The world’s fastest-growing cruise brand will start sailing from New York City next year. MSC Cruises announced plans today to bring the MSC Meraviglia to the Big Apple to offer year-round cruises, homeporting at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal starting in April of 2023 and making it easier than ever for guests to enjoy the stunning beauty of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
The announcement marks a significant milestone for MSC Cruises, the contemporary brand of the Cruise Division of MSC Group. It represents the first time one of the line’s ships will homeport in the northeastern United States year-round, and it further enhances the brand’s North American presence by complementing the rich choice of ships and itineraries out of PortMiami and Port Canaveral in the Orlando area.
On board MSC Meraviglia, guests will have a wide variety of vacation options, ranging from 6 to 11 nights, with destinations covering the Caribbean, Bermuda, New England and Canada.
Rubén Rodríguez, President, MSC Cruises USA, said: “New York City was the natural choice when we picked our next U.S. port because it’s so accessible, whether the guest is coming from somewhere nearby or from around the world. We designed our mix of itineraries to take advantage of New York’s geographic flexibility, so that you can soak up the springtime sun in the Caribbean, head to Bermuda over the summer, or go north to see Canada’s natural beauty in the fall. MSC Meraviglia was a huge hit when she first came to New York in 2019. Our guests really appreciated the ship’s modern and glamorous features, as well as her state-of-the-art environmental technologies, and we are sure we’ll see strong demand when she returns.”
New York City Itinerary Highlights:
– Caribbean itineraries of either 7 or 8 nights, featuring calls in Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve—MSC Cruises’ beautiful private island in The Bahamas.
– Bermuda itineraries lasting 6 nights and offering three days docked at King’s Wharf combined with several relaxing days at sea.
– Northern itineraries of either 10 or 11 nights, featuring calls at Boston, Massachusetts; Portland, Maine; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia; and Saint John, New Brunswick. (11-night itineraries include an additional call in Newport, Rhode Island.)
MSC Cruises’ entry into the Northeast is the latest example of the European-based line’s long-standing focus on the overall North American cruise market, which includes bringing more international travelers into the region and continuing to place its most advanced ships at U.S. ports. MSC Cruises is the fastest-growing cruise line in the world, on the back of an ambitious new-build plan that saw seven highly innovative ships coming into service since 2017, including two in 2021 and two more arriving later this year.
Last year, the cruise line added Port Canaveral as a permanent homeport with a mix of 3, 4 and 7-night cruises aimed at maximizing options for easy getaways just a short drive from the Orlando area’s world-renowned mix of attractions. Further south, MSC Cruises is building the largest and most advanced cruise terminal in North America at PortMiami, which will be able to accommodate three of the line’s largest ships simultaneously once complete.
As the third-largest cruise brand worldwide – and market leader in Europe, South America and the Arabian Gulf region – MSC Cruises prides itself on offering international dining, world-class entertainment, award-winning family programs and the very latest user-friendly technology on board. With this addition of New York City as an embarkation port, the line aims to attract even more North American guests as well as those from around the world.
