About MSC Cruises

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 560 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 560 vessels.

This second phase investment plan is 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.

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. 

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.

MSC Euribia, our second LNG ship, conducted the world’s first ever net zero Greenhouse Gas emissions voyage utilising Bio-LNG using mass-balance, the most cost-effective and environmentally efficient method of delivering the benefits of renewable LNG.

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.

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.