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.

DISCOVER THE BEST HOLIDAY EVER

When the perfect holiday is planned, the magic lives in the unplanned.

Every MSC cruise is planned with care — but the true magic lives in the unexpected. It’s the surprises, the views you never imagined, the moments that reveal something new about yourself, that become your best memories.
On board MSC Cruises, everything is taken care of for you, and the thrill of discovering what comes next.

Because discovery isn’t just about new places — it’s about the unforgettable moments along the way.

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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.

 

A global cruise brand with 22 modern ships offering cruises across five continents, guests can visit more than 100 countries worldwide with more than 300 destinations, making unforgettable memories and enjoying the finest hospitality.


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. Each of our highly qualified masters draws on the company’s experience to navigate our fleet of ships.

Our company

Our Company | MSC Cruises

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, award-winning family programmes and the latest user-friendly technology on board. 

With our cruises you can decide where to go and for how long. Choose among the best cruise destinations, with a wide variety of itineraries mapped to reveal the sights, sounds and flavours of the world's most intriguing cultures.

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, North America, Alaska, Panama Canal, Southern Africa, and Asia.

Our Cruises

About us, Our cruises | MSC 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.

MSC World America will be the second in the cruise line’s innovative World Class when she launches in 2025, offering contemporary cruising in the Caribbean from Miami, with new, immersive and unique experiences that seamlessly blend European design with American comfort, providing guests with a truly memorable cruise experience.

MSC Cruises’ newest World Class ship, MSC World Asia, is offering guests an opportunity to experience the art of cruising in the Mediterranean from December 2026, with new concepts, venues and services to deliver the ultimate cruise experience for guests. She is the latest innovative ship in the cruise line’s LNG-powered World Class.

MSC Virtuosa, with a total guest capacity of 6,334 passengers, she is a modern ship from MSC Cruises’ Meraviglia-plus class, offering a dynamic and enriching guest experience.
Her sister ship MSC Grandiosa (from the Meraviglia Plus Class), came into service in November 2019.

 

The smaller sister ships MSC Meraviglia and MSC Bellissima were the first two Meraviglia Class ships that came into service in 2017 and 2019. In 2023 another ship, MSC Euribia, powered by LNG joined the Meraviglia Plus Class fleet.

MSC Seaside (2017) and MSC Seaview (2018) rewrite the rule book of cruise ship design, blending indoor and outdoor areas to connect guests with the sea like never before. With a guest capacity over 5000 passengers, MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview add a game-changing element to MSC our fleet. Two additional larger Seaside EVO ships, representing a further enhancement of the prototype, will have a capacity of 5,632 guests. The first one, MSC Seashore, was delivered in 2021. Her sister ship, MSC Seascape joined in December 2022.

The four Fantasia Class ships – MSC Preziosa (2013), MSC Divina (2012), MSC Splendida (2009) and MSC Fantasia (2008) – are large-size and modern ships. MSC Preziosa and MSC Divina can accommodate 4,345 guests, while MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia carry 4,363 guests.

The Musica Class ships MSC Magnifica (2010), MSC Poesia (2008), MSC Orchestra (2007) and MSC Musica (2006) carry around 3,000 guests each.

The fleet is completed by the Lirica Class ships – MSC Sinfonia (2005), MSC Armonia (2004), MSC Opera (2004) and MSC Lirica (2003) – each carrying around 2,000 guests.

The Fleet

MSC World Europa | MSC Cruises

Sustainability

Charting a sustainable future

 

We have long been committed to environmental stewardship with a long-term goal to achieve zero emissions for our fleet operations by 2050. We are also a significant investor in next-generation environmental marine technologies, with the objective to support 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. 

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Sustainability

A vibrant underwater scene with schools of fish swimming among kelp | MSC Cruises

History

A centuries-old relationship with the sea
Having a history is a privilege. While others need to invent theirs, we have a true story to tell. It begins more than 300 years ago, with the seafaring Aponte family from Sorrento in Italy. Building on the experience and expertise gained over the centuries, this family of ship owners and captains went on to create MSC Cruises, now the largest privately owned cruise company in the world.
  • Aframax victory ship MSC Cruises 1675
    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.
  • A large MSC container ship navigating through the harbor | MSC Cruises 1970
    Gianluigi Aponte founds the MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company with the purchase of single ship. MSC has since grown to become a world leader in global container shipping operating 1000 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 1000 vessels.
  • msc genova, MS Island Escape,Cruise ship 1988
    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.
  • msc cruises fleet, MSC Cruises,Cruise ship 2003 - 2013
    Start of a €5.5 billion investment programme to build the world’s most modern cruise fleet.
    We boast one of the most modern and dynamic fleets in the world, thanks to a massive €5.5 billion investment programme started in 2003. 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 traditional elegance and innovative design.
     
  • msc owners, Gianluigi Aponte, 2008
    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.
  • kotor, MS Island Escape,Cruise ship 2014
    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.
    We launched a new €5bn investment plan to build four revolutionary new ships, plus options for three more, with STX France and Fincantieri. In addition, the Lirica class ships were enlarged and renewed by Fincantieri under the €200m ”Renaissance Programme”, which was completed by late 2015. These ships have now a GT of 65,000 tonnes and carry over 2,000 passengers.
     
  • msc cruise new ship, MSC Cruises,Cruise ship 2016

    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 using liquified natural gas as energy source.

  • MSC Seaside 2017-2018

    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 equipped with a of LNG-powered engines.
  • A large MSC cruise ship docked near a red and white striped lighthouse | MSC Cruises 2019
    MSC Cruises’ fleet grows with the delivery of MSC Bellissima and MSC Grandiosa. Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve welcomes its first guests.
    Two Meraviglia generation cruise ships are built in Saint-Nazaire, France and delivered to MSC Cruises, increasing the fleet’s size to 17 ships. Capable of accommodating up to 5,714 guests, MSC Bellissima enters service in March, offering West Mediterranean itineraries before being deployed to Dubai, United Arab Emirates in the autumn. With a capacity for 6,334 guests, her bigger sister MSC Grandiosa starts service in November, becoming the biggest ship in MSC Cruises’ fleet. She also starts operating in the West Med.
     
    Also, in 2019, and after three years of intensive work, our private island destination in the Bahamas Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve welcomed its first guests in December 2019. As part of a multi-faceted restoration strategy, we transformed this former industrial sand excavation site into a stunning tropical destination. 1,500 tons of scrap metal were removed and throughout the clean-up process, a team of expert divers and marine biologists carefully removed individual hard coral colonies from debris on the ocean bed and relocated them to an approved location outside the construction area. Actions were taken to create a biodiverse environment and more than 75,000 plants and shrubs were planted across the island.
  • Vibrant coral reef with colorful fish and a rocky island above water | MSC Cruises 2020
    We are the first major cruise line to restart after COVID-19, thanks to our leading health and safety protocol. We publish our first Sustainability Report
    In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and a temporary halt to the entire global cruise industry, we developed and implemented a comprehensive Health and Safety protocol that enables us to become the first major cruise line to restart operations in August in the Mediterranean with our flagship MSC Grandiosa. Having worked with internationally renowned health experts and in partnership with relevant international, national and local authorities, our new operational protocol was designed to protect the health and safety of guests, crew and the coastal communities that our ships reach.

    In 2020 we also published our first Sustainability report. Built on our long-term sustainability ambitions, this report outlines our vision to continue our longstanding journey towards becoming an environmental leader in the global maritime sector and draws a pathway for us to achieve a sustainable future. The Report is structured around four key pillars: Planet, People, Place and Procurement. The Report also highlights key sustainability milestones achieved in the past year.
  • MSC Seashore | MSC Cruises 2021

    Completion of MSC Virtuosa and MSC Seashore and strengthening our commitment to sustainability.

    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. In 2021, we also took an important step forward on our journey to sustainability and reinforced our desire to be an industry leader in this field.

  • MSC World Europa, Promenade | MSC Cruises 2022

    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.

  • MSC Euribia LNG Ship | MSC Cruises 2023

    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.

     
  • MSC World America | MSC Cruises 2025

    In 2025, MSC World America joined our fleet, increasing the fleet’s size to 23 modern ships.
    We marked the opening of our two brand-new, state-of-the-art cruise terminals: MSC Barcelona Terminal and MSC Miami Terminal at Port Miami, one of the world’s largest and most advanced cruise terminals.
    We also expanded our North American presence with the opening of our fourth U.S. homeport in Galveston Texas, where MSC Seascape commenced her inaugural sailings from her new homeport.
    This year we celebrated the float out of MSC World Asia, set to become the third ship in our World Class series. Sales opened for her itineraries, where she will homeport at our new MSC Barcelona Terminal, from December 2026.
    We celebrated the coin ceremony of MSC World Atlantic and opened her sales for her itineraries. She will be deployed in the Caribbean Sea from Port Canaveral, U.S., for her winter 2027-2028 season.
    A further two World Class ships were confirmed with shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
    MSC Magnifica underwent a major refurbished featuring a new MSC Yacht Club, two speciality dining venues and a redesigned MSC Aurea Spa and MSC Gym Powered by Technogym®.

Certifications

Ethics and Compliance

As an international cruise line company, MSC Cruises earns its reputation and trust everyday by providing unparalleled services to its guests and by conducting business fairly and ethically. Our reputation for trust and integrity relies also upon every action by every employee every day and in order to ensure this is embraced across the organization, we have a comprehensive Code of Ethical Business Conduct in place.

 

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