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.
The MSC Euribia is now docked in Grand Harbour Valletta, where it is preparing to return to normal cruise operations after weeks of disruption.
Following its recent transit through the Suez Canal, the ship has shifted its focus to getting fully ready for passengers again. The stop in Malta is all about rebuilding the crew and restocking the ship before the summer season begins.
Italian authorities arrested a cruise ship security officer at the port of Civitavecchia who is accused of war crimes and genocide dating back to the war in the former Yugoslavia.
As MSC Euribia transited the Strait of Hormuz, Captain Lauro Maresca described the experience as far more than a routine navigation through one of the world’s most sensitive waterways.
In a message shared on social media, the captain revealed the emotional weight behind the moment, describing a quiet internal struggle between responsibility, fear, and trust, reaching the limits of his own abilities and realizing that, beyond that point, something deeper takes over.
MSC Cruises is expanding its private island offering in The Bahamas with the introduction of Sandy Cay, a new luxury destination scheduled to open in 2028 next to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
MSC Cruises has cancelled the May 2, 2026 sailing of MSC Euribia from Kiel after the vessel was unable to leave the Middle East as planned.
In a notice sent to guests, the company confirmed that the ship’s repositioning to Northern Europe has been delayed due to the ongoing situation in the region. As a result, MSC Euribia will not be ready in time to operate its first scheduled cruise of the season.
