MSC Poesia

The 2008-built MSC Poesia cruise ship is the third of MSC Cruises’ Musica-class liners, with sisterships Musica, Orchestra, and Magnifica.

The vessel (IMO number 9387073) is currently Panama-flagged (MMSI 355931000) and registered in Colon.

History - construction and ownership

MSC Cruises (MSC Crociere) is a passenger shipping company headquartered in Genoa and Naples. Established in 1960, MSC Crociere is a subsidiary of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) — the world’s second largest containership company. MSC Crociere is also the world’s largest privately owned cruise company.

By annual passenger shipping volumes, MSC is ranked as the world’s third largest cruise shipowner, following Carnival Corporation and RCG-Royal Caribbean Group.

The 2500-passenger MSC Poesia features vibrant interior decor, including brass-railed staircases, an atrium waterfall, marble countertops, and a twinkling “starry sky” ceiling. For children, the ship offers a dinosaur-themed play area inspired by the Stone Age.

Decks and Cabins

MSC Poesia staterooms (1275 total, in 8 grades) include 18 Suites, 809 Balcony, 173 Oceanview, and 275 Inside cabins. Most staterooms measure 150–190 ft² / 14–18 m², and most balconies measure 40 ft² / 4 m². The largest accommodations are the Balcony Suites (270 ft² / 25 m² with a 50 ft² / 5 m² terrace).

The ship has 16 decks, of which 13 are passenger-accessible and 8 contain cabins.

MSC Poesia’s decks are named after famous Italian poets.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

MSC Poesia features two Main Dining Rooms and a selection of specialty bars. Grappe d’Or offers wine tasting accompanied by cheeses and live music, while the Mojito Bar provides additional wine-tasting experiences.

Below is the complete list of MSC Poesia restaurants and food bars:

• Le Fontane Restaurant (720 seats; open for breakfast, lunch, and two-seating dinner; Italian regional cuisine, 7-course dinner menu, vegetarian and vegan options)
• Il Palladio Restaurant (714-seat Main Dining Room; dinner only; two fixed seatings)
• Kaito Sushi Bar (54-seat Asian specialty restaurant; open for lunch and dinner)
• Villa Pompeiana Restaurant (472-seat self-service buffet and pizzeria; afternoon and occasional midnight buffets)
• Onboard Pizzeria (inside Villa Pompeiana; surcharge applies)
• L’Obelisco Restaurant (250-seat à la carte steak and seafood specialty restaurant within Villa Pompeiana)

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Entertainment on MSC Poesia includes multilingual productions in Teatro Carlo Felice, a casino, cinema, a large spa complex, and a library. Sports facilities include a fully equipped gym, two swimming pools, four Jacuzzis, and a sauna. Evening entertainment venues include the S32 Disco, Le Moulin Rouge Show Lounge, and an Internet café with a VR center.

Additional amenities include complimentary 24-hour room service, supervised children’s programs, Internet/WiFi access, and laundry services.

Below is the complete list of MSC Poesia lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults:

• Poesia Atrium (three-deck-high central area with live entertainment)
• La Rendez-Vous Bar (142-seat Atrium lobby bar; specialty coffees)
• Cybercafé (Internet room)
• Teatro Carlo Felice (1240-seat, two-level theater with grand-style productions and concerts; two nightly shows)
• The Zebra Lounge (439-seat bar and dance venue; hosts shows, bingo, trivia, aerobics)
• Bar Dei Poeti Café (220-seat specialty coffee bar)
• Bar Smeraldo (45-seat bar) and Giada Bar (45-seat cocktail bar)
• Casino Royal (222-seat casino with smoking area and full bar)
• Card Room and Library (board and card games)
• Il Grappolo d’Oro (120-seat wine bar)
• The Hitchcock Lounge (32-seat smoking lounge with full bar)
• Pigalle Lounge (330-seat show lounge; karaoke, dance competitions, game shows, cooking demos, occasional midnight buffets)
• Duty-Free Shop; MSC Logo Shop; Accessories Shop; L’Angolo Dei Poeti; Place Vendome Boutique; Lo Smeraldo; Le Parfum; Photo Gallery & Shop
• Via Delle Arti (art gallery)
• MSC Poesia Aurea Spa & Fitness (1160 m² complex with sauna, relaxation room, treatment rooms, thalassotherapy tubs, two whirlpools, aerobics/yoga studio, beauty salon, spa bar)
• Fitness Center (complimentary gym; fitness classes at surcharge)
• Coral Bay Pool (saltwater pool with two whirlpools; served by Pirana Bar)
• Cayo Levantado Pool (outdoor pool with two whirlpools; served by Mojito Bar)
• S32 Disco & Nightclub (172-seat venue with dance floor and bowling lanes; teen club by day)
• Teen Club (ages 13–17)
• I Dinosauri (children’s area); indoor/outdoor playrooms
• Video Games Arcade; Shuffleboard; Deck Quoits; 5-hole Mini-Golf Course
• Solarium (adults-only sun deck with two whirlpools)
• LED-Wall (outdoor screen for virtual games)
• Sports Center (multi-purpose court for volleyball, basketball, tennis)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track

Itineraries

MSC Poesia’s itinerary program is based on deployments in South America (homeporting in Santos), Southern Europe/Mediterranean (roundtrips from Genoa-Milano, Marseille, and Barcelona), and Northern Europe/Baltic Sea (homeporting in Warnemunde-Rostock and Copenhagen).

Poesia also operates affordable Transatlantic crossings between South America and Europe (RepositionCruises.com) and is one of MSC’s World Cruise ships, offering 100+ day Grand Voyages each January.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, MSC Poesia was paused for over two years (March 2020–May 2022), resuming operations on May 1 with a Europe–Mediterranean–Baltic repositioning itinerary.

In October 2024, MSC announced the company’s first Alaskan season (May–September 2026), scheduled for MSC Poesia.

• The Alaska program features 7-night roundtrip itineraries from Seattle, Washington, visiting Ketchikan, Icy Strait (Hoonah), Tracy Arm, Juneau, and Victoria, BC.
• Optional shore excursions include ATV tours, ziplining, whale watching, and cultural/culinary experiences.
• Fares started at GBP 679 (EUR 820 / USD 880 pp) or GBP 939 (EUR 1130 / USD 1220) with a drinks-inclusive package.

In addition to the Alaska voyages, MSC Poesia offers two Panama Canal repositioning itineraries between Seattle and Miami. The Alaska deployment also includes a 17-day Transatlantic crossing from Europe to the USA (Civitavecchia-Rome to Miami, April 6, 2026).

The vessel (STX France, Chantiers de l’Atlantique yard / hull number S32) has a volume of 92,627 GT, a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 10,561 tons, and a maximum draught of 7.9 m. The powerplant consists of Wartsila marine diesel engines (model W16V38B) with a combined output of 36.05 MW (48,340 hp). The registered shipowner is NEWCO S32 SA, while the registered manager is MSC MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING CO.

Poesia is MSC’s 3rd Musica-class liner (inaugural cruise April 19, 2008), with sisterships Magnifica, Musica, and Orchestra. Poesia was also the first MSC ship christened outside Italy (in Dover, England on April 5, 2008).

MSC Poesia’s most recent drydock refurbishment was completed in 2023 (December 2–20) at the Palumbo Group shipyard in Valletta, Malta. The project focused on routine maintenance (including hull cleaning and repainting) as well as classification inspections and testing.

MSC World Cruise 2024

In April 2022, MSC announced Poesia’s World Cruise 2024. The 121-day itinerary features 52 destinations across 31 countries, covering major travel regions such as the Mediterranean, Middle East, Red Sea, Africa, South America (Amazonia), the Caribbean, the USA and Canada, Greenland, and Iceland.

Due to unrest in the Middle East (Israel–Palestine conflict), scheduled port calls in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia were canceled.

The table below lists the voyage’s ports and times. Optional boarding was also offered from Port Genoa (January 5).

Prices started from USD 11900 per person with double occupancy.

The pricing included a total of 15 shore excursions and MSC's "Dine & Drink" package, as well as a 30% laundry services discount.

MSC World Cruise 2023

On November 9, 2020, MSC Cruises opened bookings for Poesia's "MSC World Cruise 2023". Signature destinations include Transatlantic crossing (visiting Madeira), Caribbean, Panama Canal and Suez Canal (full transits), Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico Riviera (Cabo, Vallarta), USA (San Diego, San Francisco, Hawaii), Maui, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand (Auckland), Australia (Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns), Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Japan, China (Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen), Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Oman, Jordan, UAE (Dubai), Greece (Heraklion Crete).

The 119-day / 118-night voyage departs on January 5, 2023, roundtrip from Genoa Italy (ends on May 3). Optional embarkation-debarkation (roundtrip) is also offered from Civitavecchia Italy (Jan 4), Marseille France (Jan 6) and Barcelona Spain (Jan 7).

The itinerary featured ~30,000 NM (34530 mi / 55,560 km) of cruising, crossing 24 time zones, 53 ports/destinations (including 7 port overnights) in 33 countries (6 continents).

118-day "World Cruise 2023" roundtrip from Rome/Port Civitavecchia

A total of 15 complimentary shore excursions/city tours were offered - in Funchal-Madeira, Cartagena Colombia, Puntarenas Costa Rica, San Diego (Harbor Cruise), San Francisco (city tour), Honolulu, Auckland NZ, Sydney NSW, Manila Philippines, Tokyo Japan, Busan Korea, Shanghai, DaNang Vietnam, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Dubai.

A price-inclusive amenity for all Bella and Fantastica staterooms included the "MSC Dine and Drink Package" - all beverages (during lunches and dinners) in Main Dining Rooms and the Lido Buffet. Beverages included wines (by the glass), draught beers, mineral water, fountain drinks (soda and fruit juices by the glass). All bookings also received 30% discount on all laundry services.

MSC World Cruise 2022

Following the cancellation of the planned for 2021 world voyage, MSC scheduled for Poesia the 117-day / 116-night "World Cruise 2022" roundtrip from Genoa. Like all MSC World Cruises, optional roundtrips were offered from Civitavecchia-Rome, Marseille and Barcelona.

Prices started from ~USD 15550 per person (with double occupancy).

A total of 15 complimentary shore excursions/city tours were offered - in Funchal-Madeira, Salvador Brazil, Rio De Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Valparaiso Chile, Arica Chile, Auckland NZ, Hobart Tasmania, Sydney NSW, Darwin NT, Benoa Bali, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Colombo Sri Lanka, Mumbai India.

MSC World Cruise 2021 (CANCELED)

In early-December 2018, MSC Cruises unveiled an epic Around The World voyage on MSC Poesia. Destinations included the Caribbean, South America, USA, Australia, New Zealand, East Asia (Japan, China) and Europe. The 119-day itinerary was planned to visit 53 ports/destinations in 33 different countries.

• "MSC World Cruise 2021" had to depart on January 5, 2021, roundtrip from Genoa and Civitavecchia-Rome.
• The first leg included Marseille, Barcelona, westbound Transatlantic crossing to the Caribbean, Panama Canal transition, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, San Francisco CA.
• The second leg (from San Francisco) visited Maui and Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, Auckland NZ, Sydney NSW, Cairns QLD, Great Barrier Reef, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Japan (during the cherry blossom season).
• After Kyoto, Tokyo, and Shanghai, the third leg visited Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Dubai, Oman, Jordan, followed the Suez Canal transition back to Europe (Mediterranean).

The cheapest fares started from GBP 11600 per person (twin-share inside cabin rates). The price included 15 shore excursions plus a drink package with alcohol included at all mealtimes.

However, due to the ongoing COVID crisis (international travel restrictions, country lockdowns, port closures), MSC Poesia's World Voyage 2021 was eventually canceled.