A new massive cruise ship will soon set sail from the UK to travel to Spain and North Africa. MSC, a leading global cruise company, has revealed that its Virtuosa ship will be relocating from the UK to the Mediterranean in the summer of 2027.
Replacing the Virtuosa will be the MSC Meraviglia, departing from Southampton between May 18 and October 30, 2027. The ship will offer 19 voyages ranging from six to 14 nights, with stops at various destinations including Ibiza, Gibraltar, Tangier in Morocco, as well as popular spots like the Canary Islands, Lisbon, Malaga, and the Norwegian Fjords. Additionally, a new Baltic Sea route will include visits to Oslo, Fredericia, and Copenhagen.
Measuring about 316 meters long, with a beam width of 43 meters and a gross tonnage of 171,598 tons, the MSC Meraviglia features 19 decks and has a passenger capacity of approximately 5,714.
The MSC Virtuosa will wrap up its UK summer season in 2026 before transitioning to the Mediterranean for the summer of 2027. During the period from April to October 2027, the Virtuosa will depart from Barcelona, making stops at La Goulette, Palermo, Naples, Livorno, and Marseille.
Antonio Paradiso, MSC Cruises’ Vice President of International Sales, expressed excitement about the upcoming sailings, emphasizing the demand for extended cruise experiences. He highlighted the inclusion of new destinations like Ibiza, Gibraltar, and Tangier, alongside beloved Mediterranean and Norwegian Fjords stops.
For winter 2026/27, MSC Preziosa will extend its UK season from Southampton, taking over from MSC Poesia for its lengthiest stint yet.
