These are engaging times for MSC Cruises with new programs and ships being launched.

“We are starting to sail to Alaska for the first time this May with seven-night cruises aboard the MSC Poesia from Seattle,” said Luca Garritano, chief revenue and sales services officer. “And we are now also operating from Galveston year-round with the Seascape. This is another new port for us.

“For the winter of 2026-27 we are launching the new World Asia in the Mediterranean, and we are moving the Meraviglia to Miami to sail six- and eight-night cruises for the first time in addition to our short and seven-day cruises.

“Next winter, we are also launching a new year-round program in the Caribbean out of La Romana with the MSC Opera.”

Also being redeployed from the Middle East to the Caribbean for the upcoming winter season will be the MSC World Europa using Pointe-a-Pitre, Fort de France and Bridgetown as turnaround ports.

For the summer of 2027, MSC will have two ships in Port Canaveral for the first time on short and longer cruises.

And for winter season 2027-28, the new World Atlantic will sail from Port Canaveral on alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.

“Ocean Cay (MSC Marine Reserve) is a cornerstone of our Caribbean itineraries,” Garritano added. “The exclusive private destination is embedded in almost all our itineraries, particularly those departing from Florida.

The pier at the island is also being extended so that two ships will be able to come alongside when it is completed.

Additionally, MSC is developing a second private island destination known as Little Cay adjacent to Ocean Cay.

The company is also investing in a new cruise port on Grand Bahama.

Building up its presence in North America, for winter of 2026-27, MSC will have seven ships sailing from North American ports, including four from Miami alone, plus the two ships based in the Caribbean.

For the summer of 2027, the North American deployment will count six ships, while 13 ships sail in the Mediterranean, four in Northern Europe and one in Asia.

MSC is by far the largest brand in the Mediterranean in terms of guest capacity, also the largest in South America, the third largest in the Caribbean and the second largest in Northern Europe, according to the 2026 Cruise Industry News Annual Report, in addition to having ships in South Africa and Asia.

Seasonal deployments will see the Armonia on short cruises in South Africa, while the Middle East program has been put on hold for now.

Four ships will sail in South America during the 2026-27 season.

In Asia, the Bellissima will continue her year-round operation, tapping into seasonal demand from Tokyo, Okinawa, Keelung and Shanghai.

“Our strategy is to keep growing in a balanced way,” Garritano explained. “We want to cover all the cruising regions and to offer our guests a wide range of options in terms of embarkation ports and destinations.”

Excerpted from the Spring 2026 Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine.