MSC Poesia

The 2008-built MSC Poesia cruise ship is the third of MSC Cruises/ Musica-class liners, with sisterships Musica, Orchestra, Magnifica.

The vessel (IMO number 9387073) is currently Panama-flagged (MMSI 355931000) and registered in Colon.

History - construction and ownership

MSC Cruises (MSC Crociere) is a passenger shipping company headquartered in Genoa and Naples. It was established in 1960. Today, MSC Crociere is a subsidiary of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) - the world's 2nd largest containership company. MSC Crociere is the world's largest privately-owned cruise company.

By annual passenger shipping volumes, MSC is ranked the world's 3rd largest cruise shipowner - following only Carnival Corporation and RCG-Royal Caribbean Group.

The 2500-passenger ship MSC Poesia features joyful decor, including staircases with brass handrails, a waterfall in the atrium, kitchen marbled countertops, twinkling lights on the movie ceiling. For kids' entertainment, there is a dinosaur-themed children area (with the Stone Age theme).

Decks and Cabins

MSC Poesia staterooms (1275 total, in 8 grades) include 18x Suites, 809x Balconies, 173x Oceanviews, 275x Inside. Most staterooms are sized 150-190 ft2 / 14-18 m2. Most cabin balconies are sized 40 ft2 / 4 m2. The largest are the Balcony Suites (270 ft2 / 25 m2 with terrace sized 50 ft2 / 5 m2).

The boat has 16 decks, of which 13 are passenger-accessible and 8 with cabins.

MSC Poesia decks are named after famous Italian poets.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

MSC Cruises Poesia ship provides two dining rooms. A large selection of Bars is also available. One is Grappe d'Or, where passengers can enjoy awesome wine drinks and different cheese kinds, accompanied by live music. Wine tasting is available at the Mojito Bar.

Follows the complete list of MSC Poesia restaurants and food bars.

• Le Fontane Restaurant (720-seat Dining Room, offers different Italian traditional meals and wines; open for Breakfast 7:00-9:30 a.m., Lunch 12:00-2:00 p.m., and Dinner with 2 fixed seatings at 7:00 and 9:30 p.m.; with 7-course dinner menu; also features vegan and vegetarian meals)
• Il Palladio Restaurant (714-seat Main Dining Room, with 2 fixed dinner seatings; dinner-only)
• Kaito Restaurant (54-seat Asian specialty restaurant; open for Lunch and Dinner)
• Villa Pompeiana Restaurant (472-seat, self-service buffet and pizzeria; offers Afternoon and occasional midnight buffet)
• Onboard Pizzeria (inside Villa Pompeiana, surcharge)
• L'Obelisco Restaurant (250-seat, inside Villa Pompeiana, steaks and seafood specialty restaurant).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Multilingual entertainment is provided in Teatro Carlo Felice. MSC Poesia also features a casino, cinema, huge Spa complex, library. Not to forget sports - visit the fully-equipped fitness center, the 2x swimming pools and 4x Jacuzzis, plus Sauna. Last but not less important venues are the S32 Disco, Le Moulin Rouge Show Lounge, Internet cafe and VR/virtual reality center.

Additional amenities include complimentary 24-Hour Room Service, Supervised Children Program, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry.

Follows the complete list of MSC Poesia lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Poesia Atrium (3-deck high central ship area with live entertainment)
• La Rendez-Vous Bar (142-seat Atrium Lobby; specialty coffees)
• Cybercafe (Internet computers room)
• Teatro Carlo Felice Theater (1240-seat, 2-level; features grand-style show productions and classical concerts, with 2 shows per night - at 8:00 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.)
• The Zebra Lounge and Bar (439-seat lounge with full bar and dance floor; hosts shows, bingo, trivia quizzes, aerobic classes)
• Bar Dei Poeti Cafe (220-seat specialty coffees bar)
• Bar Smeraldo (45-seat); Giada Bar (45-seat cocktail bar)
• Casino Royal (222-seat, smoking allowed area, own full bar)
• Card Room; Library (card and board games)
• Il Grappolo d'Oro (120-seat wine bar)
• The Hitchcock Lounge (32-seat smoking room with full bar)
• Pigalle Lounge and Bar (330-seat show lounge with full bar, karaoke, dance competitions, game shows, cooking demonstrations, occasional midnight buffets)
• Duty-Free Shop; MSC Logo Shop; Accessories Shop; L'Angolo Dei Poeti; Place Vendome Boutique; Lo Smeraldo; Le Parfum; Photo Gallery and Shop
• Via Delle Arti (Art gallery)
• MSC Poesia Aurea Spa and Fitness (1160 m2 complex, with Sauna, Relaxation Room, Treatment Rooms, Thalassotherapy hot tubs, 2 Whirlpools, Aerobics Studio/Yoga classes, Beauty Salon, Spa Bar)
• Fitness (complimentary Gym, fitness classes at a surcharge)
• Coral Bay Pool (saltwater swimming pool with two Whirlpools, served by Pirana Bar)
• Cayo Levantado Pool (outdoor pool with two Whirlpools, served by Mojito Bar)
• S32 Disco and Nightclub (a 172-seat club with dance floor, bowling lanes; dance classes; during the day serves as a teen club)
• Teen Club (13-17 aged lounge)
• I Dinosauri (kids area); Children's Indoor/Outdoor Playrooms
• Video Games Arcade; Shuffleboard; Deck Quoits; 5-hole Mini-Golf Course
• Solarium (adults-only area with 2 Whirlpools)
• LED-Wall (outdoor screen for virtual games)
• Sports Center (combined sports court for volleyball, basketball, tennis)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track.

Itineraries

MSC Poesia itinerary program is based on deployments in South America (homeporting in Santos), Southern Europe/Mediterranean Sea (roundtrips from Genoa-Milano, Marseille, Barcelona), Northern Europe/Baltic Sea (homeporting in Warnemunde-Rostock Germany and Copenhagen Denmark).

Poesia operates affordable Transatlantic crossings between South America and Europe (RepositionCruises.com) and is one of MSC's "world cruise ships" offering each year a Grand Voyage (starting in January) with lengths 100+ days.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the MSC ship Poesia was paused for 2+ years (between March 2020 and May 2022), restarting operations on May 1 (Europe/Mediterranean-Baltic repositioning).

In October 2024, MSC announced the company's first Alaskan season (May through September 2026) scheduled for MSC Poesia.

• The MSC Alaskan program is based on 7-night itineraries leaving roundtrip from homeport Seattle WA USA. The summer voyages visit Alaska's Ketchikan, Icy Strait Hoonah, Tracy Arm, and Juneau, and Canada's Victoria BC.
• Alaskan shore excursions (land tours optional for booking) include ATV rides, ziplining, whale-watching, and culture and food-themed tours.
• Fares started at GBP 679 (EUR 820/USD 880 pp) or GBP 939 (EUR 1130/USD 1220) with a drinks-inclusive package.

In addition to the Alaskan voyages, MSC Poesia offers two Panama Canal relocation itineraries between Seattle and Miami (Florida USA). MSC Poesia's Alaskan deployment also included a 17-day Transatlantic crossing from Europe to the USA (Civitavecchia-Rome to Miami/April 6th, 2026).

The vessel (STX France, Chantiers de l’Atlantique yard/hull number S32) has volume 92627 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 10561 tons, max draught 7,9 m. The powerplant is based on Wartsila marine diesel engines (model W16V38B) with combined output 36,05 MW (48340 hp). The registered shipowner is NEWCO S32 SA, while the registered manager is MSC MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING CO.

Poesia is MSC's 3rd Musica-class liner (Inaugural cruise April 19, 2008), with sisterships Magnifica, Musica, Orchestra. Poesia was the firstt MSC ship christened outside Italy (in Dover England UK/on April 5th, 2008).

MSC Poesia's last drydock refurbishment was in 2023 (December 2-20) conducted at Palumbo Group's shipyard in Valletta Malta. The drydocking project was mainly for routine maintenance works (including hull cleaning and painting) and classification inspections and tests.

MSC World Cruise 2024

In April 2022, MSC announced Poesia's World Cruise 2024. The 121-day itinerary visits 52 destinations in 31 countries, featuring the popular for travel regions of the Mediterranean, Middle East, Red Sea, Africa, South America (Amazonia), the Caribbean, the USA and Canada, Greenland and Iceland.

Due to the unrest in the Middle East (Israel-Palestine war), the scheduled port calls in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia were canceled 

The next table shows the voyage's ports and times. Optional boarding was also offered from Port Genoa (Jan 5).

Prices started from USD 11900 per person with double occupancy.

The pricing included a total of 15 shore excursions and MSC's "Dine & Drink" package, as well as a 30% laundry services discount.

MSC World Cruise 2023

On November 9, 2020, MSC Cruises opened bookings for Poesia's "MSC World Cruise 2023". Signature destinations include Transatlantic crossing (visiting Madeira), Caribbean, Panama Canal and Suez Canal (full transits), Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico Riviera (Cabo, Vallarta), USA (San Diego, San Francisco, Hawaii), Maui, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand (Auckland), Australia (Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns), Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Japan, China (Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen), Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Oman, Jordan, UAE (Dubai), Greece (Heraklion Crete).

The 119-day / 118-night voyage departs on January 5, 2023, roundtrip from Genoa Italy (ends on May 3). Optional embarkation-debarkation (roundtrip) is also offered from Civitavecchia Italy (Jan 4), Marseille France (Jan 6) and Barcelona Spain (Jan 7).

The itinerary featured ~30,000 NM (34530 mi / 55,560 km) of cruising, crossing 24 time zones, 53 ports/destinations (including 7 port overnights) in 33 countries (6 continents).

118-day "World Cruise 2023" roundtrip from Rome/Port Civitavecchia

A total of 15 complimentary shore excursions/city tours were offered - in Funchal-Madeira, Cartagena Colombia, Puntarenas Costa Rica, San Diego (Harbor Cruise), San Francisco (city tour), Honolulu, Auckland NZ, Sydney NSW, Manila Philippines, Tokyo Japan, Busan Korea, Shanghai, DaNang Vietnam, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Dubai.

A price-inclusive amenity for all Bella and Fantastica staterooms included the "MSC Dine and Drink Package" - all beverages (during lunches and dinners) in Main Dining Rooms and the Lido Buffet. Beverages included wines (by the glass), draught beers, mineral water, fountain drinks (soda and fruit juices by the glass). All bookings also received 30% discount on all laundry services.

MSC World Cruise 2022

Following the cancellation of the planned for 2021 world voyage, MSC scheduled for Poesia the 117-day / 116-night "World Cruise 2022" roundtrip from Genoa. Like all MSC World Cruises, optional roundtrips were offered from Civitavecchia-Rome, Marseille and Barcelona.

Prices started from ~USD 15550 per person (with double occupancy).

A total of 15 complimentary shore excursions/city tours were offered - in Funchal-Madeira, Salvador Brazil, Rio De Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Valparaiso Chile, Arica Chile, Auckland NZ, Hobart Tasmania, Sydney NSW, Darwin NT, Benoa Bali, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Colombo Sri Lanka, Mumbai India.

MSC World Cruise 2021 (CANCELED)

In early-December 2018, MSC Cruises unveiled an epic Around The World voyage on MSC Poesia. Destinations included the Caribbean, South America, USA, Australia, New Zealand, East Asia (Japan, China) and Europe. The 119-day itinerary was planned to visit 53 ports/destinations in 33 different countries.

• "MSC World Cruise 2021" had to depart on January 5, 2021, roundtrip from Genoa and Civitavecchia-Rome.
• The first leg included Marseille, Barcelona, westbound Transatlantic crossing to the Caribbean, Panama Canal transition, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, San Francisco CA.
• The second leg (from San Francisco) visited Maui and Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, Auckland NZ, Sydney NSW, Cairns QLD, Great Barrier Reef, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Japan (during the cherry blossom season).
• After Kyoto, Tokyo, and Shanghai, the third leg visited Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Dubai, Oman, Jordan, followed the Suez Canal transition back to Europe (Mediterranean).

The cheapest fares started from GBP 11600 per person (twin-share inside cabin rates). The price included 15 shore excursions plus a drink package with alcohol included at all mealtimes.

However, due to the ongoing COVID crisis (international travel restrictions, country lockdowns, port closures), MSC Poesia's World Voyage 2021 was eventually canceled.