Lirica-class ship of MSC split for its upgrade
Cuba’s presence in the cruise market is growing, with Carnival’s Fathom brand starting up cultural-exchange cruises open to U.S. citizens, and MSC announcing a second ship will use Havana as its homeport for Caribbean and South America cruises this coming season.
MSC had announced in July that its MSC Opera would sail from Havana to Mexico, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on itineraries that include two nights and two-and-a-half days in Havana, with local services provided by Cubanacan. Yesterday, MSC announced that a second ship, MSC Lirica, would join it.
Opera will leave on its first cruise from Havana on Dec. 22, and will return to Europe in late April on a grand cruise. Dates for Lirica are not yet announced. Lirica is the last of a number of ships MSC has recently refitted at Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard; in addition to various upgrades, the ships have been cut in half and a new pre-built 24-meter section inserted to add more space and amenities.
