MSC Cruises has officially named its new flagship, MSC Seashore, at its private island destination Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, in the Bahamas.

MSC Seashore is the first ship to be named at Ocean Cay, which opened in December 2019. For the 16th time, Hollywood actor Sophia Loren was godmother to the ship.

The 5,632-passenger ship will start its US season on 20 November, with a seven-night cruise out of PortMiami. It will offer a range of itineraries, from five to 16 nights.

With the arrival of MSC Seashore, MSC Meraviglia will now move to Port Canaveral for the rest of the season and MSC Divina will move to PortMiami. For summer 2022, MSC Seashore will remain in Miami.

The ship features environmental technology, including hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems and catalytic reduction systems, achieving a 98 per cent reduction of sulphur oxide emissions and reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by 90 per cent, according to MSC Cruises.

It is also equipped with shore-to-ship power connectivity, allowing it to connect to local power grids while at berth at ports where the infrastructure is available.

MSC Seashore ship features 11 different types of staterooms and suites with balconies, six swimming pools, five speciality restaurants and a 12,215 square foot casino.

Speaking when the ship was delivered in July 2021, MSC Cruises executive chairman Piefrancesco Vago said: “MSC Seashore is the first cruise ship in the world to feature a new and ground-breaking air sanitation system.

“MSC Seashore also demonstrates our commitment to continuous innovation in terms of guest experience. She is without doubt our most stunning and sophisticated vessel to date and takes to a whole new level the already successful Seaside platform, with public spaces completely reimagined, a new secondary lounge and a broader offering both in terms of restaurants and retail options, amongst many other new and much improved features.”