MSC Cruises


MSC Cruises is a global cruise line registered in Switzerland and based in Geneva. It was founded in Naples, Italy, in 1989. It is part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A., the world's second biggest container shipping operator. 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, MSC Cruises is the fourth largest cruise company in the world, after Carnival Corporation & plc, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, with a 7.2% share of all passengers carried in 2017.

History

MSC Cruises was founded as Lauro Lines in Naples, Italy by Achille Lauro in 1960. The company entered the cruise business operating two ships, and. Angelina Lauro burnt in the port of St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands in 1979 and Achille Lauro was hijacked by members of the Palestine Liberation Front in 1985. In 1989, the Mediterranean Shipping Company bought Lauro Lines and renamed it StarLauro Cruises. In 1994, Achille Lauro caught fire and sank. In 1988, the company name was changed to MSC Cruises.

Recent developments

In 2014 MSC Cruises announced that the four Lirica'-class ships underwent renovation under the "Renaissance Programme".
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 is scheduled to be completed in October 2022.
In October 2018, MSC announced an order for four luxury ships of 64,000 gross tons each. These ultra-luxury vessels will be based on the cruise line's luxury concept, the "MSC Yacht Club." The first ship will arrive in the spring of 2023. All ships will be built at Fincantieri.
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 newbuilds upon their delivery.

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

In December 2015, MSC Cruises signed a 100-year lease on land in the Bahamas to develop the land for an exclusive island experience. The project was named the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and was set to open in mid-November 2019, but weather delays pushed the date to December 5, 2019.

Fleet

''Lirica'' class

ShipBuiltBuilderEntered service
for MSC		Gross tonnageFlagNotesImage
2001Chantiers de l'AtlantiqueMay 200465,542 tonsPreviously European Vision for the failed Festival Cruises.
2002Chantiers de l'AtlantiqueMarch 200565,542 tonsPreviously European Stars for the failed Festival Cruises.
2003Chantiers de l'AtlantiqueMarch 200365,591 tonsModified ex Festival's European class.
2004Chantiers de l'AtlantiqueMarch 200465,591 tonsModified ex Festival's European class.

''Musica'' class

''Fantasia'' class

ShipBuiltBuilderEntered service
for MSC		Gross tonnageFlagNotesImage
2008Aker Yards/STX EuropeDec. 2008137,936 tons
2009Aker Yards/STX EuropeJuly 2009137,936 tonsOrdered as MSC Serenata and renamed MSC Splendida in 2008.
2012STX EuropeJune 2012139,400 tonsModified Fantasia class. Ordered as MSC Meraviglia and renamed MSC Divina in 2010.
2013STX EuropeMarch 2013139,400 tonsModified Fantasia class. Originally ordered for Libyan-based General National Maritime Transport.

''Meraviglia'' class

''Meraviglia'' Plus class

''Seaside'' class

ShipBuiltBuilderEntered service
for MSC		Gross TonnageFlagNotesImage
2017FincantieriNov 2017153,516 tonsMSC Cruises' first purpose-built ship for the North American market.
2018FincantieriJune 2018153,516 tonsMSC Seasides sister ship

Future ships

Former ships