About MSC Cruises
We’ve called the sea our home for over 300 years. It’s a place of wonder, discovery, and delight. But it’s also a place that needs protection. On an MSC Cruise, our guests don’t just create unforgettable memories, visit incredible destinations, and enjoy the finest hospitality - they also have a chance to make a difference. From our experienced crew members to our engineers, to our expert ship builders, we’re securing the sea’s tomorrow by taking positive steps today.
Our company
We are the world’s third-largest cruise brand as well as the leader in Europe, South America, the Gulf region and Southern Africa, with more market share in addition to deployed capacity than any other player. We are also the fastest-growing global cruise brand with a strong presence in the Caribbean, North America and the Far East markets.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, we are part of MSC Group, the leading privately held Swiss-based shipping and logistics conglomerate with over 300 years of maritime heritage.
We employ over 30,000 staff globally and sell cruise holidays in many countries around the world.
Our company
Our Cruises
At MSC Cruises, our love for the sea goes back many generations. And we are eager to pass this passion on to future generations. That’s why we are dedicated to making each of our cruises a voyage of discovery and unforgettable emotions for every guest. We offer an enriching, immersive and safe cruise experience, where you can enjoy international dining, world-class entertainment, and award-winning family programs.
Our ships sail year-round in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean (visiting also Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, our private island in the Bahamas). Our seasonal itineraries include Canary Islands and Madeira, Northern Europe, South America, Emirates, North America, Alaska, Panama Canal, Southern Africa, and Asia.
With us you can discover the world, from few days at a time to all at once on a four-month cruise around the globe with MSC World Cruise.
Our Cruises
The Fleet
We want you to discover the world in absolute style, comfort and safety. That’s why we are constantly expanding and improving our fleet, not only to give you a greater choice of destinations, but also to offer you an amazing state-of-art cruising experience wherever you go.
We have a modern fleet of vessels combined with a sizeable future global investment portfolio of new ships. The current ships across our classes of ship include:
MSC World Europa, the first MSC World Class ship introduces a completely new, ground-breaking platform that brings together innovative technologies and industry-first design features including its unique Y-shape. MSC World Europa, delivered in November 2022, is the first LNG-powered vessel in MSC Cruises’ fleet and one of the most energy efficient cruise ships in the world.
The Fleet
Sustainability
We have long been committed to environmental stewardship with a long-term goal to achieve zero emissions for our operations. We are also a significant investor in next-generation environmental marine technologies, with the objective of supporting their accelerated development and availability industry-wide.
Our commitment to sustainability goes above and beyond our efforts to reduce our environmental impact. It is also reflected in the way we support our employees and those who choose to travel with us, as well as how we interact with our partners and the communities and places we visit.
Sustainability
History
A centuries-old relationship with the sea-
First record of the Aponte family’s involvement in maritime transport to and from Naples.
The Aponte family records date back to the 17th century and testify to its long and unbroken activity in an area with ancient seafaring traditions - the Sorrento Peninsula. The first mention of them is from 1675 and concerns the felucca Giovannina, which for many years plied the routes between Naples and Castellamare on the one hand, and Calabria and Sicily on the other.to and from Naples. -
Gianluigi Aponte founds the Mediterranean Shipping Company with the purchase of single ship. MSC has since grown to become a world leader in global container shipping operating over 510 vessels.
MSC was founded by Gianluigi Aponte, a young Italian seaman and former bank teller who had the courage and foresight to purchase his first ship, Patricia, in 1970. He acquired an even bigger vessel in 1971, which he named after his wife, Rafaela, followed by the carrier, Ilse, in 1973. These three cargo ships represented the pioneering beginnings of MSC, which has since grown to become a world leader in global container shipping operating over 510 vessels. -
MSC announces its entry into the cruise business, purchasing the iconic liner Monterey.
Following the purchase of the Monterey, MSC took over the Lauro cruise line structures in honour of Gianluigi Aponte’s mentor, the Italian shipping magnate Achille Lauro. When two more ships, Rhapsody and Melody, were added to the fleet, MSC Cruises was formally established as a subsidiary of the larger MSC Group. -
Start of a €5.5 billion investment programme to build the world’s most modern cruise fleet.
We invest in research and development to grow our fleet with dynamic ships. In just over a decade, we built four beautiful ‘Lirica' class liners, followed by four majestic ‘Musica' class vessels and the four stunning flagships of the ‘Fantasia’ class. All of them feature MSC Cruises’ trademark blend of classic design, providing an elegant backdrop to the much-loved traditional service. -
MSC Cruises is the first cruise company in the world to be awarded the coveted ‘6 Golden Pearls’ for its outstanding standards in environmental protection, health and safety.
This unprecedented award was given by the international classification agency Bureau Veritas in recognition of the company’s compliance with the three highest international standards in the areas of environmental protection, health & safety and food safety. The company remains committed to safeguarding the marine environment and ensuring outstanding quality for its guests. -
MSC Cruises launched an ambitious €5.1 billion investment plan that comprises the order of up to seven new ships and the Renaissance Programme to enlarge four existing ships of the MSC Cruises fleet.
MSC launched a new €5bn investment plan to build four revolutionary new ships, plus options for three more, with STX France and Fincantieri, in Italy. In addition, the Lirica class ships are being enlarged and renewed by Fincantieri under the €200m ”Renaissance Programme”, which will be completed by late 2015. These ships have a GT of 60,000 tonnes and carry nearly 2,000 travellers, except for MSC Armonia, which has already undergone the Renaissance work. MSC Armonia now has a GT of 65,600 tonnes and can carry more than 2,500 travellers. -
This second phase investment plan was increased from €5.1 billion to €9 billion with the signing of a letter of intent to build a further four World class ships.
This second phase investment plan rose to €9 billion with the signing of a letter of intent to build a further four World class ships, each fueled by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). -
We consolidate our second fleet expansion plan with orders for two additional Seaside ships and a fifth Meraviglia vessel, bringing the total investment for the 2014-2026 period to €11.6 billion.
MSC Cruises consolidates its second fleet expansion plan with orders for two additional Seaside ships and a fifth Meraviglia vessel, bringing the total investment for the 2014-2026 period to €11.6 billion. Due to be delivered in 2021 and 2023, the two Seaside EVO ships will present an evolution of the successful Seaside platform and have a capacity of 5,646 guests. The fifth Meraviglia ship, which was delivered in 2023, has a capacity for 6,334 guests. Like the World class ships, she is fueled by LNG.
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Completion of MSC Virtuosa and MSC Seashore.
Despite the challenges of the Covid pandemic two new cruise ships joined our fleet in 2021 – MSC Virtuosa and MSC Seashore. We also advanced with our ambitions to grow our portfolio of cruise terminals, which allow us to anchor our presence in marquee homeports and offer the best service to guests while enabling us to foster a front-to-end integrated experience. In November, we opened the doors of the Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal in Durban, South Africa. We also obtained final clearance to start building our exclusive cruise terminals in Barcelona and Miami as key embarkation ports in the western Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
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Delivery of MSC World Europa, the first LNG-powered ship of our fleet and introduced technologies to reduce our impact on the environment.
In 2022 we were delighted that we finally saw the restart of the entire fleet and progressively and safely ease Covid restrictions. We also continued to make significant progress along our sustainability journey. Over the year, we launched two new ships.
In October, we took delivery of the MSC World Europa, the first to be LNG-powered. It features a pilot solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and incorporates a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system – which reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 90% by converting the gas into nitrogen and water – and shore-to-ship power connectivity, which allows MSC World Europa to minimise engine use at ports wherever the portside infrastructure is available. In November, we took delivery of the MSC Seascape. MSC Protectours, our dedicated excursions specifically designed to educate our guests and promote responsible tourism and responsible travel become more widely available. -
We conducted the world's first ever net zero Greenhouse Gas emissions voyage, inaugurated our new terminal facilities in Durban (South Africa) and launched Explora I, the first of six ships from our new luxury brand Explora Journeys.
In 2023, MSC Euribia, completed her maiden journey from Saint Nazaire to Copenhagen using over 400 tonnes of bio-LNG supplied by Gasum, delivered via mass-balance infull compliance with the EU Renewable Energy Directive and independently certified by ISCC.
The first steel was cut for the second of our World Class ships, MSC World America. Sales opened for her itineraries, where she will homeport in our new state-of-the-art terminal at Port Miami, from 2025. A further two World Class ships were confirmed with shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique, with an option for a fifth.
MSC Meraviglia became MSC Cruises’ first ship to homeport in New York, conducting year-round sailings. This marked a third homeport in the USA, in addition to Miami and Port Canaveral. This was followed by sales opening at our fourth homeport of Galvaston, Texas.
MSC Cruises conducted an industry first, as two ships departed at the same time for separate 117 and 119-day world cruises - MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia.
And in South Africa, we celebrated the inauguration of our new terminal facilities in Durban.
In the autumn, a new era for the Cruise Division of MSC Group began, with the launch of Explora I, the first of six ships from our new luxury brand, Explora Journeys, expanding the options for ocean travel to a new audience of luxury traveller.
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Providing even more destination options for guests to choose from, MSC Cruises expanded its offerings with a brand-new itinerary to some of the most sought-after destinations in the Canary Islands.
This year also marked the five-year anniversary since the opening of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises’ private island in the Bahamas, which has since welcomed guests from around the globe to enjoy a one-of-a-kind holiday experience.
To enhance the guest experience, MSC Cruises equipped its fleet with SpaceX’s Starlink to boast internet connectivity for passengers onboard.
Further expanding our ashore excursion programme, for the first time, the line introduced shore excursions exclusively bookable for MSC Yacht Club guests, providing an even more exclusive and intimate experience.
