There’s lots of news from MSC Cruises this week, as the fast-growing cruise line announced it will build a new headquarters in Miami, launched a new U.S homeport in Galveston, Texas, and cancelled three repositioning ‘Grand Voyage’ sailings in April from South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Europe because of the risk to shipping in the Red Sea.
Starting with the news from Miami, the MSC Group announced that a $100 million investment 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 the south Florida city.
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.
Logos of the MSC Group. (Photo Credit: MSC Cruises)
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.
"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.
MSC Cruises announced another milestone in its ongoing U.S. expansion with the opening sales for cruises from a new homeport in Galveston, Texas. Beginning in November 2025, Galveston will be home for MSC Seascape, becoming the line’s fourth U.S. home port.
MSC Canada BDM Tammy Thompson at the Air Canada Vacations launch in Toronto. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
Seascape will offer seven-night itineraries with Sunday embarkation sailing to destinations in the Caribbean including Costa Maya and Cozumel (Mexico) and Isla de Roatan (Honduras) with the first departure set for November 9, 2025.
Marking a significant milestone in its ongoing U.S. expansion, MSC Cruises' CEO Gianni Onorato commented, "This announcement is the latest step in our strategy to continue to grow our U.S. footprint. Earlier this year we began operations from our third U.S. home port, New York City, where we now sail year-round, and we are proud to add Galveston to that growing line-up alongside PortMiami and Port Canaveral.”
In less positive news, MSC Cruises has made the decision to cancel three repositioning ‘Grand Voyage’ sailings in April from South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Europe because of the current risk to shipping in the Red Sea.
Ongoing attacks on merchant vessels in the region has spurred the company to cancel 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.
MSC says the safety of passengers and crew is its number one priority and as there was no viable alternative itinerary, it had to cancel the voyages. The three ships will transfer directly to Europe without 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 other ships in its fleet are affected.
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