The Divina, a ship custom-built for the North American market for MSC Cruises, will return to year-round sailing from Miami beginning fall 2015.
The redeployment brings the 3,500-passenger ship full circle. When it launched in November 2013, the glitzy ship was seen as the Italian line’s salvo into the competitive North American market. To that end, the line made a number of modifications to appeal to American tastes, including enhanced entertainment, a movie screen poolside, a sports bar featuring American pub grub, a more restrictive smoking policy and significant training for crew members.
But less than six months after Divina launched, the line decided to move the ship to the Mediterranean between May and October 2015. At the time, a spokesperson said the redeployment was meant to continue MSC’s strength in the Med.
So what’s changed in the past year? In March, MSC broadcast a new commitment to North America, announcing its first Seaside-class ship, debuting in December 2017, would be based in Miami year-round. The line is also investing millions of dollars into expanding and renovating Terminal 5 at the Port of Miami in anticipation of the new vessel.
