MSC Cruises’ 6,327-guest MSC Euribia marked a “paradigm shift for cruising” when it sailed the world’s first net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions cruise in June 2023. The vessel embarked on a four-day maiden voyage from Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, to Copenhagen, Denmark, powered by bio-LNG fuel on a mass balance basis that had been produced from food waste.
Onboard teams used various technologies to optimise the vessel’s speed profile, routing, trim, engine configuration, HVAC system, galleys, lighting, hotel operations, and more, which meant MSC Euribia only had to use two of its four engines. Meanwhile, all the required heat for galleys, heating systems and hot water was recovered from the ship’s engines, eliminating the need to use the boilers. Consequently, MSC Euribia saved 43 tonnes of fuel, performing 11 per cent better than its digital twin – a virtual replica of the ship simulating optimal onboard energy use.
“MSC Euribia is one of the world’s most energy-efficient cruise ships and this pioneering voyage proved that with the right technologies and fuel, it is possible to achieve net-zero GHG emissions cruising today,” says Vago. “Cruise brands are already implementing new technologies to optimise operations and cut energy consumption, but we can’t achieve consistent net zero-emission cruising because cost-efficient renewable fuels are not yet widely available.”
According to Vago, MSC Euribia’s trial cruise demonstrated the growing demand from the cruise sector and the wider maritime industry for renewable fuels such as bio-LNG, synthetic LNG (known as e-LNG), green hydrogen or green methanol. He is campaigning for both regulators and governments to spearhead the renewable fuel agenda by developing an industry-wide strategy.
“When I first started talking about building large LNG-powered cruise ships for long itineraries 10 years ago, people looked at me like I was insane,” says Vago. “Today, there are multiple cruise brands operating or building LNG-powered vessels, so we need energy providers who can produce renewable fuels and with appropriate delivery systems around the world.
“Governments and international organisations must lead the way by creating regulatory and financial incentives and encouraging cruise operators, fuel providers, technology companies, ports and other key stakeholders to combine resources so we can build the necessary infrastructure and supply chain quickly. This, combined with continued technological advancements, will accelerate the decarbonisation of the industry and enable us to achieve consistent net-zero emissions cruising by the 2050 ambition set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).”
In the meantime, MSC Cruises will continue to search for new technologies and solutions to optimise energy use on its existing and upcoming ships.
“For years, our teams have been continuously analysing our operational data and processes to identify every possible opportunity for making energy-efficiency improvements onboard our fleet to cut energy consumption, fuel use and emissions,” says Vago. “We’ve invested in new technologies, changed the size and type of our engines, trialled fuel cells, improved how we operate HVAC, switched to LED lights, automated various onboard systems, installed advanced water treatment systems, introduced waste and recycling initiatives, and much more. We’re also educating our crew members and guests about environmental sustainability to ensure everyone plays a role in helping us achieve our net-zero goals.”
The company’s 2023 sustainability report shows that these efforts are paying off. It reduced the carbon intensity of its fleet by 6.5 per cent in 2023, and has cumulatively decreased it by 37.8 per cent since 2008. This puts the company on track to achieve the IMO’s 40 per cent reduction target ahead of the 2030 deadline. In addition, efficiency improvements have cut onboard water consumption from 226 litres per guest day to 187 litres in 2023, a fall of 17.2 per cent. Desalination systems also produced more than 6.4 million cubic metres of water in 2023, meeting 87.2 per cent of the fleet’s onboard water needs.
Now, MSC Cruises is beginning to scrutinise ship interiors in the same way, aiming to eventually move to a circular design model. “We’re already working with our shipyards, suppliers and subcontractors to calculate the carbon footprint of the items we use for the interiors of our vessels and taking this into account when sourcing the most environmentally sustainable options,” says Vago. “For example, MSC Euribia has recyclable carpets and signage made from recycled material. We plan to increase these efforts in future.”
The company is also one of several hundred signatories of the Sustainable Maritime Interiors (SMI) Declaration, which was launched in May 2023 to help drive sustainability improvements throughout the ship interior lifecycle. The declaration, which was created in full support of the UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles, outlines seven commitments to champion environmental change and inspire other stakeholders to build and maintain more sustainable ship interiors.
“We applaud Cruise & Ferry’s [executive editor] Jon Ingleton who was the driving force behind the initiative,” says Vago. “We join him in relentlessly championing the need for circular design in the passenger ship interiors industry and encourage other industry stakeholders to sign too.”
MSC Cruises hopes to further decrease itinerary-related emissions in future, using the new OptiCruise itinerary planning tool developed in collaboration with OPTIMeasy, a research company affiliated with the University of Genoa in Italy. The tool was trialled for 12 months onboard MSC Bellissima as it sailed between 17 Mediterranean ports. It calculates the optimal itinerary by analysing factors such as the sequence of port calls, departure and arrival times, the ship’s speed, the appeal of destinations and available shore excursions, and port charges and other operational costs.
“The OPTIMeasy team calculates that we can decrease fuel use and emissions by an average of 10 to 15 per cent using OptiCruise, so it will play a vital role in our decarbonisation strategy,” says Vago.
MSC Cruises will also continue to call at ports offering shore power capabilities, after installing the systems in 16 of its 22 existing ships.
“In 2023, our ships made 44 shore power connections at eight ports in Norway, Germany, the UK and Malta, and we aim to make 220 connections by the end of 2024,” says Vago. “We will be installing shore power on our remaining fleet and any future newbuilds too. The challenge is that only a small percentage of ports in the world currently have the infrastructure to provide shoreside electricity to cruise ships, so there’s a lot of work to be done before we will see a meaningful impact on decarbonisation but we are now starting to see progress onshore.”
Determined to lead the way, MSC Cruises will equip its new 11,670-square-metre cruise terminal in Barcelona, Spain, with both shore power and LNG bunkering facilities. The terminal has been designed in collaboration with globally renowned Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill and will be operated by MSC Cruises for 31 years. It is scheduled for completion at the end of 2024 and is expected to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification standards.
“Barcelona is an important homeport for MSC Cruises in the West Mediterranean because it offers flight, road and rail connections to Europe and other international destinations,” says Vago. “The shore power facilities and LNG bunkering service at the terminal will allow us to homeport our newest and most environmentally friendly ships in the city, providing a great economic boost for the local economy.”
MSC Cruises’ new terminal in Miami, Florida, will also have shore power capabilities. The facility, which is set to open in 2025 is being built in partnership with PortMiami, Miami-Dade County and Fincantieri Infrastructure for around $350 million. The four-storey building was designed by architecture firm Arquitectonica and will be able to accommodate up to three of MSC Cruises’ newest and biggest ships at once and handle 36,000 daily passenger movements per day.
MSC Cruises’ new terminal at PortMiami will be able to handle 36,000 daily passenger movements
“It will be the largest cruise terminal not only in North America but in the world and will become an iconic new landmark that will be visible from both the water and downtown Miami,” says Vago. “We’ll use the latest facial recognition and luggage and security screening technologies to halve boarding times. The new facilities in both Barcelona and Miami, and the many other terminals we own and operate elsewhere in the world, will offer seamless embarkation and disembarkation experiences and the same high level of service guests expect on our ships.”
In April 2025, the Miami terminal will host the christening ceremony of MSC Cruises’ new MSC World America, which is the second of four World-class ships to be built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique. The first vessel, MSC World Europa was named in Doha, Qatar, and has since sailed itineraries in the Middle East and West Mediterranean.
The 6,762-guest MSC World America will be powered by LNG and offer luxurious suites and cabins, six speciality restaurants, four main restaurants, two buffets, a casual fast-food venue, 20 bars and lounges, multiple entertainment venues, a spa, six pools, and many other amenities. These onboard facilities will be spread across seven different districts, including the multi-storey indoor Galleria, high-tech entertainment area MSC Luna Park Arena, the Aqua Deck, the adults-only Zen Area, The Terraces, the open-air World Promenade, the top-deck Family Aventura Park, and the brand’s largest-ever MSC Yacht Club, an exclusive ship-within-a-ship complex open to select guests.
Vago expects The Harbour, which features slides, a ropes course, food outlets, a family area and more, to be one of MSC World America’s most popular spaces
“We’re seeing more multigenerational groups, so we wanted to create multiple districts with their own unique facilities and experiences to allow every guest to create their own perfect holiday,” says Vago, noting that he predicts guests will be particularly impressed by The Harbour.
Located on the top deck in the Family Aventura district, The Harbour will have food and beverage outlets, a family dwelling area, a high ropes course and rock-climbing wall, and a playground modelled on the lighthouse at MSC Cruises’ private Bahamian island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. There will also be an aqua park with a 90-degree vertical drop slide, a raft slide featuring virtual reality technology, and Cliffhanger, a four-seat swing that will propel riders back and forth over the edge of the ship, 50 metres above the ocean.
“We wanted to create a safe space where family members of all ages can enjoy themselves,” says Vago. “Here, older and younger family members can play together, or try different activities on their own before reuniting over some lunch. I’m particularly excited about Cliffhanger, which is the only over-water swing ride at sea and will offer a uniquely thrilling experience.”
MSC World America’s onboard experiences are tailored to the preferences of US passengers and the ship will initially offer itineraries in North America, but it has been designed for global operation, says Vago. “Just like MSC World Europa and all of our other vessels, MSC World America will be able to deliver exciting itineraries anywhere in the world.”
In 2026, the brand will welcome a third World-class ship, MSC World Asia, which will boast MSC Cruises’ signature design touches, experiences and features inspired by Asia. The cruise ship will be an “evolution” of the existing World-class ships, with “an even further reduced carbon footprint”.
“With every ship we strive to improve the environmental technology and features that enrich the guest experience,” says Vago. “MSC World Asia continues in this tradition and will offer even more advanced marine and onboard hospitality technologies, as well as enhanced guest experiences.”
An as-yet unnamed fourth ship will follow at a later date, and the industry is speculating whether MSC Cruises may choose to further expand the class. “We typically build ships in series of four but everyone keeps reminding us that there are seven continents, so maybe we’ll consider building some more to make sure we’ve got them all covered!” jokes Vago.
MSC Cruises’ relentless focus on delivering high-quality, sustainable ships and continually developing new itineraries and shore excursion programmes has led to impressive success in recent years. “Passenger numbers almost doubled year-on-year in 2023, with the brand’s 22 ships taking more than four million guests on 385 itineraries to 102 countries,” says Vago.
Guests sailing on MSC World America will be able to board the Jaw Drop @ The Spiral slide in The Harbour on the top deck and descend 11 decks to the World Promenade
MSC Group has recorded similar success with its luxury brand Explora Journeys, which debuted its first boutique ship in July 2023.
“Creating a luxury cruise line has long been a dream for me and my family,” says Vago. “MSC Cruises offers the premium MSC Yacht Club experience, which is very popular, so it felt like a natural evolution to create a dedicated luxury brand that offers an elevated experience but the same great value for money.”
Explora I is small enough to visit both well-known and off-the-beaten-track destinations, and offers a range of amenities. “We have a fantastic luxury small ship offering spacious suites, pools, outdoor seating areas, bars, authentic fine dining experiences, a spa and spaces to relax, as well as hosts providing personalised services,” says Vago. “In addition, we have flexible itineraries with easily accessible turnaround ports, and exclusive shore excursions are designed to fully immerse our guests in the culture, nature and history of the destinations they visit. Many of these are influenced by the personal travel experiences of me and my family.”
These onboard and onshore experiences are designed to help guests achieve what Explora Journeys calls an ocean state of mind.
“One of life’s real luxuries is the ability to spend quality time doing something you enjoy – whether that’s by yourself or with your friends and family, or newfound travel companions,” says Vago. “Explora Journeys enables guests to do just that and we now aim to bring this luxury cruising experience to more travellers, focusing first on the European and North American source markets.”
Explora Journeys will expand the fleet, with Explora II debuting in September 2024, followed by the LNG-powered Explora III and Explora IV in 2026 and 2027 respectively, and Explora V and Explora VI in 2027 and 2028. The latter vessels will both have next-generation LNG engines and fuel cells. “MSC Group is committed to making the Explora Journeys fleet environmentally sustainable, so the ships will feature many of the technologies and solutions that are helping MSC Cruises to increase energy-efficiency and lower emissions,” says Vago.
To ensure the ongoing success of both Explora Journeys and MSC Cruises in 2024 and beyond, Vago says his team will continue to prioritise attention to detail, hard work, professionalism and a dedication to delivering high-quality travel experiences.
“We’re a family-owned company led by a hands-on management team with decades of shipping experience and the ability to turn progressive ideas into reality,” says Vago. “We don’t need to satisfy external shareholders, so we can make quick decisions and invest in whatever we believe will be best for the business and our people in the long term. We’ll continue to push design, engineering and technical boundaries to make meaningful, measurable changes that have a long-term positive impact on our guests, our employees and our planet. Of course, we will do this all while delivering the best possible onboard and destination experiences for our guests.”
This article was first published in the Autumn/Winter 2024 issue of Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed. Subscribe for FREE to get the next issue delivered directly to your inbox.