MSC to Deploy 7 Ships in U.S. and the Caribbean for Summer 2028

MSC to Deploy 7 Ships in U.S. and the Caribbean for Summer 2028

MSC Cruises recently revealed its plans for the 2028 summer season in North America and the Caribbean, which includes itineraries onboard seven ships.

According to a press release, the deployment is highlighted by the first full year of service of the MSC World Atlantic.

After entering service in late 2027, the new World-class ship will continue to sail from Port Canaveral during the summer, offering seven-night cruises to the Caribbean.

The World Atlantic will be joined in Central Florida by the MSC Grandiosa, which will offer a series of three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas.

MSC is also deploying two ships in PortMiami during the 2028 summer, with the MSC World America and the MSC Seaside.

The MSC Seascape will continue to sail from Galveston on seven-night itineraries to the Western Caribbean, while the MSC Poesia returns to Alaska for the third consecutive summer.

MSC also announced plans to operate the MSC Opera in the Southern Caribbean during the summer of 2028, with additional deployment details set to be revealed at a later date.

According to the company, the itineraries will be highlighted by overnight stays in its private island destination of Ocean Cay, as well as the debut of Sandy Cay.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to give our guests new ways to experience MSC Cruises’ mix of European style and American comfort, and our Summer 2028 Caribbean itineraries are a great example of that,” said Lynn Torrent, president of MSC Cruises North America.

“We have sunny getaways available for everyone, whether they’re looking for a quick weekend in The Bahamas, a family vacation aboard one of our fantastic World Class ships, or a bucket-list journey through the gorgeous Southern Caribbean. Plus, guests can look forward to the new experiences we’re building in key destinations like Ocean Cay, Sandy Cay and Catalina Island—all aimed at ensuring they have the best beach days possible,” she added.

MSC: Market Leader in Europe

MSC: Market Leader in Europe

MSC has 17 ships in the European market, with 13 sailing in the Mediterranean and four in Northern Europe, said Gianni Onorato, CEO, in an interview with Cruise Industry News.

Onorato also pointed out the new 5,400-guest World Asia, which will debut in Europe in 2026, making MSC the only brand putting new tonnage into the European market.

“The key feature for our European homeporting is accessibility,” he said, pointing to air, high-speed rail and drive-in potential.

“Some ports are responding to this type of need, while others are more difficult.

“With so many embarkation points, we pick up local guests that have easy access in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the UK and elsewhere.”

MSC has key investments in Barcelona and Marseille in terminals, and Valencia continues to become more important as Spain is a key source market for MSC, Onorato said.

“It is really accessible with high-speed trains from Madrid; similar to Marseille with Paris,” he continued.

‘Potential’

The core European markets remain full of potential.

“In Italy, the market is about 1 million guests in a country of 60 million people,” Onorato said. “France is very tiny, as is Spain, and in Germany, we are offering a different product from the national brands; it’s the same in the UK. If guests want a British experience, they can consider one of the other brands; if they want a more international experience, they can choose MSC.”

Germany may represent the market with the most potential, as it's the largest holiday-package market in Europe, Onorato said.

Emerging source markets include Eastern Europe, highlighted by Poland, Romania, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

“These countries have residents who are travelling the world, and a cruise is an opportunity,” Onorato said.

Inventory Management

MSC has a unique differentiator in Europe which is its interporting program, meaning guests can board at any port on an itinerary and then disembark a week later. They are not tied in to starting their cruise on a Sunday for instance.

MSC will then allocate inventory based on multiple homeports on the same itinerary. This means that a ship with a set seven-day cruise with five ports is essentially five different programs from an inventory perspective.

“You need to respect the cabin allocation,” said Onorato. “For the local markets, this makes access to the ships very easy with lower transportation costs.”

‘Growing’

The LNG-powered World Asia will add to the company’s European presence in 2026, while the World Atlantic heads to the U.S. and Port Canaveral in 2027. After that, two more World Class vessels are on order from Chantiers de l’Atlantique with delivery dates in 2029 and 2030.

“We will have continuous and properly balanced growth,” Onorato said.

That includes sourcing European guests for cruises elsewhere, including in Alaska, where the Poesia debuts in 2026. MSC’s initial wave of bookings primarily came from European customers for the Seattle-based program.

Further south, there are programs out of Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston, and from Brooklyn, while the company expands its Caribbean presence with a year-round program from La Romana with the 2004-built Opera beginning in winter 2026-27 through summer 2027. For the winter 2026-27 season, the Opera will be joined by the 2018-built Seaview, marking the first time the company operates two ships during the season in the South Caribbean.

“I’m bullish on this,” Onorato said. “It’s an interesting program, and going year-round is very exciting. The Dominican Republic is an attractive destination for Europeans, with no visa requirements and good airlift.”

Excerpt from the Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine Summer 2025

Doha Set for Three MSC Ships and Other Cruise Ships for World Cup

Doha Set for Three MSC Ships and Other Cruise Ships for World Cup

MSC Europa

Three MSC Cruises ships will serve as hotel accommodations for the FIFA World Cup fans in Qatar. The MSC World Europa and MSC Poesia will be berthed next to the new Grand Cruise Terminal, and the third cruise ship, the MSC Opera, will be on the opposite side of the port.

At a maximum capacity, all three vessels can accommodate over 13,000 guests, significantly increasing the much-needed berths during the event.

In addition, two Ponant ships are expected to be berthed at a premium location in the heart of Doha Port, alongside the Golden Horizon which is set to host Croatian fans.

The 22nd edition of the competition which will take place from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18 is the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Arab countries. The host nation expects about 1.2 million fans to arrive in Qatar during the competition.

The Grand Cruise Terminal, which is at its final construction stage, is part of an ambitious project set by Qatar Tourism to attract over six million international visitors a year by 2030. The terminal building is set to be inaugurated at the naming ceremony of MSC Cruise’s newest ship the MSC World Europa.

The facility will have two cruise terminals with an aquarium in the middle section and an art gallery. The terminals are designed to simultaneously handle a complete passenger turnaround for two mega-size cruise ships.

With its structural and decorative functions, the building honours traditional Arab architecture and restores the historical link between Doha and the sea. The visually stunning architecture incorporates 1154 elegant arches, representing unity, purity, and glory.

Located in the heart of Doha, the new Grand Terminal is a stone’s throw away from the city’s most popular tourist attractions; the gorgeous promenade Corniche, the Museum of Islamic Art, the National Museum of Qatar, Msheireb Downtown and the traditional market Souq Waqif.

Constructed to expand the intended use as a cruise terminal and transform into a flexible multi-functional space for year-round public events, exhibitions and conferences, Doha’s Grand Cruise Terminal has the potential to become the city’s next landmark.

Another MSC Ship In-Service as Opera Welcomes Guests Back in Genoa

Another MSC Ship In-Service as Opera Welcomes Guests Back in Genoa

MSC Opera departing Malta photo credit Spacejunkie2

The MSC Opera is resuming revenue operations for MSC Cruises today in Genoa, Italy. The vessel is kicking a series of summer cruises in the Western Mediterranean, as the 17th cruise ship to return to service for the industry's fastest-growing cruise company. 

With a regular itinerary, the program runs through October and marks the return of Tunisia to MSC’s schedule after a seven-year hiatus.

Departing from Italy, the cruise also sails to Spain and France, with visits to Naples, Palermo, La Goulette, Barcelona, Marseille and Genoa.

Upon concluding the summer program in the Mediterranean, the MSC Opera is set to reposition to the Middle East.

Starting in late November, the vessel will complement MSC’s offering in the region, with itineraries departing from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The MSC Opera debuted in 2004 as MSC Cruises’ second new build. A sister to the MSC Lirica, the 65,000-ton vessel was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard, in St. Nazaire, France.

As part of a €275-million refit plan called Renaissance Program, the ship was enlarged and modernized in mid-2015.

After being cut in half at a drydock in Italy, it received a new 24-meter-long mid-section that allowed the addition of 194 extra cabins, a new lounge and also a kid’s water park, among other features.  

Following the refit, which also modernized public areas and existing cabins, the ship’s double capacity was increased to 2,160 guests.

The MSC Opera has drydocked again earlier this month, as it was prepared to resume service.

During the three-week shipyard stay, it underwent routine maintenance, in addition to technical and regulatory work

Continuing the company’s restart program, the Opera is the third vessel to welcome guests back for MSC Cruises this month.

Earlier in April, the MSC Armonia and the MSC Lirica resumed service in the Eastern Mediterranean.

A fourth vessel, the MSC Poesia, is set to return to guest operations soon, launching a program of cruises to Western and Northern Europe on Apr. 30. 

Where Are MSC’s Fleet of Cruise Ships?

With six ships back in service, the MSC Cruises fleet is concentrated in Europe. Here is the location of every ship as of June 26, 2021:

MSC Seashore
Year Built: 2021
Capacity: 4,560 guests
Location: Monfalcone, Italy

The MSC Seashore is currently in the final stages of construction at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard. The third ship in the Seaside Class, its scheduled to enter service on August 1.

MSC Virtuosa
Year Built: 2021
Capacity: 4,888 guests
Location: United Kingdom

One of the MSC ships in service, the MSC Virtuosa is currently cruising in the United Kingdom.

MSC Virtuosa arriving in Liverpool, photo by Dave Jones

MSC Grandiosa
Year Built: 2019
Capacity: 4,888 guests
Location: Western Mediterranean

Like the MSC Virtuosa, the MSC Grandiosa is back in service. The vessel is presently offering a 7-night itinerary to Italy, Spain and Malta with calls in ports such as Naples, Civitavecchia, Barcelona and La Valletta.

MSC Bellissima
Year Built: 2019 
Capacity: 4,500 guests
Location: Dubai, UAE

Sailing in the Emirates when cruises were suspended in March 2020, the MSC Bellissima has been in Dubai for over a year.

MSC Seaview
Year Built: 2018
Capacity: 4,140 guests
Location: The Mediterranean

After several months in Italy, the MSC Seaview is currently sailing in the Mediterranean en route to Germany. The vessel is poised to resume service in the Baltic Sea on July 3, sailing from Kiel.  

MSC Meraviglia   
Year Built: 2017
Capacity: 4,500 guests
Location: Florida Coast

As part of its service return preparations, the MSC Meraviglia docked in Miami recently. The U.S.-based ship is set to resume guest operations in the region on August 2.

MSC Seaside
Year Built: 2017
Capacity: 4,140 guests
Location: Western Mediterranean

Another MSC ship back in service, the MSC Seaside is presently sailing in the Western Mediterranean. The vessel offers seven-night cruises in the region, visiting Italy and Malta.    

MSC Preziosa 
Year Built: 2013
Capacity: 3,500 guests
Location: Naples, Italy

The MSC Preziosa remains docked in the Port of Naples, Italy. Until late 2020, the Fantasia-class ship was spending the operational pause in the Bahamas, along other U.S.-based MSC ships.  

MSC Divina
Year Built: 2012
Capacity: 3,500 guests
Location: Civitavecchia, Italy

After a visit to Augusta, the MSC Divina returned to Civitavecchia earlier this month.

MSC Magnifica
Year Built: 2010
Capacity: 2,550 guests
Location: Eastern Mediterranean

The MSC Magnifica welcomed the passengers back on June 20, offering cruises to the Eastern Mediterranean. The vessel is currently sailing from Venice, on a seven-night itinerary with calls in Bari, Piraeus, Mykonos and Split.  

MSC Splendida
Year Built: 2009
Capacity: 3,300 guests
Location: Eastern Mediterranean

Sailing from Trieste, the MSC Splendida resumed service on June 12. The Fantasia-class ship is now offering seven-night cruises to the Eastern Mediterranean, with calls in Greece, Croatia and more.

MSC Fantasia
Year Built: 2008
Capacity: 3,300 guests
Location: Malta

The MSC Fantasia is presently in Malta. The vessel recently docked in the port of La Valletta, near the Palumbo Group Shipyard, which was partly acquired by MSC in 2020.

MSC Poesia
Year Built: 2008
Capacity: 2,550 guests
Location: Trieste, Italy

The MSC Poesia is currently docked in Trieste, Italy, along with the MSC Sinfonia.

MSC Orchestra
Year Built: 2007
Capacity: 2,550 guests
Location: Eastern Mediterranean  

On June 5, the MSC Orchestra became the first MSC ship to resume service in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Musica-class ship is currently sailing from Venice, offering a seven-night itinerary to Greece and Croatia.   

MSC Musica
Year Built: 2006
Capacity: 2,550 guests
Location: Genoa, Italy

After some time in Augusta, in Southern Italy, the MSC Musica recently arrived in Genoa. The vessel is currently docked at the Ponte dei Mille Cruise Terminal.   

MSC Opera
Year Built: 2004
Capacity: 1,712 guests
Location: Augusta, Italy

The MSC Opera is anchored off the Port of Augusta, in the island of Sicily, Italy. 

MSC Lirica
Year Built: 2003
Capacity: 1,560 guests
Location: La Valletta, Malta

After suffering a fire incident in Corfu in April, the MSC Lirica is currently in Malta. The ship is docked near the Palumbo Group Shipyard, in La Valletta.

MSC Sinfonia  
Year Built: 2002
Capacity: 1,554 guests
Location: Trieste, Italy

Along with the MSC Poesia, the MSC Sinfonia is docked in Trieste. The vessel arrived in Italy in December, from Brazil.

MSC Armonia
Year Built: 2001

Capacity: 1,554 guests
Location: Ocean Cay, the Bahamas

The MSC Armonia is currently near Ocean Cay, MSC’s private island in the Bahamas. As the other U.S.-based vessels of the fleet, it has been spending the operational pause in the region.  

Coronavirus: MSC Opera passengers ordered to stay on the ship in Greece

Coronavirus: MSC Opera passengers ordered to stay on the ship in Greece

Passengers on MSC Opera were ordered to stay on board on Wednesday after an Austrian passenger from a previous cruise tested positive for coronavirus.

Austrian health authorities informed the line of the test results of the passenger who cruised in the eastern Mediterranean from February 17 to 28 on the 2,142-passenger ship.

MSC told passengers to remain on the vessel after requesting guidance from Greek health authorities.

The line has confirmed no passengers or crew members on the ship have any flu-like symptoms.

The Austrian passenger returned directly to Austria through northern Italy on February 28 after disembarking in Genoa.

A spokesperson for MSC said: “The Greek health authorities gave MSC Opera permission around 13:00 CET to sail from Piraeus, Greece, and continue its journey to its next scheduled port in Corfu, Greece.

“No additional health measures were required to be taken and the ship is currently sailing as planned.

“There are no passengers or crew members currently onboard the ship who have reported any flu-like symptoms.”

The spokesperson also added: “The health and safety of our passengers and crew will always remain our top priority.”

Last week MSC Meraviglia was denied entry to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and George Town, Grand Cayman Island, over fears a crew member had coronavirus even though tests had shown they had Type A influenza.

The ship later was finally allowed to dock in Cozumel, Mexico and the line issued an apology to passengers for the missed ports of call.

Upcoming MSC Cruises Ship Deliveries

MSC Opera

MSC Cruises has 12 ships on order for deliveries through 2027, including its new luxury brand.

MSC is also among the industry leaders when it comes to LNG-fueled ships, with four World Class ships set to debut with LNG power, as well as one Meraviglia-plus class ship.

The company's newbuild order book is valued at $11.3 billion covering approximately 44,500 new berths.

MSC Cruises Orderbook:

MSC Cruises bans visitors to quarantined Italian towns from boarding its ships

MSC Cruises bans visitors to quarantined Italian towns from boarding its ships

MSC Grandiosa

MSC Cruises has banned anyone who has travelled to, from or through any areas of Italy quarantined because of coronavirus in the last 14 days from boarding its ships.

Passengers and crew embarking and disembarking at ports of call will be “frequently checked by thermal cameras for fever symptoms”.

Sailings onboard MSC Grandiosa and MSC Opera, the line’s two ships in the Mediterranean, are going ahead as planned and the company stressed that the majority of its fleet is currently in South America and the Caribbean.

In a statement, MSC said it has “further enhanced our precautionary health measures for all guests and all crew who are due to travel on any of our cruises to ensure the health and well-being of everyone on board every one of our ships”

The quarantined areas in Italy are: Casalpusterlengo, Codogno, Castiglione d’Adda, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo, San Fiorano and Vò.

An MSC spokesperson added: “None of the ports visited by any of our ships in Italy nor any of the related excursion destinations is anywhere near these municipalities or neighbouring territories.”

The restrictions are in addition to those on people who have travelled from or through mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau.

“Everyone’s health and safety on our ships is our top priority and we have had no cases of coronavirus on board any of our ships,” the spokesperson added.

Uniworld sues MSC over Venice collision

Uniworld sues MSC over Venice collision

MSC Opera collides into the Uniworld River Countess.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is suing MSC Cruise Management Ltd. for nearly $13 million in damages it says it incurred after one of MSC's large ocean ships slammed into the River Countess while it was docked in Venice in June.

In a press release Tuesday, Uniworld CEO Ellen Bettridge said the company filed the lawsuit after extensive conversations with MSC proved unproductive.

"We are extremely disappointed with the unprofessional manner in which MSC has decided to ignore the gravity of the situation, which has disrupted our guests, our partners and our team," said Bettridge. "Aside from the severe damage to our ship [River Countess], we were forced to cancel 14 voyages, frustrating our guests and travel partners during the peak summer season."

Uniworld estimates its losses to be in excess of 11.5 million Euros, or $12.74 million. That number, the company said, includes passenger reimbursement, ship damage, lost revenue and the protection of travel agent commissions.

"We do not like to litigate but have been compelled to do so based on the stonewalling and delays by MSC and its representatives -- even after receiving a letter of guarantee by their own insurance agency, West of England," Bettridge said. "We expect more and better from a fellow member of the cruise industry and regret having to go to court to seek a fitting remedy."

In a statement, MSC responded, “MSC Cruises has been working constructively with all parties and their legal advisors since shortly after the incident, and has been facilitating a close cooperation between those involved including their insurers. As liability in this matter is still under investigation by the responsible authorities, it is inappropriate to comment further at this stage. MSC Cruises is committed to continuing to cooperate fully in order to resolve this matter.”

The suit was filed in Admiralty Court in the Queen’s Bench Division of The English High Court Of Justice.

Uniworld declined to share a copy of the filing.

Venice Asks Other Cities to Join in Effort to Curb Cruise Ships

PHOTO: A cruise ship sailing through Venice, Italy. (photo via Jan-Otto/iStock Unreleased)

Venice officials have asked several of Europe's other popular cruise destinations, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dubrovnik and Marseille to join them in working toward the enforcement of new rules that would require cruise lines to adapt their ships to reduce the potential for injury to people as well as environmental impact.

The MSC Opera suffered a mechanical issue before crashing into a Uniworld riverboat and a dock in Venice in early June, injuring at least four people, while video surfaced last month of the Costa Deliziosa narrowly missing a yacht and the dock while being towed by a tugboat during a storm.

"I have written to all European cities that share our experience with cruise tourism and that find themselves having to balance economic development with environmental sustainability," Pino Musolino, chairman of the northern Adriatic Sea port authority, said in a statement Thursday.

"The growing size of vessels, their environmental impacts on the areas surrounding the ports and the 'burden' that the increasing number of tourists...are creating a situation of conflict," he wrote in a letter to eight fellow port authorities.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and bucket list destination for many, Venice is slowly sinking, with officials blaming cruise ships for contributing to the growing problem.

Venice is no stranger to over-tourism struggles with city officials implementing controversial policies to battle the frequent visitor crowds in recent years.

The city has even called on UNESCO to add Venice to the World Heritage site blacklist of endangered destinations.

Next MSC Opera cruise cancelled

MSC Opera

MSC Cruises has decided to cancel the next cruise of the MSC Opera, which collided with a docked river cruise ship and the pier in Venice.

Although the damage to the ship's hull has been repaired, MSC is still awaiting the completion of the investigation conducted by the authorities, MSC said. The collision occurred after the MSC Opera sounded its horn at length before ramming the river ship. A later statement attributed the ship's inability to stop to "technical problems."

The cancelled cruise was scheduled to depart Bari, Italy, on June 8. MSC said that 2,451 guests from 53 countries will be affected.

Guests will be offered a full refund of their cruise fare and incurred travel expenses as well as any pre-booked services, plus a 50% discount on a future 7- to 21-day cruise before the end of 2020.

In Havana, historic gathering pairs cruise CEOs with government officials

The Norwegian Sky in Havana.

Cruise lines are laying the groundwork for further expansion into Cuba now that the rules governing U.S. tourism to the island have been revised and clarified by the Trump administration.

CEOs from seven cruise companies met in Havana on Nov. 27 with Cuban government officials, along with representatives from CLIA and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, to exchange viewpoints.

It was the first time so many cruise CEOs had gathered in Havana, according to Charles A. Robertson, who attended the meeting as chairman and CEO of Pearl Seas Cruises, which sails to Cuba from Fort Lauderdale.

"It was very positive," he said. "The Cuban government did a great job. I think the whole relationship with the cruise industry is maturing very nicely."

Cruise lines were left largely unscathed when the new rules for U.S. trade and travel to Cuba were announced a month ago. Hotels in Havana that are owned or operated by entities with ties to the Cuban military were made off limits, crimping land tourism. The Trump administration also blocked individual travel to Cuba, restricting visits to groups in itineraries designated as people-to-people exchanges.

MSC Cruises CEO Gianni Onorato, who also attended the Nov. 27 summit, said Cuban officials asked the group to back an easing of President Trump's restrictions.

"We had sort of an official presentation of CLIA to the Cuban authorities, and the Cuban authorities were also asking for some sort of help or support to lift the ban," Onorato said.

An effort to seek comment through Cuba's Ministry of Tourism was unsuccessful.

As a practical matter, the cruise lines were unaffected by almost all the new U.S. restrictions.

"I would say it's a minimal impact," Robertson said. "It's sort of a refining of the people-to-people rules under the general [travel] permit. There's no significant change."

So, for example, Robertson said that Pearl Seas passengers taking the line's 10-day cruises circumnavigating Cuba can participate in organized group tours with guides and interpreters, but they also have time on their own.

"They do both," Robertson said. "That's true in all the cities we visit in Cuba."

Cruise ships sailing from Florida have only been visiting Cuba since May 2016, when the now-defunct Carnival Corp. brand Fathom offered the first regular cruise to depart the U.S. for Havana in 50 years.

Since then, two Carnival Corp. brands, all three Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings brands and two Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. brands have made plans to visit the island from the U.S., along with Pearl Seas and Victory Cruise Line.

Cruise CEOs have said that pricing and demand for the cruises have been strong, stimulating plans to add new capacity. Norwegian Cruise Line has scheduled Cuba calls on a second ship in 2018, adding the Norwegian Sun from Port Canaveral to its Cuba cruises on the Norwegian Sky from Miami.

Cruises on both ships will include overnights in Havana.

A day after the summit in Miami, Royal Caribbean International announced that it, too, would add a second Cuba ship. Starting in April, its 2,350-passenger Majesty of the Seas will offer four- and five-day cruises from Tampa that include day trips and overnight stays in Havana. In October, it will do the same from Fort Lauderdale.

Royal's 1,602-passenger Empress of the Seas, which had been sailing to Havana from Tampa, will move to Miami, where it will offer more varied itineraries. Along with five-day sailings to Havana and Key West, the Empress will offer seven-day trips that feature Nassau, Havana and Cienfuegos, which is a new Cuba destination for Royal.

The Empress will also debut an eight-day cruise that calls in Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba, another new port, along with Grand Cayman and Royal's private destination in Labadee, Haiti.

Robertson said Pearl Seas, too, is planning to expand. In 2018 and 2019, it will offer more Cuba cruises on its 210-passenger Pearl Mist. By late 2019, Pearl Seas expects to take delivery of two more ships, at least one of which will likely be added to Cuba.

MSC Cruises is in a somewhat different position. Based in Geneva, it already has a well-developed business of taking European passengers to Havana. It has two ships, the MSC Armonia and the MSC Opera, that homeport in Havana year-round. In addition, it operates a ship seasonally from Martinique or Guadalupe that calls in Havana.

None of those cruises is sold in the U.S., so MSC doesn't have to conform to U.S. regulations.

But MSC is also adding ships in North America, beginning with the MSC Seaside in Miami later this month, and Onorato said he is definitely interested in adding a Cuban port call for those ships in the future.

He said MSC has announced itineraries for its North American ships through 2020. "Until 2020, we don't go," he said. "We see the worst thing you can do in this business is to change itineraries because this creates uncertainty and disruptions among the customers."

As things stand, it wouldn't be feasible anyway for either the 3,502-passenger Divina or the 4,138-passenger Seaside to call in Cuba because the ships are too large for existing piers there.

Robertson said Cuban officials addressed the infrastructure obstacles at the summit.

"I think they're working on it," he said. "There were no specifics that I heard, but they are working on it, and I think we're all going to see some improvements in the infrastructure coming along fairly soon."

Another stumbling block was a U.S. State Department warning against travel to Cuba. Issued in late September, the warning was tied to mysterious health symptoms suffered by some U.S. and Canadian diplomats in Havana.

Robertson said the impact on bookings was short-lived.

"Demand remains strong," he said. "When the travel warning came out, there was a dip for about 10 days. I would say it's quite normal now, and it's encouraging us to operate more to Cuba."

Cruise CEOs say ship renovations key to maximizing revenue

Enchantment of the Seas

FORT LAUDERDALE — The cruise industry will increasingly emphasize growth in revenue yields rather than the number of cabins and ships it is adding, according to the CEOs of its top companies.

Four chief executives spoke together on a panel at the annual Seatrade Cruise Global convention, held for the first time this year at the. 

“You’re going to see a more balanced approach to building new ships,” said Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. More dollars will flow toward maintaining the existing fleet at the highest level so that higher prices can be supported fleetwide, he said.

"We have no choice,” chimed in Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corp. “The fastest we can grow is at about 6% a year, even with the largest ships. And there’s only so many shipyards.”  

Donald said investors in any of the companies represented on the panel would not be satisfied with a 6% return on investment. So attention is turning to investing more in existing ships to bring up yields and to introduce innovations that customers will pay extra for.

In sheer numbers, Carnival's fleet has already plateaued. Since mid-2011, Carnival Corp. has added only one net ship to its 101-ship fleet, according to a presentation by Giora Israel, Carnival’s senior vice president of global port and destination development. But in that timeframe, it has added 32,000 berths because bigger new ships are taking the place of smaller old ones. 

Arnold pointed out that new ships on order are increasingly split between China and other markets, which means growth from North America could only be 2-3% a year if it had to depend solely on new capacity.

On another topic, the CEO panel agreed that cruises to Cuba, while of high interest, await approvals from the Cuban government.  And they said the infrastructure to support cruise tourism is lacking for anything larger than mid-sized ships.

MSC Cruises, which is privately owned and headquartered in Geneva, is currently the only major cruise company sailing in Cuba. Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises, said that when its 2,150-passenger MSC Opera ship docks in Havana, the 275-meter ship (about 902 feet) overhangs the end of the pier by about 80 meters (about 262 feet).

MSC Cruises' private island to have pier, amphitheater and restaurants

MSC emphasized that Ocean Cay represents a “permanent presence” in the Bahamas, and said it will be used by four ships.

MSC Cruises confirmed it will acquire use of Ocean Cay, an island about 20 miles south of Bimini, for a private cruise ship destination and that it has budgeted $200 million for the project.

MSC said that it will be called Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie and MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago signed a 100-year lease agreement in a ceremony on Dec. 16, MSC said.

Among other things, Ocean Cay will have a pier so that guests do not have to tender ashore, which cruise lines must do at some private islands in the Bahamas. MSC plans to open the destination by December 2017, in time for use by the MSC Seaside, a ship entering service in December 2017 that will be based year-round in Miami.

MSC emphasized that Ocean Cay represents a “permanent presence” in the Bahamas, and said it will be used by the MSC Divina, which sails out of Miami, and the Opera and Armonia, which will sail out of Cuba. It expects to hire 240 Bahamians to work there and will open a crew training school in Nassau to provide “local manpower” for MSC ships sailing in the Caribbean.

Plans suggest that the 95-acre island will be the most extensive cruise port in the Caribbean. MSC will build a 2,000-seat amphitheater and many bars and restaurants. The ship and all onboard services, including the casino, will stay open while berthed at Ocean Cay, MSC said.

The island has 11,400 feet of beach front, MSC said, and will accommodate six separate beach districts.

A former sand-extraction station, the island will be planted with more than 80 indigenous Caribbean trees, grasses, flowers and shrubs, such as Jamaica dogwood; red, black and white mangroves; and beach morning glory.

For MSC Yacht Club guests, an exclusive spa and wellness sanctuary with private bungalows and massage huts will be built on the northwest corner of the island.

Various areas of the island will be connected by a network of walking and running paths, and bicycle rentals and other “stress-free” transportation options will be available.

Plans also call for a Bahamian shopping village, a family beach with a kids’ restaurant and play area, a zipline attraction, a lagoon water feature, and a pavilion for weddings and celebrations.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for March, MSC said.

MSC Cruises announces return to UK next year

By Hollie-Rae Merrick 

MSC Cruises is returning to the UK next year with a short series of ex-UK sailings from Southampton.

The line will base Fantasia-class ship MSC Splendida in Southampton for six sailings, having pulled out of the UK market this year.

Among the sailings will be MSC’s first round-Britain itinerary starting in a UK port. Previous cruises had embarked in Hamburg.

Giles Hawke, MSC’s executive director for the UK and Ireland, said he hoped the “staggered return” of ex-UK sailings would be built on in 2017.

“A lot of our guests and agents have been asking us to base a ship in the UK,” he said. “People love travelling with us and want to embark in the UK with us.”

The line’s 2016 programme also includes new northern Europe cruises and longer Mediterranean sailings.

During the summer season, MSC will offer 270 sailings across 22 itineraries, made up of nine core seven-night Mediterranean itineraries, seven Med sailings of between nine and 12 nights, and new Baltic and Norwegian fjords cruises.

For the first time, a Fantasia-class ship will operate the Dubai winter season, with Bahrain making its debut on the itinerary.

Over the past year, the line has focused on fly-cruise, but the 2016 programme also includes cruise-only prices.

Hawke said: “We have responded to feedback by making cruise-only an attractive option for those who wish to make their own arrangements or for agents who want to create their own packages.”

For simplicity, cruise-only fares for European itineraries will be set £150 lower than fly-cruise packages, and £400 lower for the Caribbean and Middle East.

Upgrades from outside to balcony cabins on Fantastica fares are also available for £50 a person.

Bookings before August 31 will qualify for savings of up to £300.

The 2016 brochure has a new look and feel, with more space dedicated to each itinerary.

It also includes four pages of information about the four ships MSC has on order.

The stretching of MSC Sinfonia is underway

MSC Cruises’ €200m Renaissance Program will see the second ship in drydock for the next 10 weeks as the MSC Sinfonia arrived in Sicily for her stretching.

Fincantieri’s marine engineers will carefully bisect MSC Sinfonia’s hull, after which the two halves of the ships will be slowly drawn apart.

On January 20-21 they will insert a prebuilt 2,200-ton, 24-metre midsection containing 193 extra cabins. Then they will refit and renew much of the ship’s interior, bringing an enhanced sense of comfort and space.

On Jan. 9, the new midsection was floated into the shipyard and hauled into the drydock area where MSC Sinfonia will remain for the duration of her stay.

Once the work is complete and sea trials completed, the larger MSC Sinfonia will weigh anchor from the shipyard on March 25 for Genoa, from where she’ll begin for her maiden cruise to Ajaccio, Barcelona and Marseille.

MSC Sinfonia will feature new purpose-built areas for children created in partnership with Chicco and LEGO,  and a new Baby Club, Mini Club, Young Club and Teens Club. MSC Cruises has also reimagined the onboard dining experiences, keeping the buffet open 20 hours per day and installing fresh new dining spaces, a brand new lounge and an extended restaurant.

The ship’s MSC Aurea Spa will also be enriched with additional massage areas, and a new outdoor spray park will be added on deck 13 – an exciting series of playful water features and jets.

The remainder of the Renaissance Program will progress according to the following schedule:

•    MSC Opera: 2 May to 4 July 2015
•    MSC Lirica: 31 August to 2 November 2015

MSC Cruises currently carries roughly 40,000 guests per day, but by 2022 will double its capacity to 80,000 guests a day – 3.4 million per year – once the Renaissance Programme is completed and the last of seven planned ships is delivered.