MSC Cruises has entered into a global partnership with the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup, becoming the event’s Global Cruises Partner ahead of the sailing competition’s scheduled staging in Naples, Italy, in 2027.
The agreement gives MSC worldwide partnership rights and branding visibility across the America’s Cup programme, including the Preliminary Regattas, the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup Regattas, the Challenger Selection Series and the final Match events.
The partnership connects MSC Cruises with a major international sailing competition while reinforcing the company’s association with the Mediterranean and its maritime heritage. The America’s Cup is also aligned with themes central to MSC Cruises’ corporate positioning, including innovation, technical precision, teamwork and maritime performance.
MSC's Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said the partnership would provide the company with an international platform to engage guests, business partners and audiences around the America’s Cup and its return to the Mediterranean in Naples.
Grant Dalton, Chairman of the America’s Cup Partnership, described the relationship with MSC Cruises as longstanding and based on shared interests and values. He noted that the company’s involvement with the competition extends back several decades and said the partnership would continue through the 38th edition in Naples.
Marzio Perrelli, CEO of the America’s Cup Partnership, said MSC’s support would cover the main competition as well as the Women’s and Youth regattas. He also highlighted the alignment between the two organisations’ maritime focus and their plans to work together through the Preliminary Regatta and the wider Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup programme.
The agreement forms part of MSC’s broader international sports sponsorship strategy, through which the company uses partnerships with major sporting properties to increase its international visibility and engage audiences in key markets.
The partnership also extends MSC Cruises' existing involvement with the America’s Cup. In 2024, Explora Journeys, the group’s luxury ocean brand, was a Global Partner of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona and a partner of Emirates Team New Zealand.
MSC’s current sports partnerships also include its role as Global Partner of Formula 1, Premium Partner of BWT Alpine Formula One Team and Official Main Partner of Tudor Pro Cycling Team.