He started his career as Deck Cadet in 1998 on cargo vessel. On 2003 he has been transferred on cruise division, on board MSC Lirica as 2nd Officer. He embarked several times on MSC Lirica and MSC Opera as navigator and stability Officer. From 2006 until 2011 he followed the building of new constructions in the Saint Nazaire shipyard as Safety Officer. On 2011 he was promoted as Staff Master and he was also involved in the start-up of MSC Divina and MSC Preziosa.

19 years service with MSC, 1 year experience as Master
On board MSC Poesia*

*Information subject to change
(Updated 2017)

He graduated from the Nautical institute Francesco Caracciolo in 1983 and immediately after proceeded to work on cargo ships with rank of Deckhand and then moved up in different ranks. In 1996 he was promoted First Officer.
Captain Battinelli joined MSC after twenty years of experience with Carnival Cruise Lines. Despite his prestigious career, Stefano underwent a month of training before becoming the MSC Orchestra Master in December 2017. Master Battinelli has a wide experience in New Building and has been in charge of various classes of ships including those with adjustable propulsion.

On board MSC Orchestra*

*Information subject to change
(Updated 2018)

He started his career in 1997 on MSC cargo Vessels. In 2005 he was transferred to the Cruise Ship Line and, in 2007, received the upgrade to First Officer for onboard Safety. In 2012 he was moved to the Main Offices to train crewmembers regarding safety procedures on board. He then felt the urge to get back on the Cruise Ships in 2013 and became Staff Captain. In 2017 he was involved in following the constructions of the new buildings in the STX Yard in Saint Nazaire and, in 2018, in Monfalcone Fincantieri of the flagships MSC Meraviglia and MSC Seaview. In 2018 he became Master in MSC.

*Information subject to change
(Updated 2019)

He joined MSC Cargo in 1981 at the very beginning of his career as an ordinary seaman on MSC Juba. Strong performance ensured swift progress, taking him to the rank of Second Officer when he moved to his first passenger ship in 1990, and bringing his first command as Master of a cargo ship in 1996 when he was just 30 years old. Returning to passenger vessels in 2005, Master Galano has commanded ships in MSC’s Fantasia, Lirica and Musica classes for fourteen sailing periods to date.

35 years service with MSC Cruises, 11 years experience as Master
On board MSC Magnifica*

*Information subject to change
(Updated 2016)

He began his MSC career as a Deck Officer in our Cargo Division in 1996, transferring to the Group’s Cruise Division as Third Officer in 1998. His dedication and professionalism were rewarded with steadily increasing promotions and experience, which took him to the rank of Staff Master in 2006.

27 years service with MSC Cruises, 4 years experience as Master

On board MSC Musica*

*Information subject to change
(Updated 2016)

He embarked upon his MSC Cruises career as a Second Officer in 1992, gaining promotion to the rank of Staff Master in 2004 and then to Master in 2009, when he gained command of his first ship at MSC’s Cargo Division. With two seasons’ experience under his belt, he transferred back to MSC Cruises to Master MSC Sinfonia, and is now in his fourth season captaining ships in the Lirica and Musica classes.

23 years service with MSC Cruises, 5 years experience as Master
On board MSC Orchestra*

*Information subject to change
(Updated 2016)

He graduated from the Nautical institute “Luigi Rizzo” of Catania in 1984 and started his career aboard petrochemical ships in Genoa. In 1988 he joined Carnival Cruise Lines where his career aboard cruise ships began, rising to the role of Master in 2006. From 2015 to 2017 he took on the prestigious role of Fleet Captain overseeing operations for all Carnival Corporation Cruise Lines. After thirty years in Carnival, in 2018, he joined MSC Cruises becoming the MSC Sinfonia Master.

On board MSC Sinfonia*

*Information subject to change
(Updated 2018)

Master Giuseppe Maresca started his career with MSC Cargo in 1989 as deck cadet on MSC Ilaria. He demonstrated extraordinary skill and was given his first command of a cargo vessel when he was only 34. He held this rank for eight seasons before moving to his first command of a passenger ship in 2007, on MSC Lirica. Today he is on his 11th embark on board MSC cruise ships.
Master Maresca has commanded ships belonging to the Lirica class and Musica class.

On board MSC Splendida*

*Information subject to change
(Updated 2016)

He started his career at MSC in 1995 as a Deck Cadet. His first command came in 2006, on cargo ship MSC Veronique at the age of just 33. Between 2006 and 2012 he commanded 12 ships, including MSC Bettina, one of the largest in the MSC cargo fleet at the time. In 2012 he transferred to cruise ships, firstly as First Officer on board MSC Musica. In September 2016 he took command of his first cruise ship, MSC Lirica in China.

22 years service with MSC, 11 years experience as Master
On board MSC Lirica*

*Information subject to change
(Updated 2017)

Master Marco Massa started his career on June 1995 on Old fashion Ship MSC Symphony as Junior Cadet Officer, during next years he was sailing on MSC Rhapsody and MSC Melody, as Navigator Officer, on cruise all around Mediterranean, Caribbean, South Africa and South America coasts.
In 2003 he embarked on New MSC Cruise Ship, in construction in the Saint Nazaire Yard, the MSC Lirica as Environmental Officer and subsequently on MSC Opera year after. He was employed as Safety Officer on MSC Opera and MSC Sinfonia and in charge of new constructions and Start-up of MSC Orchestra, MSC Poesia, MSC Fantasia, MSC Splendida and MSC Magnifica.



*Information subject to change
(Updated 2016)

He joined MSC Cargo as an experienced First Officer in 1993. Immediately recognised for his abilities and character over two sailing periods, he was promoted to the rank of Master and given his first command of a cargo ship in 1994. He then continued to captain MSC Cargo ships for a total of thirteen sailing periods. In 2007, he was given the command of MSC Melody, his first cruise ship, and is now in his sixth sailing period with MSC Cruises. Master Pinto has commanded various ships in the Lirica Class as well as MSC Melody, including the voyage of her attack by pirates, when his prompt skills secured the safety of all guests and crew.

13 years service with MSC Cruises, 8 years experience as Master
On board MSC Lirica*

*Information subject to change
(Updated 2016)

Master Pontecorvo started his career with MSC Cargo in 1982 when he embarked on board MSC Corinna as deck cadet. In 1990 he embarked for the first time on a passenger ship as 2nd Officer and from 1995 to 2000 he held the rank of Staff Master. In 2000 he was promoted to Master of MSC Monterey and after MSC Cargo ships, where he remained until 2004 after a total of 6 embarks. In 2004 he choose to permanently command passenger ships and in 2010 he was given the command of MSC Splendida. Master Pontecorvo is in his 12th season of commands on MSC passengers vessels and has commanded all classes of the MSC Cruises' fleet.

On board MSC Fantasia*

*Information subject to change
(Updated 2016)

Di Palma Francesco started his career with the MSC in 1994 as Cargo Ship Deck Cadet, showing immediately good qualities during watch keeping.
On 1998 he was embarked on passenger ships where he first covered the position of chief mate then, of Safety Officer; his performances was always excellent, until he cover the role of Staff Master.
As reported by many Master, Francesco is a good Ship’s maneuverer and is always able to guarantee a high performance on maintenance and crewmember management .
Francesco is always well presented, has good languages knowledge (also Spanish and Portuguese) and cooperate well with all MSC offices.
He is specialized on MSC Musica class.
He knows all Canvas, but he show excellent management skills with Brazilian crew.

22 years service with MSC Cruises, 2 years experience as Master

(Updated 2016)

The younger brother of MSC Master Raffaele Ponti started his career with MSC Cargo in 1979 with the rank of third officer. In 1990 he was given his first command of a cargo ship on MSC Barbara. In 2006, after 23 seasons, MSC Cruises offered him his first command of a cruise ship, on MSC Lirica. Master Ponti has commanded Lirica class ships and the MSC Melody.


On board MSC Opera*


*Information subject to change
(Updated 2016)

He began his career with MSC as a First Officer in 1982, gaining promotion to Captain and his first command with MSC’s Cargo Division in 1988. Having gained extensive experience as a Master of the Group’s cargo ships for 23 seasons, MSC Cruises offered him his first command of a cruise ship, the MSC Monterey, in 2006. Currently in his ninth season with MSC Cruises, Raffaele Russo has captained ships in the Lirica and Musica classes as well as MSC Melody.

33 years service with MSC Cruises, 10 years experience as Master
On board MSC Poesia*

*Information subject to change
(Updated 2016)

He joined MSC Cruises as a Second Officer in 1994, having already acquired substantial experience at Renaissance Cruises. In 2001, he was promoted to Staff Master on MSC Monterey and then to Master in 2005. Now in his fourteenth season with MSC, Giacomo has captained ships in the Lirica and Musica classes as well as MSC Melody.

22 years service with MSC Cruises, 11 years experience as Master

On board MSC Lirica*


*Information subject to change
(Updated 2017)

He started his career as Deck Boy in 1987 on cargo vessel and contined until the position of 2nd Deck Officer. On 1993 he has been transferred from the cargo to the cruise division, on board the SS Monterey as 3rd Officer and continued his career on the same ship up the rank of Safety Officer. He then moved to MSCCTD at the Safety and New Building Division, where he served from 1995 until 1997. He was promoted to the position of Staff Master on 1998. From 2003 until 2008 he was involved in the Mega Yacht Industry as Master. In 2012 he came back to the Cruise Industry as Staff Master.

On board MSC Poesia*

*Information subject to change
(Updated 2017)

He joined MSC as a Third Officer in our Cargo Division in 1994. Immediately distinguished by his diligence and professionalism, he achieved steady progress with a transfer to the Cruise Fleet in 1999, promotion to the rank of Staff Master in 2006 and his first command as Master in 2012. He has commanded MSC Melody and MSC Sinfonia to date. 

22 years service with MSC Cruises, 4 years experience as Master

On board MSC Armonia

Information subject to change
(Updated 2016)

He began his career as a deck cadet in 1992 on board the M/N Achille LAURO. In the following years he worked on MSC Symphony, MSC Rhapsody, MSC Melody and MSC Monterey.

From 2003 to 2005 he followed the construction projects for MSC Lirica and MSC Opera in the Saint Nazaire shipyard as security manager, from 2007 to 2008 for MSC Poesia and MSC Fantasia.
In 2009 he was promoted to Commander in Second, 26 years of service with MSC, on board the MSC Sinfonia.

(Updated 2018)

He began his seafaring career with MSC in 1993, rising through the ranks to become Second Officer in 1999. After a period with other cruise companies, he returned to MSC as a Staff Master in 2005, continuing at this rank until 2009 when he was promoted to Master. Now in his sixth season as an MSC Master, Francesco has commanded ships in our Fantasia, Lirica and Musica classes.

17 years service with MSC Cruises, 7 years experience as Master

On board MSC Magnifica*


*Information subject to change
(Updated 2017)