Founded in 1987, in 1995 it changed its name to Mediterranean Shipping Cruises, hence MSC – and the cruises are very heavily Italian in style and content, being geared to European travellers, and very popular in particular with the German market. This can lead to one annoyance - announcements are made in Italian, French, Spanish, German and English! The cruise holiday tends towards the traditional, with double sittings in the dining room, confirmed table companions, and classic activities such as the crew doubling as entertainers.