The announcement last week from MSC Cruises regarding their massive expansion plan and the contract signed with Italian shipyard Fincantieri for 2 new ships (the largest ever to be built by the yard)
The MSC Advisory Board: 3rd from left, Gianni Oronato, CEO of MSC; 6th
from left Ken Muskat; 12th from left, Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive
Chairman and on the right Bonnie Levengood, V.P. Marketing;
Vanessa Lee and Rick Sasso.
was welcome news but not a surprise for me as I am a member of the MSC Cruises USA Advisory Board. In that regard, I attended a late April meeting in Geneva at their impressive European Headquarters and spent a full day with other members (some of the sharpest minds in the biz) and MSC executives, engaging in a lively discussion about the Line’s future plans for both European and North American expansion. Truly exciting times.
I should stipulate that I do not represent MSC Cruises in any capacity in Canada but have known Rick Sasso, President of MSC USA, for almost 30 years and have worked closely with him since his days at Costa and Celebrity and count him as a wonderful and good friend. My role on the Advisory Board is simply to provide un-biased, non-affiliated Canadian input and perspective and it is a privilege to be involved.
During the meeting we were able to state our respective cases about numerous topics but the highlight had to be the sharing of info with us about the new builds and details of same. Clearly some of what was discussed is confidential but, in my opinion, this is fantastic news regarding the “SEASIDE” ships, their design and spectacular onboard innovations.
MSC “Seaside” New Build prototype
MSC is a brand to whom it would be wise to pay a great deal of attention. They are a privately owned company run by extremely talented and impressive individuals. I spent time with both Gianni Oronato, the CEO of MSC, who moved over from Costa less than a year ago, and Pierfrancesco Vago the Executive Chairman. They have a bold vision and a thoughtful plan for the expansion of the MSC brand globally but clearly, their plans for North America are what we mostly care about here.
The “Seaside” ships are worthy and stand-out participants in this decade of cruise line expansion and building, primarily due to their structure and the architectural complexity involved.
The recent impact made by Norwegian Cruise Line with their wonderful ships the Breakaway and the Getaway and the Waterfront dining concept, will also be seen in their new builds, the Escape and Bliss coming soon. Equally exciting is the soon-to-arrive Quantum and sister Anthem of the Seas from top of the class innovator, Royal Caribbean along with the recent decision by Royal to build version 2 of the successful Oasis class ships. And, now we have new prototype vessels from MSC, which will surely mark this decade as a break-out from the norm. These are not just interesting times in the cruise business, nor are these your Grandmother’s cruise ships, these are the times that will move us forward in new directions.
Rick Sasso, President, MSC USA
MSC plans to double the size of their fleet by 2022 – currently they have 12 ships and have just launched an investment plan of more than €5 billion which includes the Italian designed “Seaside” ships but also several ships currently being built in France and an overhaul and major investment in some of the smaller and older ships in their fleet.
The “Seaside” prototype will offer unique features such as a sea-level promenade that will circumnavigate the ships with restaurants, bars, shops and outdoor spaces. Take what Norwegian has done with the Breakaway class and add more to this. A wonderful thing – bringing the ship and the sea together in a way that has not yet been done in quite this fashion (and oh so logical). The new vessels will also have many other amazing design features and such aspects will be unveiled in the next few years as the ships are not due to be launched until Fall 2017 and Spring 2018.
Ken Muskat, MSC’s E.V.P. Sales &
Guest Services
And with MSC Cruises USA massive staff expansion (mostly in sales) in recent weeks; the plans to improve technology; the arrival about a year ago of the highly talented and very likeable, agent-friendly Ken Muskat (from Royal Caribbean) as E.V.P. Sales & Guest Services, you can see where this is going.
Furthermore, just announced on Tuesday were more agent-oriented initiatives key to driving more income to travel agents. MSC will now be paying a 5% commission on pre-booked and pre-paid spa treatments, specialty restaurants, beverage and stateroom celebration packages. This, in addition to the 5% already paid on shorex, transfers, hotels and airfare. Another timely move is the launching of payment for TC’s on individual bookings (for every 20 full fare guests on the same sail date) – check out the site for more info and conditions.
The MSC Divina arrived in North America last November and is a beautiful ship with the gorgeous Yacht Club for higher-end guests. If all goes well and sales boom and per diems are in the right spot, I should think there is real hope that one of these “Seaside” ships might make her way over to PortMiami and we would have yet another stunning ship with amazing features and innovations to offer to Canadian cruisers. It’s a few years off but we can certainly hope and make every effort to support a brand that has so much invested in the cruise business, takes travel agent partnerships seriously and is also a privately owned company.
