MSC Meraviglia Temporarily Out of Service for Repairs in Maine

The MSC Meraviglia is currently undergoing technical repairs after having this week’s cruise cancelled in mid-April.

Offering weeklong itineraries out of New York City, the 2017-built vessel was taken out of service ahead of the sailing that was scheduled for May 11, 2025.

According to a statement issued by MSC in late April, the Meraviglia was in need of technical repairs due to a mechanical issue.

The problem was impacting the vessel’s ability to operate at standard cruising speeds, as the company explained in a letter to affected guests.

“As a result, and with deep regret, we have made the very difficult decision to cancel your upcoming sailing,” MSC continued.

The MSC Meraviglia was set to offer a seven-night cruise to the Bahamas and Florida from its homeport at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.

In addition to three days at sea, the original itinerary featured visits to Port Canaveral, Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

Instead, the vessel is currently docked in Portland (Maine), where repairs are being carried out by specialised teams.

The decision to take the vessel out of service was made out of an abundance of caution, MSC added, and reflects the company’s “commitment to safety and delivering the best possible guest experience.”

In addition to offering guests rebooking or refund options, the company also noted that the technical issue never affected the safety of its crew and guests.

The MSC Meraviglia is now expected to resume service on May 18, 2025, kicking off a weeklong cruise to the Bahamas and Florida.

As with the cancelled cruise, the seven-night voyage features visits to Port Canaveral, Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

Sailing from New York City on a year-round basis, the MSC Meraviglia offers seven-night cruises to Florida, the Bahamas and Bermuda.

In 2026, the 4,500-guest ship repositions to Europe for its first summer season in the Western Mediterranean in over five years.

MSC to Deploy World-Class Ship to Port Canaveral

MSC announced plans to deploy its fourth world-class ship to Port Canaveral for the Winter 2027-28 season, offering year-round seven-night Caribbean cruises.

According to a press release, the yet-to-be-named ship will join MSC World America as the second World Class vessel operating in North America.

Additionally, the MSC Grandiosa will begin its year-round Caribbean program from the port in winter 2026-27, following its inaugural season in winter 2025-26.

The MSC Seashore will continue operating year-round three- and four-night Bahamas itineraries.

Lynn Torrent, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, of MSC Cruises USA, said:  “Our commitment to Port Canaveral is stronger than ever, thanks to the incredible support from our partners there and the growing demand from our guests who love the port’s convenient location. Having ships dedicated to offering both short and 7-night cruises year-round will ensure we have the right options available no matter when someone wants to sail. We’re especially excited to bring a world-class ship to Port Canaveral, continuing our long-standing pledge to deploy our most modern and innovative ships in the Caribbean market.”

Capt. John Murray, CEO, of Port Canaveral, said: “We are excited to have MSC Cruises expand their presence at Port Canaveral with the arrival of MSC Grandiosa and the deployment of their fourth World Class ship to homeport with us. The addition of these exceptional ships to our homeported fleet will add even more sailing options from Central Florida and reaffirm the cruise industry’s confidence in our ability to consistently deliver a world-class guest experience.”

MSC Meraviglia Set for European Return in 2026

The MSC Meraviglia is set to return to Europe in 2026 after sailing exclusively from New York City in April 2023.

According to the MSC Cruises website, the 2017-built vessel will offer a summer season in the Western Mediterranean starting in early May 2026, ahead of returning to North America later in the year.

As part of the deployment, the Meraviglia will offer a series of seven-night cruises to destinations in Italy, France, Spain and Tunisia, scheduled through October 2026.

The summer season in the region includes a series of seven-night itineraries to the ports of Livorno, Naples, Palermo, Tunis, Barcelona and Marseille.

Upon completing its European schedule, the 4,500-guest ship is scheduled to return to North America ahead of the 2026-27 winter season.

Starting in November 2026, the vessel offers a series of seven-night cruises to the Bahamas and Florida, departing from New York City.

In addition to MSC’s private island destination of Ocean Cay, the itinerary is scheduled to visit Nassau and Port Canaveral.

The MSC Meraviglia is also set to offer trans-Atlantic crossings before and after its summer season in the Western Mediterranean.

On its way to Europe, the vessel sails from New York City on April 19, 2026, offering a 16-night cruise that sails to destinations in Canada, Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar and France.

The ship then offers a similar itinerary on October 20, 2026, sailing from Barcelona for a 19-night crossing to the United States.

After repositioning from Port Canaveral, the MSC Meraviglia arrived at its homeport in New York City in April 2023.

As part of a year-round deployment on the U.S. East Coast, the vessel has been offering itineraries to Florida, the Bahamas and Bermuda, as well as Canada and New England.