MSC Cruises and Fincantieri have celebrated the float out of MSC Seaview.

The ceremony took place at the Monfalcone shipyard in Italy, where the ship is being built.

MSC Seaview is the second of MSC Cruises’ Seaside generation of cruise ships, based on a highly-innovative prototype designed to bring guests closer to the sea than ever before, for warmer climates and the ultimate sun and sea cruise experience.

She is set to come into service in June 2018, just six months after MSC Seaside will first come into service in December 2017 with her grand voyage from Trieste, Italy to Miami, USA in December 2017.

MSC Seaview will sail her inaugural 2018 summer season in the Mediterranean, offering holidaymakers the chance to experience the jewels of this region like never before on a cruise ship.

Guests will discover seven different lively ports from four countries, all without unpacking a suitcase - Genoa, Naples, Messina, Valetta, Barcelona and Marseille.

Following this inaugural season, the ship will follow the sun to Brazil and the southern hemisphere for the winter 2018-2019 season, with an itinerary that includes Santos, Ilha Grande, Buzios, Porto Belo and Camboriu.

Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises executive chairman, commented: “The float out of MSC Seaview is another significant milestone in the expansion of our fleet.

“She is part of a ten year investment plan that will have already seen the delivery of six new ships by 2020.”

Vago added: “We are already the market leading cruise brand in the Mediterranean and Europe and the deployment of MSC Seaview in this key region will help us further push boundaries by bringing one of the most innovative cruise ships to an area that we are deeply committed to and is a cornerstone of our business.”

The float out is a key milestone in the construction of a cruise ship, as it is the moment when the vessel is first touched by water as her dry dock is flooded and the ship is moved to a wet dock for the final phase of her construction.

The exterior of the ship is now complete and work moves to complete interiors, fixtures and furnishings.