Originally founded as Lauro
Lines by Achille Lauro, the
company entered the cruise
business in the 1960s.
Operating two ships, the
Angelina Lauro and Achille
Lauro, both of which met
fiery ends. After the
Angelina Lauro burnt in the
port of St.Thomas in 1979,
Lauro Lines, also called
Flotta Lauro, met bad times.
Now operating just one ship,
the Achille Lauro.
In 1985
the Achille Lauro was
hijacked by members of the
Palestine Liberation Front,
and the much-publicised
event further dropped
passenger numbers.
In 1987
Flotta Lauro was purchased
by Mediterranean Shipping
Company and renamed
StarLauro Cruises. In 1994,
the Achille Lauro caught
fire and sank. After this
event, the company name was
changed to MSC Cruises.
