Date set for huge new cruise ship to sail from UK with 5,714 onboard

The UK will soon get a huge new cruise ship sailing routes to Spainand North Africa.

MSC, one of the largest cruise ship companies in the world, has announced that its Virtuosa vessel will be moving from the UK to the Mediterranean in Summer 2027.

Taking its place is the MSC Meraviglia, which will sail from Southampton from 18 May to 30 October 2027. She will offer 19 sailings ranging from six to 14 nights, visiting new destinations such as Ibiza, Gibraltar and Tangier in Morocco, as well as favourites such as the Canary Islands, Lisbon, Malaga and the Norwegian Fjords. There is also a new Baltic Sea sailing visiting Oslo, Fredericia and Copenhagen.

The MSC Meraviglia is approximately 316 meters long, with a beam width of 43 meters and a gross tonnage of 171,598 tons. The ship features 19 decks and can carry about 5,714 passengers.

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Some of the highlights of MSC Meraviglia include:

• Twelve dining venues – including Ocean Cay seafood restaurant as well as Hola! Tacos & Cantina, Butcher’s Cut steakhouse, Kaito Sushi, Teppanyaki and many more
• Twenty bars – 15 indoor and 5 outdoor bars including Edge Cocktail Bar, Champagne Bar and Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Cafe
• A packed schedule of Entertainment including pools, outdoor waterpark, MSC Formula Racer, flight simulator, bowling alley, and spectacular shows
• MSC Aurea Spa - A luxurious Balinese spa offering signature treatments and a thermal area to revitalise body and soul
• MSC Yacht Club – A secluded sanctuary, a luxury ‘ship within a ship’ that offers 24-hour butler and concierge service, premium drinks, elegant and spacious accommodation, 24h room service, and an exclusive restaurant, lounge and pool

MSC Virtuosa will complete her ex-UK Summer season in 2026, before moving to the Mediterranean for Summer 2027. From April to October 2027, Virtuosa will sail from Barcelona, visiting La Goulette, Palermo, Naples, Livorno, and Marseille.

Antonio Paradiso, VP of International Sales at MSC Cruises, said: “We want to give our customers new experiences, so it’s wonderful that MSC Meraviglia is sailing from the UK in Summer 2027. She’s a beautiful ship, and part of the same family as MSC Virtuosa. Customers have told us that they want longer sailings, so we are offering 6-14 night holidays visting new destinations including Ibizia, Gibraltar and Tangier in Morocco, as well as favourite destinations in the Mediterranean and Norwegian Fjords.

"MSC Virtuosa, one of our most popular ships, will sail in the Western Mediterranean in Summer 2027. We’re seeing strong demand from UK customers for Mediterranean cruises, so having MSC Virtuosa there for Summer 2027 is a natural fit for us. We also offer great value Fly & Cruise prices with flights from many regional airports, so customers can relax knowing that flights, transfers and the cruise fare is all included in the price."

For those looking to get away in Winter 2026/27, MSC Preziosa will be back in the UK doing the longest season yet from Southampton, replacing MSC Poesia.