MSC Cruises has achieved a new milestone by connecting one of its ships to shore power in New York City for the first time. On 2 November 2025, the MSC Meraviglia linked to the local power grid at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, allowing the ship to switch off its engines and run fully on electricity while docked.

The connection follows a successful test and commissioning on 26 October, which confirmed that the local system could reliably power the vessel’s onboard operations for both guests and crew. MSC said the use of shore power helps reduce emissions and improve local air quality during port stays.

The MSC Meraviglia will continue to use the shore power connection during her winter 2025–26 season, operating seven-night cruises from New York to Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas.

According to MSC Cruises North America president Lynn Torrent, the company welcomes the progress of shore power at US ports and values the support of local authorities, port partners, and communities that made it possible.

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) said the connection demonstrates the city’s investment in cleaner port infrastructure.

The organisation’s president and CEO, Andrew Kimball, stated that the city’s shore power upgrades at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal (BCT), the recently approved Brooklyn Marine Terminal project, and the forthcoming Manhattan Cruise Terminal master plan are ensuring the cruise industry remains sustainable and economically competitive.

Michele Francioni, MSC Cruises’ Chief Energy Transition Officer, said that shore power is an important part of the company’s goal to reach net-zero emissions and that connecting in New York represents another key step in that direction.

In Malta, MSC World Europa recorded over 300 hours of shore power use in Valletta during the past year, and Explora I, the first ship from Explora Journeys, made its own connection there on 17 October 2025. The MSC Seaview and MSC Poesia also tested new facilities in La Spezia, Italy, and Le Havre, France, respectively.

In the United States, MSC Cruises made its first shore power connection in April 2025 when MSC World America plugged into the local grid at the company’s new terminal in PortMiami, which was built with sustainability features from the start.

MSC Cruises said that all new ships built since 2017 are equipped with shore power capability, and that it continues to retrofit older vessels. Currently, 16 of its 23 ships can connect to local electricity grids, with that number expected to rise to 17 by the end of 2025 after MSC Magnifica completes its retrofit at Palumbo Malta Shipyard in December.

In 2024, the cruise line connected to shore power 142 times across 13 ports, more than triple the number achieved the previous year. The company reiterated its pledge to connect to shore power wherever facilities are available as part of its continuing efforts to reduce carbon emissions and improve local air quality.

References: cruisehive, cruiseindustrynews