The MSC Opera recently kicked off its summer season in Europe ahead of repositioning to the Southern Caribbean.
As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, the vessel will become MSC’s first ship to sail year-round in the region beginning later in 2026.
Before embarking on a trans-Atlantic crossing to the Dominican Republic in November, the 2004-built vessel is scheduled to offer a series of 10-night cruises in the Western Mediterranean.
Visiting Italy, Spain, Portugal and France, the vessel sails a regular itinerary that allows for embarkation and disembarkation in various ports.
Passengers are able to board the MSC Opera for the destination-intensive cruise in Genoa, Alicante, Málaga, Lisbon or Marseille.
In addition to the departure ports, the cruise features stops in Olbia in Sardinia and Minorca in the Balearic Islands, as well as Cádiz.
In early November, the 2,160-passenger ship sets off on a repositioning voyage to La Romana ahead of its year-round operations in the Caribbean.
Joining MSC’s ships sailing to the region from U.S. ports, the Opera is scheduled to offer seven-night cruises to the French Antilles, the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, the Dominican Republic and more.
Starting in early 2027, the vessel is also scheduled to offer cruises to the ABC Islands and Grenada, visiting Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao and St. George’s.
In addition to La Romana, the ship’s itineraries will also depart from Fort de France in Martinique and Bridgetown in Barbados.
Before returning to Europe in May, the Opera spent the past winter season offering itineraries aimed at the national market in South Africa.
Sailing from Durban and Cape Town, the ship’s itineraries in the region featured visits to destinations in Namibia and Mozambique, including Walvis Bay, Portuguese Island and Pomene.
Part of MSC’s Lirica class, the Opera was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in the early 2000s and underwent a major refurbishment in 2015.
At the time, the ship was also lengthened, gaining a new 25-meter section with additional staterooms and public spaces.
