MSC Cruises
About MSC Cruises |
Mediterranean Shipping Company's MSC Cruises may be a relatively new entrant in cruising's leisure travel niche (it was formed in 1987), but the Geneva-based firm is one of the world's biggest players in international shipping -- MSC currently ranks as the second largest container company.
Subsidiary MSC Cruises, which is based in Naples, was conceived around the premise of offering Europeans an affordable cruise vacation -- a concept that was fairly revolutionary in 1990. Today, it competes primarily against Genoa-based Costa Cruises (as well as smaller, more regional lines like Spain's Pullmantur).
The big difference between MSC and Costa, its main rival, is that the latter is owned by Carnival Corporation, and has begun to sport ships that more reflect the Carnival Cruise Lines ambience (indeed, Costa's newest ships are built on the same platform as Carnival's Conquest class of ships and designed by Joe Farcus, Carnival's longtime theatrical maestro). MSC, which shows an equal commitment to not only building new ships but also expanding its passenger demographics, is privately owned and, as such, the designs of its vessels are unique to the line.
MSC Cruises was created when Gianlucci Aponte, owner of Mediterranean Shipping Company, acquired Starlauro, a one-ship cruise line whose fleet consisted of the Achille Lauro (which had been hijacked by Palestinian terrorists in 1986). This first ship continued its troubled history even while under the MSC flag -- in 1996, the Achille Lauro, while sailing a passenger cruise, caught fire off the coast of Africa and ultimately sank. All passengers were safely rescued.
Other ships in MSC's early fleet include Melody and Rhapsody (both are still sailing under the MSC flag though are not marketed to North American travelers).
The turn of the millennium was a massive breakthrough for MSC, which for the first time commissioned its own series of new-builds. MSC Lirica, a 59,058-ton, 1,445-passenger vessel, was the first to emerge in April 2003; MSC Opera, just slightly larger and carrying 1,756 passengers, debuted in June 2004. Both were christened by Italian goddess Sophia Loren.
Since then, the eight-ship fleet was bolstered by the acquisition of several vessels from the now defunct First European/Festival. Now named Armonia and Sinfonia, both ships measure 58,625 tons and carry 1,566 passengers.
The introduction of a new class of ships -- larger, more amenity laden and featuring an even higher ratio of private verandahs -- emerged with MSC Musica. Measuring 90,000 tons and accommodating 2,550 passengers, that class "master" was launched in June 2006; siblings include MSC Orchestra (now under construction at Aker Yards France, the ship received its float out in September 2006; it is slated for debut in spring of 2007). Following is Poesia, now being constructed in numerous workshops at the same shipyard. Poesia is scheduled for launch in spring of 2008.
But MSC's biggest forward foot to date has been its plan to build the 133,500-ton, 3,300-passenger Fantasia. The largest ship to date for the line, Fantasia, a post-Panamax sized vessel, is an absolutely unique protoype for the line. The ship is now under construction at Aker Yards France and will ultimately debut first-ever features such as a Happy Island of concierge suites and the line's first glass-covered pool. Debut is slated for spring of 2008; a sister vessel, the MSC Serenata, has also been commissioned and is planned for a 2009 launch. |
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The Fleet |
The MSC Cruises fleet, consisting of eight ships, can be divided into three categories. First, there's the very value-priced refurbished "classic" ships (which aren't marketed to a North American audience), such as the 35,000-ton, 1,064-passenger MSC Melody (built in 1982; formerly known as Premier Cruise Lines' Starship Atlantic); the 20,000-ton, 566-passenger MSC Monterey (a former U.S. flagged liner built in 1952); and the 17,495-ton, 780-passenger MSC Rhapsody (formerly known as Cunard Princess and built in 1977).
Next are the step-siblings -- the 58,625-ton, 1,566-passenger Armonia and Sinfonia, which were acquired from the now-defunct First European/Festival Cruises. And third? The glossy new-builds. MSC's first new ship, the aforementioned MSC Lirica, was launched in April 2003; MSC Opera followed one year later. These two, like all others on the new ship list, were built at Aker Yards in France, the same shipyard that constructed Queen Mary 2 and Celebrity's Millennium.
Building on its success with its debut new-builds, the line has since commissioned and launched a new series of ships -- and the MSC Musica, which debuted in 2006 and represented a quantum leap in evolution. The 90,000-ton, 2,550-passenger MSC Musica represented a major leap in size. Musica (along with its younger and still-under-construction siblings Orchestra and Poesia), features even more cabins with balconies, MSC's highest ratio.
There's more to come. The introduction of the Fantasia concept -- ships that clock in at 133,500 tons and carry 3,300 passengers -- is even more revolutionary for the line. Fantasia is slated for launch in 2008; Serenata, a sister ship, will debut in 2009, and the line holds an option on building a third sibling (ETA to be determined). |
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Onboard |
Whether new ship or old, MSC Cruises emphasizes a strongly Italian-influenced ambience. For the most part, its ships traverse the Mediterranean (winter and summer) and are geared to European travelers. But the line has made a major commitment to not only sail elsewhere (South America, the Caribbean, South Africa) but also expand its passenger base to include English-speaking travelers. Regardless, passengers should be prepared for announcements to be read in Italian, French, Spanish, German and English.
Life onboard, particularly when it comes to mealtime, follows a more traditional cruise schedule with set dining times and seatmates, along with a handful of optional eateries, including sushi, a buffet and an Italian restaurant. |
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Itineraries |
| MSC Cruises' main playground is, of course, the Mediterranean, and itineraries include stops in Italy, Greece, Malta, Canary Islands, Croatia, Portugal, Morocco, Spain, Istanbul and even the Ukraine. MSC Cruises began serving the Caribbean in 1997 and has since added cruises to South Africa and South America. Interestingly, one part of Europe the line does not serve -- at least not yet -- is the Baltic. |
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Fellow Passengers |
| In the Mediterranean and South Africa, expect a very European crowd, though Caribbean sailings are geared more strongly to North American travelers. In all cases, MSC Cruises appeals to travelers interested in a moderately priced cruise experience. |
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