The renovation of the MSC Magnifica begins at the shipyard in Malta
The ship is one of two Musica-class vessels that will receive significant upgrades at the Maltese shipyard, including the installation of the MSC Yacht Club and the renovation of other spaces
Modernization work has begun on MSC Cruises' MSC Magnifica, marking the start of a broad program of improvements that underscores the company's continued investment in enhancing the guest experience across its fleet.
The MSC Magnifica has been in service since 2010 and is the first of two Musica Class ships to enter dry dock at the Palumbo Malta Shipyard in Malta for such modernization.
The ship will incorporate the MSC Yacht Club with 63 new suites, two new specialty restaurants — Butcher's Cut and Kaito Sushi Bar — along with a renovated MSC Aurea Spa and a fully equipped Technogym® fitness center, which will include a barbershop for gentlemen, different training studios and an outdoor Aurea area.
The work is expected to be completed in December, and the full MSC Yacht Club experience will be available in the European summer of 2026, when the MSC Magnifica sails itineraries around Northern Europe.
MSC Cruises CEO Gianni Onorato stated: “These enhancements underscore our commitment to providing guests with the best possible experience and facilities across our entire fleet. By incorporating our MSC Yacht Club into these ships—along with new restaurants, fitness centers, and wellness spaces—we are offering guests more exclusivity and choices than ever before. The MSC Yacht Club is one of our most highly regarded products, renowned for its exceptional service, elegant spaces, and exclusive amenities, and we are proud to bring this experience to MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia, just in time for our inaugural Alaskan season and MSC World Cruise 2027.”
The ship of the same class, MSC Poesia, will then enter dry dock at the same shipyard in February 2026 for its own upgrades, including the MSC Yacht Club with 69 suites and an All-Stars Sports Bar, as well as the same specialty restaurants, gym, and renovated spa that will be incorporated into the MSC Magnifica. It will be ready to rejoin the fleet in time for its Alaskan debut in May 2026.
These upgrades align with MSC Cruises' commitment to enhancing the guest experience across its fleet, ensuring that both the MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia continue to offer modern amenities and high-quality service. They represent the most extensive modernization and refurbishment projects undertaken by the company in the last decade, entirely designed and managed in-house by MSC Cruises' Technical Department.
The Palumbo Malta Shipyard is a strategic center for the maintenance of the MSC Cruises fleet and for high-quality ship refurbishment projects in Europe.
The MSC Magnifica will depart from Warnemünde, Germany, on May 16, 2026, for Northern Europe, visiting Denmark, the Baltic countries, Scandinavia, and Finland, before offering 3- to 8-night Mediterranean cruises later in the year, with ports of call including Barcelona, Civitavecchia (for Rome), and Marseille. It will then embark on the MSC World Cruise 2027, where the MSC Yacht Club will make its debut on this 121-night voyage visiting 45 spectacular destinations in 25 countries.
The MSC Poesia will offer seven-night cruises from Seattle between May and September 2026, before offering round-trip itineraries from Miami to the Caribbean in the North American winter of 2026/2027, including Jamaica, Colombia, Costa Rica, Aruba, Curacao and Belize.
The MSC Yacht Club suites on the MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia are now available to book.
Source: MSC Cruises.