In the halls of FITUR, the International Tourism Trade Fair held in Madrid, MSC Cruises disclosed plans for a sustained maritime presence from the port of La Romana in the Dominican Republic starting in November 2026.
In the company of the nation’s Minister of Tourism, David Collado, the company confirmed a long-term commitment to basing a vessel there, establishing the first year-round deployment by the line in the Southern Caribbean. The vessel designated for these operations will be MSC Opera, assigned to a new weekly voyage pattern that can be booked as a 7-night passage or combined into a consecutive 14-night itinerary known within the industry as a ‘butterfly’ cruise. Reservations have been opened and the first sailing is scheduled for departure on November 16th, 2026, with complete itinerary details accessible on the cruise line’s official website.
The new schedule adds a regular call at Catalina Island off the Dominican coast, a locale defined by its protected natural environment, white sands, and clear waters, where those inclined towards exploration may observe coral formations beneath the surface or find repose ashore. With the Dominican Republic served by multiple international airports, connections from distant regions are facilitated, and the service is expected to channel some 120 000 international visitors through La Romana annually, alongside corresponding inbound and outbound flight traffic, stimulating activity at hotels, eateries, and wider commercial interests in the region.
MSC Cruises’ chief executive, Gianni Onorato, noted that the line first called at Dominican ports in 2014 and that extending to year-round operations from La Romana represents a significant advance, extending the traditional cruising season and delivering economic benefits to the local community through sustained visitor volumes.
Under this programme the vessel’s route will include La Romana itself, noted for its combination of coastal scenery, cultural points of interest and nearby historic sites, as well as additional southern Caribbean ports of call such as Fort-de-France in Martinique, Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands and St. John’s in Antigua and Barbuda, each offering their own maritime and coastal attributes characteristic of the region’s island chains.