MSC Cruises has announced that MSC Virtuosa will continue to operate out of Southampton until 2023.
MSC Virtuosa returned to the UK in April 2022. In May 2021, she became the first vessel to operate no-fly cruises following the coronavirus outbreak.
Earlier this week, MSC announced that the 6,334-guest vessel will continue to offer cruises from Southampton until summer 2023. The schedule update comes as passengers face last-minute flight cancellations due to ongoing disruption at UK airports. The new itinerary programme will be the first time MSC has continuously operated one of its vessels from the UK.
Antonio Paradiso, Managing Director of MSC Cruises in the UK and Ireland, said, “Since MSC Virtuosa first came to the UK, the feedback from our guests has been incredible, and the ship has been a huge hit. The increased appetite for stress-free no-fly cruises out of the UK combined with the benefits of the new state-of-the-art Horizon Terminal has resulted in huge demand.”
“The continued deployment of one of our newest and most innovative ships out of the UK is just further proof of the continued importance of the UK market, which began with our first full ex-UK season back in 2018. Since then, we have gone from strength to strength, and we are committed to offering the best possible experience for our guests from the UK and Ireland.”
MSC launched MSC Virtuosa in 2020 as the latest ship in the Meraviglia class and “a vessel for all seasons”, with an impressive range of facilities to keep guests entertained all year round. Highlights include the MSC Starship Club, a futuristic bar featuring Rob, the first humanoid bartender at sea; Galleria Virtuosa, an indoor promenade with an extensive collection of shops and restaurants; and five swimming pools, including one of the biggest, most interactive waterparks known to any vessel.
MSC Virtuosa will replace MSC Preziosa in winter 2022, kick-starting the season with the highly sought-after “Northern Pearls” itinerary. The series of seven-night sailings will call on Northern Europe’s most popular destinations, including Hamburg, Germany; Zeebrugge, Bruges; Brussels, Belgium; Rotterdam, the Netherlands and Le Havre in Paris, France.
“MSC Virtuosa’s deployment for winter will see us increase our capacity for the season and provide an even more attractive offering for our guests looking for a winter break without having to take a flight”, Paradiso explained.
Following her season in the UK, MSC Virtuosa will replace MSC Grandiosa, offering a range of cruises worldwide, from mini voyages to much longer sailings.
Find out more
You can learn more about MSC Virtuosa via our blog, where she earned one of the top five spots for the most family-friendly cruise liners.
To find out which other lines offer cruises from the UK, please call our Voyage Consultants on 0800 008 6677.
