By the winter 2023-2024 season, MSC Cruises will tout its largest presence in the U.S. market yet, with a total of five ships — including some of its newest vessels — homeporting on the U.S. East Coast. MSC Divina,MSC Magnifica,MSC Meraviglia,MSC Seascape and MSC Seashore will sail from Miami and Port Canaveral, Fla; as well as Brooklyn, New York, on itineraries to the Caribbean, the Northeast U.S., Canada and Central and South America. And in 2025, the line and local market will welcome the new MSC World America.
“Bringing more ships to the U.S. allows us to offer a wide variety of itineraries, adding new destinations and providing more opportunities for travelers to discover our unique international flavor,” said Ruben A. Rodriguez, president of MSC Cruises USA.
Bringing more ships to the U.S. allows us to offer a wide variety of itineraries, adding new destinations and providing more opportunities for travelers to discover our unique international flavor.
“It’s especially exciting to know how many of those guests will experience Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and see firsthand how we’ve embraced the island’s natural beauty, and how committed we are to sustainability. Caring for the ocean and showing our guests the true extent of its wonders drives everything we do at MSC Cruises.”
Cruises From PortMiami
New when it launches later this year, MSC Seascape — the latest EVO addition in the Seaside class — will depart from Miami on weeklong Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages, alternating between the following sets of ports:
- Western Caribbean ports of call including Ocho Rios (Jamaica), George Town (Cayman Islands), Cozumel (Mexico) and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (the Bahamas).
- Eastern Caribbean ports of call including San Juan (Puerto Rico), Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (the Bahamas).
Also from PortMiami for 2023-2024 will be the MSC ship that first introduced the line to the U.S. market. MSC Divina will offer a range of sailings from three to 11 nights in length heading to the Bahamas and Central and South America. Itineraries will be broken down as follows:
- Three-night routes to Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (the Bahamas).
- Seven-night routes that will include combinations of Isla de Roatan (Honduras); Belize City (Belize); Costa Maya and Cozumel (Mexico); George Town (Cayman Islands); Ocho Rios (Jamaica); and Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (The Bahamas).
- 11-night routes with calls including Montego Bay (Jamaica); Cartagena (Colombia); Puerto Limon (Costa Rica); Isla de Roatan (Honduras); Oranjestad (Aruba); Cozumel (Mexico); and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (The Bahamas).
Lastly from PortMiami, for the following winter season, will be MSC Magnifica with short-form and weeklong cruises to the Bahamas and Key West, Fla., including special holiday sailings, as follows:
- Three- to four-night routes stopping at either Nassau (the Bahamas) or Key West, in addition to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (the Bahamas).
- Seven-night Christmas Routes with stops in Ocho Rios (Jamaica, on Christmas Day), George Town (Cayman Islands), Cozumel (Mexico) and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (the Bahamas).
- A seven-night New Year's Route that includes a day at sea (New Year’s Eve) and stops at Roatan (Honduras, on New Year’s Day), Belize City (Belize), Costa Maya (Mexico) and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (the Bahamas).
Cruises From Port Canaveral
Or for clients looking to potentially combine a cruise vacation with the land-based attractions of nearby Orlando, Fla., MSC Seashore will sail from Port Canaveral. It will mark the first time one of the line’s Seaside EVO ships will depart from the destination, presenting a blend of quick escapes and longer voyages, up to seven nights:
- Two- to four-night routes with stops in Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (the Bahamas).
- Five-night Western Caribbean Routes with stops in Costa Maya (Mexico) and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (the Bahamas).
- Six-night Western Caribbean Routes with stops in Cozumel and Costa Maya (Mexico) and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (the Bahamas).
- Seven-night Western Caribbean routes that include a combination of stops at Belize City (Belize); Cozumel and Costa Maya (Mexico); Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (the Bahamas).
Cruises From Brooklyn
Repositioning up north to New York, for year-round service will be MSC Meraviglia, which will leave from Brooklyn and head to Bermuda and The Bahamas — always with a stop at the line’s private island — as well as Florida itself:
- Five- to 6-night routes to Kings Wharf (Bermuda, where it will stay docked for two or three days).
- Seven- to 11-night routes with ports including Miami and Port Canaveral (Florida); Cozumel and Costa Maya (Mexico); Nassau; and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (the Bahamas).
The Future
In 2025, MSC will launch its second World Class ship. MSC World America will service the U.S. market as the line’s first LNG (liquefied natural gas)-powered ship in the area. The new ship is already under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France.
"MSC World America is testament to our ambitious growth plans in the U.S. and the Caribbean and further solidifies MSC Cruises as a major player in the North American market with another of our largest, most glamorous ships coming to the region,” Rodriguez said. “In addition to delivering a state-of-the-art cruise experience, MSC World America exemplifies our commitment to sustainability with its advanced environmental technology. The ship will continue to elevate our guest experience in the Caribbean, and we look forward to raising the bar on what travelers can expect, whether they’re loyal cruisers or enjoying their first vacation at sea.”
MSC World America will share similar features with sister ship MSC World Europa while also offering elements customized to the U.S. She will measure in at 22 decks tall and more than 150 feet wide with over 2,600 staterooms and suites and 420,000 square feet of public areas.
