MSC Meraviglia Plugs Into Shore Power at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

MSC Meraviglia connected to shore power at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in New York City on October 26, 2025, marking MSC Cruises’ first use of shoreside electricity in the city. Plugging into the local grid allowed the ship to shut down its engines while alongside, eliminating local exhaust emissions during the port stay.

The connection comes as the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) expands shore power infrastructure at Brooklyn to accommodate more visiting cruise ships. Recent plug-ins have also involved vessels from Cunard and Princess Cruises as the terminal’s system becomes usable for a wider range of ship calls.

MSC Meraviglia’s first New York plug-in

MSC Cruises said MSC Meraviglia switched from onboard generation to shoreside electricity while docked at Brooklyn. Michele Francioni, chief energy transition officer at MSC Cruises, linked the milestone to the company’s longer-term strategy, saying, “The availability of shore power at ports is one very important element of our continued commitment and progress towards decarbonization, and we are proud and honored that we can add New York to our journey towards net zero emissions.”

What changed at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

NYCEDC said it has expanded the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal’s shore power capability so more ships can connect when they are alongside, aiming to reduce emissions from cruise ship hoteling operations while keeping the port active for passenger traffic.

NYCEDC President and CEO Andrew Kimball said the recent set of connections reflects years of public input on waterfront electrification. “MSC Cruises’ shore power connection this past weekend and the connections of Cunard and Princess cruise ships in recent months delivers on years of community feedback and marks a major step in electrifying New York’s waterfront,” Kimball said.

NYCEDC attributed the improved day-to-day usability to two equipment upgrades: a Mobile Cable Positioning System acquired earlier in the year and additional connection points installed along the length of the berth. The changes are intended to make it easier to align ships with the shore power hardware and support more vessel configurations at the terminal.

More cruise lines plugging in at Brooklyn

NYCEDC said the enhanced Brooklyn system has supported shore power connections for multiple brands. The corporation cited MSC Meraviglia’s first connection and said Princess Cruises’ Enchanted Princess connected on August 30, 2025, adding that Cunard and Princess have begun connecting on a regular basis.

Cunard President Katie McAlister praised the city’s investment approach and indicated the brand expects more plug-ins on future calls. “We applaud NYCEDC for expanding shore power at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal,” McAlister said, adding that Cunard is “eager to plug in during even more calls to New York” as it works to reduce emissions.

MSC’s shore power rollout across its fleet

MSC Cruises said it has been equipping new ships with shore power capability as a standard feature since 2017, while also retrofitting existing tonnage. The company said 16 of its 23 ships currently have shore power capability, and it expects that figure to rise to 17 by the end of 2025.

Lynn Torrent, president of MSC Cruises North America, said the cruise line plans to connect whenever ports provide the necessary infrastructure. “MSC Cruises is committed to connecting whenever the technology is available as part of our ongoing efforts to reduce emissions and reach net zero emissions,” Torrent said.

Outside New York, MSC highlighted additional recent shore power activity in the United States and Europe. The company said its first shore power use in the U.S. took place in April 2025, when MSC World America plugged in while docked at the company’s terminal in PortMiami.

In the Mediterranean, MSC’s Cruise Division marked one year of shore power use in Valletta, Malta, saying MSC World Europa connected for 300 hours over a 12-month period. MSC also said the following day Explora Journeys connected in Malta for the first time when Explora II received shoreside power, and it pointed to additional commissioning and trial activity at other European ports, including tests involving MSC Seaview in La Spezia, Italy, and a trial connection for MSC Poesia at Le Havre in northern France.

• In 2024, MSC Cruises said it connected to shore power in 13 ports, reflecting a broader push to use shoreside electricity where infrastructure is available.
• MSC Cruises said it logged 142 successful shore power connections in 2024, which it described as more than triple the prior year’s total.

How shore power fits into New York City’s wider terminal plans

NYCEDC is pairing the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal shore power expansion with planning work on Manhattan’s cruise facilities. Kimball said NYCEDC is making investments that include shore power upgrades at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, the recently approved Brooklyn Marine Terminal project, and a forthcoming Manhattan Cruise Terminal master plan aimed at modernization and adding shore power at the Manhattan site.

NYCEDC also framed cruise traffic as a significant contributor to city activity, saying nearly 1.5 million passengers moved through the Manhattan and Brooklyn cruise terminals in 2024.

In September 2025, the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Task Force approved a vision plan to transform the Brooklyn Marine Terminal into a fully electric maritime port alongside a mixed-use community, and the plan includes redevelopment of the cruise terminal. With additional hardware now in place at Brooklyn and planning underway for Manhattan, NYCEDC and cruise lines have signaled that more port stays are expected to be conducted on shoreside electricity as compatible ships and terminal capacity continue to expand.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is shore power, and why does it matter in port cities?

Shore power allows ships to connect to a local electricity grid while docked, eliminating the need to run diesel engines for onboard power. This reduces emissions during a port stay, including sulfur oxides, nitrous oxides, and particulate matter.

What upgrades did NYCEDC make at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal to expand shore power access?

NYCEDC said two changes improved usability: a Mobile Cable Positioning System acquired earlier in the year and additional connection points installed along the length of the berth.

Which ships have recently used shore power at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal?

NYCEDC cited MSC Meraviglia’s first connection on October 26, 2025, and said Princess Cruises’ Enchanted Princess connected on August 30, 2025. NYCEDC also said Cunard and Princess have begun connecting on a regular basis.

How many MSC Cruises ships can connect to shore power?

MSC Cruises said 16 of its 23 ships currently have shore power capability, and it expects that figure to increase to 17 by the end of 2025.

Is New York planning to add shore power at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal?

NYCEDC said it is finalizing a Manhattan Cruise Terminal master plan that includes redeveloping and modernizing the facility and bringing shore power to the site.