The city of Hamburg saw last weekend devoted to the Carnival of Venice. The christening of the “MSC Magnifica” by ship’s ‘godmother’ Sophia Loren on 6 March was marked by a breath-taking Italian show. According to media reports, over 15 000 spectators followed the ceremony at Hamburg’s Landungsbrücken pier area.
The “MSC Magnifica”, the eleventh ship in the MSC fleet, was welcomed in the Port of Hamburg on 5 March. A fireboat and a 20-man strong shanty choir greeted the ship and her passengers on their arrival.
In keeping with tradition, Managing Director Jens Meier of the Hamburg Port Authority presented an admiralty plaque to the captain of the “MSC Magnifica”, Captain Giuliano Bossi. The reception was rounded off by the presence of the First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Ole von Beust; the CEO of MSC Crociere S.A., Pierfrancesco Vago; and the Managing Director of MSC Kreuzfahrten Deutschland GmbH, Falk-Hartwig Rost.
“The ship’s christening of the MSC Magnifica took place in one of Germany’s most beautiful cities. Hamburg is an important gateway to Northern Europe as well as to other cruise destinations. Not least because of this I am convinced that the relationship between MSC and the city of Hamburg will develop to our mutual benefit,” said Vago.
“Hamburg’s importance as a tourist centre is immense. In addition to the airport, the rail and bus networks are also excellent transport hubs,” continued Vago, praising the city before pointing out that “the steadily increasing number of German passengers is of key significance for the entire company’s growth.” 2009, for example, saw 20 percent more German guests sailing with MSC than in the previous year.
The ship’s christening on 6 March kept the spectators, whether on board or on land, on the edges of their seats. The festivities commenced with a concert by Italian singer Eros Ramazotti on board the MSC Magnifica before the ship got christened at the Landungsbrücken with a real magnificent firework. In the course of a multimedia symphony in four acts film icon and ‘godmother’ Sophia Loren “smashed” a bottle of champagne on the ship’s bows.
The MSC Magnifica’s maiden voyage will take her passengers from Hamburg across the Mediterranean to Venice, the homeport of the ship.
