The ceremony was held in the port of Genoa on Saturday (June 9).

Godmother Sophia Loren cut the ribbon on the champagne to formally name the ship, MSC’s 15th.

It is the line’s third "next generation" ship to come into service in the past 12 months.

The ceremony was hosted by Italian TV hosts Michelle Hunziker and Lorella Cuccarini, with performances from children’s choir Piccolo Coro Dell’Antoniano and opera singer Matteo Bocelli, son of Andrea.

Gianluigi Aponte, MSC founder and executive chairman, was among those in attendance, along with his family.

Other guests included chefs Ramon Freixa and Roy Yamaguchi. Two-Michelin star Freixa has extended his partnership with MSC to develop his first restaurant at sea.

Seaview embarked on its maiden voyage on Sunday (June 10), and will sail from six Mediterranean ports - Genoa, Marseille, Barcelona, Naples, Messina (Sicily) and Valletta.

MSC’s aim with Seaview was to give the ship an outdoors feel, featuring the highest ratio of outdoor spaces of any MSC ship - an ethos extending to its cabins and suites.