Thousands Impacted as MSC Poesia Cancels February ...

Visitors booked on the final crusing of MSC Cruises’ MSC Poesia earlier than the deliberate February dry dock have been notified that their cruise is now cancelled.

The ten-night crusing was to have departed Southampton, UK on Friday, February 13, 2026, with visits to Lisbon, Cadiz, Barcelona, Marseille, and Rome earlier than arriving in Malta on Monday, February 23.

Now, nevertheless, that voyage is cancelled, together with all embarkation factors alongside the best way because the ship heads for dry dock.

“Regrettably, resulting from operational causes affecting the deployment of MSC Poesia, we now have needed to cancel the scheduled cruise departing on 2/13/2026 from Southampton/London, United Kingdom,” the notification email confirmed.

MSC Cruises is providing compensation to visitors whose cruise plans at the moment are sadly cancelled.

First, all impacted vacationers will obtain a full refund again to their authentic type of fee. Moreover, visitors are additionally being provided a credit score they’ll use towards a future MSC Cruises trip.

“As a gesture of goodwill, we’re happy to supply a Future Cruise Credit score equal to 50% of the cruise fare paid for the cancelled crusing,” the e-mail defined. “This credit score could also be utilized towards any future MSC Cruises crusing of your selection.”

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If visitors have cruise-related bills equivalent to flights or different pre- or post-travel preparations, they’ll submit proof of buy claims to the cruise line for reimbursement consideration as effectively.

It might take every week or two for refunds to be absolutely processed, relying on particular person banking establishment insurance policies. Contemplating MSC Poesia can welcome 2,550 visitors at double occupancy or as much as 3,605 vacationers when absolutely booked, it might take a while to course of all the mandatory refunds.

Why the Final Minute Cancellation?

Whereas MSC Cruises has not definitively said why the crusing has been cancelled, it’s doable the ship’s upcoming dry dock on the Palumbo Shipyard in Malta must be adjusted.

MSC Poesia is slated for dry dock refreshment from February 23 via April 5, along with her subsequent cruise scheduled to depart from Rome on April 6.

It’s doable that the shipyard’s schedule has shifted considerably and the 92,627-gross-ton, Musica-class ship can now be accommodated sooner than anticipated.

The scheduling change might relate to labor expectations and the quantity of labor required, which might take extra time than initially anticipated.

It’s also doable that as a result of the ship can enter dry dock ahead of deliberate, she could also be completed along with her refurbishment ahead of anticipated. If that is so, MSC Cruises would possibly schedule new last-minute sailings because the ship reenters service, although this has not been confirmed.

As a result of shipyard schedules are sometimes set months, if not years, forward of deliberate ship renovations, it’s not uncommon for timing to be tweaked as dry dock dates strategy.

For instance, in April 2025, MSC Seashore had a similar cancellation for dry dock scheduling. That impacted cruise was resulting from depart on April 5, 2026 – giving vacationers a yr to regulate their journey plans to a special cruise.

What Work Will Be Performed?

The dry dock for MSC Poesia is without doubt one of the largest the cruise line has ever planned for an older ship. The unique MSC Yacht Membership will likely be added to the ship, in addition to two specialty eating places – the Butcher’s Minimize steakhouse and Kaito Sushi Bar. The brand new All-Stars Sports activities Bar may also be added to the ship.

The MSC Aurea Spa will likely be up to date with new tools for the very newest in health developments, with expansive ocean views for exercises with an ocean vibe.

Different refreshments to public areas, equivalent to up to date flooring or upholstery, up to date lighting, and new paint, are additionally seemingly. The ship’s hull could also be painted, and swimming pools or whirlpools might be refinished.

Technical updates to the ship’s methods are additionally seemingly to make sure she retains working as easily and safely as doable, incomplete compliance with essentially the most present environmental and security laws.