MSC Cruises

Cruise line registered in Switzerland

MSC Cruises

Company type| Privately held company
Industry| Transportation
Founded| 1988; 37 years ago (1988) Naples, Italy
Founder| Gianluigi Aponte
Headquarters|

Geneva, Switzerland

Area served

| Worldwide
Products| Cruises

Number of employees

| 23,500
Parent| Mediterranean Shipping Company
Subsidiaries| Explora Journeys
Website| www.msccruises.com

MSC Cruises (Italian: MSC Crociere) is a Swiss-Italian global cruise line based in Geneva, with operations offices in Naples, Genoa and Venice. It was founded in 1988 in Naples, Italy, as part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). In addition to being the world's largest privately held cruise company, employing about 23,500 people worldwide and with offices in 45 countries as of 2017[update],[1] MSC Cruises is the third-largest cruise company in the world, after Carnival Corporation & plc and Royal Caribbean Group, with a 10% share of all passengers carried in 2025.[2]

## History

[edit]

### StarLauro Cruises

[edit]

MSC Monterey, one of the line's first ships

In 1988, Gianluigi Aponte, founder of the Mediterranean Shipping Company, decided to enter the cruise industry and purchased the Achille Lauro from Flotta Lauro Line. He retained "Lauro" in the company name in honour of his mentor, naming the new cruise line StarLauro Cruises.[3] The original Lauro Lines (Italian: Flotta Lauro) was originally founded in Naples, Italy by Achille Lauro in the 1940s.

In 1990, Mediterranean Shipping Co. purchased the Monterey to sail for their StarLauro Cruises brand. The ship retained the original name she had used while sailing with Matson Lines. Both the Monterey and Achille Lauro would sail under the StarLauro Cruises banner into the early 1990s. In November 1994, the Achille Lauro caught fire off the coast of Somalia while en route to South Africa, with 979 passengers and crew aboard, two of whom died during the evacuation.[4]

StarLauro line went on to acquire the Enrico C from Costa Cruises, renaming the ship Symphony, and the former Cunard Princess, renaming the ship Rhapsody to the fleet.[5]

### MSC Cruises

[edit]

In 1995, StarLauro Cruises was rebranded as MSC Cruises, with the livery changed from the blue funnel star logo to a white funnel with the MSC logo.[6]

Melody, purchased by MSC in 1997

In 1997, MSC purchased the Atlantic from Premier Cruise Lines, and renamed the ship Melody.

MSC Lirica, MSC Cruises' first purpose-built ship

In the early 2000s, MSC initiated a rapid expansion program, and placed its first new build orders with Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard, for 65,000-ton ships. Based on a similar design to the French yard's platform for Festival Cruises, the two-ship order started the aggressive expansion of the cruise line. The line's first new build, the MSC Lirica, debuted in 2003. The Lirica also became the first MSC ship to be christened by Sophia Loren, a tradition that has continued for all but one of the company's new builds.[7] The Lirica was followed by sister ship MSC Opera in 2004.

In 2004, MSC Cruises acquired the fairly newly built European Vision and European Stars from the bankrupt Festival Cruises, renaming the ships MSC Armonia and MSC Sinfonia.[8]

In 2006, the first of the four Musica Class debuted, also built at STX France. The MSC Musica was followed by the MSC Orchestra, MSC Poesia, and the final, slightly modified, MSC Magnifica in 2010.

In 2015, MSC Cruises announced that the four Mistral class ships had undergone renovation under the Renaissance Programme.[9]

In July 2018, the company announced that it would build a second cruise terminal at PortMiami for its World-class cruise ships as an expansion of its North American program. It was scheduled to be completed in October 2022.[10]

In October 2018, MSC announced an order for four luxury ships of 64,000 gross tons each.[11] These ultra-luxury vessels were to be based on the cruise line's luxury concept, the MSC Yacht Club.[11]

In January 2019, MSC Cruises unveiled the world's first virtual personal cruise assistant — ZOE, an artificial intelligence device designed by Harman International. It is currently featured on MSC Bellissima and MSC Grandiosa, and will be featured on future new builds upon their delivery.[12][13]

In mid-2020, MSC Cruises suspended most (or all) of their operations for over six months during the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] On 7 January 2021, MSC announced it would restart cruises with the MSC Grandiosa and MSC Magnifica in the Mediterranean. Passengers were initially limited to residents of the Schengen Area.[14]

In June 2021, MSC announced a new luxury subsidiary brand named Explora Journeys, with four vessels planned, beginning with the Explora I.[15][16]

In March 2022, MSC Cruises signed a multi-year deal with Formula One to become their official cruise partner.[17] They were the title sponsor of the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix.[18]

In January 2023, MSC Cruises announced a new multi-year partnership agreement with the New York Knicks. The deal gets MSC promotion during Knicks home games, including LED signage, virtual-on-court signage, and the opportunity to serve as the presenting partner during in-game t-shirt tosses.[19]

In August 2024, Shipping Italy reported rumors that MSC was in talks with Meyer Turku to build a class of four ships with a gross tonnage of 270,000, which would make it bigger than any other cruise ship at the time.[20]

In April 2025, MSC Cruise Division inaugurated the new MSC Barcelona Cruse Terminal, the first fully owned MSC Cruse terminal the will serve MSC Cruises and MSC's Explora Journeys.[21][22]

In May 2025, MSC Cruise Division inaugurated the new MSC Miami Cruise Terminal, the world’s largest cruise terminal.[23]

## Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

[edit]

The man-made lagoon located in the middle of Ocean Cay

In December 2015, MSC Cruises signed a 100-year lease for the private island of Ocean Cay in the Bahamas to develop the land for an exclusive island experience.[24] The site had previously been used to mine white Aragonite sand for decades. After the original owners abandoned the 95 acre island, the land had to be restored to remove all of the old mining equipment, with MSC Cruises committing $200 million for the project, involving restoration and conversion of the island into a private resort.[25]

The restoration required the work of many scientists to bring the area back into a functioning marine habitat. Once the Bahamian government granted the site marine reserve status, the project was officially named the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and was set to open in mid-November 2019. However, weather delays pushed the date to 5 December 2019.[26]

## Fleet

[edit]

### Current fleet

[edit]

Ship  | Built  | Builder  | Joined MSC  | Gross tonnage | Flag  | Notes  | Image

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Mistral-class
MSC Armonia | 2001  | Chantiers de l'Atlantique | May 2004  | 65,542  |  Panama | Built as the MS European Vision for Festival Cruises |
MSC Sinfonia | 2002  | March 2005  | 65,542  |  Panama | Built as the MS European Stars for Festival Cruises |
MSC Lirica | 2003  | March 2003  | 65,591  |  Panama | First purpose-built new build for MSC Cruises  |
MSC Opera | 2004  | March 2004  | 65,591  |  Panama |  |
Musica class
MSC Musica | 2006  | Aker Yards (Saint-Nazaire)  | July 2006  | 92,409  |  Panama |  |
MSC Orchestra | 2007  | May 2007  | 92,409  |  Panama |  |
MSC Poesia | 2008  | Aker Yards/STX Europe (Saint-Nazaire)  | Oct 2008  | 92,627  |  Panama |  |
MSC Magnifica | 2010  | STX Europe (Saint-Nazaire)  | March 2010  | 95,128  |  Panama | Modified Musica class  |
Fantasia class
MSC Fantasia | 2008  | Aker Yards/STX Europe (Saint-Nazaire)  | Dec 2008  | 137,936  |  Panama |  |
MSC Splendida | 2009  | July 2009  | 137,936  |  Panama |  |
MSC Divina | 2012  | STX Europe (Saint-Nazaire)  | June 2012  | 139,400  |  Panama | Modified Fantasia class  |
MSC Preziosa | 2013  | March 2013  | 139,400  |  Panama | Modified Fantasia class[27] |
Seaside class
MSC Seaside | 2017  | Fincantieri | Nov 2017  | 153,516  |  Malta |  |
MSC Seaview | 2018  | June 2018  | 153,516  |  Malta |  |
Seaside EVO-class
MSC Seashore | 2021  | Fincantieri | August 2021  | 170,412  |  Malta |  |
MSC Seascape | 2022[28] | November 2022  | 170,400[29] |  Malta |  |
Meraviglia class
MSC Meraviglia | 2017  | STX Europe (Saint-Nazaire)  | May 2017  | 171,598  |  Malta |  |
MSC Bellissima | 2019  | Chantiers de l'Atlantique | March 2019  | 171,598  |  Malta |  |
Meraviglia Plus-class
MSC Grandiosa | 2019  | Chantiers de l'Atlantique | November 2019  | 181,541  |  Malta | [30] |
MSC Virtuosa | 2021  | May 2021  | 181,541  |  Malta | [30] |
MSC Euribia[31] | 2023[32] | May 2023  | 184,011  |  Malta | Second ship powered by liquid natural gas (LNG) to join the fleet.  |
World Class
MSC World Europa[33] | 2022[34] | Chantiers de l'Atlantique | December 2022  | 215,863[35] |  Malta | Originally named MSC Europa.[36]

Largest ship built for MSC Cruises and first in the fleet powered by LNG with solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and having "G"-shape bow design.

MSC World America[37][38] | 2025[39] | March 2025  | 216,638[40] |  Malta | LNG-fueled cruise ship.[41]
Construction started on 22 October 2022.[42][43]
Sea Trials completed[44] and delivered in March 2025  |

### Future ships

[edit]

Ship  | Due to enter service  | Builder  | Gross tonnage | Notes  | Image

|
|
|
|
|

World class
MSC World Asia[45][38] | 2026[46] | Chantiers de l'Atlantique | 216,638[46] | LNG-fueled cruise ship[41] |
MSC World Atlantic[47] | 2027[46] | 216,638[46] | LNG-fueled cruise ship[41] |
World Class 5[48] | 2029[48] | 216,638[48] | LNG-fueled cruise ship[48] |
World Class 6[48] | 2030[48] | 216,638[48] | LNG-fueled cruise ship[48] |

MSC is also in negotiations with Finnish, Italian and French yards for new builds.[49][50][51][52]

### Former fleet

[edit]

Ship  | Built  | Builder  | In service for MSC  | Gross tonnage | Notes  | Image

|
|
|
|
|
|

Achille Lauro | 1947  | Scheepsbouw-Maatschappij De Schelde, Vlissingen, Netherlands | 1988- 1994  | 23,629  | Built for Royal Rotterdam Lloyd as the MS Willem Ruys. Sank after catching fire in 1994.  |
Monterey | 1952  | Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Maryland, United States | 1990- 2006  | 20,000  | Originally known as SS Free State Mariner. Previously Monterey for Matson Lines and Monterey for Aloha Pacific Cruises. Scrapped in 2007.  |
Symphony | 1951  | Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson, England | 1994- 2000  | 16,000  | Previously Provence for SGTM Line and Enrico C for Costa Cruises. Scrapped in 2001.  |
Rhapsody | 1977  | Burmeister & Wain, Denmark | 1995- 2009  | 17,095  | Previously Cunard Conquest and Cunard Princess for Cunard Line. Scrapped in 2022.  |
Melody | 1982  | CNIM (La Seyne-sur-Mer), France | 1997- 2013  | 35,143  | Previously Atlantic for Home Lines and StarShip Atlantic for Premier Cruise Line. Scrapped in 2018.  |

## See also

[edit]

* Explora Journeys
* List of cruise lines
* Mediterranean Shipping Company

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "MSC Cruises Company Profile - MSC Fleet - Mediterranean Way of Life". Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
2. ^ "Market Share | Cruise Market Watch". Retrieved 4 May 2025.
3. ^ "MSC Cruises - Our History".
4. ^ "Achille Lauro Sinks Off Coast of Somalia". The New York Times. 3 December 1994.
5. ^ "Cunard's Former Princess Becomes Latest Cruise Ship Sold for Scrap". The Maritime Executive.
6. ^ "About MSC History". MSC Cruises USA. MSC Cruises. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
7. ^ "MSC Cruises' First Newbuilds Completes 20 Years in Service - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News". Cruise Industry News.
8. ^ Genoa (undefined), Ian Lewis (22 July 2004). "MSC Cruises buys last Festival ship". TradeWinds | Latest shipping and maritime news.
9. ^ "RENAISSANCE PROGRAMME MOVES INTO PHASE TWO AS MSC SINFONIA ENTERS DRY DOCK". www.mscpressarea.com. 5 November 2021.
10. ^ "MSC Cruises to Build Second Cruise Terminal in Miami - MSC Cruises". www.cruisecritic.com. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
11. ^ a b "MSC places order for four luxury vessels: Travel Weekly". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
12. ^ "MSC Cruises Officially Unveils "Zoe" the World's First Personal Cruise Assistant". www.cruisecritic.com. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
13. ^ Mathisen, Monty (1 February 2019). "MSC Unveils Zoe Virtual Personal Assistant". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
14. ^ a b "CRUISE & ITINERARY UPDATES". MSC. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
15. ^ Payne, Holly (10 June 2021). "Steel cut for Explora I, first vessel in MSC Cruises' luxury Explora Journeys fleet". Seatrade Cruise News. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
16. ^ "Brand Reveal". explorajourneys.com. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
17. ^ Formula 1 (21 March 2022). "Formula 1 announces MSC Cruises as a Global Partner for the 2022 season". Formula 1. Retrieved 2 April 2022.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
18. ^ Pettit, Carl (31 July 2023). "MSC Cruises and Formula 1 Have Something to Celebrate". Cruise Hive. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
19. ^ "New York Knicks and MSC Cruises Partner on Multi-Year Marketing Plan". www.travelmarketreport.com. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
20. ^ Capuzzo, Nicola (27 August 2024). "Royal Caribbean ordina ancora a Meyer Turku e Msc Crociere negozia una serie di navi da record". Shipping Italy (in Italian). Retrieved 19 October 2024.
21. ^ Adonis (8 April 2025). "MSC Group's Cruise division officially inaugurates new terminal in the port of Barcelona". Cyprus Shipping News. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
22. ^ "Terminal MSC | Port de Barcelona". www.portdebarcelona.cat. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
23. ^ Stella (2 May 2025). "MSC Cruises opens world's largest cruise terminal poised to redefine the guest experience through cutting edge technology". Cyprus Shipping News. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
24. ^ "Confirmed: MSC Closes Deal on Private Island in Bahamas". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. 17 December 2015. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
25. ^ Arlene Satchell, Arlene. "MSC Cruises plans $200 million private Bahamian island". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
26. ^ "MSC Cruises Announces New Opening Date for Ocean Cay Marine Reserve". TravelPulse.
27. ^ "MSC Cruises-UK News: MSC Cruises Welcomes MSC Preziosa". Msccruises.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 November 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
28. ^ "New MSC Seascape Delivered from Fincantieri". 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
29. ^ "MSC SEASCAPE, THE LARGEST AND MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED CRUISE SHIP EVER BUILT IN ITALY, JOINS THE FLEET". 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
30. ^ a b Williamson, Jeannine (31 October 2019). "MSC Cruises Takes Delivery of first Meraviglia Plus Class Ship, MSC Grandiosa". www.cruisecritic.com.au. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
31. ^ "MSC Begins Construction of Euribia, Its Most Environmentally-Advanced Ship". 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
32. ^ Ebelthite, Shaun (29 June 2021). "MSC begins construction of third Meraviglia-Plus class ship, MSC Euribia -". cruise-arabia.com. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
33. ^ Kalosh, Anne (29 June 2020). "Chantiers de l'Atlantique lays keel for LNG-powered MSC World Europa". Seatrade Cruise News. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
34. ^ "MSC and Chantiers Mark Double Newbuild Milestones". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
35. ^ "MSC World Europa". msccruisesusa.com. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
36. ^ "Msc guarda all'ambiente, ecco 'Europa': a Saint Nazaire il taglio della prima lamiera". Primocanale.it (in Italian). Retrieved 15 November 2019.
37. ^ "MSC CRUISES CUTS STEEL ON MSC WORLD AMERICA, SECOND INNOVATIVE WORLD CLASS SHIP". 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
38. ^ a b "MSC Names Next New Ship World America". 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
39. ^ "MSC CRUISES AND CHANTIERS DE L'ATLANTIQUE MARK THREE WORLD CLASS SHIP MILESTONES IN SAINT-NAZAIRE". 27 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
40. ^ "MSC World Europa". msccruisesusa.com. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
41. ^ a b c "New Cruise Ships - MSC Cruises | New Ships - World Class". Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
42. ^ https://chantiers-atlantique.com/en/news/msc-and-chantiers-de-latlantique-mark-a-major-step-forward-with-the-delivery-of-msc-world-europa/
43. ^ https://chantiers-atlantique.com/en/institutional/chantiers-de-latlantique-to-integrate-the-first-lng-operated-fuel-cell-onboard-an-msc-cruises-ship/
44. ^ "MSC WORLD AMERICA COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL SEA TRIALS AHEAD OF APRIL LAUNCH". 15 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
45. ^ "MSC Cruises Holds Steel Cutting Ceremony for MSC World Asia". 9 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
46. ^ a b c d McCarthy, Daniel (21 January 2020). "MSC Cruises Adds Two World Class Vessels, New Ship Class to Expansion Plans". Travel Market Report. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
47. ^ "MSC and Chantiers Celebrate Milestones for Three World Class Ships - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News". Cruise Industry News. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
48. ^ a b c d e f g h "MSC Orders Two More World Class Ships - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News". Cruise Industry News. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
49. ^ https://www.ttgmedia.com/cruise/msc-cruises-confirms-talks-under-way-with-shipyards-over-new-ship-class-49216
50. ^ https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/cruise/msc-cruises-to-take-the-bar-higher-with-next-generation-of-ships
51. ^ https://cruiseweekly.com.au/news/msc-going-bigger/80807
52. ^ https://www.seereisenportal.de/news/kreuzfahrt-news-schifffahrtsnachrichten/msc-cruises-hebt-mit-der-naechsten-schiffsgeneration-die-standards-an/

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to MSC Cruises.

* Official websiteExternal videos

The Secret Life of the Cruise – a 2018 documentary film directed by Ben Ryder showcasing the operations and management of a MSC cruise (Tubi, full episode)

* v
* t
* e

MSC Cruises fleet

Current fleet|

* Armonia
* Bellissima
* Divina
* Euribia
* Fantasia
* Grandiosa
* Lirica
* Magnifica
* Meraviglia
* Musica
* Opera
* Orchestra
* Poesia
* Preziosa
* Seascape
* Seaside
* Sinfonia
* Seashore
* Seaview
* Splendida
* Virtuosa
* World America
* World Europa

Future fleet|

* MSC World Asia (2026)
* Project World IV (2027)

Former fleet|

* Achille Lauro
* Monterey
* Symphony
* Rhapsody
* Melody

Classes|

* Lirica
* Musica
* Fantasia
* Seaside
* Meraviglia
* World

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