MSC Cruises
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Company type | Privately held company |
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Industry | Transportation |
Founded | 1989 |
Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
Area served | Worldwide |
Products | Cruises |
Number of employees | 23,500 |
Parent | Mediterranean Shipping Company |
Website | msccruises |
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[update],[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
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 | ![]() |
Previously European Vision for the failed Festival Cruises. | ![]() |
MSC Sinfonia | 2002 | Chantiers de l'Atlantique(St. Nazaire) | March 2005 | 65,542 tons | ![]() |
Previously European Stars for the failed Festival Cruises. | |
MSC Lirica | 2003 | Chantiers de l'Atlantique(St. Nazaire) | March 2003 | 65,591 tons | ![]() |
Modified ex Festival's European-class. | ![]() |
MSC Opera | 2004 | Chantiers de l'Atlantique(St. Nazaire) | March 2004 | 65,591 tons | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
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MSC Orchestra | 2007 | Aker Yards(St. Nazaire) | May 2007 | 92,409 tons | ![]() |
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MSC Poesia | 2008 | Aker Yards/STX Europe(St. Nazaire) | Oct. 2008 | 92,627 tons | ![]() |
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MSC Magnifica | 2010 | STX Europe(St. Nazaire) | March 2010 | 95,128 tons | ![]() |
Modified Musica-class. | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
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MSC Splendida | 2009 | Aker Yards/STX Europe(St. Nazaire) | July 2009 | 137,936 tons | ![]() |
Ordered as MSC Serenata and renamed MSC Splendida in 2008. | ![]() |
MSC Divina | 2012 | STX Europe(St. Nazaire) | June 2012 | 139,400 tons | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
Largest ship to have been built for MSC Cruises.[12]
|
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MSC Bellissima | 2019 | Chantiers de l'Atlantique | March 2019 | 171,598 tons | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
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] |
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Seaside class
Ship | Built | Builder | Entered service for MSC |
Gross Tonnage | Flag | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSC Seaside | 2017 | Fincantieri | Nov 2017 | 153,516 tons | ![]() |
MSC Cruises' first purpose-built ship for the North-American market. | ![]() |
MSC Seaview | 2018 | Fincantieri | June 2018 | 153,516 tons | ![]() |
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] |
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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] |
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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
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Curise Market Watch - Market Share". Cruise Market Watch. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- ^ a b "About MSC History". MSC Cruises USA. MSC Cruises. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "MSC Renaissance Program Begins with Laying Out of Armonia's New Section". cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ^ "MSC Cruises to Build Second Cruise Terminal in Miami - MSC Cruises". www.cruisecritic.com. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ a b c d "MSC places order for four luxury vessels: Travel Weekly". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
- ^ "MSC Cruises Officially Unveils "Zoe" the World's First Personal Cruise Assistant". www.cruisecritic.com. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ Mathisen, Monty (1 February 2019). "MSC Unveils Zoe Virtual Personal Assistant". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
- ^ Staff, C. I. N. (17 December 2015). "Confirmed: MSC Closes Deal on Private Island in Bahamas". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ "MSC Cruises Announces New Opening Date for Ocean Cay Marine Reserve". TravelPulse. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ "MSC Cruises-UK News: MSC Cruises Welcomes MSC Preziosa". Msccruises.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
- ^ "MSC Confirms Fincantieri Order for two Seaside-Class Ships". cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ^ "MSC Cruises Newsletter: MSC Meraviglia New MSC Cruises Flagship".
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "MSC Cruises to Build Two More Mega Ships". Cruise Critic. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ^ Staff, C. I. N. (2 September 2019). "MSC Grandiosa Completes Sea Trials". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
- ^ "MSC Grandiosa's Maiden Voyage Now Open For Booking". Travel Agent Central. 10 October 2018.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "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.
- ^ Gibson, Rebecca (28 February 2019). "MSC Cruises takes delivery of MSC Bellissima". CruiseandFerry.net.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "MSC Releases Video Detailing New Ship Features". cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ^ 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) - ^ 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) - ^ "Msc guarda all'ambiente, ecco 'Europa': a Saint Nazaire il taglio della prima lamiera". Primocanale.it (in Italian). Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ a b c d "MSC Cruises to Launch Yacht Club-Style Luxury Ships". Travel Agent Central. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
External links
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