MSC Cruises (Italian: MSC Crociere) is a global cruise line registered in Switzerland and based in Geneva. It was founded in Naples, Italy, in 1989. It is part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC), the world's second-biggest container shipping operator. In addition to being the world's largest privately held cruise company, employing about 23,500 people worldwide and with offices in 45 countries as of 2017, MSC Cruises is the fourth-largest cruise company in the world, after Carnival Corporation & plc, Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, with a 7.2% share of all passengers carried in 2017.

History

Lauro Lines

Lauro Lines (Italian: Flotta Lauro) was founded in Naples, Italy by Achille Lauro in 1960. The company entered the cruise business operating two ships, MS Angelina Lauro and MS Achille Lauro. Angelina Lauro burnt in the port of St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands in 1979 and Achille Lauro was hijacked by members of the Palestine Liberation Front in 1985 what put the company in financial difficulties.

MSC Cruises

In 1988, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) enter the cruise business by buying the liner Monterey.

In 1989, MSC bought Lauro Lines and renamed it StarLauro Cruises. The new company had 2 ships, Monterey and Achille Lauro.

In 1995 StarLauro Cruises was renamed MSC Cruises.

In 2014, MSC Cruises announced that the four Lirica'-class ships underwent renovation under the "Renaissance Programme".

In July 2018, the company announced that it would build a second cruise terminal at PortMiami for its World-class cruise ships as an expansion of its North American program. It is scheduled to be completed in October 2022.

In October 2018, MSC announced an order for four luxury ships of 64,000 gross tons each. These ultra-luxury vessels will be based on the cruise line's luxury concept, the "MSC Yacht Club." The first ship will arrive in the spring of 2023. All ships will be built at Fincantieri.

In January 2019, MSC Cruises unveiled the world’s first virtual personal cruise assistant - ZOE, an artificial intelligence device designed by Harman International. It is currently featured on MSC Bellissima and MSC Grandiosa and will be featured on future newbuilds upon their delivery.

Suspension of operations during the pandemic

All cruise lines suspended most (or all) of their operations in mid 2020 for over six months during the COVID-19 pandemic. A report on 9 January 2021 stated MSC was hoping to resume some cruises in Europe in the near future but added that "it remains to be seen whether this will go ahead with much of the continent still in lockdown". On 7 January, MSC had released a plan for MSC Grandiosa to start its 7-night cruises on 24 January 2021 and for MSC Magnifica to start its 10-night cruises on 14 February 2021, both in the Mediterranean. Only passengers who were residents of Schengen countries would be accepted until further notice, however.

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

In December 2015, MSC Cruises signed a 100-year lease on land in the Bahamas to develop the land for an exclusive island experience. The project was named the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and was set to open in mid-November 2019, but weather delays pushed the date to 5 December 2019.