MSC Cruises Readies for Year-Round Presence From D...

MSC Cruises is gearing as much as deploy its MSC Opera to the Southern Caribbean on a year-round foundation beginning in November 2026.

The two,150-guest ship, a Lirica-class vessel that entered service in 2004, will start crusing 7- and 14-night cruises from La Romana, Dominican Republic, a rising port roughly 75 miles from the island’s capital, Santo Domingo.

Cruises could have few repeating ports, and the ship will embark company not solely in La Romana but additionally in different Southern Caribbean locations, together with Barbados and Martinique.

Operational particulars concerning the new deployment have been revealed by cruise line executives throughout a global business convention in Madrid on January 21, 2026.

“MSC Cruises first began calling within the Dominican Republic in 2014, so after greater than ten years it’s a proud a second for me to talk about our new homeporting providing in La Romana,” mentioned Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises.

“MSC Cruises is dedicated to the Dominican Republic and this new program for the long run,” Onorato added.

The cruise line estimates that its year-round deployment will convey 120,000 worldwide company to La Romana yearly, offering an financial boon to the area’s retailers, eating places, and native distributors. 

MSC Cruises initially disclosed its intention to have a year-round presence within the Caribbean in Might 2025.

A Second MSC Ship Will Sail Area Seasonally

MSC Opera’s new homeport represents the road’s first year-round presence within the Southern Caribbean. She is not going to be the one MSC Cruises’ ship within the area in the course of the 2026-27 winter season, since MSC Seaview might be crusing close by.

The 4,132-guest ship will be a part of MSC Opera on a seasonal foundation, providing 7- and 14-night voyages roundtrip from Guadeloupe, Barbados, and Martinique.

MSC Opera’s first roundtrip cruise from La Romana will depart on November 16, 2026, and name at Catalina Island, Dominican Republic; Bridgetown, Barbados; Fort de France, Martinique; Pointe A Pitre, Guadeloupe; and Tortola, BVI.

The ship will embark extra company throughout her name in Martinique on November 20, 2026, and start a 14-night itinerary. Passengers who booked the 7-night journey will debark in La Romana on November 23, 2026, whereas these on the 14-night itinerary will proceed on to locations corresponding to Samana, Dominican Republic; Virgin Gorda, BVI; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Catalina Island; and Bridgetown, Barbados.

Learn Additionally: Eastern vs. Western Caribbean Cruise: Which Will I Prefer?

Equally, company can be a part of the ship in Barbados and start their 14-night cruise from there, with port calls to La Romana and different Southern Caribbean islands. Like different European-based cruise strains, MSC Cruises provides a number of embarkation ports within the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.

Excursions Promise a Mixture of Pure Sights

In its newest announcement, MSC Cruises additionally detailed a few of the points of interest that company crusing on MSC Opera will be capable to expertise as she plies the Southern Caribbean.

In La Romana, as an illustration, company can discover the Sixteenth-century village of Altos de Chavon, and from Catalina Island, they’ll e-book an tour to Saona Island, which is a part of the Cotubanamá Nationwide Park and well-known for its pristine coral reefs.

Friends visiting Virgin Gorda can hike Gorda Peak Nationwide Park and swim on the well-known Baths, a pure attraction recognized for its caves, grottos, and big granite boulders.

In Martinique, company can go to rum distilleries, discover rainforests, or simply loosen up at one in all many seashores.

The Dominican Republic is a vigorous cruise vacation spot and has a number of ports, with the primary one being La Romana, Santo Domingo, and Puerto Plata, residence to Amber Cove.

MSC Cruises just isn’t alone in increasing its presence within the vacation spot. Competitor line Costa Cruises deployed its 3,800-guest Costa Fascinosa at Santo Domingo beginning in December 2025, nevertheless, it’s a seasonal homeporting.