MSC Grandiosa Completes Drydock Ahead of Winter Season in Brazil

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The MSC Grandiosa recently set sail from the Palumbo Shipyard Malta after spending three weeks in drydock at the facility.

Set to spend the upcoming winter season in South America, the ship arrived in Genoa, Italy, to kick off a repositioning cruise on Nov. 16, 2024.

Following visits to destinations in France, Spain and Portugal, the trans-Atlantic crossing is set to end at the Brazilian port of Santos in early December.

Among the ports of call set to be visited by the Grandiosa during the 21-night itinerary are Barcelona in Spain’s Catalonia region and Funchal on Portugal’s Madeira Island.

Upon arriving in Santos, the 2019-built vessel is poised to kick off a five-month deployment that features a series of seven-night cruises to Brazilian destinations.

Set to be offered through early April, the ship’s regular itinerary includes visits to Búzios, Santos, Maceió and Salvador.

Except for Búzios, passengers can start the cruise, which also features three days at sea, at any of the ports of call.

Leading a six-ship winter season in the region, the MSC Grandiosa is the largest ship ever to sail in South America.

Before starting its repositioning cruise, the 4,888-guest ship underwent routine maintenance and class work as part of its three-week drydock in Valletta.

The work also included technical updates, as well as the upkeep of public areas and staterooms with the replacement of tiles, carpets, upholstery and more.

After completing its winter season in Brazil, the 177,100-ton vessel is set to kick off a summer deployment in the Western Mediterranean in late April 2025.

The ship continues to operate week-long cruises to Italy, Spain and France through late December, when it’s set to embark on a repositioning cruise to the United States.

Debuting in the country, the MSC Grandiosa offers cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean from Port Canaveral during the 2025-26 winter season.

Norwegian Cancels Nearly 40 Cruises Onboard Three Ships

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Norwegian Cruise Line is cancelling a total of 38 cruises onboard three of its ships, according to a statement sent to travel advisors.

Sailing onboard the Norwegian Jewel, the Norwegian Star and the Norwegian Dawn, the cruises were scheduled to take place between November 2025 and April 2026.

Cancelled cruises onboard the Norwegian Jewel include all the itineraries that were set to depart between Nov. 23, 2025, and April 5, 2026.

The ship was scheduled to offer a series of 16 five- to 14-night cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas departing from Tampa.

For the Norwegian Star, cancellations include the ship’s full season in South America and Antarctica, which featured 11 cruises between Nov. 20, 2025, and April 14, 2026.

Sailings onboard the Norwegian Dawn include all cruises previously scheduled to depart between Nov. 2, 2025, and April 12, 2026.

Sailing around Africa and then Asia, the ship was poised to offer 11 cruises during the timeframe, visiting ports in the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and more.

Replacement sailings have yet to be revealed.

According to Norwegian, guests are set to soon receive notification letters outlining the details of the deployment changes.

Affected passengers will receive a full monetary refund to the original form of payment provided at the time of reservation, the company added.

While commissions will be protected for all bookings paid in full, Norwegian will also offer guests a ten percent discount in the form of a Future Cruise Credit (FCC).

Norwegian also cancelled sailings onboard the Norwegian Sun and the Norwegian Getaway.

Citing fleet redeployment, the company cancelled a 14-night cruise to the South Pacific onboard the Sun, which was scheduled to depart on Aug. 7, 2025.

Norwegian also cancelled the Aug. 17 and Aug. 21, 2026, cruises onboard the Norwegian Getaway due to a ship charter.

MSC World America Construction Progressing at Chantiers

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MSC Cruises has provided an update on the construction progress of its newest ship, the MSC World America, set to launch in less than five months.

The company revealed that the liquefied natural gas-powered ship is currently undergoing interior outfitting, including public spaces and guest facilities, at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.

The vessel will be officially named in Miami on April 9, 2025, representing a significant evolution of MSC Cruises’ World Class prototype, featuring reimagined venues and concepts tailored for Caribbean sailings.

A notable innovation aboard MSC World America includes the introduction of seven distinct onboard districts, each designed to enhance the guest experience and create a more engaging atmosphere. 

Bernhard Stacher, senior vice president of shipboard hospitality operations, at MSC Cruises, said: “We’ve invested a lot into tailoring MSC World America to deliver a truly memorable cruise experience, with new restaurants, bars, experiences, and spaces. With the only Eataly restaurant at sea, a brand-new Greek restaurant Paxos, and MSC Cruises’ first comedy club The Loft, there’s really a space and experience for every guest.”

 William Monts de Oca Rivera, head of guest experience innovation, at MSC Cruises, added, “One of the biggest innovations for MSC World America is The Harbour, part of the Family Aventura district, a brand-new revolutionary outdoor venue specially designed for kids and families to gather, play and relax together. It’s home to Cliffhanger – a state-of-the-art swing attraction 50 metres above the ocean that is going to bring a totally new dimension to the cruise experience.”