MSC Cruises has initiated an extensive modernization of MSC Magnifica, marking the beginning of a large-scale enhancement program across its fleet. The vessel, which entered service in 2010, is the first of two Musica Class ships to undergo a refit at the Palumbo Malta Shipyard, a facility long regarded as a strategic base for the company’s European maintenance operations.
The refurbishment will introduce the MSC Yacht Club to Magnifica for the first time, comprising 63 suites alongside dedicated lounges and exclusive services. Additional upgrades include the addition of two specialty restaurants—Butcher’s Cut and Kaito Sushi Bar—as well as a redesigned MSC Aurea Spa and Technogym® Fitness Center. These wellness facilities will feature new workout studios, an outdoor Aurea area, and a Gentleman’s Barber service. The project is scheduled for completion in December 2025, with the full Yacht Club experience launching during the vessel’s Northern Europe itineraries in the summer of 2026.
MSC Cruises’ management has emphasized that the enhancements reflect the line’s continued investment in elevating guest comfort and choice. The introduction of the Yacht Club and new dining concepts aboard Magnifica and her sister ship, Poesia, is intended to extend the company’s most exclusive onboard product to a wider segment of its fleet. The Yacht Club, recognized for its private accommodations and personalized service, will thus become a feature on ships sailing a broader range of itineraries.
Following Magnifica, MSC Poesia will enter dry dock at the same Maltese yard in February 2026 to receive similar upgrades. Her refit will include the addition of 69 Yacht Club suites, an All-Stars Sports Bar, and parallel enhancements to dining, spa, and fitness facilities. These works are expected to conclude ahead of her Alaska deployment in May 2026. The combined program represents MSC Cruises’ most comprehensive refitting initiative in over a decade, designed and managed entirely by the company’s in-house technical division.
Upon completion, MSC Magnifica is set to begin operations from Warnemünde, Germany, on May 16th, 2026, offering voyages to Northern Europe, the Baltics, and Scandinavia. Later that year, she will transition to Mediterranean routes calling at Barcelona, Civitavecchia, and Marseille. In early 2027, the vessel will embark on the MSC World Cruise—a 121-night voyage calling at 45 destinations across 25 countries—marking the debut of the MSC Yacht Club experience on a world cruise itinerary.
Meanwhile, MSC Poesia will commence 7-night sailings from Seattle to Alaska between May and September 2026, before repositioning to Miami for Caribbean voyages during the winter 2026–2027 season. Bookings for Yacht Club accommodations aboard both MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia are now open.