MSC Cruises’ popularity is increasing as the Swiss-based cruise company breaks its booking records with almost 400,000 bookings during October.
Winter 2022/23 cruises and summer 2023 cruises proved particularly popular, which is not surprising if we look at the vast amount of new and exciting cruise ships the company has launched over the last couple of years.
Now cruise companies have slowly let go of all pandemic-related measures, the pent-up demand for cruising is showing. MSC Cruises says occupancy levels are higher than they experienced historically for nearly all cruises in the company’s program.
400,000 Passenger Bookings in One Month
The effect of the excitement that has built up for MSC Cruises’ newest cruise ships reached an all-time high in October 2022. The Switzerland-based cruise line reported record-breaking bookings for cruises this winter and the summer of 2023, with nearly 400,000 passenger bookings.
The release of its latest flagship, the 215,863-gross-ton MSC World Europa, the soon-to-be-delivered MSC Seascape, and MSC Euribia, which will come into service in mid-2023, has driven the popularity of the cruise line, boosted by the pent-up demand for cruising worldwide.
It’s not just the brand-new ships either; MSC Cruises launched five new cruise ships in the last three years. Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, said:
“October has been the strongest month for bookings in the entire history of our brand. This reflects the continued strong investments made in our fleet, which is one of the most modern in the industry, with five new state-of-the-art vessels delivered only in the last three years alone and more than any other brand since 2017.
The biggest cruise operators besides MSC have traditionally focused on the United States and the Caribbean. Although MSC has put more emphasis on sailing in the area lately, it has a much more diverse itinerary collection than Royal Caribbean Group, Carnival Corporation, or Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.
MSC Cruises is one of the few cruise lines to have a permanent position in emerging markets such as the Middle East and is the biggest cruise operator in South America, Africa, and Europe.
“Our guests and travel partners also appreciate the continuously improving experience we provide on our elegant and sophisticated vessels, the truly global array of itinerary options available, as well as our commitment to environmental sustainability,” Onorato said.
Both Near-Term as Long-Term Bookings Increasing
MSC Cruises has seen remarkable growth over the last ten years with its upscale, value-for-money cruise offerings. The company has released new ships at a record rate, and the fleet is set to grow to 23 ships by 2025, with options for six more new cruise ships through 2030.
MSC Cruises is not just seeing record-breaking booking numbers for this winter and the upcoming summer season. The long-term bookings are looking equally strong.
“We are seeing a strong demand with an extended horizon in the medium to longer term to such an extent that guests and travel agent partners are starting to close bookings now to avoid the frustration of not being able to find the perfect holiday option for themselves or their clients in a few months.”
“These results reward the long-term vision that MSC Group continued to have for the business even during the pandemic, with investments not only in new ships but also in the quality of the guests’ experience,” Onorato added.
MSC Cruises’ newest flagship, the stunning 6,762-passenger MSC World Europa, has recently set sail from the shipyard in France and is currently underway to Qatar for her naming ceremony. She will play a prominent role during the upcoming FIFA World Cup Football, acting as a hotel ship.
