Why MSC Cruises isn’t offering fully halal-certified cuisine—yet

MSC Cruises is adapting its regional product in terms of food, entertainment, and language, but a fully halal kitchen remains a challenge.

As MSC Cruises continues to grow its footprint in the Arabian Gulf, adapting the onboard experience to meet the expectations of local travellers has become a key part of the company’s strategy. 

From Arabic-language entertainment to regionally inspired menus, the cruise line has made notable efforts to appeal to the GCC market. But when it comes to offering a fully halal-certified kitchen, such as that offered by AROYA Cruises out of Saudi, MSC is approaching with caution.

“We try to adapt our product to different source markets—through language, food options, entertainment—but we dont make promises without knowing we can definitely deliver,” explained Angelo Capurro, Executive Director of MSC Cruises. 

“Creating a fully segregated halal kitchen on board is more complex than many realise,” he explained.

At the heart of the challenge is the configuration of shipboard galleys. On most MSC ships, the galley is a shared space, with multiple kitchens and ovens preparing a variety of international cuisines in parallel. 

For halal certification, strict separation of preparation areas, utensils, and cooking processes is required—something difficult to implement without major operational and infrastructural changes.

Despite this, MSC is not ignoring the demand. Capurro confirmed that the line has taken steps to meet guest expectations where feasible. 

“We’ve introduced vegetarian corners and try to include fish and dishes that are generally well-received in halal dietary contexts,” he said. “We also adapt our entertainment and language offerings depending on who’s onboard—for example, introducing Arabic performances when the guest mix warrants it.”

One example of regional adaptation came during the deployment of MSC Bellissima out of Saudi Arabia in 2021, which was tailored more extensively to the local market. While not fully halal-certified, the culinary experience was designed with Middle Eastern preferences in mind.

Still, Capurro is clear that MSC does not want to overpromise. “It’s not only about the food itself—it’s about preparation, about maintaining standards,” he said. “We don’t want to offer something that we’re not 100% able to deliver consistently.”

Instead, the brand is opting for what Capurro calls a ‘blended’ experience—one that allows guests to find their cultural comfort zone while still enjoying MSC’s international style.

“We want everyone to feel at home, but the product remains global,” he said. “We cannot fully replicate the experience of any one culture.”

As the Gulf source market grows in both size and sophistication, MSC’s balancing act—between localisation and operational reality—has paid dividends, with growth in the local source market, both within the region, and on international fly-cruises.

This growth has prompted the cruise line to return its largest vessel, MSC World Europa, to the region for the 2026/27 cruise season out Dubai. The ship, one of the largest in the world, will cruise roundtrip from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, in the Arabian Gulf between November 2026 and March 2027.