MSC Cruises is reshaping its 2026–27 South American winter season with a strategic fleet redesign and an upgraded luxury proposition that will see all ships in the region offer the line’s signature ship within a ship enclave, the MSC Yacht Club.

The overhaul, which includes the redeployment of MSC Lirica and a refit driven refresh of MSC Musica and her sister ships, signals a decisive move upmarket in one of the company’s fastest growing source markets.

Guests enjoying luxury cruise departure from Rio de Janeiro on MSC Yacht Club sundeck.

More News

MSC Redraws Its South America 2026–27 Playbook

In a communication to trade partners dated February 4, 2026, MSC Cruises confirmed that its original five ship deployment for the 2026–27 South American winter season is being significantly revised. The most visible change is the withdrawal of MSC Lirica from the region, a 2003 built vessel that had been slated to operate a mix of Brazilian coastal and transatlantic sailings.

The Lirica’s removal from the South American schedule comes as part of a broader recalibration of capacity and onboard product, as the line leans harder into premium and luxury segments. MSC executives have framed the 2026–27 season as the beginning of a “new phase” in the region, with fewer ships but a stronger emphasis on differentiated experiences and higher yielding cabins, particularly within the MSC Yacht Club.

The revised deployment keeps four core ships in dedicated South American service, supported by calls from the globe circling MSC Magnifica, which will visit both Brazil and Argentina during her world cruise. By concentrating investment in these vessels, the company aims to elevate the overall standard of hardware available to South American guests while preserving breadth of itinerary choice.

MSC Lirica Redeployed as Musica Class Ships Enter Refit Cycle

The most immediate operational shift involves MSC Lirica, which will now spend the 2026–27 winter season in the Mediterranean instead of South America. All cruises previously scheduled for the ship between December 2026 and March 2027, including her transatlantic crossings between Europe and Brazil, have been cancelled, with affected guests being contacted by the line and travel agents.

Lirica had been scheduled to sail from Brazilian ports such as Paranaguá, Itajaí and Rio de Janeiro on a series of three to seven night itineraries. Her removal is tied directly to an extensive refit program for the Musica class vessels, including MSC Musica herself, which will temporarily reduce ship availability and force a rebalancing of capacity.

According to industry communications, the refit program is designed not only to refresh public spaces and cabins, but also to align onboard offerings more closely with the company’s latest standards across dining, wellness and technology. By repositioning Lirica to the Mediterranean, MSC can maintain network coverage there while freeing up other tonnage and shipyard slots for the Musica class upgrades.

The redeployment continues a pattern seen in earlier seasons, when MSC Sinfonia stepped in for Lirica in South America for 2025–26, underscoring how the company is using its mid sized ships as a flexible buffer to manage a complex global refit and deployment schedule.

Yacht Club Across the Board Marks a New Luxury Benchmark

Central to MSC’s South American rethink is a major step change in its onboard luxury proposition. With Lirica leaving the lineup and Musica undergoing a scheduled refit, the company has confirmed that, for the first time, every ship dedicated to the South American program in 2026–27 will feature the MSC Yacht Club product.

The Yacht Club, first introduced in 2008, is MSC’s answer to the growing demand for ship within a ship concepts, combining private suites, a dedicated restaurant, exclusive lounge, pool and deck areas and butler service within a larger resort style vessel. Extending this enclave to all ships in South America positions the region squarely in line with the company’s most competitive offerings in Europe, North America and the Gulf.

For Brazilian, Argentine and Uruguayan guests, the move significantly broadens access to MSC’s top tier experience on itineraries close to home. For international cruisers drawn to South America’s summer season, it offers the option to pair marquee ports such as Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and Montevideo with a secluded, all inclusive style onboard environment that competes more directly with bespoke luxury brands.

The decision also dovetails with the rapid expansion of Explora Journeys, MSC Group’s dedicated luxury brand, whose ultra luxury ships are progressively entering service through 2028. While Explora focuses on smaller ship, destination immersive voyages at a considerably higher price point, the enrichment of Yacht Club in South America serves as a bridging product for guests trading up from mainstream cabins to a more exclusive experience.

Reworked Itineraries From Santos, Rio, Buenos Aires and Montevideo

While the removal of MSC Lirica simplifies the fleet picture, MSC has opted against shrinking the variety of routes available in the region. Instead, it has reprogrammed the remaining ships to deliver a broader spread of embarkation ports and cruise lengths across Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

MSC Musica, originally planned to focus primarily on short cruises from Santos, will operate a more diverse portfolio once she returns from refit. The ship will now sail a mix of itineraries departing from Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Itajaí and Paranaguá, extending her reach along the Brazilian coast and absorbing some of the capacity initially associated with Lirica.

MSC Virtuosa, one of the line’s newest and largest ships, is scheduled to operate seven night itineraries from Santos with calls in Salvador and Maceió, marking her first dedicated season in South America. The deployment introduces the latest Meraviglia class hardware to Brazilian guests and is expected to be a headline draw for the 2026–27 season.

MSC Divina will continue to offer a blend of short breaks and longer voyages from Santos and Balneário Camboriú, with itineraries reaching Argentina and Uruguay. Meanwhile, MSC Splendida will remain focused on the River Plate, sailing from Buenos Aires and Montevideo on a series of itineraries along the Brazilian coast, retaining a strong presence in the Argentine and Uruguayan markets.

South America Positioned Within MSC’s Global Growth Strategy

The reshaped South American season comes as MSC Cruises executes an aggressive global growth plan, characterized by newbuild deliveries, a ramp up in North American deployment and the rapid scaling of Explora Journeys. For the winter 2026–27 period, the line has already announced seven ships sailing from U.S. ports, including the LNG powered MSC World America and new deployments from Miami, Port Canaveral, New York and Galveston.

Within this context, South America remains both a key source market and an increasingly important destination for round the world itineraries. MSC Magnifica’s 2027 world cruise, which will include overnight calls in Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, underscores how the region is being woven into the company’s flagship global products rather than operating in isolation.

Industry analysts note that the decision to concentrate on newer or recently refurbished ships with Yacht Club access in South America suggests MSC is comfortable sacrificing some raw berth capacity in exchange for higher revenue per passenger. The strategy mirrors moves in other regions where mid sized tonnage has been redeployed in favor of larger, more amenity rich vessels that can support multiple guest segments.

The operational complexity of rerouting Lirica and reconfiguring Musica’s schedule is being framed by the company as a near term disruption in service of long term brand positioning. Travel agents across Brazil and the wider region are being briefed on the changes, with an emphasis on upgraded hardware and enhanced luxury options as key selling points.

What Guests Can Expect From the Upgraded Onboard Experience

For guests already booked or considering a cruise in South America during the 2026–27 season, the revised deployment will be felt most keenly in the onboard experience. The ships remaining in the program, all featuring MSC Yacht Club, will offer a more consistent standard of accommodation, dining, entertainment and wellness facilities across the region.

Onboard enhancements linked to the refits are expected to include refreshed cabins and suites, updated specialty restaurants, expanded family and children’s areas, and technology upgrades to support MSC’s latest digital tools for booking, dining and excursions. Public spaces on Musica and her sisters are anticipated to be harmonized with the look and feel of newer ships, narrowing the gap between different classes of vessels in the fleet.

Within the Yacht Club, guests can anticipate private sun decks, dedicated pools, all day gourmet dining, premium beverage options and personalized concierge and butler service. The enclave’s position high on the ship often translates into expansive views for sailaways from Rio’s Guanabara Bay, the beaches of Santa Catarina or the skyline of Buenos Aires.

For non Yacht Club guests, the broader refresh should result in more contemporary bars and lounges, improved buffet layouts, and better integration between indoor and outdoor spaces, an increasingly important feature for warm weather cruising along the Brazilian coast. Entertainment programs are expected to highlight South American music and dance, blending local culture with MSC’s established production shows.

Impact on Bookings, Trade Partners and Regional Tourism

The cancellation of MSC Lirica’s South American program inevitably affects guests who had already booked itineraries from ports such as Paranaguá and Itajaí. Travel agents report that rebooking efforts are under way, with many passengers being offered alternative sailings on Musica, Divina, Virtuosa or Splendida, depending on their preferred dates and ports of embarkation.

Some smaller ports may see fewer direct departures in the short term as capacity is consolidated onto a reduced number of ships. However, the expanded reach of Musica’s new schedule, together with itineraries offered by Divina and Splendida, is expected to preserve a wide selection of embarkation points across Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

Regional tourism stakeholders are watching closely as the new season takes shape. Larger, more modern ships with higher onboard spending potential can translate into increased revenue for destination ports, even if total passenger numbers remain stable or grow modestly. Overnight calls, particularly in marquee cities, are of special interest to local hotels, restaurants and tour operators.

For TheTraveler.org readers considering South America as a cruise destination during the Southern Hemisphere summer of 2026–27, the message is one of change but also of opportunity. While some original itineraries will no longer be available, the quality of ships in the region is set to rise, and the presence of Yacht Club on every vessel brings a new level of choice to one of the most scenic cruise markets in the world.

FAQ

Q1. What is the main change MSC Cruises has announced for the 2026–27 South American season?
The main change is the redeployment of MSC Lirica out of South America and a redesigned fleet plan that ensures all ships remaining in the region will feature the MSC Yacht Club, elevating the overall standard of the onboard product.

Q2. Why was MSC Lirica removed from the South American lineup?
MSC Lirica was withdrawn to accommodate broader fleet deployment needs and to support a refit program for Musica class ships, with the goal of concentrating more modern, Yacht Club equipped vessels in South America for 2026–27.

Q3. What happens to guests who had bookings on MSC Lirica in South America?
All previously scheduled South American and transatlantic cruises on MSC Lirica for winter 2026–27 have been cancelled, and affected guests are being offered assistance through MSC and their travel agents to rebook on alternative ships or request refunds, depending on fare conditions.

Q4. Which ships will now be sailing in South America for the 2026–27 season?
The revised program centers on MSC Virtuosa, MSC Divina, MSC Splendida and MSC Musica, with additional calls from the world cruising MSC Magnifica, creating a mix of modern and upgraded vessels deployed across Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

Q5. Will all of these ships offer the MSC Yacht Club experience?
Yes, MSC has confirmed that for the first time every ship dedicated to the South American season in 2026–27 will offer the MSC Yacht Club, its ship within a ship luxury enclave featuring private suites, a dedicated restaurant, exclusive decks and butler service.

Q6. How are itineraries changing from Brazilian ports like Santos and Rio de Janeiro?
Itineraries from Santos and Rio de Janeiro are being restructured, with MSC Musica taking on a broader mix of routes from multiple ports and MSC Virtuosa and MSC Divina offering seven night and short break sailings along the Brazilian coast and to neighboring countries.

Q7. Are Argentina and Uruguay still included in the new deployment?
Yes, Argentina and Uruguay remain central to MSC’s South American program, with MSC Splendida based in Buenos Aires and Montevideo for cruises along the Brazilian coast, and world cruise calls from MSC Magnifica adding further high profile visits.

Q8. How does this move fit into MSC Cruises’ wider global strategy?
The South American redesign aligns with MSC’s global strategy of deploying newer or recently upgraded ships to key markets, expanding its luxury and premium offerings, and integrating regions like South America into marquee products such as world cruises and expanded North American deployments.

Q9. What can guests expect from the refitted Musica class ships?
Guests can expect refreshed cabins and public areas, updated specialty dining concepts, enhanced family and wellness facilities and upgraded technology, all aimed at bringing Musica class ships closer in feel to MSC’s latest vessels while supporting a stronger Yacht Club experience.

Q10. Is now a good time to book a South American cruise for 2026–27?
For travelers seeking newer hardware and expanded luxury options, the 2026–27 season is a compelling proposition, but early booking is advisable as itinerary changes and the consolidation of capacity onto fewer, more in demand ships could limit availability on peak holiday and festival departures.