew-center.com/msc-splendida-emergency-medical-evacuation-crew-member|url-status=live}} At the time, the ship was near the island of Sardinia and headed to Marseille{{efn|The cruise originally was supposed to end at Genoa on 29 March, but the trip was cut short due to the pandemic and the end of the cruise was moved up to 4 March when it docked at Marseille.{{cite web |url=https://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/364103/coronavirus-msc-cruises-promises-to-repatriate-splendida-passengers |title=JavaScript is disabled in your browser. |publisher=Travelweekly.co.uk |date= |accessdate=1 May 2020 |archive-date=28 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128085722/https://travelweekly.co.uk/articles/364103/coronavirus-msc-cruises-promises-to-repatriate-splendida-passengers |url-status=live }}}} to disembark all of its passengers.

On 24 March 2020, MSC Cruises informed the crew that the sick crew member had tested negative. However, two days later, on 26 March, it was reported that the sick crew member had been tested again, and this time, the test had returned positive. As a result, 16 crew members were placed under quarantine. The ship later docked in Genoa so that some of its crew members could disembark.{{cite web |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/04/20/more-than-300-filipino-seafarers-from-italy-portugal-back-in-the-philippines |title=More than 300 Filipino seafarers from Italy, Portugal back in the Philippines |website=ABS-CBN News |access-date=30 April 2020 |archive-date=29 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129172659/https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/04/20/more-than-300-filipino-seafarers-from-italy-portugal-back-in-the-philippines |url-status=live}}

By 1 April 2020, 26 crew members had been placed under quarantine, with 3 crew members running high temperatures.

MSC Splendida is featured on Indian Tamil film, Manmadan Ambu.{{cite web|url=https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/msc-splendida-stars-in-forthcoming-bollywood-film/|title=MSC Splendida stars in forthcoming Bollywood Film|last=|first=|date=15 December 2010|website=Breaking Travel News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404163943/https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/msc-splendida-stars-in-forthcoming-bollywood-film/|archive-date=4 April 2011|access-date=10 November 2019}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.msccruises.com/gl_en/Ships/MSC-Splendida.aspx Official website]

{{commons category|IMO 9359806}}

{{MSC Ships}}

Splendida

Category:Ships built in France

Category:2008 ships