MSC Preziosa was christened recently by international star Sophia Loren (pictured) in a glittering ceremony in the Italian port of Genoa. The Preziosa is the 12th addition to the MSC Cruises fleet and the fourth flagship in the company’s Fantasia class. Attending the ceremony were hundreds of travel agents from around the world, including Norman Hamilton, chairman of Hamilton Travel, exclusive agents in Malta for MSC Cruises since 2003. MSC Preziosa can carry around 4,300 passengers and 1,388 staff. The ship has seven restaurants and an exclusive area, the MSC Yacht Club, which has its own spa, bar and pool. The liner will homeport in Genoa until November, offering seven-night itineraries around the western Mediterranean with calls at Naples, Messina, Tunis, Barcelona and Marseille.