MSC Armonia being ‘stretched’

Those of you that have read my past blogs will know my thoughts on MSC (they’re like Marmite – people either love them or hate them and having not cruised with them myself – although sailing on Preziosa later this year – I only have other peoples feedback to go on)  but this is really interesting.

Last week on 31st August, MSC’s Armonia entered dry dock in Sicily at the Fincantiera shipyard in Palermo where she’ll stay for eleven weeks to undergo ‘stretching’.

The team will be inserting a 24 metre section to lengthen the ship.  The section includes an additional 194 cabins and they’ll also be refitting and renewing many other parts of the ship including enhancing the level of comfort, services and entertainment on board.

The new midship section was floated out before her arrival and taken to the dry dock area.

In addition to the new cabins, the ship will also have new areas for the Young Club, Mini Club and Baby Club as well as a Teens Club.  There is talk that after the refit there will be an even better food experience in the buffet, a new lounge area and extended restaurant.

She’ll also  have a library fitted and the Spa will benefit from enrichment’s too as well as some water features and cannons being fitted.

Armonia is set to leave the dockyard after completion on 17th November where she’ll undertake a one of Med cruise from Genoa to the Canaries.

Many other cruise ships have been through this ‘stretching’ procedure, one of which is Fred Olsens Balmoral.  She went into dry dock as Norwegian Crown and came out as Balmoral 99 feet longer.

Take a look at this timelapse video to watch the procedure take place.

Pretty impressive, huh?

Have you sailed on Armonia or due to sail on her after the stretch?  Or been on ship pre/post stretch?  Let me know what you thought.