MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is a Swiss global cruise line based in Geneva and the world's largest privately held cruise company, operating as a subsidiary of the Mediterranean Shipping Company. Founded in 1988 by Gianluigi Aponte and rebranded from StarLauro Cruises in 1995, MSC has grown into the third-largest cruise line in the world—behind Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Group—with a 10% share of all passengers carried in 2025. The line operates a fleet spanning multiple generations of ships, from mid-size Mistral-class vessels to the massive World-class ships exceeding 215,000 gross tons.