MSC Cruises will serve as title sponsor of three Formula 1 races in 2027, extending the cruise line’s growing presence in the world’s most glamorous motorsport series.
The company will sponsor the Belgian, Portuguese and Turkish Grands Prix, marking the second consecutive year that MSC Cruises has held title sponsorships for three races during a Formula 1 season.
The races will be known as the Formula 1 MSC Cruises Belgian Grand Prix 2027, the Formula 1 MSC Cruises Grande Prêmio De Portugal 2027, and the Formula 1 MSC Cruises Turkish Grand Prix 2027.
The sponsorships build on MSC Cruises’ fast-paced global partnership with Formula 1 racing, which began in 2022 and runs through 2030. MSC Group’s Cruise Division brands, MSC Cruises and luxury ocean travel company Explora Journeys, also will have a presence at selected races in 2027 through trackside branding and hospitality programs.
RELATED: MSC Yacht Club Debuts at 2026 Miami Grand Prix
The partnership’s most prominent U.S. expression was the MSC Yacht Club experience which debuted at the 2026 Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix.
At that race, a multilevel structure dubbed The Marina, presented by MSC Cruises, stretched across Turns 5 through 9 and provided race fans with views of as many as five corners. The Marina included a general-admission platform at Turn 7, allowing fans without reserved access to watch one of the circuit’s most challenging sections.
Designed to resemble a 50-foot-tall superyacht, the 264-by-96-foot venue included viewing decks, open-air terraces, shaded seating, pools, and cocktail service in hospitality areas inspired by the MSC Yacht Club found aboard the line’s ships.
“This year’s title sponsorships build on MSC Cruises’ longstanding global partnership with Formula 1, which began in 2022 and extends through 2030,” says MSC Cruises publicist Olivia Lamme, a senior executive with Lou Hammond Group. “Throughout the 2027 season, MSC Group’s Cruise Division brands, MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys, will also have a presence at select races through trackside branding and hospitality activations.”
The Belgian Grand Prix is scheduled for July 23-25, 2027, at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in the Belgian Ardennes. The forested circuit stretches 7.004 kilometers (4.35 miles) and is one of the longest and most demanding tracks on the Formula 1 calendar.
The Portuguese Grand Prix will take place June 18-20, 2027, at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve. The race will mark Formula 1’s return to Portugal after a brief absence from the calendar. The circuit near Portimão is known for challenging blind corners, sharp elevation changes, and demanding braking zones.
The Turkish Grand Prix is scheduled for Oct. 1-3, 2027, at Istanbul Park under a new five-year agreement. The circuit, about 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Istanbul, first hosted Formula 1 in 2005. Its 5.33-kilometer (3.3-mile) layout runs counterclockwise and has hosted nine Grands Prix.
MSC Cruises has a claim at being the world’s third-largest cruise line, and operates 23 ships sailing to more than 250 destinations in over 100 countries. Explora Journeys, launched in 2023, operates unforgettable luxury cruises and plans to expand its fleet from two ships to six by 2028.
