Four MSC Cruises Ships Now in Service in the Caribbean

With the MSC Seascape now sailing from PortMiami, MSC Cruises completed its Caribbean fleet for the 2022-2023 winter season.

One of the newest ships sailing in the region, the Seascape is the highlight of the deployment, which also includes the MSC Meraviglia, the MSC Divina and the MSC Seaside.

After being delivered in November, the newbuild was christened in New York City earlier this month and launched service from its South Florida homeport on Dec. 11.

A Seaside EVO Class ship, the Seascape is currently the newest and also one of the largest ships of the MSC Cruises fleet.

Set to serve the U.S. market year-round, the 4,560-guest vessel is now offering week-long cruises to the Caribbean departing from Miami.

Itineraries include visits to popular ports in the Eastern and Western Caribbean, including San Juan, Cozumel, George Cayman and Ocho Rios. Every cruise also features a visit to Ocean Cay, MSC’s private island destination in the Bahamas.

Sailing from Miami as well, the MSC Divina offers a seasonal program of three- to 10-night cruises, visiting additional destinations in the Southern and Western Caribbean, Central America and the Bahamas. Featured ports include Cartagena, Roatán, Limón and Freeport.

Based in Port Canaveral, the MSC Meraviglia is the third MSC cruise ship serving the North American market.

From its Central Florida homeport, the 2017-built ship offers a series of three- to seven-night cruises to the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean.

In addition to Ocean Cay and Nassau, itineraries include calls to Cozumel, Belize and Costa Maya.

A fourth vessel, the MSC Seaside is also offering a winter program in the Southern and Eastern Caribbean.

Departing from St. Maarten, Barbados and Martinique, the ships cater to other publics, including Europeans and Brazilians.

MSC is set to broaden its offering in North America and the Caribbean in 2023-2024, with five ships sailing from U.S. ports, and a sixth based in the South Caribbean.

Vago: ‘Our Capability to Adapt Is Unmatched’

Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman, the Cruise Division of MSC Group, highlighted the strengths of MSC Cruises during a speech in New York at the MSC Seascape’s christening on Wednesday.

“Our industry was put in the spotlight just like New York was, but like you in the face of adversity, we came together and steered ourselves on the right course,” Vago said.

He said that cruise lines had developed stringent health protocols that set the standard. While other sectors remained closed, MSC quickly resumed operations, becoming one of the first major cruise lines to sail again when it resumed operations in the summer of 2022.

“Just like New York, we are back stronger than ever. Today, as macroeconomic conditions change, there are valuable lessons to draw from this experience. High inflation, speculation and economic uncertainty are on the rise, but consumers won’t compromise on their right to have a break,” Vago continued.

“Our capability to adapt is unmatched. We offer the best value for money. Despite the uncertainty, we continue growing.”

Despite the growth in new ships, Vago said the industry needs to remind the world that cruising is essential due to its economic impact.

MSC Seascape Arrives in New York City

MSC Cruises’ new MSC Seascape arrived in New York City on Monday, December 5 after a trans-Atlantic crossing from Italy.

The ship arrives in time for its upcoming naming ceremony that will take place on December 7 at the city’s Manhattan Cruise Terminal, according to a press release.

This will be the first ship naming ceremony for an MSC Cruises ship to take place in New York, coming after MSC Cruises added New York City as a new homeport starting in April 2023.

The MSC Seascape will depart from New York and set sail for Miami on December 8 where it will commence its inaugural sailing season with the Eastern and Western Caribbean Sea sailings.

While sailing the Western Caribbean, the ship will make calls in Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Cozumel in Mexico, George Town in the Cayman Islands and Ocho Rios in Jamaica.

On Sunday, December 11,th  MSC Seaspace will embark on a 15-night Caribbean and Bahamas voyage departing from Miami, Florida with calls in Ocean Cay, Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Puerto Plata/Amber Cove, Dominican Republic and St Thomas, US Virgin islands.