MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises
Type Private
Industry Transportation
Founded 1987
Headquarters Geneva, Switzerland
Products Cruises
Parent Mediterranean Shipping Company
Website www.msccruises.com

MSC Cruises (Italian: MSC Crociere S.p.A.) is a division of Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC).

Originally founded as Lauro Lines by Achille Lauro, the company entered the cruise business in the 1960s, operating two ships, the Angelina Lauro and MS Achille Lauro, both of which met fiery ends. After the Angelina Lauro burnt in the port of St.Thomas in 1979, Lauro Lines, also known as Flotta Lauro, met with bad times, now operating just one ship, the Achille Lauro. In 1985, the Achille Lauro was hijacked by members of the Palestine Liberation Front, and the much-publicised event further dropped passenger numbers. In 1989, Flotta Lauro was purchased by Mediterranean Shipping Company and renamed StarLauro Cruises.[1] In 1994, the Achille Lauro caught fire and sank. In 1995, the company name was changed to MSC Cruises.[1]

As of December 2009, MSC Cruises is the fourth largest cruise operator in the world,[2] after Carnival Corporation & plc, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Norwegian Cruise Line.

On August 14, 2008, MSC Cruises signed a Letter of Intent with STX Europe in Saint-Nazaire, to construct two more Musica-class ships, but financing was never confirmed. On March 1, 2010, after strong support from French government, STX Europe and MSC Cruises announced signing a new Letter of Intent to build one, 139,000 ton, 3502 passenger, Fantasia-class ship, which is subject to financing, at STX Europe St-Nazaire. MSC Divina is scheduled to enter service in June, 2012.

Contents

Ships

Contemporary Fleet

Mistral class

Ship Built Builder Entered service
for MSC		 Gross Tonnage Flag Notes
MSC Armonia 2001 Chantiers de l'Atlantique 2004 58,174 tons  Panama Previously European Vision
MSC Sinfonia 2002 Chantiers de l'Atlantique 2005 58,625 tons  Panama Previously European Stars
MSC Lirica 2002 Chantiers de l'Atlantique 2003 58,825 tons  Panama
MSC Opera 2004 Chantiers de l'Atlantique 2004 59,058 tons  Panama

Musica class

Ship Built Builder Entered service
for MSC		 Gross Tonnage Flag Notes
MSC Musica 2006 Aker Yards 2006 89,600 tons  Panama
MSC Orchestra 2007 Aker Yards 2007 89,600 tons  Panama
MSC Poesia 2008 Aker Yards 2008 93,330 tons  Panama
MSC Magnifica 2010 STX Europe 2010 93,330 tons  Panama

Fantasia class

Ship Built Builder Entered service
for MSC		 Gross Tonnage Flag Notes
MSC Fantasia 2008 Aker Yards 2008 137,936 tons  Panama
MSC Splendida 2009 Aker Yards 2009 137,936 tons  Panama

Classic fleet

Ship Built Builder Entered service
for MSC		 Gross Tonnage Flag Notes
MSC Melody 1982 CNIM 1997 35,143 tons  Panama Previously Melody, Last refurbished in 2001 [3]

Future ships

Ship Class Delivery Gross Tonnage Planned Flag Notes
MSC Divina Divina 2012 139,000 tons  Panama Modified Fantasia-class, Renamed MSC Divina in 2010.
MSC Orchestra at Istanbul
MSC Magnifica at Amsterdam

Former ships

Only includes cruise ships. Not a complete list.