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Registered number:
INFORMATION FOR FILING WITH THE REGISTRAR
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The directors present their strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The UK operation continued to service the needs of its Swiss parent, assisting passengers to book Travel Services with MSC Cruises SA group. The company's turnover is based on full reimbursement of its expenses plus a cost-plus-based service fee disbursement. Increased turnover of £7,376,539 (2023: £6,368,804) reflected increased costs versus 2023, of which £283,713 (2023: £244,954) was the service fee. During 2024, customer demand for cruising remained buoyant, supported by more ‘new to cruise’ customers experiencing the variety and value for money offered by cruising when considering holiday options. The global nature and flexibility of cruise routing minimised the impact of geo-political issues affecting the Red Sea and Black Sea areas. Increasing enquiries from our travel agency partners and a drive to further improvement in positive customer satisfaction results led to a 10% increase in employees. Personnel costs remain the business’s primary cost driver. During 2024, the business successfully relocated to new long-term purpose-built premises with improved transport links and better access to a larger talent catchment area to support future recruitment requirements as the business delivers its strategy. An extremely high retention rate ensured minimum business disruption in relation to colleagues logistically impacted by the relocation. MSC Cruises Group continued to deliver its investment programme, including digital technology, environmental leadership, imminent completion of the world’s largest cruise terminal in Miami, plus the addition of the second in a series of newly built luxury ships under the Explora Journeys brand, Explora II. MSC Cruises Ltd continued to engage with the local community through its sponsorship of Reuben’s Retreat, a charity providing a range of support services and activities for children and young people that have a life-limiting or life-threatening illness or disability. The seasoned management team remained unchanged, continuously engaging with partners, customers, colleagues, and the parent group to ensure business expectations are achieved. Professional advisors are engaged when prudent. Employee training and development strengthen retention, elevate levels of engagement, and further improve customer satisfaction. Systems, procedures, and management are assessed regularly to adapt to the legal and regulatory environment and ensure continuous improvement. Shareholders’ funds increased to £2,641,897 (2023: £2,468,024).
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Competition and Market Supply
The company monitors competition in its markets, both from existing operators and potential new entrants. Capacity changes resulting from the deployment of new ships or changes to itineraries are assessed and appropriate action taken in response. Regulatory The company monitors and complies with relevant legal requirements in respect of any relevant UK travel or consumer protection laws or regulations. Macro Economic Risk Whilst UK inflation reduced to more manageable levels during 2024, geopolitical flashpoints such as war in Ukraine and Yemen continued without abate. The impact of a newly elected US Government remains to be seen, but as a sub-sector of travel, cruising is expected to continue growing and is adaptable to many of the risks above by virtue of its global model, enabling rapid geographic re-deployment of resources to a wide diversity of source markets.
The Company’s key financial performance indicator during the year was as follows:
2024 2023 Administration expenses £7,097,528 £6,135,635
The company monitors customer satisfaction and service levels, cash conversion, internal controls, and structural robustness to ensure sustainable growth and optimal support to the parent group.
This report was approved by the board on 24 July 2025 and signed on its behalf.
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF MSC CRUISES LIMITED
UNDER SECTION 449 OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2006
We have audited the financial statements of MSC Cruises Limited (the 'Company') for the year ended 31 December 2024, which comprise the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows, the Statement of Changes in Equity and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council's Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF MSC CRUISES LIMITED (CONTINUED)
UNDER SECTION 449 OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2006
The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our Auditors' Report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual Report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
∙the information given in the Strategic Report and the Directors' Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
∙the Strategic Report and the Directors' Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report or the Directors' Report.
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF MSC CRUISES LIMITED (CONTINUED)
UNDER SECTION 449 OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2006
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an Auditors' Report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
- We exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit; - We identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the deliberate override of internal control; - We obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of internal control; - We evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made; - We assess the risk of management override of controls, including testing journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, and evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business; - We request and review the minutes of management meetings, and assess any matters identified not already provided for or disclosed that may materially impact the financial statements.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditors' Report.
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF MSC CRUISES LIMITED (CONTINUED)
UNDER SECTION 449 OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2006
This report is made solely to the Company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditors' Report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company's members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
for and on behalf of
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
2nd Floor, Nucleus House
2 Lower Mortlake Road
TW9 2JA
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
REGISTERED NUMBER: 02974020
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
The financial statements have been delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The Company has opted not to file the statement of comprehensive income in accordance with provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board and were signed on its behalf on
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
REGISTERED NUMBER: 02974020
BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED)
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
The notes on pages 11 to 20 form part of these financial statements.
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
MSC Cruises Limited is a private company, limited by shares, registered in England. The Company's registered number is 02974020 and registered office address is 15th Floor, Export House, Cawsey Way, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6QX.
2.Accounting policies
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention unless otherwise specified within these accounting policies and in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland and the Companies Act 2006.
The preparation of financial statements in compliance with FRS 102 requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise judgment in applying the Company's accounting policies.
The following principal accounting policies have been applied:
Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, excluding discounts, rebates, value added tax and other sales taxes.
Turnover represents reimbursable expenses incurred on behalf of the parent company, net of value added tax, together with an administration fee of 4% of the total expenses.
Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method.
Depreciation is provided on the following basis:
The assets' residual values, useful lives and depreciation methods are reviewed, and adjusted prospectively if appropriate, or if there is an indication of a significant change since the last reporting date.
Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognised in profit or loss.
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
2.Accounting policies (continued)
Functional and presentation currency
Transactions and balances
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
2.Accounting policies (continued)
Provisions are measured as the best estimate of the amount required to settle the obligation, taking into account the related risks and uncertainties.
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
2.Accounting policies (continued)
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The Company operates a defined contributions pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the company to the fund and amounted to £240,093 (2023: £218,973). Contributions totalling to £350 (2023: £871) were payable to the fund at balance sheet date and are included in other creditors.
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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MSC CRUISES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of MSC Cruises S.A., a company registered in Switzerland.
The ultimate parent company is MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company Holding S.A., a company also registered in Switzerland.
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