(NEWS) GENEVA, Switzerland, 2026-Jun-8 — /Travel PR News/ — Cruise operators are increasingly incorporating environmental education into onboard activities as they look to engage younger travellers and families on sustainability issues. MSC Cruises and the MSC Foundation are now expanding those efforts with a new fleetwide programme focused on ocean conservation and marine literacy.
Launched on World Oceans Day, Oceans Day powered by MSC Foundation is a new onboard initiative designed to help children and families learn more about the marine environment through interactive activities, educational experiences and conservation-themed challenges. The programme is expected to reach thousands of children annually across the MSC Cruises fleet.
Developed jointly by the MSC Foundation and MSC Cruises’ Entertainment team, the initiative draws on the Foundation’s environmental work, including marine restoration projects at Ocean Cay in The Bahamas, as well as partnerships with conservation organisations such as Mission Blue and Marevivo.
The new onboard programme also builds on MSC Foundation’s wider conservation work in The Bahamas, where its Marine Conservation Center at Ocean Cay has become a hub for coral restoration, research and public education. Since opening in April 2025, the centre has cultivated more than 600 corals in underwater nurseries, with over 250 already transplanted onto surrounding reefs. It has also welcomed more than 17,000 visitors and supported hands-on training for marine science students through collaborations with institutions including the University of The Bahamas and the Perry Institute for Marine Science. By connecting shipboard education with field-based restoration and community outreach, MSC Foundation is positioning ocean literacy as part of a broader long-term strategy to protect reef ecosystems and strengthen local marine science capacity.
As reported in recent announcement on MSC Cruises’ media room, the programme is built around three themes: celebrating the ocean, engaging children and families, and promoting ocean literacy. Activities are tailored for children aged three to 17 and include quizzes, games, creative workshops, drawing activities, conservation challenges and an original educational song titled Everybody Loves the Sea.
Participants will also be invited to make personal commitments through the “My Wish for the Ocean” initiative and receive an Ocean Ambassador Passport containing practical actions they can continue after returning home. The experience concludes with a themed parade and music event designed to reinforce environmental messages in an engaging way.
The rollout will take place progressively across the MSC Cruises fleet. On ships featuring an MSC Foundation Centre, foundation representatives will also participate in activities and educational sessions with guests.
The initiative reflects a broader trend in family travel and cruising, where educational programming is increasingly being combined with entertainment to create experiences that extend beyond traditional onboard activities. For cruise operators, such programmes provide an opportunity to connect leisure travel with growing public interest in environmental awareness and responsible tourism.
The MSC Foundation, established in 2018 as the philanthropic arm of the MSC Group, supports projects focused on environmental conservation, education, community support and emergency relief. Through Oceans Day powered by MSC Foundation, the organisation is seeking to introduce marine conservation concepts to younger audiences in an accessible and engaging format.
