MSC opens 130,000-square-foot North American cruise HQ in Miami

MSC Group’s Cruise Division has opened a new North American Cruise Division headquarters in downtown Miami, consolidating its MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys teams in a single location. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.

The new office occupies the entire seventh floor of Block 55 at Sawyer’s Walk, a mixed-use development by SG Holdings. MSC Cruises, described as the largest cruise line in Europe and the third-largest globally, said the Miami site is intended to support expansion across multiple U.S. homeports while placing its North America team near major transportation links and PortMiami.

Downtown Miami location and workspace footprint

The headquarters is located at 249 NW 6th Street and totals 130,000 square feet. The office was selected in part for its proximity to the Miami Brightline station, about two blocks away, and to MSC Cruises’ operations at PortMiami, less than four miles from the new site.

MSC Group said the space is expected to provide work areas for more than 400 team members, bringing North America staff for MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys together “under one roof.”

$100 million investment and projected economic impact

MSC Group characterized the new headquarters as an approximately $100 million direct investment in Miami. An analysis by the Miami-Dade Beacon Council projects the office will support an additional 1,500 jobs over the next three years and generate about $300 million annually in recurring direct economic impact in Miami-Dade County.

The Beacon Council analysis tied the projected activity to multiple parts of the local economy, including hospitality, infrastructure, logistics, retail, and related services connected to the cruise and travel sector.

What executives and local leaders said at the opening

Attendees at the ribbon-cutting included Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s Cruise Division, and Rubén A. Rodríguez, CEO of MSC Group’s North America Cruise Division, along with Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and City of Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins.

Rodríguez linked the new headquarters to growth plans for both cruise brands in the region. “Our new headquarters reflects the scale of our ambitions for both MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys,” Rodríguez said. “By fostering collaboration, innovation, and shared purpose, we can continue expanding our footprint, deploying more ships, and welcoming even more guests across U.S. homeports.”

Levine Cava said the investment would strengthen Miami-Dade’s position in the sector. “This exciting investment will create hundreds of new jobs,” she said, adding that it supports Miami-Dade’s role as “a global hub for cruise and cargo operations.”

Higgins said the relocation underscores Miami’s role in international commerce and travel. “MSC Group’s decision to establish its North American Cruise Division headquarters in Miami reflects the city’s unmatched position as a global gateway for trade, travel, and maritime commerce,” she said.

How the Miami hub connects to U.S. cruise operations and port projects

MSC Cruises’ flagship MSC World America is homeported at PortMiami, offering seven-night Caribbean itineraries that include calls at MSC Ocean Cay Marine Reserve in the Bahamas. MSC Cruises also seasonally homeports ships from other U.S. ports, depending on the time of year and deployment plans.

• Port Canaveral: MSC Cruises seasonally homeports ships from Port Canaveral as part of its U.S. deployment footprint.
• Galveston: MSC Cruises seasonally homeports ships from Galveston, where the company is also planning a joint cruise terminal project with Norwegian Cruise Line.
• New York: MSC Cruises seasonally homeports ships from New York for certain sailings based on the annual deployment schedule.
• Seattle: MSC Cruises seasonally homeports ships from Seattle, depending on the season and itinerary planning.

Beyond ship deployments, the company has pointed to continued investment in shoreside infrastructure tied to North America growth, including construction of what it described as the world’s largest cruise terminal in Miami and the joint terminal plan in Galveston.

MSC Cruises also described the expansion as part of a broader strategy that includes sustainability-focused elements and infrastructure intended to support eco-friendly cruise operations. At the same time, the company and local officials emphasized that the measurable outcomes tied to the Miami office, over the next three years, center on the job-growth projection and recurring economic activity, and no additional operational changes, itinerary adjustments, or staffing timelines were detailed beyond those projections.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where is MSC Group’s new North American Cruise Division headquarters located?

The headquarters occupies the entire seventh floor of Block 55 at Sawyer’s Walk, 249 NW 6th Street, in downtown Miami.

How large is the new Miami headquarters, and how many employees is it designed to support?

The office spans 130,000 square feet and is expected to provide space for more than 400 team members from MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys’ North America teams.

How many jobs and what economic impact are projected from the new headquarters?

According to an analysis by the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the project is expected to support an additional 1,500 jobs over the next three years and generate about $300 million annually in recurring direct economic impact in Miami-Dade County.

Which U.S. homeports are linked to MSC Cruises’ North America operations?

MSC Cruises homeports ships from PortMiami and, seasonally, from Port Canaveral, Galveston, New York, and Seattle.