The MSC Poesia is set to offer a series of ten- and 11-night cruises from PortMiami during the 2026-27 winter season.
According to published deployment, the 2009-built ship is scheduled to offer longer itineraries to the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean, as well as the Bahamas.
After a 19-night repositioning voyage via the Panama Canal, the vessel embarks on a five-night cruise to Grand Cayman and Jamaica before kicking off a series of ten- and 11-night sailings.
The longer cruises visit destinations around the region, including Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao in the Southern Caribbean; Roatán, Colón and Puerto Limón in Central America; as well as St. Thomas, St. John’s and St. Kitts in the Eastern Caribbean.
The deployment also includes visits to Cartagena de Indias in Colombia, Montego Bay in Jamaica, and Cabo Rojo in the Dominican Republic.
With sailings currently scheduled through late March, the ship’s winter season includes nearly 20 cruises.
While the World-class vessel offers seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, the Seaside is set to operate three- and four-night sailings to the Bahamas.
All itineraries onboard the two ships include visits to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the company’s private island destination near Bimini.
In addition to the three ships sailing from Miami, MSC is deploying four vessels in other homeports across the United States in 2026-27.
The MSC Meraviglia is set to return to New York City for the season, while the MSC Seascape continues to sail from Galveston. Port Canaveral will welcome two vessels: the MSC Seashore and the MSC Grandiosa.
The MSC Grandiosa arrived in Brazil for its first winter season in South America.
Repositioning from the Western Mediterranean, the 4,888-guest vessel docked at its new homeport in Santos on Nov. 25.
To mark the occasion, MSC Cruises invited over 2,800 guests for a celebration onboard the 177,100-ton cruise ship, which also became the largest ever to operate in Brazil.
“It is a great source of pride to have a ship like this here, bringing passengers to travel within our country,” said the company’s Brazil Country Manager Adrian Ursilli.
He also noted that the Grandiosa is MSC’s 17th new ship to arrive in Brazil since the debut of MSC Armonia in 2004.
The event included a symbolic christening of the Grandiosa that saw Marlene Ribeiro – the longest-tenured employee of MSC Cruises in Brazil – serving as godmother.
“MSC Cruises is a family company. Everyone is always together and in good spirits. The choice of the MSC Grandiosa godmother is a demonstration of this,” said Fabio Gatti, the company’s Global Director of Entertainment.
In addition to Santos, the ship’s regular seven-night itineraries feature visits to Salvador, Maceió and Búzios.
Set to be repeated through late March, the cruise can be started at any of the ports of call, with the exception of Búzios.
The MSC Grandiosa was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France and originally entered service in 2019.
Part of MSC Cruises’ five-ship Meraviglia Class, the vessel offers several different amenities, including the Galleria Grandiosa, a 112-meter-long central promenade that features a huge LED dome.
The Grandiosa also offers a selection of bars and lounges, as well as a complete water park, and over ten dining venues.
MSC Cruises may be the biggest cruise brand based on confirmed resumption plans (as of late April 2021) and ships and berths back in service by August 31, using data from the 2021 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.
On a corporate level, Carnival Corporation will have the most ships and berths back in service, with six brands set to operate 13 ships by late August at press time, and indications are that more announcements are forthcoming.
Top 5 Cruise Lines Back in Service by August 31:
MSC Cruises Ships: Ten – MSC Virtuosa, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Seashore, MSC Seaview, MSC Seaside, MSC Preziosa, MSC Splendida, MSC Magnifica, MSC Orchestra and MSC Musica Total Berths: 37,066 Regions: Europe – Western Mediterranean, Eastern Mediterranean and Northern Europe
The restart fleet includes two newbuilds, the MSC Virtuosa, slated to offer cruises in the United Kingdom, and the MSC Seashore, poised to spend its inaugural season in the Mediterranean.
Royal Caribbean International Ships: Six – Odyssey of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas and Vision of the Seas Total Berths: 19,500 Regions: North America, Mediterranean and Asia
Costa Cruises Ships: Four – Costa Firenze, Costa Smeralda, Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa Total Berths: 13,976 Region: Europe – Western Mediterranean and Eastern Mediterranean
Starting in August, the Norwegian Joy will sail from Jamaica, while the Norwegian Gem will sail from the Dominican Republic. In Europe, the Norwegian Jade will be based in Greece starting on July 25.
P&O Cruises Ships: Two – Iona and Britannia Total Berths: 8,811 Region: Europe – United Kingdom
Carnival Corporation’s British cruise line, P&O Cruises, will resume service in June, with domestic sailings in the United Kingdom.
Sailing from Southampton, the company plans to use its two newest ships, the 5,200-guest Iona and the 3,611-guest Britannia.
Numbers by Corporation
Carnival Corporation Ships: 13 Brands in Service: 6 out of 9 Total Berths: 38,557
By Brand
Costa: 4 ships and 13,976 berths AIDA: 2 ships and 5,424 berths P&O: 2 ships and 8,811 berths Princess: 2 ships and 7,200 ships Cunard: 1 ship and 2,092 berths Seabourn: 2 ships and 1,054 berths
MSC Cruises Ships: 10 Brands in Service: 1 out of 1 Total Berths: 37,066
By Brand
MSC: 10 ships and 37,066 berths
Royal Caribbean Group Ships: 15 Brands in Service: 5 out of 5 Total Berths: 36,982
By Brand
Royal Caribbean: 6 ships and 19,500 berths Celebrity: 3 ships and 7,840 berths TUI: 3ships and 8,300 berths Hapag-Lloyd: 2 ships and 746 berths Silversea: 1 ship and 596 berths
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ships: 1 out of 3 Brands in Service: 1 out of 3 Total Berths: 9,000
By brand
Norwegian: 3 ships and 9,000 berths
Genting Cruise Lines Ships: 6 Brands in Service: 3 out of 3 Total Berths: 8,486
By Brand
Dream: 2 ships and 5,204 berths Star: 1 ship and 1,090 berths Crystal: 3 ships and 2,192 berths
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