MSC Cruises is adding a new tool that could make cruises cheaper

Cruise pricing is partly based on demand: when lots of people want to be on a ship or sailing, cabin prices rise quickly.

When demand is lower, cruise lines set prices based on a variety of goals. Some cruise lines will not use sales and incentives to fill their ships because they believe it lowers the long-term value of the product.

In other cases, a cruise line will lower its prices to expose its product to more customers. MSC Cruises, which is looking to grow market share in the US, often charges lower prices than Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian for ships of comparable size.

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In many cases, MSC Cruises voyages also include a beverage package and WiFi for one device. How low a cruise line can go depends at least somewhat on its costs. fuel prices are lower, for example, it costs less to operate a cruise ship.

MSC Cruises has tested new technologies that will make its cruises more efficient. The goal wasn’t to cut costs—at least that goal wasn’t explicitly stated—but it’s certainly a secondary benefit.

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MSC Cruises has several ships sailing to the Bahamas.

Image source: Daniel Kline/Come Cruise With Me

MSC Cruises is optimizing its routes

Cruise lines almost never make a decision in terms of taking or saving money for the company. Instead, it is easier to promote the positive environmental benefits of certain changes.

“MSC Cruises will see emissions from its ship fleet reduced by up to 15% in 2026 thanks to the introduction of a new itinerary planning optimization tool called OptiCruise,” the cruise company wrote.

“The line developed a new mathematical model with OPTIMeasy, a research company affiliated with the University of Genoa, which comprehensively examined numerous factors that influence the planning of each of MSC Cruises’ itineraries to achieve the optimal level of efficiency for a sailing while maintaining . or enhancing guest satisfaction.”

READ ALSO: The best travel agents tell you how to get the best price on your cruise

Yes, emissions will be lower, and some operating costs, such as fuel, should also decrease. It’s something Michele Francioni, MSC Cruises’ chief energy transition officer, noted.

“The OPTIMeasy team calculates that the average fuel savings achieved and emissions reduced by using OptiCruise are in the range of 10%-15%, which is a significant step forward in our ambition to achieve our goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. for our maritime operations,” he wrote.

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