Repositioning Cruises with MSC Cruises

What Is a Repositioning Cruise — and Why Book One?

When a cruise line moves a ship from one home port to another — typically at the turn of a season — it sells the crossing as a voyage in its own right. The result is a long, leisurely sailing across an ocean, at a price that reflects the fact that the ship needs to move regardless. MSC Cruises runs some of the most popular repositioning sailings available, with MSC Cruises itineraries concentrated on transatlantic crossings between Europe and South America. The crossings typically run between 12 and 121 nights, with a median of around 18 nights — long enough to feel like a genuine voyage rather than a short break.

The vast majority of these sailings are one-way, which is worth knowing before you book. You will arrive at your disembarkation port and need to make your own way home — usually by flight. Cruise1st can take care of that flight, the hotel either side and your transfers, so the whole journey sits on one booking rather than several.

Where Do MSC Repositioning Cruises Go?

Transatlantic sailings dominate the programme. Ships cross between European ports and South American destinations, with Rio de Janeiro, Santos (São Paulo) and Buenos Aires among the most common arrival points on the South American side. European embarkation ports include Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia), Marseille and Genoa. A smaller number of sailings form part of a longer world cruise itinerary, calling at ports across multiple continents.

If you are planning around a Florida departure or arrival, Miami and Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) are about half an hour apart — worth checking both for dates and prices, as each serves the wider Florida region.

A small share of sailings — around 4% — depart from UK ports. Southampton, Liverpool and Dover are all reachable by road or rail from most of Britain, so if you find a departure from home, no flight is needed at the start of your trip. On a one-way sailing that ends abroad, you will need a return flight, and our team can build that into the booking.

Which MSC Ships Sail These Routes?

Several well-known MSC ships carry the repositioning programme. Here is what each brings on board.

MSC Divina

Christened by Sophia Loren, MSC Divina carries a Swarovski crystal staircase and a Piazza designed by De Jorio — Italian glamour is part of the ship’s identity. The Infinity Pool at the stern appears to dissolve into the ocean horizon, making it one of the most dramatic pool settings at sea. The Pantheon Theatre delivers Broadway-scale productions, and there is also a Casino Veneziano, a 4D cinema and an F1 simulator on board. If you want to explore MSC Divina’s cabins and deck plans, the options run from a 16 m² Deluxe Inside cabin through to a 40 m² MSC Yacht Club Executive Suite with separate lounge and dining room.

MSC Musica

Launched in 2006 and renovated in 2024, MSC Musica is a 294-metre ship built around a three-tiered waterfall atrium. La Scala Theatre seats 1,200 guests for Broadway-style productions featuring song, dance and acrobatics every night. The dining line-up includes a Kaito Sushi Bar and, arriving November 2026, a Butcher’s Cut steakhouse, alongside the exclusive MSC Yacht Club. See the full range of MSC Musica cabin grades and deck plans — the 47 m² MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite sleeps 4 and comes with a separate living area and dining room.

MSC Virtuosa

Built in 2021, MSC Virtuosa is MSC’s Meraviglia-Plus flagship, home to Rob — the world’s first humanoid robotic bartender at sea. Seven speciality restaurants include Indochine (French-Vietnamese fusion), Butcher’s Cut steakhouse and two Kaito Japanese venues. The Savannah Aquapark, a 1,168 m² LED Galleria and Starlink internet throughout complete the picture. The exclusive MSC Yacht Club offers a ship-within-a-ship experience. Cabin choices for MSC Virtuosa are detailed on the MSC Virtuosa cabins and deck plans page:

• Inside — Deluxe Inside Cabin Fantastica: 17 m², sleeps 4. Five square metres larger than standard inside cabins.
• Ocean View — Ocean-view cabin FPO: 57 m², sleeps up to 10. The largest ocean-view option on board.
• Balcony — Suite with balcony D3x: 59 m², sleeps 4. A large private balcony and living area.
• Suite — MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite: 58 m², sleeps 4. A two-deck suite with separate bedroom and 2 walk-in wardrobes.

MSC Splendida

A classic 137,936-tonne Fantasia-class ship, MSC Splendida has 5 swimming pools and the adults-only Top 18 Solarium for those who want quiet sun deck space. The Strand Theatre runs variety shows nightly, and the ship’s 20 bars and lounges include The Purple Jazz Bar and Club 33. The MSC Yacht Club here comes with 24-hour butler service, a private pool deck and exclusive access to the L’Etoile gourmet restaurant. Browse MSC Splendida’s cabins and deck plans to see the full range.

MSC Magnifica

MSC Magnifica’s standout on-board feature is the MSC Aurea Spa, which includes a salt grotto and a Kneipp circuit — a wellness offering you will not find on other ships in this class. The Royal Theatre seats 1,200 for Broadway-calibre productions, and there is also a 4D cinema. The MSC Yacht Club provides a private sundeck, pool and dedicated restaurant with 24/7 butler service. Full cabin details are on the MSC Magnifica cabins and deck plans page.

MSC Seaview

If outdoor space matters to you, MSC Seaview was built with over 13,000 sq metres of open deck — the highest ratio in the MSC fleet. A 360° glass-railed Waterfront Promenade wraps the entire ship on Decks 7 and 8, giving you uninterrupted sea views as you walk. The Aqua Park has 5 waterslides, and the 120-metre zip line is the longest fitted to any cruise ship at sea. See MSC Seaview’s cabins and deck plans for the full grade breakdown.

Are There Any Current Deals on MSC Repositioning Cruises?

Fares on these sailings can be reduced by up to 10% from the price previously listed for that cabin grade — and across the sailings measured, that discount level is typical rather than exceptional. Fare types vary by sailing and can include flexible options such as last-minute offers and early-booking promotions, as well as all-inclusive packages that bundle drinks and dining from the outset. If you find a sailing that suits your dates, it is worth calling our team to check what is available — prices and inclusions can shift quickly on repositioning itineraries.

For those keeping an eye on budget, cheaper repositioning cruise options are also available, with prices from £751 pp*.

Make It a Complete Holiday

Because the great majority of these sailings end in a different country from where they start, most travellers need at least a flight home — and many choose to spend a few nights in their arrival city before flying. Our team can wrap all of that into one booking: flights, pre- or post-cruise hotels in cities such as Rio de Janeiro or Genoa, port transfers and travel insurance, all as part of a Cruise1st Package. That way you are not juggling separate bookings across different providers for what is, in practice, one holiday.

If you are departing from Southampton, you may also want to look at all cruises from Southampton or specifically MSC sailings from Southampton. World cruise departures from the same port are listed on the world cruises from Southampton page.

Which Other Cruise Lines Offer Repositioning Sailings?

MSC is not the only line making these crossings. Cunard, Princess Cruises and Costa Cruises all have repositioning sailings available, and you can browse the broader repositioning cruises programme across all lines. If you are specifically considering P&O, there are dedicated pages for P&O repositioning cruises in 2027 and P&O repositioning cruises in 2028. For 2027 transatlantic sailings across all lines, the transatlantic cruises 2027 page brings them together in one place.

Cruise1st is rated 4.5/5 on Trustpilot from over 7,000 reviews, and all bookings are ABTA and ATOL protected. Our cruise experts are on hand to talk through any of these sailings — whether you are comparing ships, cabin grades or fare inclusions — before you commit to anything.

*Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing, and are subject to change. This price is not kept up to date and therefore does not reflect live pricing and availability. Prices and any discounts shown were checked on 14 October 2026.

Where a discount is shown, it is a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing, not a comparison between cabin grades or against a brochure rate. Discounts and prices shown are not kept up to date: the reduction available now may be smaller, or may have ended, and prices may have changed.