MSC Cruises has introduced stricter rules for crew members who choose to resign and leave a ship before completing their contract, according to an internal policy document shared with Crew Center.
The rules set out how much of the repatriation expenses a crew member must cover depending on how quickly they leave the ship after submitting their resignation.
A Crew Center follower has shared an emotional letter about the uncertainty of waiting for another contract with MSC Cruises. The crew member says it has been a year and a half since their last contract, despite being ready to return to work and hoping to continue a career with a company they still consider home. We are sharing the letter in full below, as it reflects a difficult reality many seafarers can relate to: waiting for an assignment without knowing when, or if, the next opportunity will come.
Letter from the crew member:
MSC Cruises has completed the first phase of a major casino technology upgrade, introducing a new progressive jackpot system on blackjack tables across its North American fleet.
The Port of Lisbon teamed up with MSC Cruises and CLIA this summer to give a group of young people a closer look at what it takes to work aboard a cruise ship.
As part of the “All Aboard!” educational initiative, 11 participants aged 11 to 15 from the Beato Parish Council’s summer program took part in interactive activities exploring different shipboard careers, including navigation, engineering, medical services, environmental operations, guest services and entertainment.
Six passengers have been reported to Italian authorities after allegedly unauthorized access to MSC Divina onboard PA system and broadcasting false emergency announcements that caused concerns among passengers during the ship's voyage to Naples.
The race to expand into Europe's river cruise market could soon welcome another major player. After Celebrity Cruises officially launched Celebrity River Cruises, with inaugural sailings scheduled for 2027, a new report suggests MSC Group is also evaluating an entry into the river cruise sector through its Explora Journeys brand.
MSC Cruises has announced that Captain Paolo Benini will take command of the new MSC World Asia when the ship enters service later this year.
The announcement comes as MSC Cruises marks six months until the vessel's debut, while also sharing new details about the highly anticipated addition to its World Class fleet.
Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, confirmed the appointment, praising Captain Benini's leadership and experience.
MSC Cruises and Eni have successfully completed a biofuel trial aboard the MSC Opera, marking another step toward reducing emissions in the cruise industry.
MSC Cruises is introducing its AI-powered MSC Concierge on all ships after a successful trial program where guests exchanged more than one million messages with the system and gave it a 93 percent satisfaction rating.
The virtual assistant is built into the MSC for Me mobile app and helps guests quickly access onboard information and services through a simple chat available 24 hours a day.
More than 170,000 guests tested the service during the pilot program before MSC Cruises decided to expand it across the entire fleet by the end of May 2026.
A multi-level hospitality space inspired by MSC Cruises’ exclusive Yacht Club is being set up trackside at the 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, offering premium views and services just steps from the action.
The cruise line’s signature “ship-within-a-ship” concept is being recreated on land at the Miami International Autodrome, positioned along turns 5 to 9 to give guests sweeping views of the race.
