MSC Cruises Cruises Lines
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Following several years of unprecedented growth, MSC Cruises boasts one of the most modern
cruise fleet in the world, with 11 ships currently in operation. The company currently carries 1.2
million passengers per year. MSC Cruises is a leader in the Mediterranean cruise market, sailing in
the region throughout the year, as well as offering a wide range of seasonal itineraries in
Northern Europe, Transatlantic, the Caribbean, Canada/New England, South America, the Indian Ocean,
South and West Africa. The company is entirely European-owned. It employs 12,000 staff around the
world and has offices in 42 countries. As of December 2009, MSC Cruises is the fourth largest
cruise operator in the world, after Carnival Corporation & plc, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
and Norwegian Cruise Line.
MSC Cruises has the most modern fleet in the world with 11 ships: MSC Magnifica, who
launched in March 2010, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia (the largest ships built for a European ship
owner),
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 MSC Poesia, MSC Orchestra, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia, MSC Opera, MSC
Lirica and MSC Melody.
The fleet cruises year round in the Mediterranean and seasonally in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the
Caribbean, Canada/New England, South America, the Indian Ocean, South and West Africa.
MSC Cruises is the only company in the world to receive the "Golden Pearls” award from the Bureau Veritas in
recognition of its high level of quality management and environmental protection. As a family-friendly cruise line,
MSC Cruises cares about children and in providing a lasting and positive impact in the lives of those kids in need.
It recently forged a three-year, million-dollar partnership with UNICEF to fund a community project in Brazil while
increasing awareness of this cause onboard its ships.
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. Northern Europe, from
Norway's fjords to the Baltic, is increasingly popular.
MSC has since added itineraries to South Africa and South America. It also is ramping up its presence in the
Caribbean. In 2010, the line will add fall foliage cruises from a new homeport in New York to Canada and New
England.
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, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, South Africa), but
also to expand its passenger base to include English-speaking travelers.
While MSC cruises are typically priced at very value-oriented levels (i.e. pretty cheap cruise fares), the ships
offer a fairly unprecedented range of services and amenities that cost extra, such as a la carte menus, fees for
port shuttles and more.
Original Article Written for Mediterranean “Fun” cruises
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