MSC Cruises reinstates Dubai and Red Sea on MSC Magnifica 2028 World Cruise

MSC Cruises has confirmed the reinstatement of Dubai and the Red Sea as part of its 2028 World Cruise itinerary, with sales now open for the 115-night voyage aboard MSC Magnifica.

The 2028 MSC World Cruise is scheduled to depart in January 2028 and will visit more than 40 destinations across 29 countries, spanning the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Pacific, Australasia, Asia, and the Middle East.

The voyage will include seven overnight calls, allowing extended time ashore in destinations including Lima, Papeete, Sydney, and Hanoi, and features a combination of first-time calls and returning ports, blending established guest favourites with less frequently visited destinations.

Among the ports confirmed to return to the itinerary are Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas, and Sydney, Australia.

The route includes several destinations making their debut on an MSC World Cruise.

These include Nuku’alofa in Tonga, Manta in Ecuador, Arica in Chile, Callao in Peru, Chan May in Vietnam, Sihanoukville in Cambodia, and Grand Turk Island in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The cruise will also call at Hanga Roa on Easter Island and Puerto Limón in Costa Rica, with the full itinerary incorporating a transit of the Panama Canal.

MSC Cruises said the 2028 sailing will be operated by MSC Magnifica, which has recently undergone refurbishment ahead of the world cruise programme.

The ship will feature the MSC Yacht Club, the line’s luxury ship-within-a-ship concept, offering suite accommodation, private facilities, and personalised services alongside access to the ship’s main amenities.

The company confirmed that bookings are open with multiple embarkation options available in early January 2028.

Guests may join the voyage from Civitavecchia, Genoa, Marseille, or Barcelona on January 4th, 5th, 6^th, or 7th respectively.

The cruise fare includes a package of shore excursions, a beverage package covering selected drinks served at lunch and dinner, and a discount on laundry services. MSC Voyager Club members at Classic level and above will also receive a booking discount, with loyalty points earned on the sailing tripled and credited prior to departure.

MSC Magnifica offers five restaurants and 12 bars, along with a theatre, casino, panoramic lounges, spa, and fitness facilities. The addition of the MSC Yacht Club for the 2028 World Cruise represents the first time this concept has been offered on the ship for a global itinerary.

The reinstatement of Dubai and the Red Sea restores a Middle East component that had been absent from previous world cruise itineraries, reconnecting the itinerary with a region that has historically formed part of MSC Cruises’ long-haul deployment strategy.