By
Lindsay James |
MSC Cruises is set for a landmark year in 2025. At the end of March, it took delivery of its latest World-class ship, MSC World America. The vessel then crossed the Atlantic for its naming ceremony at the brand’s new $450 million MSC Miami Cruise Terminal – the largest in the world – in PortMiami, Florida, on 9 April.
The ship’s inaugural season from Miami begins with alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries with calls in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Honduras and MSC Cruises’ private Bahamian island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
Gianni Onorato, MSC Cruises’ CEO, is delighted with the ship. “MSC World America completed a series of sea trials in the Atlantic Ocean at the end of 2024 and early 2025 and has now been christened and started sailing,” he says. “The vessel’s maiden voyage with guests onboard was a celebratory sailing to our private island of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in The Bahamas, where we unveiled a new Marine Conservation Centre for MSC Foundation – a base for marine biologists to conduct scientific research on coral restoration.”
The first of the brand’s World-class ships, MSC World Europa, was delivered in 2022 and – at that time – was considered a hard act to follow, having won multiple awards for its design, sustainability and entertainment. However, MSC World America has a very different feel to its sister ship, and Onorato is confident the cruise line has yet again raised the bar.
“MSC World Europa was the first in this class and has proven to be very successful but, as we always do, we look to improve and enhance each and every new ship,” he says. “I’m very much looking forward to seeing the ship’s seven distinct districts come to fruition. This is the first time we have introduced this design concept, which was done to enhance the guest experience so they can get the most out of their time onboard.”
The seven districts will help guests identify areas of the ship that have been tailored to them, whether they’re looking for a peaceful adult-only retreat or a spot for the whole family. And this is just the start. MSC World America also features several new dining concepts, including Greek restaurant Paxos and the only Eataly restaurant at sea, which will offer dishes and cocktails only available onboard MSC World America. There will also be a range of new complimentary fast-casual dining options. The vessel will also debut two new lounge concepts: an All-Stars Sports Bar and The Loft, a multi-purpose venue for comedy, karaoke and more.
A particular highlight of the ship will be the Family Aventura district, which will feature Cliffhanger – the only over-water swing ride at sea, which extends 160 feet above the water below. “In Family Aventura you’ll also find The Harbour, a revolutionary new outdoor park where families can play together, grab drinks and snacks and soak up the sun,” says Onorato. “The Harbour has what will be an exhilarating high ropes course along with a family area and a playground modelled after our iconic lighthouse at Ocean Cay.”
MSC World America has various innovations, including Cliffhanger, which is the only over water swing ride at sea
It’s clear that, with MSC World America, MSC Cruises is keeping its promise that the US market is an important focus. “What you see today is part of our long-term strategy coming to life,” says Onorato. “The USA is now our number one source market for guests that sail with us in all parts of the world. Our brand is now better recognised in the US market thanks to our new dedicated brand campaign that demonstrates our clear points of distinction and highlights that we offer European style combined with American comfort. Communicating this message on a national scale with so many new offerings on the table builds on our previous efforts, which focused on Florida and New York.”
While MSC Cruises will remain a global brand from a deployment and sourcing perspective, the USA will play a growing and significant role in the cruise operator’s business in the years to come. Beyond MSC World America, it will start its first sailings from Texas in November 2025, when it homeports MSC Seascape at the Port of Galveston.
“There’s great interest in our offering there, as it represents a new audience for us,” explains Onorato. “The market is primarily a drive-market that will look more like the US-focused Port Canaveral than the more international mix we see in Miami and New York. We’ll have a second ship – MSC Grandiosa – based in Port Canaveral for the first time later this year. With two vessels, we can offer different cruise programmes: mini three- or four-night sailings, and seven-night voyages. Port Canaveral has also grown in importance for us, so we want to bring our next World-class ship – currently named World IV – there in winter 2027-2028.”
MSC Cruises will also begin its first sailings in Alaska in summer 2026, sailing out of Seattle. “Alaska is our first opportunity to make a mark along the West Coast of North America and we are really looking forward to starting there with seven-night sailings between May and September 2026,” says Onorato. “Our guests will be able to enjoy the region’s beauty, breathtaking scenery and magnificent wildlife and experience the rich Alaska Native cultural heritage.”
MSC Poesia is deployed for the season with calls at a wide variety of the region’s most picturesque destinations, including Ketchikan, Icy Strait Hoonah, Tracy Arm, Juneau in Alaska and Victoria in Canada’s British Columbia. It is a mid-sized ship, making it well-suited for exploring the narrow channels of the Inside Passage and glaciers up close. “This is a must-see region and, with Seattle as a homeport, the city has excellent international flight connections, making it easily accessible to guests from around the world as well as for those in North America,” says Onorato. “We know that our European guests in particular have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to sail to Alaska with us and we are extremely pleased with our forward bookings to date.”
MSC Poesia is being deployed to explore Alaska in 2026
It’s an exciting time for MSC Cruises, but the company isn’t resting on its laurels just yet. Keen to invest in the future, it has long-reaching investment plans. “We will continue to build innovative vessels with advanced technology making them the most energy-efficient cruise ships ever to be built, including MSC World Asia in 2026 and a fourth ship in its class in 2027,” Onorato says. “And we will continue to invest in renewable fuels as this is the future of our industry, along with continuing to champion the need for shore power to become more accessible at more ports all around the world.”
Discover more insights like this in the Spring/Summer 2025 issue of Cruise & Ferry Review. Don’t miss out – subscribe for FREE and get the next issue delivered straight to your inbox.