MSC Cruises’ CEO Gianni Onorato announced that the line’s new year-round operation from the port of La Romana in the Dominican Republic, starting in November 2026, will bring 120,000 new international visitors to the Caribbean nation.
Speaking at Fitur, the International Tourism Trade Fair in Madrid, Spain, Onorato spoke of the MSC Opera’s deployment at a new homeport of La Romana in the south of the country and the company’s commitment to a continuous operation for the long term, the first time that MSC Cruises has offered year-round sailings in the Southern Caribbean.
David Collado, the Dominican Republic’s minister of tourism, and other attendees at the event in the Spanish capital heard details of the Opera’s new itinerary that will include calls to Catalina Island, close to the Dominican Republic, for guests to visit an exclusive nature reserve, sunbathe, swim or snorkel among coral reefs.
The ship will operate weekly departures with guests able to book a seven-night sailing or extend their cruise to a back-to-back 14-night “butterfly” voyage.
Onorato said: “MSC Cruises first started calling in the Dominican Republic in 2014, so after more than 10 years, it is a proud moment for me to speak about our new homeporting offering in La Romana.”
“With year-round operations, we extend the traditional season, bringing positive economic impact to the local community and bringing 120,000 additional international visitors to La Romana each year,” added Onorato. “MSC Cruises is committed to the Dominican Republic and this new program for the long term.”
MSC Cruises will offer a range of Fly&Cruise packages to the Dominican Republic to include the cruise sailing, air travel and ground transfers, plus Stay&Cruise packages, that combine a cruise with pre-stay hotel accommodation.
Some of the Opera’s new itinerary highlights include La Romana, Dominican Republic; Catalina Island, Dominican Republic; Fort-de-France, Martinique; Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands; St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda.
Image: Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises and David Collado, Minister of Tourism, Dominican Republic
