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MSC Magnifica joins MSC Poesia in 2023 world cruise; 2022 world sailing cancelled

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A rendering of MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia sailing side by side in 2023
MSC Poesia’s 2022 world cruise has been cancelled owing to continuing port restrictions - but MSC Magnifica will join MSC Poesia in sailing an around the world cruise in 2023 with bookings now open.

Both vessels are to sail simultaneously from Civitavecchia, Rome on January 4, 2023 albeit on different itineraries. MSC Magnifica will replicate the same programme that was intended for MSC Poesia next year.

‘We had no choice’

‘Unfortunately, we had no choice but to cancel the 2022 MSC World Cruise but we know that a world cruise really is the voyage of a lifetime for many people and so it was important to us to offer the best possible solution for our loyal guests,’ explained Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises.

MSC Poesia’s world cruise in 2023 was already sold out and so we worked to amend MSC Magnifica’s schedule – a popular world cruise ship – so that we are able to offer the same itinerary as 2022, only one year later, with the ship departing on the same date and calling at all of the same planned ports.’

More than 5,000 passengers to set sail

The two ships will host more than 5,000 passengers with embarkation in Civitavecchia, as well as Genoa on Jan. 5, Marseille, France on Jan. 6 and Barcelona, Spain on Jan. 7. 

The two ships part ways in the Atlantic Ocean after crossing the Mediterranean Sea; MSC Poesia will transit the Panama Canal and travel up the West Coast of Central America and North America whilst moving on to the Pacific Ocean and then an extended period in Asia. Crossing the Indian Ocean, the ship will then return to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal.

MSC Magnifica will circumnavigate South America, cross the South Pacific Ocean then on to the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea and then through the Suez Canal back into the Mediterranean.

MSC Magnifica

MSC Magnifica will call at 43 destinations in 24 countries with more than 25 UNESCO World Heritage sites across five continents. The 117-day voyage offers nine extended overnight stays and the ship will cross the equator twice.

Starting in the Med, the ship will head south west with calls in Lisbon, Portugal and Funchal, Madeira then on to Mindelo, Cape Verde where the ship will cross the equator, arriving in to South America.

11 destinations then await across Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile including two days in each of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argenta.

Departing South America and crossing the South Pacific Ocean, passengers will visit Tahiti, French Polynesia and Rarotonga and Aitutaki of the Cook Islands. After that the itinerary continues to New Zealand and Australia for destinations including Auckland, Napier and Wellington, as well as two days in Sydney.

MSC Magnifica will reach the beaches of Lifou and Mare islands in New Caledonia, Alotau and Papua New Guinea before heading to the island of Lombok in Indonesia, Singapore and Port Klang for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Prior to reaching the Suez Canal, passengers will experience Colombo, Sri Lanka and two days in Mumbai, India, before visiting Salalah, Oman and Aqaba, Jordan for Petra.

No more than four sea days

With no more than four consecutive sea days, passengers will experience nine overnight calls in ports including Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ushuaia , Argentina, Valparaiso, Chile, Callao, Peru, Papeete, Tahiti, Sydney, Australia, Benoa, Indonesia and Mumbai, India.

15 shore excursions are included in the cost of the cruise ticket, which includes a beverage package and 30% discount on laundry.

Bookings

Passengers booked on the MSC World Cruise 2022 will be given priority for MSC Magnifica’s world sailing.

For passengers who move their booking to 2023, they will be able to book a complimentary cruise between 1 January and 3 May, 2022.