The MSC Seascape, a newly constructed cruise ship based out of Miami, has been forced to change its scheduled itinerary due to problems with one of its engines. 

Captain Francesco Di Palma sent out a letter to guests explaining the situation, stating that the ship had been experiencing a technical issue with one engine, which had resulted in a power reduction and is affecting its speed.

As the problems could not be resolved, the vessel was forced to cancel its call to Ocho Rios in Jamaica and will be sailing at reduced speed for the remainder of the cruise.

MSC Seascape Limps Back to Ocean Cay

Despite the efforts of the technical team and specialized personnel brought on in Grand Cayman, an engine software issue has not been resolved onboard MSC Seascape, and the scheduled call to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, today, January 20, has been cancelled.

Although there were no issues with the vessel until the stop in Cozumel, Mexico, the problem started after departure from Mexico. The cruise ship arrived 4.5 hours late to Grand Cayman, where it was announced that the call to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, would be cancelled.

The Captain announced in his letter to guests that MSC would give a 50% refund on the cruise fare after the sailing and reimburse guests for any pre-booked shore excursions in Ocho Rios:

Captain Francesco Di Palma, in a letter delivered to guests onboard MSC Seascape on January 19: “As you are aware, MSC Seascape has been experiencing a technical issue with one of our engines, which has resulted in a power reduction and consequently is affecting our speed.” 

“Despite the continuous efforts of our technical team combined with the expertise of the specialized technician who embarked today in Grand Cayman, I regretfully have to inform you that the issue has not been resolved, and we will be forced to cancel our scheduled call into Ocho Rios, Jamaica tomorrow.” 

The plan is now to proceed with the vessel’s available speed to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve for an afternoon stop on Saturday, January 21, followed by the scheduled arrival into Miami on Sunday, January 22.

During an announcement on board, the Captain stated that the issue was an engine software problem that compromised one engine. However, several crew members supposedly stated that 3 out of four engines were not working due to the problem.

The Brand New MSC Seascape

The 170,412 gross-ton MSC Seascape was completed in 2022 and arrived in Miami in December of last year after the naming ceremony in New York City on December 7. The MSC Seascape sails seven-night Western and Eastern Caribbean cruises, which can be combined into 14-day cruises with an additional stop in Miami halfway through.

Ports of call include Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and, typically, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, on the Western Caribbean itineraries. In the eastern Caribbean, the vessel calls on San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nassau in the Bahamas, and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Every voyage includes a stop at MSC’s private island resort Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

MSC’s gesture of offering a 50% refund on the cruise fare and reimbursement for pre-booked shore excursions in Ocho Rios is an excellent way to compensate for the inconvenience caused to the thousands of disappointed guests onboard. 

The cruise line will investigate the cause of the engine problem and take necessary steps to prevent a similar incident. However, incidents such as these are not uncommon on new cruise ships. So far, the following cruise for MSC Seascape on January 22 is not affected. If this changes, Cruise Hive will keep you informed.

MSC Cruises launched a new global brand campaign, meant to educate consumers on the importance of sustainable vacationing and the critical role sustainability will play in the company’s future. 

The campaign—“Discover the future of cruising”—spans more than 30 countries with television ads and outdoor, print, digital, and social media.

Focusing on Environmental Performance 

A new concept from MSC Cruises, which has been released worldwide today, January 19, illustrates the vision the cruise line has for future cruise vacations by showcasing the fleet’s environmental performance alongside glimpses of life on board. 

The program includes several different factors. One of the main factors is the cruise line’s marine conservation program, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Once an industrial sand excavation site, the cruise line transformed Ocean Cay into a private island destination surrounded by crystal blue waters that are home to critical marine species and coral habitats. 

A TV special focusses on the unique environmental technologies and solutions on board the ​​215,863 gross tons, 6,762 passenger MSC World Europa, MSC Cruises’ first LNG-powered and most environmentally advanced ship to date. The special was filmed onboard the cruise ship over the last couple of months.

The campaign further showcases the cruise line’s broader commitment to the environment and progress made on sustainability across its fleet of 21 ships alongside the wider Cruise Division of MSC Group.

“Already cruising is one of the best holiday options for consumers today, but many of our guests don’t realize that it has important sustainability aspects as well,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of MSC Group. 

“We have long had a steadfast focus on sustainable and environmentally responsible business practices and on protecting guests, employees, and the communities in which we operate.“

MSC Cruises works closely with tour operators and industry partners to support and promote sustainable tourism practices. The MSC Cruises shore excursion team works with tour operators worldwide to identify activities founded on strong sustainability principles.

Known as ‘Protectours,’ these excursions are designed to educate guests. Around 70% of Protectours include low-impact transportation—including walking, cycling, or kayaking—and many make a direct contribution to the environment by supporting species or habitat protection. 

“Today more than ever, brands like MSC Cruises recognize the vital importance of the environment and a healthy and viable planet, and this is why we think it is important for us to take a leadership role and make our sustainability commitments a key element of our discourse,” Vago continued. 

Leading the Industry in Sustainable Cruising 

MSC Cruises is well on its way to meeting the International Maritime Organization’s objective of a 40% carbon reduction by 2030, having improved its fleet carbon efficiency by 35% since 2008. The cruise line and the broader Cruise Division of MSC Group remain committed to achieving the net-zero emissions target for marine operations by 2050.

The “Discover the future of cruising” campaign is an essential step for MSC Cruises as it continues to lead the way in sustainable cruising. It has taken sustainability to a new level with low-noise hull designs that protect wildlife, advanced waste processing systems, intelligent ventilation and air conditioning systems, innovative LED lighting systems, and much more. 

The commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility will become increasingly important as the cruise industry continues to grow and evolve. MSC Cruises’ new global brand campaign indicates that they are taking this responsibility seriously and are committed to leading the way in sustainable cruising.

Over the last years, we have seen several initiatives showing how the cruise industry seems to have gotten the message that emissions and pollution need to come down. However, achieving the goals for 2050 will not be enough. The industry will need to go much further to be seen as a sustainable vacation option in the future.