MSC Cruises is committed to becoming mainstream in the North American market, according to Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman. He said that the brand will introduce a third ship for the market, the Meraviglia, in the Caribbean in 2019.

The Meraviglia will be deployed in North America year-round in addition to the Seaside, which enters year-round service here in December (2017), and the Divina which will continue to sail seasonally in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.

MSC executives would not reveal any further itinerary plans, although they hinted that Alaska and East Coast (New York) deployment were being considered.

To further support the expanding North American operation, Gianni Onorato, president, said that a number of additional employees were being hired and that some departments were being moved to their Ft. Lauderdale offices.

Furthermore, he said that North American sourcing was not only for Caribbean cruises, but also for other regions, including South America and Dubai.