Italian screen legend Sophia Loren, godmother to each ship in MSC’s cruise fleet, accepted the mantle once again for Seaside, MSC’s fourteenth ship and second to be launched in the past six months.
Singing stars Ricky Martin and Andrea Bocelli joined a host of special guests, Miami port and tourism authority figures and travel industry partners at the ceremony in PortMiami.
Miami Dolphins american football Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino also made a guest appearance at the event.
Piefrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises executive chairman, said Seaside had been designed to “spearhead the next phase" of the line’s growth in North America which he told attendees signified "a cornerstone of our global strategy”.
“[Seaside] will be one of three MSC Cruises ships to homeport in Miami – MSC Seaside, MSC Meraviglia and MSC Divina, one from each of our newest classes of ship," he said.
“She marks our ambition to establish a significant presence in North America, after firmly rooting our position as [the] number one cruise brand in Europe and having established a leading presence in other key cruise markets globally.”
Earlier this month MSC and Miami cruise authorities celebrated the completion of cruise Terminal F at PortMiami, which will serve as a base for Seaside.
MSC said the terminal would offer guests an “enhanced check-in experience” including a more “flexible and efficient” baggage claim area, expanded waiting lounges and an increased number of ticket counter positions.
Seaside will begin seven-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries from Saturday (December 23).
During last night’s christening MSC Cruises also announced a new charitable partnership with the Andrea Bocelli Foundation which will see onboard donations from passengers passed to the organisation to fund its humanitarian work in Haiti.
Vago added: “[Seaside] will sail year around in the Caribbean and with this partnership we wish to express our commitment to giving something back to the places where we operate.”
