MSC Grandiosa to feature two new Cirque du Soleil at Sea shows

Two new Cirque du Soleil at Sea shows will debut exclusively aboard MSC Grandiosa, one with audience participation for the first time, MSC Cruises has announced.

“When we set out to work with Cirque du Soleil, our objective with this exclusive partnership was to take our onboard entertainment to yet another level and to deliver to our guests even more best-in-class entertainment,” said Andrea Gangale, Senior Vice President, Product Development & Guest Experience, MSC Cruises.

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“As the delivery of the third MSC Cruises ship featuring Cirque du Soleil at Sea approaches, each new show that we launch is evermore unique and original, giving our guests a breathtaking and memorable entertainment experience,” he added.

In the COSMOS production, guests will “experience a breathtaking voyage across the galaxy with a brave astronaut on a quest for self-discovery” according to MSC Cruises, while in EXENTRICKS, the audience “will be caught off guard at every turn in this high-spirited spectacle”.

Each Cirque du Soleil at Sea show is an original, never-before-seen production, according to the press release.

“For each new Meraviglia-class ship, we aim to deliver new and innovative content which further enriches the Cirque du Soleil at Sea portfolio,” said Yasmine Khalil, Chief Executive Producer, Cirque du Soleil, & President of 45 DEGREES.

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“With these two entirely new productions, COSMOS and EXENTRICKS, we debut a never-before-seen performance, the ‘Ginger Rope’ while also bringing more interactivity and, for the first time, call on audience participation. These will certainly be two must-see shows, exclusively on MSC Grandiosa,” Khalil added.

The new acrobatic performance Ginger Rope in COSMOS sees three artists use a unique acrobatic apparatus developed specifically for the show. Aerialists will fly in orbit on the rotating stage on moving ropes embodying rings around the planets.

For the first time for any Cirque du Soleil at Sea show, EXENTRICKS will put guests in the center of the show with audience participation playing a role in the story.

The shows will be performed in the ship’s Carousel Lounge, a purpose-built theatre for an audience of 400. This venue was specially designed to meet the needs of the artists as well as bringing guests closer to a spectacular display of acrobatic flair and artistic finesse.

An additional 80 kinetic LED spheres will be introduced aboard MSC Grandiosa, offering a change to the atmosphere of the Carousel Lounge at specific moments during the shows and to create a large array of visual effects.

The moving LED lights are spread across the space to provide depth and a visual background for the audience sitting across the room.