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MSC Cruises

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MSC Cruises
Company typePrivately held company
IndustryTransportation
Founded1989
HeadquartersGeneva, Switzerland
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsCruises
Number of employees
23,500
ParentMediterranean Shipping Company
Websitemsccruises.com

MSC Cruises (Italian: MSC Crociere) 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. (MSC), 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,[1] 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.[2]

History

MSC Cruises was founded as Lauro Lines (Italian: Flotta Lauro) in Naples, Italy by Achille Lauro in 1960. The company entered the cruise business operating two ships, the Angelina Lauro and MS Achille Lauro. The Angelina Lauro burnt in the port of St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands in 1979 and the 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.[3] In 1994, the Achille Lauro caught fire and sank. In 1988, the company name was changed to MSC Cruises.[3]

Recent developments

In 2014 MSC Cruises announced that the four Lirica-class ships underwent renovation under the "Renaissance Programme".[4]

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.[5]

In October 2018, MSC announced an order for four luxury ships of 64,000 gross tons each.[6] These ultra-luxury vessels will be based on the cruise line's luxury concept, the "MSC Yacht Club."[6] The first ship will arrive in the spring of 2023.[6] All ships will be built at Fincantieri.[6]

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 the MSC Bellissima and MSC Grandiosa and will be featured on future newbuilds upon their delivery.[7][8]

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.[9] 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.[10]

Fleet

Lirica class

Main article: Lirica class
Ship Built Builder Entered service
for MSC		 Gross Tonnage Flag Notes Image
MSC Armonia 2001 Chantiers de l'Atlantique(St. Nazaire) May 2004 65,542 tons  Panama Previously European Vision for the failed Festival Cruises.
MSC Sinfonia 2002 Chantiers de l'Atlantique(St. Nazaire) March 2005 65,542 tons  Panama Previously European Stars for the failed Festival Cruises.
MSC Lirica 2003 Chantiers de l'Atlantique(St. Nazaire) March 2003 65,591 tons  Panama Modified ex Festival's European-class.
MSC Opera 2004 Chantiers de l'Atlantique(St. Nazaire) March 2004 65,591 tons  Panama Modified ex Festival's European-class.

Musica class

Ship Built Builder Entered service
for MSC		 Gross Tonnage Flag Notes Image
MSC Musica 2006 Aker Yards(St. Nazaire) July 2006 92,409 tons  Panama
MSC Orchestra 2007 Aker Yards(St. Nazaire) May 2007 92,409 tons  Panama
MSC Poesia 2008 Aker Yards/STX Europe(St. Nazaire) Oct. 2008 92,627 tons  Panama
MSC Magnifica 2010 STX Europe(St. Nazaire) March 2010 95,128 tons  Panama Modified Musica-class.

Fantasia class

Main article: Fantasia class
Ship Built Builder Entered service
for MSC		 Gross Tonnage Flag Notes Image
MSC Fantasia 2008 Aker Yards/STX Europe(St. Nazaire) Dec. 2008 137,936 tons  Panama
MSC Splendida 2009 Aker Yards/STX Europe(St. Nazaire) July 2009 137,936 tons  Panama Ordered as MSC Serenata and renamed MSC Splendida in 2008.
MSC Divina 2012 STX Europe(St. Nazaire) June 2012 139,400 tons  Panama Modified Fantasia-class. Ordered as MSC Meraviglia and renamed MSC Divina in 2010.
MSC Preziosa 2013 STX Europe(St. Nazaire) March 2013 139,400 tons  Panama Modified Fantasia-class. Originally ordered for Libyan-based General National Maritime Transport.[11]

Meraviglia class

Ship Built Builder Entered service
for MSC		 Gross Tonnage Flag Notes Image
MSC Meraviglia 2017 STX Europe (St. Nazaire) May 2017 171,598 tons  Malta Largest ship to have been built for MSC Cruises.[12]


Current flagship vessel[13]

MSC Bellissima 2019 Chantiers de l'Atlantique March 2019 171,598 tons  Malta Sister ship to MSC Meraviglia

Meraviglia Plus class

Ship Built Builder Entered service
for MSC		 Gross Tonnage Flag Notes Image
MSC Grandiosa 2019 Chantiers de l'Atlantique November 2019 181,541 tons  Malta Slightly larger than the Meraviglia-class; lead ship of Meraviglia Plus-class.[14]
Christened on 9 November 2019 in Hamburg[15]
Commenced operations on 10 November 2019[16]

Seaside class

Main article: Seaside class cruise ship
Ship Built Builder Entered service
for MSC		 Gross Tonnage Flag Notes Image
MSC Seaside 2017 Fincantieri Nov 2017 153,516 tons  Malta MSC Cruises' first purpose-built ship for the North-American market.
MSC Seaview 2018 Fincantieri June 2018 153,516 tons  Malta MSC Seaside's sister ship File:MSC Seaview Genova.jpg

Future ships

Ship Will enter service
for MSC		 Builder Gross Tonnage Flag Notes Image
MSC Virtuosa September 2020 Chantiers de l'Atlantique 181,541 tons Slightly larger than the Meraviglia-class.[14][17]
Keel-laying performed on 28 February 2019.[18]
MSC Seashore June 2021 Fincantieri 169,380 tons Slightly larger than the Seaside-class.[19]
Steel-cutting performed on 26 November 2018.[20]
MSC Europa 30 May 2022 Chantiers de l'Atlantique 205,700 tons LNG-fueled cruise ship.[21]
Steel-cutting performed on 31 October 2019.[22]
Project Seaside Evo II Autumn 2022 Fincantieri 169,380 tons Slightly larger than the Seaside-class.[19]
Ultra Luxury-class I Spring 2023 Fincantieri 64,000 tons Purpose-built based on "MSC Yacht Club" luxury concept[23]
Meraviglia-plus-class III May 2023 Chantiers de l'Atlantique 183.500 tons LNG-fueled cruise ship
Ultra Luxury-class II 2024 Fincantieri 64,000 tons Purpose-built based on "MSC Yacht Club" luxury concept[23]
World-class II May 2024 Chantiers de l'Atlantique 205,700 tons LNG-fueled cruise ship [21]
Ultra Luxury-class III 2025 Fincantieri 64,000 tons Purpose-built based on "MSC Yacht Club" luxury concept[23]
World-class III Spring 2025 Chantiers de l'Atlantique 205,700 tons LNG-fueled cruise ship [21]
Ultra Luxury-class IV 2026 Fincantieri 64,000 tons Purpose-built based on "MSC Yacht Club" luxury concept[23]
World-class IV Spring 2026 Chantiers de l'Atlantique 205,700 tons LNG-fueled cruise ship [21]

Former ships

Ship Built Builder Entered service
for MSC		 Gross Tonnage Year Retired Image
Symphony 1951 Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson 1994 16,000 tons 2000
Monterey 1952 Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. 1994 20,000 tons 2006
Rhapsody 1977 Burmeister & Wain 1995 17,095 tons 2009
MSC Melody 1982 CNIM (La Seyne-sur-Mer) 1997 35,143 tons 2013
Angelina Lauro 1938 Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw-Maatschappij 1965 24,377 tons 1979
Achille Lauro 1947 Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw-Maatschappij 1965 23,629 tons 1994

References

  1. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "Curise Market Watch - Market Share". Cruise Market Watch. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b "About MSC History". MSC Cruises USA. MSC Cruises. Retrieved 10 August 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "MSC Renaissance Program Begins with Laying Out of Armonia's New Section". cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  5. ^ "MSC Cruises to Build Second Cruise Terminal in Miami - MSC Cruises". www.cruisecritic.com. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d "MSC places order for four luxury vessels: Travel Weekly". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  7. ^ "MSC Cruises Officially Unveils "Zoe" the World's First Personal Cruise Assistant". www.cruisecritic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  8. ^ Mathisen, Monty (1 February 2019). "MSC Unveils Zoe Virtual Personal Assistant". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  9. ^ Staff, C. I. N. (17 December 2015). "Confirmed: MSC Closes Deal on Private Island in Bahamas". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  10. ^ "MSC Cruises Announces New Opening Date for Ocean Cay Marine Reserve". TravelPulse. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  11. ^ "MSC Cruises-UK News: MSC Cruises Welcomes MSC Preziosa". Msccruises.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  12. ^ "MSC Confirms Fincantieri Order for two Seaside-Class Ships". cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  13. ^ "MSC Cruises Newsletter: MSC Meraviglia New MSC Cruises Flagship".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ a b "MSC Cruises to Build Two More Mega Ships". Cruise Critic. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  15. ^ Staff, C. I. N. (2 September 2019). "MSC Grandiosa Completes Sea Trials". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  16. ^ "MSC Grandiosa's Maiden Voyage Now Open For Booking". Travel Agent Central. 10 October 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ "TTG Media - Travel industry, travel agent and tourism news, events and jobs - News - MSC Cruises confirms return to UK – and two new builds". TTG Media - Travel industry, travel agent and tourism news, events and jobs. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  18. ^ Gibson, Rebecca (28 February 2019). "MSC Cruises takes delivery of MSC Bellissima". CruiseandFerry.net.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ a b "MSC Releases Video Detailing New Ship Features". cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  20. ^ Kalosh, Anne (26 November 2018). "Fincantieri cuts steel for MSC Seashore, first Seaside EVO ship". Seatrade Cruise News.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ a b c d "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. ^ "Msc guarda all'ambiente, ecco 'Europa': a Saint Nazaire il taglio della prima lamiera". Primocanale.it (in Italian). Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  23. ^ a b c d "MSC Cruises to Launch Yacht Club-Style Luxury Ships". Travel Agent Central. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
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