How MSC Cruise Passengers Can Help Restore European Coastlines This Season
Vacationers sailing through the sunny Mediterraneanwill soon have a unique opportunity to leave its iconic coastlines a little better than they found them.
The MSC Foundationhas officially joined forces with ocean conservation group Asociación Vellmaríto launch "Shallow Bays of the Mediterranean," a three-year conservation and community initiative designed to bring vital underwater habitats back to life.
At the heart of the project is Posidonia oceanica , a essential seagrass species native strictly to the Mediterranean basin. These lush underwater meadows act as natural marine havens, storing blue carbon, stabilizing the seabed, and defending popular beaches from shoreline erosion.
Over the next three years, the new initiative aims to plant up to 180,000 individual seagrass plants across more than 215,000 square feet of degraded coastal areas, expanding restoration work nearly threefold.
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Launching first in Talamanca Bayin Ibizabefore expanding to major cruise stops in Palma de Mallorcaand along the Barcelona coastline, the project is designed to give everyday travelers, local schools, and sea enthusiasts a hands-on role in protecting the ocean. Through citizen science activities, field learning, and volunteer opportunities, the program plans to connect with more than 30,000 people—including 600 hands-on volunteers, local dive centers, and thousands of students.
"How easy it is to destroy these ecosystems, but extraordinarily difficult to restore them. That is why protecting the Posidonia meadows that remain must be our top priority," said Manu San Félix, Founder of Asociación Vellmarí.
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The initiative officially kicked off aboard Explora III during the ship's naming ceremony events, where Vellmarí co-founder Cristina Ozoreswas appointed as the vessel's official Godmother—a movement highlighting the strong bond between ocean travel and active stewardship.
"Every journey to protect the ocean begins with a simple moment: slowing down, discovering its beauty and falling in love with the sea," said Cristina Ozores, Co-founder and Director of Education at Asociación Vellmarí.
By inviting travelers, divers, and locals alike to slow down and participate in marine restoration, the effort turns a standard European getaway into a meaningful opportunity to safeguard the vibrant Mediterranean waters for generations to come.
"Beneath the shallow bays of the Mediterranean lie Posidonia oceanica meadows, one of the region's most important ecosystems. Our partnership with Asociación Vellmarí brings together scientific expertise, education and community participation, helping people become active stewards of the sea that connects us all. Cristina Ozores' appointment as Godmother of EXPLORA III is a fitting symbol of the shared commitment to the sea that underpins this collaboration," said Daniela Picco, Executive Director of the MSC Foundation.
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This story was originally published by Parade on Aug 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
