Spotlight
If It’s Not Broken, Make It Better By RICK SASSO, Chairman, MSC Cruises USA
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hen I joined MSC Cruises 14 years ago, I’m not sure I could have ever envisioned the cruise lines’ unprecedented growth and success, but our market position as the fastest-growing cruise line and recognition as a dominant international cruise player has certainly turned heads. Our investments and carefully planned expansion have been deliberate, with sights on leveraging global penetration in both mature and emerging markets around the world. Despite ongoing talk of market saturation, the Caribbean cruise scene continues to be prime for growth and expansion, and the future looks bright for cruise operators and destinations alike. And I encourage you not to sit back; with MSC Cruises’ renewed focus on North America and the Caribbean, there is a lot on the horizon for the company and for all those who have interest in the region. In light of MSC Cruises ongoing expansion in the region, “MSC” now also stands for “More Ships in the 16 FIRST QUARTER 2018 | TRAVEL & CRUISE
Caribbean.” Having grown to become Europe’s number one cruise line, MSC Cruises is now taking a leadership role in North America and the Caribbean, with renewed investments and new tonnage. We are making true on our promise to be a reliable cruise line partner in this region for decades to come. Fresh off the launch of MSC Seaside, an excitedly innovative vessel designed and built specifically for warm weather, we have laid plans for an increased focus in the Caribbean. With 14 young vessels in our fleet and an additional 10 extraordinary newcomers to follow, a variety of new and expanded MSC Cruises’ itineraries will bring thousands of North American and international guests to experience the most popular warm weather vacation spots in the region. Recently announced plans to position another magnificent vessel, MSC Meraviglia, in North America beginning fall 2019—with cruises from New York and South Florida to the Caribbean—confirms this. Throughout the years, we have worked hard to support Caribbean ports
and destinations in a broad variety of ways. Homeporting multiple vessels in Cuba and the Southern Caribbean, doubling our offering from south Florida and investing with our partners to build state-of-the-art ports and terminals are just some examples of MSC Cruises’ vision and commitment. We are not done yet. North America and the Caribbean are no longer just markets with an incredible potential for our brand. They are a top global priority. At MSC Cruises, we are constantly looking to improve everything that we do. Working with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), we are anxious to share our confidence with partners in the region and want to attract them to come along with us. There is a lot to do. As I have noted in the past, the FCCA is a key vehicle to promote Friendship, Cooperation, Communication and Advancement among international cruise lines and Caribbean destinations. We are keen to
