msc cruises

MSC Set to Overtake NCL as the Industry’s #3 Line

According to CIN and their 2013 Cruise Industry News Annual Report, they state that with the delivery of MSC Preziosa, the line will over take NCL as the #3 line. The line will carry over 1.45 million passengers on their…

MSC Divina Christened

Sophia Loren along with French actor Gerard Depardieu christened the new MSC ship in Marseille.

MSC Cruises Launched MSC Divina

STX France recently launched their 10th ship in 10 years for MSC Cruises. This massive fleet expansion project is by far the most aggressive in the industry. The MSC Divina is the latest addition. The 140,000grt ship was officially handed…

MSC Preziosa Official Finally!

News broke this morning at seatrade the MSC has officially acquired the firmer Libyan ship. The deal is worth $550 million Euros ($718 Million USD). What started in September, then visually confirmed in February, is finally officially confirmed in March.

MSC Preziosa official yet?

Nope, But Cruise Industry News is expecting an announcement this week at Cruise Shipping Miami. You may recall that the MSC Preziosa was the former Libyan ship that STX was stuck with when the Libyan Civil War broke out. She…

Has MSC officially bought the Former Libyan Cruise ship?

We reported back in September that MSC was rumored to have bought the former General National Maritime Transport Company (GNMTC) ship. The above photo from shipspotting photographer Gilbert Cailler show STX shipyard workers welding on the new name. For the…

MSC Poesia Runs aground in Bahamas in Videos

  Here’s the damage to the sea floor.   Here’s the caption that sums up the above nicely: On January 7th, the MSC Poesia was aground off Lucaya Beach, Grand Bahama. It was pulled free that evening. Here is some…

[Rumor] MSC Negotiating 2-ship Order #seatradeeurope

Pierfranceso Vago said the two additional vessels would be a prototype design broader in the beam than those currently in the fleet and with passenger capacity up to 20% higher than the company’s largest, Fantasia-class vessels. and this is on…

STX Revokes Libyan Cruise Ship Contract

Back in December I reported that the Libyan Government ordered the 139,000grt ship, m/v Phoenicia. It was shocking at the time but given how much $$$$ the Libyan government had from its oil exports {the state run shipping line sails…

Plagued Ship MSC Opera Detained in England

The MSC Opera was the same ship that broke down off the coast of Sweden. Following repairs in Gdynia, Poland, she sailed to Southampton, England to embark pax for her 8 night Norwegian Fjords cruise. Upon arrival, she was boarded…

MSC Opera Onboard Account

click for largerFox News is reporting what the situation was like onboard. Please overlook the part where they call it a luxury liner. Published May 17, 2011 A relaxing cruise ship dream vacation was headed toward becoming a nightmare for…

MSC Cancels May 17 Cruise on MSC Opera

In the wake of the MSC Opera’s mechanical issues, MSC has officially announced the the next cruise (departing May. 17th) will be canceled. From MSC Cruises: “As the work of the electrical team is not yet over, MSC Cruises has…

[PHOTO] MSC Opera Under Tow

Yesterday I reported on the MSC Opera breaking down and having to be towed to Sweden. Today, CIN has the photos: via: CIN photo: Kim Viktor

BREAKING: MSC Opera Currently Under Tow

While cruising the Baltic, MSC Cruises MSC Opera suffered propulsion problems and was left adrift. She is currently under to to the Swedish port of Nynashamn. She is preliminarily scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning. No word yet on the future…

Steel Cutting for Libyan Ship

Update: She has a name: m/v Phoenicia The General National Maritime Transport Company (Libya) and STX France celebrated the steel cutting ceremony for the state-run comapny’s first cruise ship. The ship ordered back in June has celebrated the first milestone…

BREAKING: MSC Musica Suffers Engine Room Fire

Just a month after the Carnival Splendor was incapacitated by an engine room fire, another one has struck an MSC ship. The MSC Musica was scheduled to leave Rio de Janeiro, Brazil yesterday when an engine room fire crippled the…

A Name Change for a MSC ship

MSC recently finalized the order for their 12th ship. The vessel was originally to be called the MSC Favolosa. European rivals Costa Cruises will be naming their newest vessel the Costa Favolosa. In a rare (has this even happened before?)…

MSC Tragedy

A guest onboard a MSC Cruises vessel was killed when a gangway collapsed. A 62- year old Spanish female was boarding the MSC Splendida in Genoa, Italy. Another passenger was also involved, but bizarrely enough, he escapes with only bruising.…

MSC Charging for Tenders…Yikes!

Europe’s MSC Cruises is currently testing onboard the MSC Lirica a new fee for guests to pay if they want to leave the vessel. When the ships stops in Portofino, Italy, there is no dock available to tie up at,…

New Cruise Ship Ordered…from Libya?

Yes, that’s right. Libya just ordered a cruise ship. The Libyan National Company for Maritime Transport, GNMTC, just signed a letter of intent to build one ship at STX France in Saint Nazaire. The ship, to be completed by December…

MSC Orchestra Meets NYC

From the ships webcam. This is MSC Cruises first call in the Big Apple. A few years ago it was heavily rumored that  MSC was going to announce a North East deployment of one on their ships. The MSC Orchestra…

State of MSC Newbuilds

As I previously reported in MSC Newbuilds Being Renegotiated on March 26, Lloyds List is also reporting that the contracts are being renegoiated. The main issue is cost. MSC wants bigger and better, but they dont want to over pay.…