MSC Cruises achieved a milestone this past weekend, when MSC Meraviglia successfully connected to shore power at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, marking the cruise line’s first operational connection at the New York facility.
First Operational Connection Following Test
The connection followed MSC Cruises’ official shore power commissioning and test on October 26, demonstrating the system’s capability to supply electricity for all guests and crew while the ship is berthed.
By plugging into shore power, MSC Meraviglia switched off her engines, eliminating local emissions and supporting both New York City’s and MSC Cruises’ commitment to improving air quality while ships are in port.
Shore Power Progress
“We are proud to see the advancement of shore power at U.S. ports, including New York,” said Lynn Torrent, President of MSC Cruises North America.
“Collaboration with local communities, elected officials and port partners is integral to make this progress possible. We are committed to connect whenever the shoreside technology is available as part of our ongoing efforts to improve local air quality and reduce carbon emissions.”
MSC Fleet Leading Shore Power Adoption
MSC Cruises has installed shore power capability as standard on all new ships since 2017 and is actively retrofitting older vessels.
Currently, 16 of the cruise line’s 23 ships are equipped with shore power, with that number increasing to 17 by year’s end.
The cruise line’s commitment extends globally. MSC World Europa recently celebrated 300 hours of shore power connections over 12 months at Malta’s Valletta port.
Its luxury brand, Explora Journeys, made its first shore power connection in Malta with EXPLORA I. At the same time, MSC Seaview and MSC Poesia have tested new facilities in La Spezia, Italy, and Le Havre, France.
U.S. Shore Power Expansion
MSC Cruises’ first use of shore power in the U.S. occurred in April 2025, when MSC World America plugged in at PortMiami’s state-of-the-art terminal.
In 2024, the cruise line connected to shore power in 13 ports worldwide and made 142 successful connections, more than triple the number from the previous year.
MSC Meraviglia is homeported in New York for the winter 2025-26 season, offering seven-night sailings to Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the cruise line’s private island in The Bahamas.
Shore Power Growing Across U.S. Ports
Shore power technology is rapidly expanding across major U.S. cruise ports, driven by environmental regulations and cruise line commitments. Seattle leads the nation as one of the few ports with all three cruise berths shore-power enabled, allowing three ships to connect simultaneously.
In California, strict Air Resources Board regulations require essentially all cruise ships to use shore power, and Los Angeles (since 2004), Long Beach, and San Diego (since 2010) have reported compliance rates exceeding 95 percent. San Diego has invested approximately $29.5 million in shore power infrastructure.
PortMiami implemented shore power in 2025 with five cruise lines participating, while Port Everglades is pursuing a $160 million project to equip all eight terminals by 2027.
