New Cruise Ship MSC Preziosa was Almost The Phoenicia

MSC Preziosa is now owned and operated by MSC Cruises. She will enter service in March, 2013. The ship is an enhanced version of her running mates, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia, identical to MSC Divina.

 

Originally intended ownership was to be General National Maritime Transport Company. On June 4th, 2010 a letter of intent was signed between STX France and Libyan state-owned company General National Maritime Transport Corporation (GNMTC), to build one cruise ship the Phoenicia.

 

GNMTC, is a Libyan State Owned Company which was founded in 1975, with a total capital of 1.2 billion Libyan dinars. GNMTC is based in Tripoli, Libya, with subsidiaries in Malta and Hong Kong.

 

During construction, the Libyan civil war broke out on 15 February 2011. In June 2011, STX France canceled the contract, and began looking for a new buyer of the hull. It was announced on March 13, 2012, that MSC reached an agreement to buy the ship for 550 million euros, and and have re-named her MSC Preziosa.

 

The ship will be to be similar to MSC Fantasia, and MSC Splendida. Nominally named Phoenicia.

 

She was originally specified by Hannibal Gaddafi. On August 29th after the rebels entered Tripoli, Gaddafi and his wife fled from Libya to Algeria together with other members of the Gaddafi family

 

Father: Muammar Gaddafi's regime was overthrown in 2011 and the tyrant killed on October 20th 2011. The deposed leader of Libya, died during the Battle of Sirte. Gaddafi was found hiding in a culvert west of Sirte and captured by National Transitional Council forces. He was killed shortly afterwards by rebel fighters by beating him to death.

 

General National Maritime Transport Company, more commonly known as GNMTC, is a Libyan State Owned Company which was founded in 1975, with a total capital of 1.2 billion Libyan dinars. GNMTC is based in Tripoli, Libya, with subsidiaries in Malta and Hong Kong.

 

MSC picked up a bargain by taking over a ship which was being built for Libya's overthrown Gaddafi regime, but they are missing out on what could have been a unique feature - an aquarium containing six sharks.

 

Colonel Gaddafi's fourth son was in the process of building a luxury cruise liner with a giant glass tank containing six sharks when his father's regime was overthrown in 2011.

 

Hannibal Gaddafi envisioned the 120-ton shark aquarium to form the centrepiece of the vessel so it could wow up-to-3,500 passengers.

 

Inside the tank, he wanted two sand sharks, two white sharks and two blacktip reef sharks.

 

As part of the (Modified-Fantasia) Divina class, MSC Divina has two additional elevators. Naval architect De Jorio Design International also introduced a completely redesigned deck, in addition to a new restaurant. The MSC Yacht Club has been enlarged and redesigned and features many improvements. The ship-in-ship concept allows guests comfort and privacy. MSC Preziosa features a revised rear-lounge, casino and disco in addition to a new "infinity pool" for adults only. Aurea Spa will have Balinese massage, saunas, Turkish bath, and more. MSC Preziosa will also have Aurea Spa Suites, these are for Yacht Club members and are part of the Yacht Club complex. MSC Preziosa also features various improvements in order to keep guests entertained. These include the new "4D" cinema along with a Formula 1 simulator.

 

The maiden voyage will, start form St. Nazaire to Genoa. Between March and October, MSC Preziosa operates on Mediterranean cruises from Genoa.