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MSC Group to expand presence in Miami with new North American headquarters for Cruise Division

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 January 2024 17 January 2024

The Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the County’s official public-private economic development partnership, joins MSC Group in announcing the development of its new home in Downtown Miami. The MSC Group’s $100 million investment in Miami-Dade will bring approximately 250 South Florida-based team members from MSC Cargo, MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys under one roof in a new state-of-the-art facility within Block 55 at Sawyer’s Walk. MSC Cargo has been based in Miami-Dade for more than 25 years and now MSC Cruises is moving to establish the Cruise Division’s North American headquarters as part of the Group’s commitment to Miami.

The 130,000-square-foot office space will support the continued growth of MSC Cruises and the newly launched Explora Journeys in the North American market, allowing them to expand alongside MSC Cargo. Per the economic impact analysis run by Miami-Dade County, this latest development from the MSC Group will generate 668 direct and indirect jobs over the next three years. It will also provide $65.2M annually in recurring direct economic impact (Gross Regional Product), delivering measurable growth to the local community.

The Cruise Division is firmly establishing Miami as its new home and is building a new, next generation cruise terminal at PortMiami, set to become North America’s largest once it’s completed later this year. The new terminal will feature a four-story building capable of accommodating 36,000 passenger movements per day, and feature enough berthing space to serve three latest generation ships at once.

With its cruise and cargo operations, The Beacon Council identified MSC Group as a perfect fit for Miami-Dade and provided guidance together with Cushman & Wakefield in the Company’s search for a new North American Cruise Division headquarters, as well as new office space for MSC Cargo’s South Florida operations. Miami-Dade’s strong labor pool and attractive business environment played significant factors in MSC Group’s decision to invest in Downtown Miami.

“We are thrilled to invest in the future of MSC and Miami-Dade County by making this important move,” said Fabio Santucci, President and CEO of MSC USA. “Miami has been a pivotal part of our growth story in the U.S., and we are proud of our strong history of driving the local economy. The Beacon Council was a significant driver in helping us make our decision. They played an instrumental part in making us feel welcome to make this commitment to expanding in South Florida.”

“This is an exciting time of growth for the Cruise Division and we are happy to call Miami-Dade our new home as we continue to expand our reach throughout the Caribbean and North America,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, MSC Cruises. “We look forward to bringing more jobs to the local economy and will work with Miami-Dade County to ensure we are a leader in making an important impact in the community.”

"This announcement underscores Miami's status as a world-class destination and premier access point for companies seeking to extend their influence throughout the continent and the Caribbean," said Rodrick T. Miller President and CEO of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council. "Miami-Dade provides an ideal backdrop for a distinguished brand like MSC Cruises, celebrated for its contemporary offerings and international flair. With our diverse and skilled workforce, coupled with a top-tier cruise port, Miami warmly embraces MSC Cruises. We are thrilled to support and champion their expansion in the region."

“Miami-Dade is thrilled to welcome MSC Group,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We are up for the challenge in supporting their expansion. PortMiami is the number one Cruise Port in the world and an important economic engine for our community generating more than $40 billion annually. MSC Cruises, one of the world’s most innovative cruise lines with strong global influence will not only make an impact on our economy but seamlessly connect with our diverse residents and visitors.”

Windstar's first ever winter sailings in the Mediterranean exceed expectations, will continue year-round

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 January 2024 17 January 2024

After pivoting to a first-ever winter cruise season in the Mediterranean this year, Windstar Cruises’ has announced its intent to keep Star Legend sailing in the region for another winter season, providing our guests with the opportunity to explore Europe and the Mediterranean’s allure year-round. Positive feedback and an influx of bookings and demand have led the luxury small ship cruise line to enhance their winter Mediterranean deployment with new itineraries and opportunities to book longer voyages in 2024/2025.

Same time, the company has decided to postpone the start of its Middle East cruises for the 2025/2026 season.

“On our inaugural sailing in December, every single travel advisor and guest on board told me ‘this is genius’ as we enjoyed the sunny weather of Europe’s most walkable cities when few cruise lines sail Europe’s oceans,” explains Windstar’s Chief Commercial Officer Janet Bava. “Our biggest learning from this winter’s season was we were limited by the possibilities and experiences we could offer with just the one itinerary - from Rome to Barcelona and the reverse and we have responded to that with a variety of new itineraries for our guests to enjoy the Mediterranean’s most storied destinations in the winter.”

Prompted by positive feedback from the inaugural sailings, including the desire for more overnight stays, Windstar will now offer five itineraries in the Mediterranean for the 2025 season, plus three special holiday and event sailings. The expansion also allows guests to combine back-to-back itineraries, providing a unique opportunity to experience different destinations while unpacking just once.

New itinerary highlights for 2024/2025

Winter Italy & the Dalmatian Coast will set sail on five dates in 24/25. The 8-day itinerary sails from Rome to Venice, with stops in Naples, Taormina (Sicily), an overnight in Dubrovnik (Croatia), a full day in Zadar (Croatia), and ends with an overnight in Venice. The route and timing, particularly the beginning of January, will take advantage of Italy’s strict rules surrounding retail sales (with just winter and summer sales allowed and items up to 70 percent off).

Europe Winter Riviera will have eight departure dates on a 7-day cruise. From Rome, guests will sail to Livorno (Italy) for an overnight stay, followed by a day in Genoa and then Nice, France before ending with an overnight in Barcelona.

Winter in Italy and the Adriatic, an 8-day cruise, will take place on just one sail date. Leaving from Athens, the yacht will sail through the tiny Corinth Canal to Itea (Delphi) before overnighting in Corfu. Then it’s off to Crotone (Italy) followed by an overnight in Taormina (Sicily) before a day in Naples, ending the journey in Rome.

Southern Spain Winter Escapes will be a 9-day roundtrip sailing from Barcelona offered on four departure dates. Starting with an overnight in Barcelona means plenty of time to explore the city center before sailing to Valencia, Cartagena, Malaga (for an overnight), Gibraltar (U.K.), Palma, and then returning to Barcelona. Guests will easily be able to hop on the high speed train to/from Madrid in order to extend their explorations inland either pre- or post-cruise.

Winter in Croatia & Greece departs March 26, 2025 for an 8-day sailing from Venice to Athens. An overnight in Venice lets guests explore the historic city from the ship’s convenient city dock location. Port calls include Koper, Slovenia; Zadar and Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Delphi, Greece and a transit of the scenic, narrow Corinth Canal.

Special holiday and event sailings

A Christmas holiday cruise will sail from Rome to Barcelona, December 23-30, 2024. It includes an overnight in Livorno for the opportunity to attend Christmas Eve mass at the Duomo followed by stops in Genoa and Nice before ending in Barcelona with an overnight stay. Festive decorations, traditional dishes and activities bring the holiday spirit on board the ship.

A New Year’s cruise sails roundtrip from Barcelona, December 30, 2024-January 8, 2025. New Year’s Eve itself is an overnight in Palma, Mallorca – one of Europe’s ultimate party meccas for an epic celebration. Then it’s onto Cartagena, an overnight in Malaga, followed by stops in Gibraltar (U.K.), Valencia, and returning to Barcelona.

Additionally, Star Legend will return for a special appearance at the International Luxury Travel Market Cannes travel expo, which takes place in December 2024. The ship will sail from Rome to Barcelona, November 30-December 7, 2024. It includes stops in Livorno, Genoa, Cannes (overnight) and Barcelona (also an overnight). Ship visits will be available in Cannes for conference attendees.

MSC Cruises cancels three sailings in April to avoid transit through the Red Sea

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 January 2024 17 January 2024

MSC Cruises has canceled three repositioning ‘Grand Voyage’ sailings in April from South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Europe due to ongoing attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea.

The company canceled a 24-night cruise of MSC Splendida from Durban, South Africa to Genoa, Italy; a 21-night sailing of MSC Opera from Dubai, UAE to Genoa; and a 23-night voyage of MSC Virtuosa from Dubai to Southampton, UK.

The safety of passengers and crew is MSC Cruises’ number one priority. The company attempted to find suitable alternative itineraries, but ultimately found no viable options and regrettably had to cancel the voyages. The three ships will transfer directly to Europe without any passengers on board and avoid transiting through the Red Sea. Instead, they will sail around the west coast of Africa with no ports of call on their journeys to their respective European homeports for the summer 2024 season. None of the other ships in the company’s fleet are affected.

All passengers booked on the three repositioning cruises have been, or are in the process of being, contacted directly or through their travel agent and can transfer their booking to a future Grand Voyage of a similar duration for free. Alternatively, affected passengers can rebook to any other cruise in the company’s global network, with either a partial refund or additional payment for the difference in price of the original booking, or receive a full refund with no cancellation fee.

Photo: MSC Virtuosa is one of the affected ships

Report: Carnival Corporation plans to order 208,000 gross ton ships from Fincantieri

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 January 2024 16 January 2024

Carnival is preparing to order new mega ships ships of 208,000 gross tons with a capacity for almost 10,000 passengers and crew from Fincantieri. These newbuildings would be the largest ever built in Italy and the order should be around 7 billion euros. First delivery would be at the end of 2028, reports ShippingItaly.it

The CEO of Fincantieri, Pierroberto Folgiero, had announced it last September: new orders for cruise ships are "in the oven" and in the first months of 2024 the cooking time will come to an end. In fact, although it will still take some time to sign the construction contracts, the Carnival Corporation is ready to put the dark period of the Covid-19 pandemic behind it to return to investing in new ships.

Currently Carnival Corporation & plc has just three ships on its order book – all from Fincantieri: Sun Princess and Star Princess for its Princess Cruises brand and Queen Anne for its Cunard Line brand.

Photo: 175,500 gross ton Sun Princess is currently in the outfitting stage in Fincantieri's Monfalcone shipyard. Credit: Teijo Niemela

Meyer Turku begins construction of the third Icon-class ship

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 January 2024 12 January 2024

On Friday, January 12, 2024, the production of the third vessel of the Icon class was started at the Meyer Turku shipyard. Representatives from the organizations of the ship's customer, Royal Caribbean Group, and Meyer Turku were present at the festive event.

The traditional steel cutting ceremony kicked off more than two years of construction and equipment work, in which thousands of professionals from different fields participate. When completed, the 250,800 gross ton ship, whose name will be revealed at a later date, will play an important role in the Royal Caribbean Group's fleet as part of the Icon class, which enables completely new types of vacations.

"With Icon III, we are further strengthening our position as the builder of the world's most advanced cruise ships. The long-term goals of Meyer Turku and the Royal Caribbean Group are becoming concrete, and we are able to set new standards to strengthen our leadership in the green transition of the maritime industry," says Tim Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku.

The planned completion date of the Icon III ship is 2026.