MSC Cruises is shifting into high gear, expanding its presence in Formula One with a major new sponsorship deal. The cruise giant, who is already a Global Partner of Formula One, is now stepping up as a Premium Partner of the Renault-owned BWT Alpine F1 Team for the 2025 season.
The cruise industry isn’t just about all-you-can-eat buffets, ocean views, and laid-back days at sea. Behind it all, a handful of business moguls are calling the shots—turning the high seas into their empire and raking in fortunes big enough to buy their own private islands (and some probably have!).
Let’s take a closer look at the power players shaping the world of cruising!
MSC Cruises is set to launch operations at its brand-new terminal in the Port of Barcelona this Saturday. The new facility, located at Terminal H in Muelle Adosado, spans 12,580 square meters and represents a €50 million investment aimed at enhancing the company’s presence in the Catalan capital.
The MSC Fantasia will be the first ship to dock at the terminal, arriving from Tunis before continuing to Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Palermo, and La Goulette in Tunisia.
MSC World America, the latest cruise ship built by the French shipyard Chantiers de l'Atlantique is set to embark on its final sea trial this Thursday, February 13, before officially joining the MSC Cruises fleet. The vessel is expected to leave the Loire estuary for what is anticipated to be its last round of testing before delivery.
The MSC World America will leave Saint-Nazaire, France, on March 27, heading for Miami, Florida, MSC Cruises confirmed. The ship, capable of carrying 6,774 passengers across 22 decks, is part of MSC’s new LNG-powered World Class series.
Brazilian Authorities have arrested a 41-year-old man at the port of Salvador de Bahia for an onboard fraud scheme involving fake credit cards, which allowed him to make illegal purchases and gamble in the ship’s casino. The arrest, was conducted on Wednesday January 22, as the suspect disembarked, sheds light on how technology and vigilance intersect in modern-day crime prevention.
A passenger aboard an MSC Cruises cruise ship, which was hosting a corporate charter cruise for MAG Seguros, passed away on Thursday, January 9, after suffering a sudden illness. The ship MSC Orchestra set sail from Rio de Janeiro the previous evening for a celebration marking the 190th anniversary of MAG Seguros, a company specializing in Life Insurance and Pension Funds.
The environmental organization Ecologists in Action of Catalonia has filed a formal complaint against MSC Cruises, alleging misleading and illicit advertising practices. The complaint has been submitted to the Consumer Inspection division of the Catalan Consumer Agency under the Generalitat of Catalonia.
MSC Cruises has announced a significant shift in its hiring process, centralizing crew recruitment operations to its Italian office in Sorrento. The move, aimed at streamlining operations and enhancing efficiency, means agencies in Brazil will no longer play a role in collecting resumes or managing job applications for positions aboard MSC vessels.
MSC Cruises has partnered with the Sky Original show, X Factor Italia, produced by Fremantle, to bring the groundbreaking entertainment experience to the seas. Starting in January 2025, the cruise ship MSC Lirica will host the official castings for the 2025 edition of the talent show.
