In 2008, MSC had the unprecedented idea of creating real Swarovski crystal staircases for MSC Fantasia. So began an extraordinary partnership with this world leader in cut-crystal creations, a family-owned company – like ourselves – with an exceptional reputation for innovation and creativity.
An Unforgettably Glamorous Experience
Salient among the striking innovations of MSC’s constant quest for elegance are the sweeping Swarovski crystal staircases that have become a hallmark of life aboard our ships, gracing the main atrium and MSC Yacht Club areas. Glamorously elegant and refined, they’re like walking on light among the stars.
Swarovski brings you a dazzling range of opportunities to celebrate your creativity on board, from enhancements to our Ceremony Packages, personalized cabins, embellished photoshoots and dedicated workshops for adults and children, plus pop-up stores and exhibitions. So every guest can sparkle, expressing their creativity in crystal light.
MSC Cruises guests enjoy special benefits from our close partnership with Swarovski. Our boutique shops feature dedicated Swarovski display areas, each offering a sumptuous selection of sparkling creations, including special collector’s item gifts, all at irresistibly low duty-free prices.
For every new ship class that we develop, we completely revise the design to achieve optimal efficiency. We rethink the ship’s overall structure, deck space, weight distribution including the ship’s hull, rudder and bulbous bow to reach optimal hydrodynamics, aerodynamics, and maximize energy and fuel efficiency.
Energy saving technology on board:
Voyage planning software
An optimized itinerary means a reduced consumption of energy. We plan our itineraries efficiently and use specialized software to optimize sailing routes and berthing times.
Optimising energy use
In 2020, MSC Grandiosa's crew supported the implementation of Ecorizon, an innovate process of ship energy optimisation that collects data using onboard automation systems and sensors, allowing a very precise status report on the energy profile of the ship. The information collected is then compared with a dynamic digital twin to guide onboard operators, improve operational profiles and voyage managment.
Using data to drive efficiency
MSC Cruises' onboard engineers are supported by integrated automation systems that aggregate and make sense of enormous quantities of data acquired by field sensors and machineries. Better data has enabled huge advances in how the ships are managed and has also helped achieve emissions reduction goals.
Trim optimization
Optimizing trim requires constant readjustment. Our ships are equipped with a software application to monitor and optimize trim in real-time. This technology helps ship officers to keep the vessel’s trim optimized to reduce fuel consumption and improve performance.
Anti-fouling paint
Ships are naturally prone to barnacles, algae and marine organisms growing on their underwater surfaces. These can increase drag and make vessels less efficient. By using the most advanced anti-fouling paints on the hulls of all the ships, we keep them as streamlined as they can be. It’s TBT-free: we strive to keep toxic substances as far from the ocean as possible.
High-efficiency appliances
Reducing our carbon footprint is not just about grand gestures; everyday electricity use is equally important. Energy-efficient appliances including refrigerators, water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers across our fleet help us keep our carbon footprint lower.
Energy-saving LED lighting
Our ships only use energy-efficient LED and fluorescent lighting, saving energy by producing the same amount of light per bulb at a lower wattage.
Smart heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC)
The HVAC systems on board our ships are designed to reduce energy consumption. They distribute heat and cold intelligently and are set up to recover heat from warmer areas of a ship to heat those which need it more.
New technologies combined with energy efficiency programs has led to a 28% reduction in carbon intensity since 2008
A target has been set to reduce further energy use across the fleet by 2.5% per year on a per ship basis
