Seriously, because of the above reasons already mentioned by Rich and Pascal, that would be interesting indeed.

[ 09-01-2006: Message edited by: Pascal ]

This could make MSC into a major player in all three mega-cruise markets: Europe, North America, and Asia (if Star Cruises is included in the buyout).

I've always thought MSC, with its huge cash reserves from their shipping arm, could be a major player in the cruise industry. I'd like to see them continue to expand--perhaps merging with V.ships to incorporate Regent as a luxury brand, or NYK with Crystal.

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I only hope MSC has learned some lessons from Carnival Corp--don't "brand engineer" ships. Make MSC Cruises and NCL different products with different ship designs for different markets.

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[ 09-01-2006: Message edited by: Tom Burke ]

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'Norwegian Cruise Line yeserday refused to comment on market rumours suggesting that a potential sale to MSC Cruises was being negotiated "behind closed doors" '

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I can't imagine that the sale would be of both (NCL & Star Cruises) elements - any sale of that scale would be arranged by the parent company, NCL would simply follow along & be told. So my take on it is, that it's NCL-only. It would make sense: MSC have taken a pounding in the US market. If you read cruisecritic, there's hardly a good word to say about them. So if this is true, I would expect MSC to withdraw their own ships from the US and concentrate on building the NCL brand in that market. They would also continue with NCL in Europe but market it mainly to US-based customers. Then they would deploy all their own (MSC) tonnage in Europe to fend off the growing competition from Royal Caribbean, Princess, Carnival, etc, as well as Costa, of course.

[ 09-01-2006: Message edited by: Tom Burke ]

Still taking on NCL's vessels [providing there is the money to do so] should not present a problem at all. NCL will no doubt continue to run in the same manner as a US based cruiseline and NCL America as a wholly US Cruiseline.. few will know the difference... just as P&O here.. yes changes have come in, but the average member of the public has no idea P&O cruises are Carnival owned, or even who Carnival are...

MSC have over 100 vessels sailing, of which 8 are cruise ships and 2 new ones on order. NCL have 9 cruisehips sailing, another 1 on order, and 3 ships sailing under NCL America... NCL too big for MSC? I don't think so; there is not that much between them.

Now where would Marco Polo come into this? She would make a nice fleetmate for one of MSC's older vessels.. they could even expand the Orient Lines concept, but I think not personally.

Pam

[ 09-02-2006: Message edited by: PamM ]

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Originally posted by PamM:
MSC overall have a far bigger presence in the shipping world than even the whole Carnival Corp group... however when it comes to cruising... not so.

Still taking on NCL's vessels [providing there is the money to do so] should not present a problem at all. NCL will no doubt continue to run in the same manner as a US based cruiseline and NCL America as a wholly US Cruiseline.. few will know the difference... just as P&O here.. yes changes have come in, but the average member of the public has no idea P&O cruises are Carnival owned, or even who Carnival are...

MSC have over 100 vessels sailing, of which 8 are cruise ships and 2 new ones on order. NCL have 9 cruisehips sailing, another 1 on order, and 3 ships sailing under NCL America... NCL too big for MSC? I don't think so; there is not that much between them.

Now where would Marco Polo come into this? She would make a nice fleetmate for one of MSC's older vessels.. they could even expand the Orient Lines concept, but I think not personally.

Pam

[ 09-02-2006: Message edited by: PamM ]

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MSC operates 306 container vessels + 8 cruise ships + a few ferries (SNAV).
We are always complaining about Carnivore, that it's too big, and it's fun to realize that one of their minor competitor is in fact much bigger than them.

If one looks at the ferries [even just including the 4? with pax cabins] along with the cruise ships, then MSC are already bigger than NCL in terms of the number of 'passenger ships' operated. Also I forgot to add that one of NCL's will disappear with the sale of Norwegian Crown.

Too small to takeover NCL? Enough fodder BCN Normandie?

Operate:
Musica
Sinfonia
Armonia
Lirica
Opera
Melody
Rhapsody
Monteray

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Sasso forges MSC Cruises USA exec team
May 3, 2004
Rick Sasso has appointed key members of his executive team at MSC Cruises USA, Seatrade Insider has learned. The group of seasoned industry professionals shares a history of working together at Celebrity Cruises.

Ares Michaelides will serve as svp and chief operating officer. He joins from Holland America Line, where he was vp revenue marketing. Earlier, over a decade, Michaelides held senior roles in finance, marketing and brand planning at Celebrity.

Jim Henwood takes the vp sales and marketing role at MSC Cruises USA. He worked closely with Sasso at Celebrity for more than a decade, serving for most of that time as vp sales. Henwood also managed a customer service and creative services department for Celebrity and Royal Caribbean International as vp customer relations. Other experience includes vp sales positions at Renaissance Cruises and Royal Olympic Cruises.

Steve Hirshan, who was vp sales and marketing for MSC Cruises USA, moves to a new title: vp passenger services, overseeing customer service, reservations and travel agent relations. He will work from MSC's New Jersey office and from the new Florida headquarters, which is being established.

Joining Sasso's team as vp revenue planning is Cy Hopkins, who handled yield management, reservations and groups at Celebrity. Additional executive positions were at Renaissance, Royal Olympic and First European Cruises.

Bob Keesler, a hotel industry veteran who most recently was vp guest satisfaction at Celebrity, becomes MSC's vp hotel and marine operations. And Irv Mednick was appointed director of IT. Mednick built Celebrity's reservations system and lately worked in an executive technology role at Silversea Cruises.

'The camaraderie within the management team is exceptional,' said Sasso, the president and ceo of MSC Cruises USA. 'We will be able to leap mountains,' he told Seatrade Insider. 'These people have worked together before and the camaraderie and respect is outstanding.'

Seatrade Insider

MSC admitted they failed to break into the US market and it was discussed in CT some time ago, that trying to pamper to the whims and wants of the US public wanting just yet another of an "all the same US line" as a mix 'n match with the Europeans wanting the MSC way as in Europe, just did not work. the only way would have been a split into MSCUSA and MSCEU... 2 entirely different onboard experiences...

However buying out a US based line, already with a name for themselves [good or bad, however one wishes to perceive that], is an ideal way of doing it.. imho. 2 different lines in effect with one owner. The names will just remain the same.

If things went ahead.. perhaps MSC would only place one 'MSC' designated vessel in the Caribbean during the winter months to cater for the European market [the US market being catered for with NCL], and send one or maybe 2 vessels down to Australia for the season where there is already a decent sized MSC stronghold/following? MSC already have the infrastructure there regarding the container vessels, so it would be no big deal to arrange things.

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Originally posted by Tom Burke:
We're all talking about this as if it's gling to happen. What I'm wondering, though, is why Star would want to sell. Over the last few years they've given all the indication that they were in the long haul; and they've certainly not been afraid of pouring money into NCL, with a number of new-builds and of course the creation of NCL-America.

So why would Star sell NCL? The only 'push' reason I can think of is that either Star, or its parent company, are suffering cash flow problems (possibly because of the NCL building programme?). And the obvious 'pull' reason would be that MSC were offering such a huge amount of money for NCL that Star had to consider it, possibly an amount greater than Star's own estimate of NCL's value.

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i strongly agreed with u, star cruise currently listed in both Singapore and Hong Kong. and its parent-Genting currently listed in Malaysia, Genting international listed in Singapore. They are super cash-rich.

Genting international+ star cruise+ Universal Studio are bidding Singapore integrated result worth at least USD$2B. Last week Harrah offers to buy Genting's stake in London Club(casino).

Anyway it is possible that Star would sell NCL, but not Star itself. Asian cruise market still not as developed and saturated as US. Star has a lot of potential to grow

Here are some photo taken today. Star able to fill Superstar Virgo with lot of pasengers fr auz/Nz, India, China, north asia and Singapore.

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Originally posted by PamM:
2 different lines in effect with one owner. The names will just remain the same.

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