Mediterranean Shipping Cruises forms part of a huge Swiss-owned container firm, Mediterranean Shipping Company. Entering the cruise business in the late 1980s by purchasing Lauro Line, renamed Star Lauro, the name changed after the loss of the Achille Lauro to fire and sinking.
Fleet
Initially MSC operated second-hand ships for the European
market mostly in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Then with the bankruptcy of
Festivals Cruises in 2004, MSC took on two relatively new 59,000-ton ships and
began building brand-new tonnage of the same size and then larger at 90,000
tons.
Itineraries
The vast majority of the cruises operate in Mediterranean and Caribbean waters.
Dining and Decor
The ships are of a European design with an Italian flair,
and the food also reflects that.
Programs
The line operates a standard shore excursion program.
Onboard Experience
With the rapid expansion, the line began to position itself
as the new Italian line, having more of that nation’s flavor in crew, menus and
décor than Costa, if perhaps marginally so. MSC has also entered the North
American market but while the hardware is good, it has had some hiccups in
appealing to the mainstream market on this side of the Atlantic. It’s a
learning curve and no doubt, MSC will make inroads for those passengers who
want a truly international experience, sharing the cruise with a majority of
Europeans as is the case with Costa in the Mediterranean. The newest ships will
have the most appeal.
Competitors
Costa would be the principal competition for the European
passenger, and the same could be said for Americans wanting a big-ship European
experience.
