In mid-January 2009, MSC Magnifica, the fourth ship in MSC Cruises "
Musica class," was floated out from its dry dock at STX France Cruise (formerly Aker Yards France) in St. Nazaire, France. The floating out is a major shipbuilding milestone during which the dry dock is flooded with water and the ship floats for the first time.
Magnifica debuted in March 2010 with a series of Mediterranean voyages. The ship then crossed the Atlantic to New York for a fall season of Canada & New England cruises, a first for the line and highly unusual for a European operator, before sailing south to Ft. Lauderdale(Caribbean cruises). In 2011, the ship is slated for a large number of European and Mediterranean cruises.
Magnifica shares many of Musica's popular features, including a central foyer with a three-deck waterfall; large number of balcony cabins; a 16,000-square-ft. spa with chromotherapeutic hydro massage and a Turkish bath; a three-deck theater; a secondary show lounge; and a disco.
