MSC Cruises has opened bookings for its 2027–2028 winter deployment, placing a series of trans-Atlantic repositioning voyages on sale that will transfer vessels from Europe to South America.
The scheduled long-distance crossings combine several days at sea with ports of call in Europe, the Atlantic islands, and South America.
The itineraries range from 17 to 20 nights and are designed to link European embarkation ports with destinations in Brazil and Argentina. Calls have been scheduled in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and selected Atlantic islands before the ships continue across the ocean to South American ports. Five MSC ships offer such voyages, providing a range of departure ports, routes, and various shipboard amenities while reinforcing MSC's established presence in the South American market.
These crossings are repositioning cruises, undertaken as ships move between seasonal deployments/operating regions. Such voyages traditionally emphasize a slower pace, longer sea passages, and a broader geographic scope. By releasing the itineraries more than a year in advance, MSC Cruises has expanded planning flexibility for passengers arranging extended holidays, international travel documentation, and long-haul air connections linked to embarkation and disembarkation ports on both continents.
The 5 MSC ships assigned to the 2027–2028 South America deployment are MSC Virtuosa, MSC Divina, MSC Splendida, MSC Musica, and MSC Sinfonia. Each vessel has been given a distinct route, allowing for a wide distribution of ports and experiences. Departures are scheduled between late October and mid-November 2027, after which the ships are expected to continue operating seasonal itineraries within South America throughout the winter months.
The first sailing of the season is planned for MSC Divina, which is scheduled to depart Civitavecchia on October 29th, 2027. This 18-night voyage to Santos includes calls in Italy, France, Spain, and Brazil, with ports such as Barcelona, Salvador, Ilhéus, and Ilha Grande forming part of the itinerary. The route has been arranged to blend Mediterranean destinations with Brazilian coastal ports as the ship progresses south.
MSC Musica is scheduled to depart Genoa on November 6th, 2027, on a 17-night crossing to Santos. The itinerary features southern European and Atlantic island ports, including Marseille, Valencia, and Funchal, before the trans-Atlantic passage to Brazil. The routing emphasizes a balance between cultural port visits and uninterrupted sea days.
A further Genoa departure in early November 2027 has been assigned to MSC Sinfonia, operating an 18-night itinerary to Santos. Scheduled calls include Marseille, Tarragona, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and Recife, creating a route that spans Mediterranean cities, Atlantic islands, and northeastern Brazil before arrival in southeastern South America.
MSC Virtuosa has been confirmed for a second consecutive winter season in South America and is scheduled to depart Barcelona on November 16th, 2027. Built in 2021, the vessel will call at additional Spanish ports before crossing the Atlantic, with Brazilian destinations such as Maceió, Salvador, and Ilhabela included prior to arrival in Santos in early December. The itinerary places particular emphasis on Brazil’s coastline.
MSC Splendida has been assigned the longest reach among the fleet, with a repositioning voyage extending beyond Brazil to Argentina. Departing Civitavecchia on November 16th, 2027, the ship is scheduled to operate a 19-night cruise ending in Buenos Aires. As a Fantasia-class vessel, MSC Splendida will visit ports in Spain, Brazil, and Uruguay before concluding the crossing in Argentina, offering a multi-country South American itinerary.