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All text and photographs (unless stated otherwise) ©  Paul Timmerman

In mid 2003, Mediterranean Shipping Cruises, or short MSC as the company is widely known, introduced the MSC Lirica, their first newbuilding. She, like her recently introduced sister MSC Opera, have evolved from the Mistral, which was taken into service in 1999 by her then owner Festival Cruises. Festival was pleased with the Mistral, and ordered two more somewhat larger ships from Chantiers de lÁtlantique, European Stars and European Vision.

The rest is history: Festival Cruises went bankrupt in May 2004 and both vessels were auctioned off to MSC. They were renamed Sinfonia and Armonia respectively. A great opportunity for this Italian company which has been looking for ways to expand. The ex-Festival ships could be pushed into service almost immediately, while newbuildings take at least a year to be completed.

                           L'Ippocampo restaurant, Puccini deck

MSC is clearly on the way to become a serious competitor to Costa Crociere, which in turn has seen a period of dramatic expansion also.

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                            Go to MSC Lirica page2.........

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