MSC to Base 6 Ships in South America for the 2023-2024 Season

MSC Cruise in Port Photo Credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr)

MSC Cruises will base six ships in South America for the 2023-224 season the line announced today as it started its 2022-2023 sailing season from the port of Santos in Brazil with the departure of the MSC Fantasia, according to a press release.

MSC said it will deploy five vessels in Brazil and one in Argentina next season to reinforce its position as the ocean cruise market leader in South America.

The MSC Grandiosa, MSC Preziosa and MSC Armonia will homeport in Santos, the MSC Seaview in Rio de Janeiro, the MSC Lirica in Itajai and the MSC Musica in Buenos Aires.  

The announcement today was made ahead of MSC Fantasia’s first of 132 seasonal sailings MSC Cruises that will operate in South America during 2022-2023 with four ships offering a 68 per cent increase in cabins compared to the 2019-2020 season.

The MSC Fantasia will be joined this season by the MSC Seashore – which MSC said was the largest and most modern cruise ship ever operating in the region.

The MSC Seaview and MSC Armonia will off a range of cruises in South America including 10 destinations in Brazil, Buenos Aires in Argentina and both Montevideo and Punta Del Este in Uruguay.

MSC Cruises forecasts that it will welcome nearly 400,000 guests for its 2022-2023 South American season including 50,000 international travellers.

Sales for MSC Cruises’ 2023-2024 South American season go on sale on Dec. 1.

MSC Euribia to Homeport in Southampton in 2023/24

MSC Euribia will take over from the sucsesfull MSC Virtuosa

MSC Cruises has just announced a brand new ship launching in October 2023, the MSC Euribia. This ship offers sailings from October 2023 through winter 2023 and 2024 based in Southampton. Its homeport in the UK comes after huge demand for no-fly cruises on MSC Virtuosa. MSC Euribia is the second ship in the MSC fleet which will be powered by liquid natural gas fuel. It is set to be a confidently sustainable ship. 

This brand-new vessel boats incredible new features including original artwork on the decks and design aspects throughout. Alex Flämig has produced the iconic design coined #SaveTheSea. This message accurately reflects MSC Cruises’ commitment to protecting the marine environment. 

Guests will be offered a wide variety of entertainment on MSC Euribia, from theatre shows and casinos to the Coral Reef Aquapark, one of the biggest waterparks at sea. MSC Euribia boasts ultimate relaxation with five swimming pools and the MSC Aurea Spa onboard. The gastronomic escapades are endless with the option of 10 dining venues and 21 bars with global and regional-inspired menus to enjoy. 

MSC Virtuosa resumed cruising with a UK itinerary during the startup of cruising from Southampton and with a successful Summer season, she sailed to the Middle East for the winter 21/22 season and then replaced the Magnifica and Preziosa with an all-year-round summer/winter homeporting in Southampton. 

MSC Euribia to sail from Southampton in 2023


MSC Cruises has revealed that the new ship MSC Euribia will offer sailings out of Southampton from October 2023 and throughout winter 2023/24.

Itineraries will include visits to destinations such as Amsterdam, Bruges and Paris. There will be five-night options, from £359pp, seven-night cruises starting at £499pp and a 21-night itinerary departing on 5 January 2024 and calling at Casablanca, the Canary Islands and Lisbon, with prices starting at £2,399pp.

Launching in 2023, MSC Euribia is set to be “a truly sustainable ship”, the line said.

It will be the second ship in the MSC fleet to be powered by liquefied natural gas. The hull artwork, designed by artist Alex Flämig and called#SaveTheSea, was chosen to represent “MSC Cruises’ message of dedication to helping protect the marine ecosystem”, according to a statement.

MSC Euribia ‘leading sustainability’

MSC Cruises UK & Ireland managing director Antonio Paradiso said: “We are committed to offering the best possible experience for our guests from the UK and Ireland and that is why our newest ship, MSC Euribia, will be in the UK during 2023 and 2024.

“Since our first full ex-UK season back in 2018, we’ve seen a huge demand for stress-free, no-fly cruises from Southampton on board MSC Virtuosa.

“Basing MSC Euribia in the UK will help us to build on this success by offering our UK customers the chance to experience one of the most impressive cruise experiences offering leading sustainability technology and cutting-edge design features.”