In another step toward greener cruising, MSC Cruises has officially connected to shore power in New York City for the first time. While docked at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal this week, MSC Meraviglia successfully powered down her engines and drew electricity directly from the local grid, marking a major milestone for both MSC and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The achievement signals MSC’s growing commitment to sustainability in the U.S. market and brings New York in line with the company’s expanding list of global ports where shore-power capability is now in active use.
What Is Shore Power?
Shore power, also called “cold ironing,” allows ships to plug into a local electrical grid while docked rather than running onboard diesel generators. The result is a significant reduction in emissions, vibration, and noise, particularly important for ports located near residential areas like Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood. Once connected, Meraviglia was able to operate entirely on land-based energy for the duration of her stay, keeping hotel services and systems running for guests while cutting emissions almost completely.
Why This Matters for MSC Cruises
This isn’t just a symbolic step, it’s part of a much larger investment. MSC Cruises has equipped 18 of its 25 ships with shore-power connectivity and is expanding that capability fleetwide as more ports upgrade their own infrastructure. In New York, Meraviglia becomes the first MSC ship to use the city’s new system, which only recently came online following a multimillion-dollar sustainability initiative by the Port Authority. The connection underscores MSC’s long-term commitment to operating from U.S. ports while keeping environmental impact low. MSC has also confirmed that all new ships, including MSC World America debuting in Miami in 2026, are being built with advanced energy-efficiency systems, LNG propulsion, and shore-power readiness as standard.
A Win for New York and for Cruisers
For New York City, the successful test means the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal can now fully support shore-power operations for multiple lines, helping the city reach its Climate Mobilization Act targets. For cruisers, that means cleaner air, quieter port days, and an overall more pleasant experience when embarking or disembarking. MSC’s presence in Brooklyn over the past two years has already made a mark, with Meraviglia offering regular cruises to Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Canada/New England. Even as the ship prepares to relocate to Miami in 2026, this development ensures future MSC deployments in New York can plug in without issue.
Looking Ahead
As more ports across North America, including Miami, Galveston, and Los Angeles, continue adding shore-power systems, MSC Cruises is positioning itself as one of the most environmentally forward cruise lines in the region. This move in Brooklyn represents another piece of a bigger sustainability puzzle that includes LNG-powered ships, advanced wastewater treatment, and MSC’s target of net-zero emissions by 2050. It’s also a sign of what cruisers can expect going forward: cleaner operations, quieter embarkation days, and the knowledge that your vacation leaves a lighter footprint than ever before.
