MSC Cruises has announced that the MSC Opera will commence year-round operations in the Southern Caribbean beginning in the winter 2026–2027 season. This deployment marks the first instance of the cruise line stationing a vessel in the region during the summer months, reflecting a strategic expansion of its Caribbean offerings.
The MSC Opera is scheduled to homeport in La Romana, Dominican Republic, with its inaugural sailing set for November 16, 2026. From April 2027, Fort-de-France, Martinique, will serve as a secondary embarkation port. The vessel will offer a variety of 7-night itineraries, with options to extend voyages to 14-night 'butterfly' cruises, allowing passengers to explore multiple destinations in the Southern Caribbean.
Key ports of call include La Romana and Catalina Island in the Dominican Republic; Fort-de-France in Martinique; Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands; and St. John's in Antigua and Barbuda. Additional destinations encompass Oranjestad (Aruba), Willemstad (Curaçao), Kralendijk (Bonaire), St George's (Grenada), Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe), Philipsburg (Sint Maarten), Basseterre (Saint Kitts and Nevis), and Road Town (Tortola, British Virgin Islands).
During the winter 2026–2027 season, the MSC Opera will be joined by the MSC Seaview, marking the first time MSC operates two ships concurrently in the Southern Caribbean. MSC Seaview will offer 7-night roundtrips from Fort-de-France to destinations including Pointe-à-Pitre, Philipsburg, St. John's, Basseterre, Roseau (Dominica), Bridgetown (Barbados), Kingstown (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), St George's, and Castries (Saint Lucia).
This expansion underscores MSC Cruises' commitment to providing diverse and flexible itineraries in the Caribbean, catering to a growing demand for year-round tropical cruise experiences.