MSC Cruises has announced that a second ship, MSC Magnifica, will be added to its 2023 World Cruise program for 2023.

MSC Magnifica will join MSC Poesia, which was earlier confirmed to sail a World Cruise in 2023, after her 2022 World Cruise was cancelled due to the pandemic.

MSC Magnifica will join MSC Poesia on a World Cruise for 2023.

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MSC Poesia and MSC Magnifica will both depart January 4th from Civitavecchia (Rome), but will cruise in opposite directions.

MSC Magnifica will replicate the same itinerary that was supposed to be performed by the Poesia for the MSC World Cruise 2022, while MSC Poesia will sail a new itinerary.

Both ships will offer the Mediterranean ports of Civitavecchia (January 4th), Genoa (January 5th), Marseille, France (January 6th) and Barcelona, Spain (January 7th), as embarkation ports.

MSC says it will sail a double World Cruise in 2023 due to the forced cancellation of its 2022 voyage.

Once through the Mediterranean and into the Atlantic, they’ll part ways, with MSC Magnifica circumnavigating South America, crossing the South Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea and then sailing through the Suez Canal back into 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 Cruises says the decision to sail a simultaneous World Cruise in 2023 is a result of its having to cancel the 2022 World Cruise due to so many ports still imposing travel restrictions for international tourists.

MSC Poesia

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“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,” said Gianni Onorato, CEO of 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,” he added.

MSC Magnifica sailed MSC Cruises’ first ever World Cruise back in 2019. Sales for her itinerary in 2023 are now open, with guests booked on the MSC World Cruise 2022 being given priority to transfer to the ship.

For those guests who move their booking to 2023, the guest will be able to book a complimentary cruise between Jan. 1 and May 3, 2022, so that they can still enjoy a cruise holiday during this period, MSC said.

Highlights of MSC Magnifica’s 2023 World Cruise

MSC Magnifica will visit 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.

The price of the MSC Magnifica world cruise includes a beverage package, 15 shore excursions, 30 percent discount on laundry, the cruise line said.

Starting in the Mediterranean the ship will head southwest with calls in Lisbon, Portugal and Funchal on the island of Madeira then on to Mindelo, Cape Verde, where the ship will cross the equator, arriving to South America.

In South America, 11 destinations will be visited across Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile including two days in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Ushuaia, Argentina.

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

The voyage experience continues with the secluded beaches of Lifou and Mare islands in New Caledonia, Alotau, then Papua New Guinea before heading to the island of Lombok in Indonesia, then Singapore and Port Klang for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Before reaching the Suez Canal transit, guests will visit destinations including Colombo, Sri Lanka and two days in Mumbai, India, before reaching Salalah, Oman and Aqaba, Jordan for the ancient site of Petra.

With no more than four consecutive sea days, guests will enjoy a total of 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).