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]
MSC Cruises is the fourth largest cruise operator in the world,[2] after Carnival Corporation & plc, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Norwegian Cruise Line with a 6% share of all passengers carried and cruise revenue in 2012.
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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] |
Ship | Class | Delivery | Gross Tonnage | Planned Flag | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSC Divina | Divina | 2012 | 139,000 tons | Panama | Modified Fantasia-class, Renamed MSC Divina in 2010. |
Only includes cruise ships. Not a complete list.
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