MSC Magnifica Begins Major Upgrade and Enhancement

MSC Cruises has announced that renovation work is officially underway on the MSC Magnifica, marking the beginning of a major enhancement program aimed at elevating the guest experience across the fleet.

Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, said: “By introducing our MSC Yacht Club to these ships, along with new restaurants, gyms and wellness spaces, we are giving guests more exclusivity and choice than ever before.”

“The MSC Yacht Club is one of our most highly regarded products, known for its exceptional service, elegant spaces and exclusive amenities, and we are proud to bring this experience to MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia in time for our first Alaska season and the 2027 MSC World Cruise,” Onorato added.

The MSC Magnifica is the first of two Musica Class ships to enter drydock at the Palumbo Malta Shipyard for upgrades. According to MSC Cruises, the vessel will receive 63 new suites, the addition of two specialty restaurants—Butcher’s Cut and Kaito Sushi Bar—an expanded MSC Aurea Spa, and a redesigned Technogym Fitness Center. Other new features include a Gentleman’s Barber, workout studios, and an outdoor Aurea relaxation area. The refurbishment is expected to be completed by December.

Following this, the MSC Poesia will undergo a similar transformation at the same shipyard beginning in February 2026. Her upgrades will include the MSC Yacht Club, featuring 69 suites, an All-Stars Sports Bar, and the same specialty dining, fitness, and spa enhancements being introduced on the Magnifica. The ship will rejoin the fleet in time for her Alaska debut in May 2026.

MSC Cruises confirmed that all enhancements have been fully designed and managed in-house by its technical department.

Once the work is complete, MSC Magnifica will embark from Warnemünde, Germany, on May 16, 2026, for cruises through Northern Europe, including Denmark, Scandinavia, Finland, and the Baltics. Later that year, she will offer three- to eight-night Mediterranean itineraries visiting ports such as Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Rome), and Marseille, before setting off on the 2027 MSC World Cruise.

Meanwhile, MSC Poesia will operate seven-night voyages from Seattle between May and September 2026 before transitioning to roundtrip Caribbean cruises from Miami for the 2026–27 winter season, visiting destinations including Jamaica, Colombia, Costa Rica, Aruba, Curaçao, and Belize.

Bookings for the new MSC Yacht Club suites aboard both MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia are now open.