Tag Archives: MSC Seashore

MSC Cruises Builds Momentum with All Ships Back in Service

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MSC Virtuosa docked in Rotterdam, Photo credit Spacejunkie2 – Flickr

When the MSC Musica started sailing in early June, the entire MSC Cruises fleet was back in service. For the summer that means 11 ships in the Mediterranean, five ships in Northern Europe, two ships in the Caribbean and one ship in the Middle East, according to Gianni Onorato, president of MSC Cruises.

“We have all 19 ships operating and are looking forward to two more new ships coming in October and November, the Seascape and the World Europa,” he said.

The 205,700-ton, 5,400-passenger MSC World Europa will be the largest and also the greenest and most efficient ship in the fleet, with a dual-fuel powerplant able to operate on LNG, while also testing a fuel cell onboard for auxiliary power. The intention is to explore a potential hybrid propulsion solution for future implementation. The new ship will also be able to plug into shore power wherever that is available.

“The market is driven by capacity and demand,” Onorato continued. “But obviously the last two years have been different and difficult as we were not able to operate as we normally do. And then as we started to ramp up, there was omicron, then the war, and then the high inflation rate. But over the last couple of months, we have seen demand picking up as people have a strong need to go on cruises again. People want to go on holidays, and we are seeing strong booking trends.”

In terms of the other challenges the industry is facing, Onorato said: “As we started sailing again before anyone else, and because we spent less time in the layup, we were able to ensure continuity of employment, and we maintained our recruitment and training centres. The turnover rate may be a little higher than normal, but manageable.

“As for the supply chain, we share some of the same issues as others in the cruise industry but have an advantage as we are also in the logistics business.

“We have also maintained our organizations in China and Japan, and we are ready to resume service, which most likely will happen next year,” he added.

Operating in many markets, Onorato said that among the selling points differentiating MSC Cruises are its beautiful ships, which, he added, reflect the soul of the family-owned company and its commitment to quality and innovations, and most of all, its maritime heritage.

“The passion we put into building our ships is also a way of expressing how much we care about the sea. We are more and more a company that is focused on sustainability and a sustainable future,” he explained.

“Another feature that sets us apart, is that as a family-owned company we offer a different atmosphere onboard, a different ambience for our customers and crew alike.

“We are also the only true international company. As our Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago likes to say, we are local and global, or glocal.

“Wherever our ships are sailing, we also adapt our product to local tastes and preferences,” Onorato added. “I think we are the only company operating ships in Brazil for Brazilians, in Argentina for Argentinians and in South Africa for South Africans.

“Our ships in the Middle East also have a high ratio of local customers onboard, and in Northern Europe, most of our customers are from countries in that region. And in the Mediterranean, our main markets are Italy, France and Spain.

“Our cruises are always open to anyone. In the United States, for example, a large share of passengers is from outside the U.S. So, we offer a different experience; more sophisticated, more discovery, all in all a different experience than the other brands in that market.”

In the United States, MSC sails from Miami and Port Canaveral and will also have the Meraviglia year-round out of New York in April.

Meanwhile, the city will serve as the backdrop for the naming of the MSC Seascape in December. (She then sails to Miami where she will be deployed for a winter season in the Caribbean.)

And, there is more to come, Onorato promised.

Excerpt from Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine: Summer 2022

MSC Cruises to Increase Dominance in Europe

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MSC Magnifica in Queensferry Edinburgh, Photo credit Spacejnkie2

The European market will increase by dominated by MSC Cruises, according to the 2022 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.

By 2027 MSC will not only have the most passenger cruise capacity in Europe but also be the single largest brand, based on its new build program and projected ship deployments.

MSC Cruises, including its Explora Journeys brand, will have a total passenger capacity of 4.3 million in Europe in 2027, compared to 4.0 million for Carnival Corporation brands and 1.5 million for the TUI Group.

In addition, would be ships deployed from Carnival’s North American brands and by the Royal Caribbean Group, but their passenger sourcing, pending circumstances, is primarily from the U.S.

From 2022 to 2027, MSC will see its capacity grow by 36.2 per cent, Carnival by 3.3 per cent and the TUI Group by 41.7 per cent.

MSC is a pan-European brand, along with Costa Cruises, while national brands dominate some markets, such as P&O in the UK, AIDA and TUI in Germany.

The market capacity of the Europe-based brands is estimated at 9.2 million passengers this year and is projected to grow to 11 million by 2027.

MSC Breaks Ground on New Miami Cruise Terminal

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The Cruise Division of MSC Group today broke ground for its new $350 million cruise terminal in Miami which when it opens will be North America’s largest, according to a statement from the company. 

The four-story building with four embarkation decks will be able to accommodate up to 36,000 passenger movements a day, and feature enough berthing space to serve three latest-generation ships simultaneously, the company said.

The Cruise Division of MSC Group and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri announced a partnership in July 2021 whereby Fincantieri Infrastructure would construct the state-of-the-art facility which will feature a striking design by award-winning global architecture firm Arquitectonica.

The new terminal will be able to accommodate MSC Cruises’ largest and most environmentally advanced cruise ships, including its current flagship, the MSC Seashore, and the line’s future liquified natural gas-powered World Class ships. 

Most ships at berth at the new Miami terminal will be able to plug into the local power grid, in line with PortMiami’s plans to enable shore power connectivity.

Rubén Rodriguez, President, MSC Cruises USA, said, “Our new terminal at PortMiami represents MSC Cruises’ commitment to growth in North America and will help drive our expansion in South Florida by offering our guests an unbeatable experience that starts before they ever step onboard. It’s also part of our larger sustainability goals, which include deploying our most modern and environmentally advanced ships to North America, the continued development of our one-of-a-kind Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, and our pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. We’re proud of our partnership with Fincantieri, PortMiami and Miami-Dade County, and it’s a privilege to be able to contribute to the region’s continued growth and vitality.”

Claudio Gemme, CEO of Fincantieri Infrastructure, added, “We are very pleased to be able to work with MSC, Miami-Dade County and PortMiami on such an ambitious project as the new terminal. It represents for us a significant result from a strategic point of view because it rewards the choice to extend to new areas the skills acquired in the field of large infrastructures. When the works are completed, here in the world cruise capital, passengers from all over the globe will be able to admire the superior quality of our work even before boarding the ship.”

Mayor Daniella LevineCava, Miami-Dade County, said, “In Miami-Dade County, we are forging ahead with future-ready investments that will stimulate growth and expanded opportunities for our local economy. As this port continues to develop, the opportunities for our community, whether in jobs, contracts, and services, can only increase. MSC’s new mega cruise terminal will significantly impact the entire region. Once complete, the facility will service three new-generation passenger vessels simultaneously, handling up to 36,000 passenger movements per day. Additionally, this architectural marvel will allow the line to deploy some of its most environmentally high-performing ships including its World-class fleet.  A big thank you to MSC Cruises and Fincantieri for their partnership.”

Aside from the terminal building itself, the new complex – which is currently projected to be completed by the end of 2023 – will include a multi-level parking garage for 2,400 vehicles, new road construction to ensure traffic flows smoothly, and a total of three berths capable of accommodating the largest of cruise ships. The company will build two of those new docks; Miami-Dade County will construct the third. The project also involves the construction of related shore infrastructure, including water supply stations and four-passenger embarkation decks.