A dozen more new cruise ships are scheduled to set sail this year as the cruise industry demonstrates its resilience during the economic downturn.
MSC Cruises, a cruise line based in Italy, will introduce its innovative Splendida ship, weighing more than 133,500 tons in June, followed by the smaller Magnifica in December.
While Splendida will be the cruise line's second flagship, Magnifica will be the fourth ship in the MSC's Musica class, reports the Chicago Tribune.
Meanwhile,
Silversea Cruises will launch its 36,000-ton Art Deco-styled Silver Spirit, which will be capable of carrying 540 passengers.
The ship will feature the largest rooms in the line's fleet and almost all (95 per cent) of them will have their own veranda.
Among the extensive dining opportunities available on the cruises will be a Japanese cuisine at the exclusive Seishin restaurant.
The line's other ships include the Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper.
Norwegian Cruise Line's 4,200 passenger ship, the Norwegian Epic, is also nearing completion.
Written by Mike Cotgreave
