MSC Cruises was originally founded in Naples, Italy back in 1989.
The founder, Gianluigi Aponte actually founded the parent company 'MSC' (Mediterranean Shipping Company) back in 1970 and is now the second-largest container shipping company in the world (behind Maersk). Gianluigi himself was once a Captain and founded the company with one single vessel that shipped cargo between Europe and Africa.
As time went on, he moved into the cruise line industry in 1989 with the purchase of the ship Monterey and Achille Lauro.
