MSC Cruises is planning a record-breaking winter season in 2022-2023. With the debut of two newbuilds, the company is growing the capacity most of its core markets.
South America is receiving na unprecedented six large ships, while the Caribbean will see the addition of the new MSC Seascape.
Another important market for the brand, the Middle East will receive the MSC World Europa – the company’s largest ever cruise ship – for its inaugural season.
MSC is also upping its game in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, with a total of four ships – including three Meraviglia-Class vessels – sailing full winter programs in both regions.
The season is also highlighted by MSC’s world cruises with two options.
Cruise Industry News looked into the company’s full program for the season. Here’s the breakdown:
Middle East and Red Sea
MSC World Europa
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 5,400 guests
Built: 2022
Homeports: Dubai and Abu Dhabi (UAE); Doha (Qatar)
Length: Seven nights
Itineraries: Middle East visiting UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia
Sailing Season: December 20 to March 18
MSC Splendida
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,300 guests
Built: 2009
Homeports: Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Safaga (Egypt) and more
Length: Seven nights
Itineraries: Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea visiting Port Sokhna, Aqaba, Safaga, Jeddah and Yanbu
Sailing Season: November 23 to April 9
MSC Opera
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,160 guests
Built: 2004
Homeports: Dubai and Abu Dhabi (UAE)
Length: Seven nights
Itineraries: Middle East visiting Oman and UAE
Sailing Season: November 27 to April 9
Caribbean and Bahamas
MSC Seascape
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,560 guests
Built: 2022
Homeports: Miami (United States)
Length: Seven nights
Itineraries: Eastern and Western Caribbean visiting Bahamas, St. Thomas, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Belize, Grand Cayman, Jamaica and more
Sailing Season: Year-round starting on December 11
MSC Seaside
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,140 guests
Built: 2017
Homeports: Bridgetown (Barbados), Fort de France (Martinique) and Point a Pitre (Guadeloupe)
Length: Seven nights
Itineraries: Southern and Eastern Caribbean visiting St. Maarten, St. Johns, St. Kitts, Dominica, St. Vincent, Grenada, St. Lucia, Roseau and more
Sailing Season: November 29 to April 3
MSC Meraviglia
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,500 guests
Built: 2017
Homeports: Port Canaveral (United States)
Length: Two to seven nights
Itineraries: Bahamas and Western Caribbean visiting Ocean Cay, Nassau, Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize and more
Sailing Season: October 13 to April 2
MSC Divina
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,500 guests
Built: 2012
Homeports: Miami (United States)
Length: Two to ten nights
Itineraries: Bahamas, Western, Southern and Eastern Caribbean visiting Ocean Cay, Nassau, Roatán, Limón, Colón, Cartagena, Ocho Rios, Puerto Plata and more
Sailing Season: October 21 to May 8
Northern Europe
MSC Virtuosa
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,888 guests
Built: 2021
Homeports: Southampton (England), Hamburg (Germany), Rotterdam (Netherlands) and more
Length: Seven nights
Itineraries: Northern and Western Europe visiting England, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and France
Sailing Season: November 4 to March 1
Brazil and South America
MSC Seashore
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,560 guests
Built: 2021
Homeports: Santos and Salvador (Brazil)
Length: Seven and eight nights
Itineraries: Domestic cruising in Brazil visiting Santos, Salvador, Maceió, Ilha Grande and Búzios
Sailing Season: December 11 to March 18
MSC Seaview
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,140 guests
Built: 2018
Homeports: Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
Length: Three to eight nights
Itineraries: Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay visiting Ilhabela, Ilha Grande, Salvador, Ilhéus, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Punta del Este and more
Sailing Season: December 6 to March 10
MSC Preziosa
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,500 guests
Built: 2013
Homeports: Santos (Brazil)
Length: Three to eight nights
Itineraries: Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay visiting Ilhabela, Balneário Camboriú, Porto Belo, Maceió, Salvador, Ilhéus, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Punta del Este and more
Sailing Season: December 20 to April 12
MSC Fantasia
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,300 guests
Built: 2008
Homeports: Santos (Brazil)
Length: 3 to 7 nights
Itineraries: Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay visiting Porto Belo, Balneário Camboriú, Ilha Grande, Búzios, Ilhabela, Buenos Aires, Punta del Este and Montevideo
Sailing Season: November 2 to March 27
MSC Musica
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,550 guests
Built: 2006
Homeports: Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Montevideo (Uruguay)
Length: Seven to ten nights
Itineraries: Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay visiting Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro, Ilhabela, Búzios, Ilha Grande and Itajaí
Sailing Season: December 3 to March 22
MSC Armonia
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,000 guests
Built: 2001
Homeports: Itajaí, Rio de Janeiro and Santos (Brazil); Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Length: Six to eight nights
Itineraries: Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay visiting Buenos Aires, Punta del Este, Rio de Janeiro, Ilhabela, Búzios, Ilha Grande, Itajaí, Santos and more
Sailing Season: December 10 to March 13
Mediterranean
MSC Bellissima
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,500 guests
Built: 2019
Homeports: Genoa (Italy), Marseille (France), Barcelona (Spain) and more
Length: Seven nights
Itineraries: Western Mediterranean visiting Genoa, La Spezia, Naples, Marseille, Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca
Sailing Season: November 14 to March 20
MSC Grandiosa
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,500 guests
Built: 2019
Homeports: Genoa and Civitavecchia (Italy), Marseille (France), Barcelona (Spain) and more
Length: Seven nights
Itineraries: Western Mediterranean visiting Genoa, Civitavecchia, Palermo, La Valletta, Marseille and Barcelona
Sailing Season: November 12 to April 9
MSC Lirica
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,000 guests
Built: 2003
Homeports: Genoa and Civitavecchia (Italy), Limassol (Cyprus), Haifa (Israel) and more
Length: Ten and 11 nights
Itineraries: Eastern Mediterranean visiting Greece, Italy, Cyprus and Israel, in addition to Western Mediterranean visiting Spain, Italy, Morocco and France
Sailing Season: November 3 to April 8
World Cruise
MSC Magnifica
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,550 guests
Built: 2010
Homeports: Genoa (Italy)
Length: 116 nights
Itineraries: World cruise visiting 43 destinations in 24 different countries, including Cape Verde, Brazil, Chile, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Jordan and more
Sailing Season: January 5 to May 1
MSC Poesia
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,550 guests
Built: 2008
Homeports: Genoa (Italy)
Length: 118 nights
Itineraries: World cruise visiting 53 destinations in 33 different countries, including Portugal, Colombia, Nicaragua, Mexico, United States, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Japan, Oman and more
Sailing Season: January 5 to May 3
South Africa
MSC Orchestra
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,550 guests
Built: 2007
Homeports: Durban and Cape Town (South Africa)
Length: Two to 14 nights
Itineraries: South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Namibia and more
Sailing Season: November 19 to April 17
MSC Sinfonia
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,900 guests
Built: 2002
Homeports: Cape Town (South Africa)
Length: Two to seven nights
Itineraries: South Africa and Namibia
Sailing Season: December 16 to March 6
