MSC Cruises announced today that Marco Massa will take command of MSC Grandiosa, the company's newest ship, which will enter service on October 31. Like all captains in the MSC Cruises fleet, Captain Massa has a long and proven track record within the company before assuming this role.
Following in his father's footsteps, Captain Massa began his career with the MSC Cruises fleet in 1995, joining MSC Symphony as a Junior Cadet Officer. He then served as Third and Second Officer on MSC Rhapsody, MSC Melody, and MSC Monterey. He was promoted to Environmental Officer on MSC Lirica in 2003, MSC Cruises' first newly built ship, and subsequently held the position of Safety Officer on MSC Opera and MSC Sinfonia.
Captain Massa was appointed Staff Captain of MSC Musica in 2006, following the final stages of its construction and commissioning. He subsequently held the same position on the ships MSC Orchestra, MSC Poesia, MSC Fantasia, MSC Splendida, and MSC Magnifica, always overseeing the final stages of construction and commissioning.
He was promoted to Captain of MSC Musica in 2012, becoming the youngest person to command an MSC Cruises ship. His most recent assignments include commanding MSC Seaview, which was launched in 2018, as well as MSC Magnifica during MSC Cruises' first-ever World Cruise in January 2019. He is currently Captain of MSC Seaside, a position he will hold until he takes command of MSC Grandiosa in October.
Marco Massa will celebrate his birthday on November 9, the day of the christening of MSC Grandiosa, which promises to be a very special celebration for him.
MSC Cruises has also announced that Antonino Cuccaro will take up the position of Staff Captain on MSC Grandiosa. Having worked for MSC Cruises since 2002, when he joined MSC Melody as a Junior Deck Cadet, he has since held various positions within the company both ashore and onboard. He became Safety Officer on MSC Musica in 2011, rising to Staff Captain on MSC Divina in 2016. For the past two years, he has worked alongside Captain Massa aboard MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview, and MSC Magnifica.
On the other hand, Antonio Iaccarino will become Chief Engineer of MSC Grandiosa. He began his career aboard MSC cargo ships in 1995 as a Second Engineer before becoming Chief Engineer. He joined MSC Cruises in 2000, initially as a Staff Engineer aboard the company's Lirica-class ships, and was promoted to Chief Engineer a year later. Mr. Iaccarino has worked aboard all classes of MSC Cruises ships. Most recently, he closely followed the construction of MSC Meraviglia before working aboard the ship after its launch.
The latest appointment announced is that of Giuseppe Maresca, who will become Hotel Director of MSC Grandiosa after holding the same position on MSC Bellissima since its launch last February. He joined MSC Cruises in 2000 as Hotel Storekeeper aboard MSC Melody. In 2008, he was promoted to Hotel Director of MSC Splendida, and in 2011 he became Hotel Director of MSC Fantasia.
True to MSC Cruises' long-term commitment to reducing its environmental footprint, MSC Grandiosa will be one of the most environmentally efficient ships in its class, representing another step towards a greener future for cruising. Incorporating the latest environmental technologies, the ship has been designed to operate as efficiently as possible, keep emissions to a minimum, and purify wastewater according to the world's strictest standards.
