MSC Italian Cruises - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

MSC Cruises is a division of Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A.

Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A.

Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. is the world's largest shipping line in terms of container vessel capacity. MSC operates 469 vessels and has a capacity of...

(MSC).

Originally founded as Lauro Lines by Achille Lauro, the company entered the cruise business in the 1960s, operating two ships, the Angelina Lauro and , both of which met fiery ends. After the Angelina Lauro burnt in the port of St.Thomas in 1979, Lauro Lines, also known as Flotta Lauro, met with bad times, now operating just one ship, the Achille Lauro. In 1985, the Achille Lauro was hijacked by members of the Palestine Liberation Front

Palestine Liberation Front

The Palestine Liberation Front is a Palestinian militant group, which is designated as a terrorist organization by Canada, the European Union and the USA. It is presently led by Dr. Wasel Abu Yousef.-Origins:...

, and the much-publicised event further dropped passenger numbers. In 1989, Flotta Lauro was purchased by Mediterranean Shipping Company and renamed StarLauro Cruises. In 1994, the Achille Lauro caught fire and sank. In 1995, the company name was changed to MSC Cruises.

MSC Cruises is the fourth largest cruise operator in the world, after Carnival Corporation & plc

Carnival Corporation & plc

Carnival Corporation & plc , is a American-British Company, and the world's largest cruise ship operator. It is a dual listed company, with headquarters at Carnival Place in the Miami suburb of Doral, Florida, USA, and at Carnival House in Southampton, England, UK...

, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a Norwegian / American company based in Miami, Florida. It is the world's second-largest cruise line operator, after Carnival Corporation & PLC. As of March 2009, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd...

and Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line is a company operating cruise ships, headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida. It began operations in 1966 under the name Norwegian Caribbean Line. The company is best known for its Freestyle Cruising concept, which means that there are no set times or...

with a 6% share of all passengers carried and cruise revenue in 2012.

On August 14, 2008, MSC Cruises signed a Letter of Intent with STX Europe in Saint-Nazaire, to construct two more Musica-class ships, but financing was never confirmed. On March 1, 2010, after strong support from French government, STX Europe and MSC Cruises announced signing a new Letter of Intent to build one, 139,000 ton, 3502 passenger, Fantasia-class ship, which is subject to financing, at STX Europe St-Nazaire. MSC Divina is scheduled to enter service in June, 2012.

Mistral class

Ship	Built	Builder	Entered service for MSC	Gross Tonnage Gross tonnage Gross tonnage is a unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage...	Flag	Notes
MSC Armonia MSC Armonia MS MSC Armonia is a cruise ship that was built in 2001 for the now defunct Festival Cruises as MS European Vision. She is currently operated by MSC Cruises. She can accommodate 2,065 passengers in 783 cabins. Her crew complement is approximately 760...	2001	Chantiers de l'Atlantique Chantiers de l'Atlantique Chantiers de l'Atlantique is part of the South Korean STX Shipbuilding Group and one of the world's largest shipyards, based in Saint-Nazaire, France...	2004	58,174 tons		Previously European Vision
MSC Sinfonia MSC Sinfonia MS MSC Sinfonia is a cruise ship owned and operated by the Italy-based MSC Cruises. She was built in 2002 by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France for the now-defunct Festival Cruises as MS European Stars...	Chantiers de l'Atlantique	2005	58,625 tons		Previously European Stars
MSC Lirica MSC Lirica MSC Lirica is a Mistral-class cruise ship, owned and operated by MSC Cruises. She was the first newbuild cruise ship to enter service for MSC Cruises. She can accommodate 2,069 passengers in 780 cabins. Her crew complement is approximately 700....	2002	Chantiers de l'Atlantique	2003	58,825 tons
MSC Opera MSC Opera MS MSC Opera is a cruise ship built in 2004 and currently operated by MSC Cruises. She served as the flagship of the company until MSC Musica entered service in 2006...	2004	Chantiers de l'Atlantique	2004	59,058 tons

Musica class

Ship	Built	Builder	Entered service for MSC	Gross Tonnage Gross tonnage Gross tonnage is a unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage...	Flag	Notes
MSC Musica MSC Musica The MS MSC Musica is a cruise ship built in 2006 and currently operated by MSC Cruises. She can accommodate 2,550 passengers in 1,275 cabins...	2006	Aker Yards	2006	89,600 tons
MSC Orchestra MSC Orchestra MS MSC Orchestra is a cruise ship that was built in 2007 for MSC Cruises. She is the second ship of the Musica class. She can accommodate 2,550 passengers in 1,275 cabins. Her crew complement is approximately 990....	Aker Yards	2007	89,600 tons
MSC Poesia MSC Poesia MSC Poesia is a cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises. She was built in 2008 by the Aker Yards shipyard in St. Nazaire, France. She is a sister ship to MSC Musica, MSC Orchestra, and MSC Magnifica...	2008	Aker Yards	2008	93,330 tons
MSC Magnifica MSC Magnifica MSC Magnifica is a Musica-class cruise ship operated by MSC Cruises. Constructed by STX Europe in Saint-Nazaire, the ship was launched in January 2009, completed in January 2010, and entered service in March 2010...	2010	STX Europe	2010	93,330 tons

Fantasia class

Ship	Built	Builder	Entered service for MSC	Gross Tonnage Gross tonnage Gross tonnage is a unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage...	Flag	Notes
MSC Fantasia MSC Fantasia MSC Fantasia is a Fantasia class cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises. She entered service in December 2008. She is the largest ship operated by MSC Cruises to date, along with her sister ship MSC Splendida. as well as the largest passenger ship ever constructed for a European...	2008	Aker Yards	2008	137,936 tons
MSC Splendida MSC Splendida MSC Splendida is owned and operated by MSC Cruises. She entered service in March 2009, as a sister ship to MSC Fantasia. She was to be named MSC Serenata, but the name was changed in May 2007 to MSC Splendida "to reflect the ship's beauty and elegance".MSC Splendida's itineraries cover...	Aker Yards	2009	137,936 tons

Classic fleet

Ship	Built	Builder	Entered service for MSC	Gross Tonnage Gross tonnage Gross tonnage is a unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage...	Flag	Notes
MSC Melody MSC Melody MS MSC Melody is a cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises. She was built in 1982 by the CNIM shipyard in La Seyne, France for Home Lines as MS Atlantic. Between 1988 and 1997 she sailed for Premier Cruise Line as MS StarShip Atlantic. In 1997 she entered service for MSC Cruises as MS Melody,...	CNIM	1997	35,143 tons		Previously Melody, Last refurbished in 2001

Future ships

Ship	Class	Delivery	Gross Tonnage Gross tonnage Gross tonnage is a unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage...	Planned Flag	Notes
MSC Divina MSC Divina MSC Divina is owned and operated by MSC Cruises. She will enter service in May 2012. Modeled on her sister-ships, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia, she features some remarkable enhancements.- Naming :...	2012	139,000 tons		Modified Fantasia-class, Renamed MSC Divina in 2010.

Former ships

Only includes cruise ships. Not a complete list.
(1950–1966) (1951–1967), (1967–1968)

Angelina Lauro (1964–1979)
Achille Lauro
MS Achille Lauro
MS Achille Lauro was a cruise ship based in Naples, Italy. Built between 1939 and 1947 as MS Willem Ruys, a passenger liner for the Rotterdamsche Lloyd. It is most remembered for its 1985 hijacking...

(1964–1994) (1989–2006)
Angelina Lauro (2) (1989–1991)
Symphony (1994–2000) (1995–2009)
Star of Venice (1998–2000)

External links

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