About MSC Cruises
We’ve called the sea our home for over 350 years. It’s a place of discovery and delight. On an MSC Cruise, our guests can enjoy an unforgettable experience with us – from the wonderful places we visit across the globe, to the pristine accommodation, exciting entertainment and varied, international dining on board.
DISCOVER THE BEST HOLIDAY EVER
Our company
MSC Cruises is the world’s third largest cruise line and the market leader in Europe with a strong and growing presence in North America. A global cruise brand with 23 modern ships offering cruises across five continents, guests can visit more than 100 countries worldwide with more than 250 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 350 years of maritime heritage.
We employ over 35,000 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 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 an experience 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.
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). Canary Islands and Madeira, Northern Europe, Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Qatar, South America, Emirates, North America, Alaska, Panama Canal, Southern Africa, and Asia.
Our 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 ships 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 ship in MSC Cruises’ fleet and one of the most energy efficient cruise ships in the world. MSC World America is the second in the cruise line’s innovative World Class when she launched 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.
Debuting in November 2027, MSC World Atlantic will become the fourth ship in MSC Cruises’ trailblazing World Class series, offering Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings to some of the most iconic destinations from Orlando’s Port Canaveral (Florida, U.S.). The new ship will offer guests the chance to experience a seamless blend of cultures, flavours, and styles from both sides of the Atlantic brought together in one thrilling destination at sea. Guests will enjoy 40+ bars and restaurants, world-class entertainment, and family activities aboard a ship that seamlessly blends European style with American comfort.
Beyond the World Class ships, we have 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
Sustainability
Sustainability remains central to how MSC Cruises plans for the future. Through long-term commitment, innovation, and continuous improvement, we are focused on advancing a more resilient and sustainable future for our business and industry.
We continue to work towards achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 for our marine operations through three key decarbonisation levers: technology and design, operational efficiency and renewable fuels.
We also focus on reducing waste, supporting responsible tourism, and working closely with ports, destinations and local communities. Across these efforts, we are committed to taking meaningful, measurable actions that support long-term positive impact for our guests, colleagues, the communities we visit, and the planet.
Sustainability
History
A centuries-old relationship with the sea-
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. -
Start of a €5.5 billion investment programme to build the world’s most modern cruise fleet.
MSC Cruises invested in research and development to grow the fleet with dynamic ships. In just over a decade, they built four ‘Lirica' class ships, followed by four ‘Musica' class ships and the four ‘Fantasia’ class flagships. All of them feature MSC Cruises’ trademark blend of classic design, providing an elegant backdrop to the much-loved traditional service. -
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.
MSC Cruises 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 now have a gross tonnage of 65,000 tonnes and carry over 2,000 passengers.
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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.
Each of these ships is fueled by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). -
MSC Cruises consolidated 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.
The two Seaside EVO ships, delivered in 2021 and 2023, represented 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. -
MSC Cruises’ fleet grew with the delivery of MSC Bellissima and MSC Grandiosa, while Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve welcomed its first guests.
Two Meraviglia generation cruise ships were built in Saint-Nazaire, France and delivered to MSC Cruises, increasing the fleet’s size to 17 ships. MSC Bellissima entered service in March, offering West Mediterranean itineraries before being deployed to Dubai, United Arab Emirates in the autumn. MSC Grandiosa entered service in November, becoming the largest ship in the fleet at the time. Also, in 2019, and after three years of intensive work, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve welcomed its first guests. This former industrial sand excavation site was transformed into a stunning tropical destination. 7,500 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. -
MSC Cruises became the first major cruise line to restart after COVID-19, supported by a comprehensive health and safety protocol, and published its first Sustainability report.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic and a temporary halt to the entire global cruise industry, MSC Cruises developed and implemented a comprehensive Health and Safety protocol that enabled them to become the first major cruise line to restart operations in August in the Mediterranean with its flagship MSC Grandiosa. Having worked with internationally renowned health experts and in partnership with relevant international, national and local authorities, MSC Cruises new operational protocol was designed to protect the health and safety of guests, crew and the coastal communities.
In 2020 MSC Cruises also published its first Sustainability report. 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. -
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.
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Delivery of MSC World Europa, the first LNG-fueled ship of our fleet and introduced technologies to reduce our impact on the environment.
In 2022, MSC Cruises saw the restart of the entire fleet and progressively and safely eased COVID-19 restrictions and launched two new ships.
MSC World Europa, delivered in October, was the first to be LNG-fueled. It featured shore-to-ship power connectivity to minimise engine use at ports. MSC Seascape was delivered in November. MSC Protectours, the dedicated shore excursions specifically designed to educate our guests and promote responsible tourism and responsible travel, become more widely available. -
MSC Cruises 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 its new luxury brand, Explora Journeys.
In 2023, MSC Euribia, completed her maiden journey from Saint Nazaire to Copenhagen using over 400 tonnes of bio-LNG supplied by Gasum, delivered via mass-balance in full compliance with the EU Renewable Energy Directive and independently certified by ISCC.
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, MSC Cruises celebrated the inauguration of its 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.
MSC Cruises equipped its fleet with SpaceX’s Starlink to boost internet connectivity for passengers onboard.
MSC Cruises introduced shore excursions exclusively bookable for MSC Yacht Club guests, providing an even more exclusive and intimate experience. -
MSC World America joined the fleet, increasing the fleet’s size to 23 modern ships.
MSC Cruises opened 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.
It also expanded its North American presence with the opening of a 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, which is set to become the third ship in the World Class series. Sales opened for her itineraries, where she will homeport at the new MSC Barcelona Terminal, from December 2026.
The company celebrated the coin ceremony of MSC World Atlantic and opened 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 refurbishment featuring a new MSC Yacht Club, two specialty dining venues and a redesigned MSC Aurea Spa and MSC Gym Powered by Technogym®.
Certifications
MSC Cruises is proud to uphold high standards in quality, safety, environmental responsibility, and information security. By achieving internationally recognised ISO certifications, MSC Cruises demonstrates its ongoing dedication to excellence and continuous improvement across all areas of its operations.-
ISO 50001Energy Performance -
ISO 14001Environmental Management -
ISO 22000Food safety management -
ISO 45001Safety management -
ISO 21070Management of garbage
onboard cruise vessels -
ISO 9001Management System
Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement
MSC Cruises is committed to the principles of modern corporate governance and aims to ensure it is in compliance with its regulatory obligations. We are proud to implement professional and responsible management of the highest standards.
Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement
