MSC Opera Sets Year-Round Southern Caribbean Sailings
MSC Cruises is making history by deploying MSC Opera year-round in the southern Caribbean for Winter 2026/27 and Summer 2027 seasons, marking the line’s first summer presence in this region and its debut of two ships during a single winter. Based in La Romana, Dominican Republic, Opera will sail seven-night itineraries and a 14-night “butterfly” voyage that ventures to a stunning array of destinations including Martinique, Guadeloupe, the British Virgin Islands, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, the Netherlands Antilles and the Dominican Republic’s own turquoise-lagoons and white-sand beaches. Beginning April 2027, Opera will add Fort-de-France, Martinique, as a second embarkation port, offering guests extra flexibility to start their tropical adventure from one of the Windward Islands’ most vibrant capitals.
La Romana welcomes travelers with a heady mix of relaxation and exploration. Its powder-white beaches front local craft markets and seafood shacks, while nearby Cueva de las Maravillas reveals ancient Taino rock art in cavernous limestone halls. From there, passengers can sail to Catalina Island, where crystal-clear waters brim with colorful reefs, ideal for snorkeling and diving, and endless stretches of sand invite sunbathing and seaside strolls. In Fort-de-France, Martinique’s capital, visitors discover a blend of French elegance and Caribbean warmth, wandering pastel colonnades, lively outdoor markets and rum distilleries set deep in lush rainforests that spill toward hidden coves.
Further along the route, Opera calls on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, a haven of sheltered anchorages and hiking trails crowned by Gorda Peak National Park. The Baths, an otherworldly jumble of granite boulders framing secret grottoes and tide pools, beckon explorers to wade through crystalline channels and discover secluded beaches. Antigua and Barbuda’s St. John’s, with its kaleidoscope of colonial-era homes, bustling harborside squares and a gateway to some of the Caribbean’s most picture-perfect beaches, offers a taste of island culture steeped in seafaring tradition.
Operated by a fleet renowned for its blend of elegant Italian design and family-friendly amenities, MSC Opera will bring new dimensions to southern Caribbean cruising. Passengers can indulge in gourmet dining that spans Mediterranean classics and local Creole specialties, sip cocktails overlooking endless ocean views and relax in luxurious spa sanctuaries or by multiple swimming pools under swaying palms. Onboard entertainment ranges from Broadway-style musicals to open-air movie nights, ensuring each evening is as memorable as the sun-drenched days ashore.
By adding a summer program in the southern Caribbean, MSC Cruises responds to growing demand for extended seasonal offerings in warmer climates. This strategic shift not only provides travelers with more booking options and departures from two homeports, but also enriches the region’s tourism landscape by introducing new capacity and itineraries. Guests eager to explore iconic ports or seek off-the-beaten-path cays now have the opportunity to embark on a seamless Caribbean escape any time of year. With MSC Opera’s year-round deployment, the promise of palm-fringed horizons, coral-studded waters and vibrant island culture becomes a reality for travelers looking to sail beyond the ordinary and discover the southern Caribbean on their own schedule.
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