MSC Cruises Cancels November 2025 Trans-Atlantic Sailing from Italy

MSC Cruises has officially canceled the trans-Atlantic cruise that was scheduled to depart from Venice, Italy, on November 7, 2025. The affected sailing was a 21-night repositioning cruise onboard the MSC Lirica.

This voyage was set to take guests from Venice to Santos, Brazil, with planned stops in Sicily, Greece, Spain, and Brazil along the way. It was part of the ship’s seasonal transition to South America.

In a message sent to all booked guests, MSC Cruises cited “operational reasons” for the cancellation. The cruise line acknowledged the disappointment this might cause and expressed regret for the inconvenience.

“We know that you have dedicated time to planning your cruise, and we sincerely apologize for any disappointment this may cause,” the company said in its communication.

MSC added that they don’t want this disruption to affect guests’ future travel with the brand. To support those affected, they are offering several options to choose from.

One option allows guests to cancel their booking entirely and receive a full refund of their cruise fare.

Guests can also choose to move their reservation to another trans-Atlantic crossing of similar length. MSC will match the same cabin category and protect the original cruise fare for this new booking.

However, the cruise line noted that this offer doesn’t extend to any pre-purchased services such as drink packages, excursions, or Wi-Fi. These services may need to be handled separately.

If travelers booked non-refundable flights tied to the canceled sailing, MSC said it would review these cases individually. The company is offering up to $400 per person in reimbursements for air travel.

To thank guests who choose to transfer to a different trans-Atlantic cruise, MSC is also offering a non-refundable onboard credit of $87.96* per person.

Another option includes switching the reservation to any other MSC cruise currently available. Guests won’t be charged any change fees or penalties for this move.

While passengers will need to cover any difference in fare if the new cruise is more expensive, MSC will issue a refund if the chosen sailing costs less.

“Your satisfaction is our priority, and we are here to help you find the perfect alternative,” the cruise line added.

In related news, MSC also confirmed a change in ship deployment for South America. The MSC Sinfonia will now take over the itineraries originally planned for the MSC Lirica.

Operating from Santos, Rio de Janeiro, and Itajaí, the Sinfonia will offer three- to eight-night cruises visiting destinations along the Brazilian coast, including Ilhabela and Búzios.

According to MSC, the dates, durations, and destinations of these cruises will stay the same despite the change in ship.

Guests who were originally booked on the Lirica’s South America sailing trip have been notified about the updated plans.