MSC World Europe, one of the world’s largest LNG-powered cruise ships, arrives in Barcelona as a sign that the cruise industry is recovering despite the pandemic.
The arrival of the MSC World Europa has generated great expectation as it is one of the largest LNG-powered ships in the world.
MSC World Europe has capacity for more than 6,700 passengers, 2,000 crew and nearly 3,000 cabins.
It offers a seven-day Mediterranean route departing every Friday from the port of Barcelona and calling at Marseille (France), Genoa, Naples and Messina (Italy) and Valletta (Malta).
According to statements made by the general manager of MSC Cruises Spain, Fernando Pacheco, 80% of the bookings for the summer period have been sold. This suggests that the cruise industry in Spain is in good shape and has regained its dynamism.
MSC World Europa, one of the largest ships powered by LNG
Barcelona is the leading embarkation port for MSC in Spain, with between 40-50% of passengers, followed by Valencia, with 30%.
This summer season, the company foresees 111 calls at the Port of Barcelona where some 550,000 tourists will arrive.
During the summer season, the port of Barcelona will host the departure of four MSC cruise ships, the MSC Seaview, the MSC Grandiosa, the MSC World Europa and the MSC Divina that will join in autumn, all with Barcelona as home port.
Despite the pandemic, the arrival of MSC World Europe in Barcelona demonstrates that demand for Mediterranean cruising remains high.
MSC World Europe powered by liquefied natural gas
The MSC is the largest cruise ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) to arrive in the Catalan capital and begin operations in the region.
As a result, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional fuels.
The price of the interior cabins ranges from 700 euros per week, in low season, to 1,400 euros per week, in high season.
This ship is the second to arrive at the port of Barcelona powered by LNG, after the Costa Group’s AIDAnova in 2019.
This cruise also offers its passengers a wide range of entertainment options and services, such as an academy to learn how to fly drones, an 80-meter high slide and some autochoques.
With 22 decks and more than 40,000 square meters of public space, MSC World Europe also features a wide range of restaurants and bars, including a restaurant that uses vegetables grown on the ship itself and a brewery that uses seawater in its production.
