MSC Magnifica

The vessel (STX France, Chantiers de l'Atlantique yard/hull number T32) has a volume of 95,128 GT, a deadweight capacity of 9,429 tons, and a maximum draught of 7.9 m. The powerplant consists of Wartsila W16V38B marine diesel engines with a combined output of 36.05 MW (48,340 hp). The registered shipowner is S32 LEASING CO LTD, and the registered manager is MSC MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING CO.

MCS Magnifica was delivered to MSC on February 25, 2010, and christened in Hamburg on March 1st by godmother Sofia Loren.

Magnifica belongs to MSC’s Musica class, together with Musica, Orchestra, and Poesia. Magnifica was MSC’s first vessel to test the Canada–New England market with homeporting in New York City (NYC). The deployment followed her inaugural Mediterranean season (winter 2010–2011), operated as 7-, 10-, and 11-day voyages homeporting in Venice.

MSC Magnifica refurbishments review

The ship’s next scheduled drydock refurbishment is in October–November 2025 at Malta’s Palumbo Shipyard in Valletta. This refit will introduce major enhancements, including a new wellness complex (spa and gym) and the addition of an MSC Yacht Club luxury enclave spanning five upper decks.

• The new MSC Yacht Club facilities include a private restaurant, bar lounge, and sundeck (with a swimming pool, bar, and grill restaurant), along with 63 newly added top-tier suites.
• The redesigned wellness complex (270 m2 / 2,900 ft2) combines the MSC Aurea Spa and a Technogym Fitness Center.

In 2021, Magnifica underwent a USD 140 million reconstruction and refurbishment project. The vessel was stretched by 23 m (76 ft) through the insertion of a pre-fabricated midship section.

After the January–March 2021 drydock, the ship gained 215 additional cabins (including 92 balcony cabins), a new Aqua Park with waterslide, a fully redesigned children's playground, two new restaurants, and a larger shopping complex. The number of staterooms increased from 1,259 to 1,774.

The refit added 7,000 m2 (75,350 ft2) of onboard space. Machinery upgrades included installation of SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction), AWT (Advanced Wastewater Treatment), and shoreside power connectivity.

Magnifica’s most recent drydocking was conducted from December 2–26, 2024, at the Palumbo Shipyard in Valletta, Malta. This project consisted of routine maintenance and classification work, machinery and systems overhauls, minor steel repairs, and underwater hull cleaning and repainting.

In 2014, the vessel also received a refurbishment at Damen Shiprepair in Rotterdam.

MSC World Cruise 2028

In December 2025, MSC opened for booking 2028 World Voyage.

The 115-night itinerary is scheduled for departure from four homeports, leaving roundtrip from Genoa, Civitavecchia, Marseille, or Barcelona (January 4-7, 2028) and ending in Genoa on April 29th.

The global voyage visits 42 destinations in 29 countries.

The extended itinerary is planned to include a series of overnight port stays and daytime port calls around the globe. Among the ports highlighted for overnight stays are Lima in Peru, Papeete in Tahiti, Sydney in Australia, and Hanoi in Vietnam—locations selected to balance cultural, scenic and regional diversity throughout the voyage. The range of new and scheduled calls encompasses destinations such as Nuku’alofa in Tonga, Manta in Ecuador, Arica in Chile, Callao near Lima, Chan May in central Vietnam, Sihanoukville in Cambodia, Grand Turk Island in the Turks and Caicos, and Puerto Limón in Costa Rica.

MSC World Cruise 2027

In December 2024, bookings opened for the 2027 MSC World Voyage, originally planned for MSC Musica. In June 2025, the voyage was reassigned to MSC Magnifica.

The 121-night itinerary includes 45 destinations across 25 countries on 5 continents, crossing the Equator twice and covering more than 37,000 nautical miles.

Embarkation is available from four European homeports: Civitavecchia–Rome (January 4), Genoa (January 5), Marseille (January 6), and Barcelona (January 7).

The world voyage visits South America, the South Pacific (Australia, New Zealand), the USA (Hawaii and the West Coast), includes a Panama Canal transit, explores the Caribbean, and concludes with a Transatlantic crossing.

The itinerary features extended full-day and overnight stays in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Ushuaia, Valparaiso–Santiago, Hobart (Tasmania), Sydney (NSW), and Papeete (Tahiti).

When the bookings were opened, fares started at EUR 19,445 (USD 20,220, GBP 16,139 per person), inclusive of 15 complimentary shore excursions, a food and beverage package (house wines, draft beer, soft drinks - during lunch and dinner), and a 30% discount on onboard laundry services.

MSC Voyager (loyalty program) members benefited from a 5% discount on the cruise. Points earned from the voyage are tripled and credited to members' accounts before departure.

MSC World Cruise 2026

On December 5, 2023, MSC opened for booking Magnifica's World Cruise 2026.

Original itinerary

Traditionally for MSC, roundtrip departures are offered from four homeports (Civitavecchia-Rome, Genoa-Milan, Marseille, Barcelona) from which the voyage departs, respectively, on January 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th.

The original 119-day/118-night itinerary visited 47 ports/destinations in 32 countries (on 5 continents) and featured ~36000 NM (~66680 km/41430 mi) of sea navigation and 7 overnight ports (San Francisco, Honolulu, Auckland, Sydney NSW, Manila, Tokyo, Dubai).

The voyage started with a westbound Transatlantic crossing from Europe to the Caribbean, follows a Panama Canal transit to the Pacific Ocean, visits Central American ports (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico), West Coast USA (San Francisco), Hawaii, American Samoa, South Pacific (Fiji, New Zealand, Australia).

From Australia, the ship continued to Asia (Philippines, Vietnam/Da Nang, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan/Tokyo, China/Shanghai and Hong Kong), then to the Indian Ocean and the Middle East (UAE, Oman) and via the Suez Canal back to Europe/Mediterranean (Heraklion Crete Greece).

The voyage's prices are inclusive of 15 shore excursions, a Dine & Drink Package, 30% onboard laundry discount. MSC Voyager Club (loyalty program members) additionally receive 5% booking discount. The points gained from booking World Cruise 2026 are tripled and added to each account before departure, which instantly grants various privileges and extras.

However, due to ongoing regional safety concerns, in September 2025, MSC made significant changes to the itinerary, rerouting the Magnifica away from the Red Sea. The adjustments extended the voyage by 12 days.

Revised itinerary

The revised 131-night/132-day World Cruise 2026 maintains the original itinerary until April 8th, after which the ship is diverted southward to circumnavigate Africa via the Cape of Good Hope.

This extension also introduced new ports in the Seychelles, Mauritius, La Reunion, South Africa, Namibia, and Cape Verde. Conversely, previously scheduled visits in Sri Lanka, the UAE, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, and Greece were canceled. Additional adjustments included port replacements in the USA (San Francisco with Los Angeles, and Honolulu with Hilo) and adding American Samoa (Pago Pago) to the schedule.

The extended itinerary entailed no additional costs for the booked customers. Pre-purchased onboard packages were automatically extended for an additional 12 days. Shore excursions booked for canceled ports were refunded to the original payment method automatically. MSC also offered full refunds without penalties for customers opting to cancel due to the revisions.

MSC World Cruise 2025

On February 15, 2023, MSC opened for booking Magnifica's World Cruise 2025.

Roundtrip departures are offered from four homeports (Civitavecchia-Rome, Genoa-Milan, Marseille, Barcelona) from which the voyage departs, respectively, on January 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th.

The 116-night/117-day itinerary visits 50 ports/destinations (including 7 overnight stays) in 21 different countries on 5 continents, across 3 oceans (Atlantic, Pacific, Indian), and navigating 30,000+ NM (55560+ km / 34520+ mi).

MSC World Cruise 2023

Next table shows Magnifica's 116-day "World Cruise 2023". The itinerary includes 43 destinations (ports and islands, including 9 in-port overnight stays) in 24 different countries on 5 continents.

Departing in January 2023, the voyage was available for booking as a roundtrip from either Civitavecchia-Rome, Genoa, Marseille or Barcelona. It also featured a Transatlantic crossing and a Suez Canal transit.

Prices started from USD 30200 per person with double occupancy.

World Voyage 2023 was also available for booking in smaller segments.

• (Jan 5) from Genoa to Sydney NSW (72 days) and to Singapore (93 days)
• (Jan 6) from Marseille to Valparaiso-Santiago (35 days) and to Sydney (71 days)
• (Jan 7) from Barcelona to Valparaiso-Santiago (34 days) and to Sydney (70 days)
• (Jan 26) from Buenos Aires to Sydney (51 days)
• (Feb 10) from Valparaiso-Santiago to Sydney (36 days) and to Civitavecchia-Rome (79 days)
• (Mar 18) from Sydney Australia to Singapore (21 days), to Civitavecchia-Rome (43 days), to Genoa (44 days) and to Barcelona (46 days)
• (Apr 8) from Singapore to Civitavecchia-Rome (22 days) and to Genoa (23 days)

MSC World Cruise 2020

In October 2017, MSC announced a second "around the world" voyage on Magnifica. Departing in January 2020, the itinerary had planned a total of 40 ports of call in 23 countries on 5 continents. The 3-month long voyage was available for booking as a roundtrip from either Civitavecchia-Rome, Genoa, Marseille or Barcelona. It also featured a Transatlantic crossing and a Suez Canal transit.

The next table shows the 116-day "MSC World Cruise 2020" itinerary as planned ports of call and port stay times (arrival/departure).

Due to the global Coronavirus pandemic, the itinerary was altered (the voyage was subsequently canceled) as on March 14th MSC suspended cruise shipping operations fleetwide and globally.

World Voyage 2020 was also offered as 116-day roundtrips from Genoa (January 5 through April 30), from Marseille (January 6 - May 1) and from Barcelona (January 7 - May 2).

For the voyage, MSC hired the renowned restaurateurs and celebrity chefs Ramon Freixa (Spanish), Christophe Krywonis (French), Harald Wohlfahrt (German), Roy Yamaguchi (Japanese-American), Serge Dansereau (French-Canadian), Vikas Khanna (Indian-American), Jereme Leung (Singaporean), Allan Vila Espejo (Brazilian), Jorge Rausch Wolman (Colombian), James Berckemeyer Anderson (Peruvian).

MSC World Cruise 2019

In November 2016, MSC announced its first-ever world cruise on Magnifica, departing from Genoa on January 5, 2019.

The 119-day itinerary included a total of 49 ports in 32 different countries. MSC arranged extended stays in ports that no other cruise companies offer, including 4 full days in Polynesia, 3 full days in both San Francisco and Hawaii, and 2 full days in Los Angeles.

For the 118-day "MSC World Cruise 2019" (two departures - January 5th roundtrip from Genoa, and January 6th roundtrip from Marseille), MSC hired the celebrity chefs Ramon Freixa (Spain), Vikas Khanna (India), Carlo Cracco (Italy), Jean-Philippe Maury (France), Jereme Leung (China), Allan Vila Espejo (Brazil), Jorge Rausch (Colombia), Serge Dansereau (Canada).

Each chef developed one 3- or 4-course menu during a themed evening. The exclusive meals also allowed passengers to meet and interact with celebrities.