MSC Cruises - wikipedia MSC Cruises This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. ( April 2009 ) MSC Cruises The Mediterranean Way of life Type Private Industry Transportation Founded Naples, Italy 1960 Headquarters Geneva, Switzerland Products Cruises Number of employees 16,500 Parent Mediterranean Shipping Company Website www.msccruises.com MSC Cruises is a global cruise line that was founded in Italy, is registered in Switzerland, and has its headquarters in Geneva. MSC Cruises is the world 's largest privately owned cruise company, employing 16,300 people worldwide and having offices in 45 countries as of July 2014. MSC Cruises ( Italian : MSC Crociere S. p.A. ) is part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. ( MSC ), the world 's second biggest container shipping operator. It was founded in Naples, Italy as Lauro Lines ( also known as Flotta Lauro ) by Achille Lauro. The company entered the cruise business in the 1960s, operating two ships, the Angelina Lauro and MS Achille Lauro. The Angelina Lauro burnt in the port of St. Thomas in 1979 and the Achille Lauro was hijacked by members of the Palestine Liberation Front in 1985. In 1989, Mediterranean Shipping Company bought Flotta Lauro and renamed it 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 company in the world, after Carnival Corporation & plc, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Norwegian Cruise Line with a 5.2 % share of all passengers carried in 2015. In 2014 MSC Cruises announced that the four Lirica class ships will undergo renovation under the `` Renaissance Programme ''. In 2015, MSC Cruises had four new ships on order from STX France and Fincantieri, with options for three more. The first two ships are due to be delivered in May 2017 ( MSC Meraviglia ) and November 2017 ( MSC Seaside ). There are four more diesel - powered ships on order for delivery in 2020s. In September 2016, MSC Cruises announced children - oriented attractions and activities together with LEGO, Chicco, DOREBRO sports program, and with Michelin - starred chef Carlo Cracco. In June 2017, MSC Cruises announced new World - class cruise ships. 4 cruise ships will have a tonnage of 200,000 GT and 2,760 staterooms to accommodate 6,850 passengers. They are scheduled for delivery in the years 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026. In January 2017, it was announced that MSC Cruises is going to present new exclusive Bahamian Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Company is going to include Ocean Cay to the itineraries at the end of 2018. Contents 1 Ships 1.1 Lirica class 1.2 Musica class 1.3 Fantasia class 1.4 Meraviglia class 1.5 Seaside class 1.6 Future ships 1.7 Former ships 2 Main working area 3 References 4 External links Ships Lirica class Main article : Lirica class Ship Built Builder Entered service for MSC Gross Tonnage Flag Notes Image MSC Armonia Chantiers de l'Atlantique ( St. Nazaire ) May 2004 65,542 tons Panama Previously European Vision for the failed Festival Cruises. MSC Sinfonia 2002 Chantiers de l'Atlantique ( St. Nazaire ) March 2005 65,542 tons Panama Previously European Stars for the failed Festival Cruises. MSC Lirica 2003 Chantiers de l'Atlantique ( St. Nazaire ) March 2003 65,591 tons Panama Modified ex Festival 's European - class. MSC Opera Chantiers de l'Atlantique ( St. Nazaire ) March 2004 65,591 tons Panama Modified ex Festival 's European - class. Musica class Ship Built Builder Entered service for MSC Gross Tonnage Flag Notes Image MSC Musica 2006 Aker Yards ( St. Nazaire ) July 2006 92,409 tons Panama MSC Orchestra 2007 Aker Yards ( St. Nazaire ) May 2007 92,409 tons Panama MSC Poesia 2008 Aker Yards / STX Europe ( St. Nazaire ) Oct. 2008 92,627 tons Panama MSC Magnifica STX Europe ( St. Nazaire ) March 2010 95,128 tons Panama Modified Musica - class. Fantasia class Main article : Fantasia class Ship Built Builder Entered service for MSC Gross Tonnage Flag Notes Image MSC Fantasia 2008 Aker Yards / STX Europe ( St. Nazaire ) Dec. 2008 137,936 tons Panama MSC Splendida 2009 Aker Yards / STX Europe ( St. Nazaire ) July 2009 137,936 tons Panama Ordered as MSC Serenata and renamed MSC Splendida in 2008. MSC Divina 2012 STX Europe ( St. Nazaire ) June 2012 139,400 tons Panama Modified Fantasia - class. Ordered as MSC Meraviglia and renamed MSC Divina in 2010. MSC Preziosa 2013 STX Europe ( St. Nazaire ) March 2013 139,400 tons Panama Modified Fantasia - class. Originally ordered for Libyan - based General National Maritime Transport. Meraviglia class Ship Built Builder Entered service for MSC Gross Tonnage Flag Notes Image MSC Meraviglia 2017 STX Europe ( St. Nazaire ) May 2017 171,598 tons Malta Largest ship currently built for MSC Cruises. Seaside class Main article : Seaside class cruise ship Ship Built Builder Entered service for MSC Gross Tonnage Flag Notes Image MSC Seaside 2017 Fincantieri Nov 2017 153,516 tons Malta MSC Cruises ' first purpose ship for the North - American market. Future ships Ship Will enter service for MSC Builder Gross Tonnage Flag Notes Image MSC Seaview June 2018 Fincantieri 154,000 tons MSC Seaview will cruise in the Mediterranean. MSC Bellissima March 2019 STX Europe ( St. Nazaire ) 167,600 tons Meraviglia Class Steel cutting ceremony - 1 December 2016 Keel laid on 15 November 2017 MSC Grandiosa November 2019 STX Europe ( St. Nazaire ) 181,000 tons Slightly larger than the Meraviglia Class. construction started on 15 November 2017 Project Meraviglia Plus II September 2020 STX Europe ( St. Nazaire ) 181,000 tons Slightly larger than the Meraviglia Class. Project Seaside Evo May 2021 Fincantieri 169,380 tons World - class 2022 STX France Cruise SA 200,000 tons LNG - fueled cruise ship Project Seaside Evo II 2023 Fincantieri 169,380 tons World - class 2024 STX France Cruise SA 200,000 tons LNG - fueled cruise ship World - class 2025 STX France Cruise SA 200,000 tons LNG - fueled cruise ship World - class 2026 STX France Cruise SA 200,000 tons LNG - fueled cruise ship Former ships Ship Built Builder Entered service for MSC Gross Tonnage Year Retired Image Symphony 1951 Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson 1994 16,000 tons 2000 Monterey 1952 Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. 1994 20,000 tons 2006 Rhapsody 1977 Burmeister & Wain 1995 17,095 tons 2009 MSC Melody 1982 CNIM ( La Seyne - sur - Mer ) 35,143 tons 2013 Angelina Lauro 1938 Koninklijke Maatschappi N / A 24,377 tons 1979 Achille Lauro 1947 Koninklijke Maatschappi N / A 23,629 tons 1994 Main working area Western Mediterranean : MSC Preziosa, MSC Fantasia, MSC Armonia, MSC Meraviglia Eastern Mediterranean : MSC Magnifica, MSC Poesia, MSC Musica, MSC Opera Northern Europe : MSC Splendida, MSC Orchestra, MSC Sinfonia Caribbean : MSC Divina, MSC Seaside, MSC Opera, MSC Armonia ( winter season ) Southern Africa : MSC Sinfonia, MSC Musica ( summer season beginning in 2018 ) Northern Asia : MSC Lirica, MSC Splendida ( summer season beginning in 2018 ) References Jump up ^ `` Company Profile '' ( PDF ) ( Press release ). MSC Cruises. July 2014. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` The history of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co. SA ''. Swiss Deep - sea Shipping. Retrieved 10 August 2010. Jump up ^ `` Curise Market Watch - Market Share ''. Cruise Market Watch. Retrieved 12 May 2015. Jump up ^ `` MSC Renaissance Program Begins with Laying Out of Armonia 's New Section ''. cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 12 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` MSC Cruises Became More Children Oriented CruiseBe ''. CruiseBe. Retrieved 16 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` MSC Cruises Unveils New World Class of Mega Ships CruiseBe ''. CruiseBe. Retrieved 24 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` MSC Cruises Intends to open Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in November 2018 CruiseBe ''. CruiseBe. Retrieved 22 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` MSC Cruises - UK News : MSC Cruises Welcomes MSC Preziosa ''. Msccruises.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` MSC Confirms Fincantieri Order for two Seaside - Class Ships ''. cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 12 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` MSC Seaview : New Cruise Ship That Follows the Sun CruiseBe ''. CruiseBe. Retrieved 16 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` MSC Cruises Announces the Official Start of the MSC Bellissima Construction CruiseBe ''. CruiseBe. Retrieved 20 January 2018. ^ Jump up to : `` MSC Bellissima Gets Her Coin While The Cruise Line Reveals MSC Grandiosa CruiseBe ''. CruiseBe. Retrieved 11 January 2018. ^ Jump up to : `` MSC Cruises to Build Two More Mega Ships ''. Cruise Critic. Retrieved 12 May 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` TTG Media - Travel industry, travel agent and tourism news, events and jobs - News - MSC Cruises confirms return to UK -- and two new builds ''. TTG Media - Travel industry, travel agent and tourism news, events and jobs. Retrieved 12 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` MSC Releases Video Detailing New Ship Features ''. cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 12 May 2016. Jump up ^ https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/About-MSC/News/MSC-Cruises-Announces-World-Class-Ships-2026.aspx Jump up ^ `` MSC Releases Video Detailing New Ship Features ''. cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 12 May 2016. Jump up ^ https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/About-MSC/News/MSC-Cruises-Announces-World-Class-Ships-2026.aspx Jump up ^ https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/About-MSC/News/MSC-Cruises-Announces-World-Class-Ships-2026.aspx Jump up ^ https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/About-MSC/News/MSC-Cruises-Announces-World-Class-Ships-2026.aspx Jump up ^ Template : Cite - FORBESGANJ, AMHARA news External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to MSC Cruises. MSC Cruises Corporate Global website Lauro Lines, StarLauro and MSC Cruises Information and Postcards at Simplon Postcards MSC Cruises fleet Current fleet Armonia Divina Fantasia Lirica Magnifica Meraviglia Musica Opera Orchestra Poesia Preziosa Seaside Sinfonia Splendida Building Seaview Project Seaside III Bellissima Project Vista III Project Vista IV Project World I Project World II Former ships Achille Lauro Angelina Lauro ( I ) Angelina Lauro ( II ) Monterey Rhapsody Roma Symphony Melody Classes Lirica Musica Fantasia Seaside Meraviglia Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MSC_Cruises&oldid=822196479 '' Categories : Cruise lines MSC Cruises Transport companies established in 1960 1960 establishments in Italy Hidden categories : Use dmy dates from January 2018 Articles lacking in - text citations from April 2009 All articles lacking in - text citations Articles containing potentially dated statements from July 2014 All articles containing potentially dated statements Articles containing Italian - language text All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from May 2015 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español فارسی Français Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Slovenščina Suomi Svenska Українська Edit links This page was last edited on 24 January 2018, at 23 : 34. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: what does the msc in msc cruises stand for
Answer: Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A.; Mediterranean Shipping Company; Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A.; Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC); Mediterranean Shipping Company