MSC Splendida Debuts Redesigned Yacht Club Restaurant After Drydock

MSC Cruises is rolling out a redesigned MSC Yacht Club Restaurant across its four Fantasia-class ships, starting with MSC Splendida after a January 2026 drydock in Malta. The update is part of a broader refurbishment and deployment plan that also includes itinerary changes in the Mediterranean and South America.

MSC Splendida returns to service after Malta drydock

MSC Splendida resumed operations on February 7, 2026, following a scheduled shipyard period at Palumbo Malta Shipyard in Valletta. The 2009-built ship arrived on January 10, 2026, and returned to service after 27 days out of revenue operation.

MSC said the work combined routine maintenance and class-related items with upkeep across public areas and staterooms, including carpeting and upholstery replacements. MSC Splendida is a 139,936-gross-ton cruise ship with a published capacity of about 3,300 passengers.

What changed in the redesigned Yacht Club Restaurant

MSC Yacht Club is the line’s “ship-within-a-ship” product, built around dedicated spaces and service intended to create a more private onboard experience. MSC said the redesigned Yacht Club Restaurant features a more contemporary look with a modern layout, darker color tones, soft textures, and updated lighting.

Alongside the visual refresh, MSC highlighted service elements that remain central to Yacht Club dining, including a dedicated culinary team available around the clock and an onboard sommelier for wine service. While MSC has not detailed menu changes ship by ship, the company said the update emphasizes choice and flexibility in Yacht Club dining.

Refurbishment schedule for the remaining Fantasia-class ships

MSC has tied the Yacht Club Restaurant redesign to upcoming scheduled shipyard periods for the other Fantasia-class vessels (ships that entered service between 2008 and 2013). The line’s current timetable calls for:

• MSC Fantasia to enter drydock in December 2026, continuing the Fantasia-class rollout after the MSC Splendida debut.
• MSC Divina to follow in April 2027, with the redesigned restaurant and additional updates planned for the class.
• MSC Preziosa to undergo drydock work in February 2028, completing the sequence of Fantasia-class upgrades.

MSC also said the Fantasia-class refurbishments include the introduction of redesigned Future Cruise offices, intended to provide a refreshed space where guests can plan and book a future cruise while onboard.

Where MSC Splendida will sail with the refreshed venue

After returning to service in February 2026, MSC Splendida began a Western Mediterranean program of seven-night cruises from Barcelona. Ports visited on these itineraries include Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Palermo, Livorno, Cagliari, and calls that can include La Goulette (for Tunis) in Tunisia and Valletta in Malta.

MSC Splendida’s February 2026 return voyage, for example, operated as a seven-night itinerary that included Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Palermo, and La Goulette before returning to Barcelona. Starting in April 2026, the ship transitions to summer itineraries that MSC said emphasize Western Mediterranean islands, including Sicily, Sardinia, and Malta.

South America expansion adds Rio de Janeiro departures

Later in 2026, MSC Splendida is set to reposition to South America for a seasonal program built around eight- and nine-night cruises. MSC said the itineraries explore ports in Brazil and Uruguay, including Rio de Janeiro, Ilhabela, Ilha Grande, Balneário Camboriú, and Punta del Este.

MSC also updated its 2026-27 deployment plan so MSC Splendida will depart from Rio de Janeiro on select dates, rather than operating only from Buenos Aires in Argentina. The line said the change is intended to strengthen its offering in Rio, where MSC Splendida will sail alongside MSC Musica during the season.

Adrian Ursilli, Managing Director of MSC Cruises in Brazil, said: “We will have a strong 2026/2027 season, featuring modern ships that will offer complete, world-class experiences, all featuring the MSC Yacht Club, our luxury cruise experience that has been highly sought after.”

Across the broader South America season, MSC said its 2026-27 lineup includes four ships, MSC Splendida, MSC Musica, MSC Virtuosa, and MSC Divina, departing from seven regional ports. The deployment follows MSC’s regional growth strategy, which introduced Balneário Camboriú as a homeport in the 2025-26 season.

Fleet-wide Yacht Club growth and other investments

MSC’s Yacht Club expansion extends beyond the Fantasia-class restaurant redesign. The company said MSC Musica and MSC Orchestra from the Musica-class fleet are slated to debut Yacht Club updates in the first quarter of 2027, and it has also pointed to Yacht Club additions involving MSC Poesia and MSC Magnifica in 2026.

MSC said MSC Magnifica underwent a two-month overhaul in December 2025 that unveiled a new Yacht Club with an expanded footprint. At Palumbo Malta Shipyard, MSC Poesia is scheduled to arrive in Valletta in mid-February for a major refurbishment project that includes new specialty dining venues and the addition of the MSC Yacht Club concept.

By 2027, MSC expects the Yacht Club to be available on 20 out of its 24 ships. The company has also highlighted investments that include new terminals in PortMiami and Barcelona, as well as the planned debut of MSC World Asia, a next-generation ship that MSC said will accommodate 6,750 guests and is expected to enter service in December 2026.

Spring break and Easter 2026 itineraries

Separately from the refurbishment program, MSC has promoted warm-weather sailings timed to the 2026 spring break and Easter period across the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. In the Caribbean, MSC said itineraries on ships including MSC World America, MSC Seaside, and MSC Virtuosa range from three-night mini-breaks to seven-night cruises.

One highlighted sailing is MSC World America’s Easter week voyage departing from PortMiami on April 4, 2026, a seven-night itinerary with calls in Puerto Plata and San Juan, plus a stop at the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC’s private destination in the Bahamas. In Europe, MSC said two Barcelona-based vessels, MSC Splendida and MSC Orchestra, offer seven-night Mediterranean cruises departing on consecutive days and visiting ports across France, Italy, Spain, and Tunisia.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What enhancements are included in the MSC Yacht Club Restaurant redesign?

MSC said the redesigned restaurant features a more contemporary look with a modern layout, darker tones, softer textures, and updated lighting. The line also highlighted Yacht Club dining service elements including a dedicated culinary team available 24/7 and an onboard sommelier.

When will MSC Fantasia-class ships complete their refurbishments?

MSC’s published schedule calls for MSC Fantasia to enter drydock in December 2026, MSC Divina in April 2027, and MSC Preziosa in February 2028. MSC Splendida is already sailing with the redesigned Yacht Club Restaurant following its early 2026 work in Malta.

Will MSC Splendida sail from Rio de Janeiro in the 2026-27 South America season?

Yes. MSC said it updated its deployment so MSC Splendida will depart from Rio de Janeiro on select dates, in addition to sailings from Buenos Aires. The seasonal program features eight- and nine-night cruises visiting ports in Brazil and Uruguay such as Rio de Janeiro, Ilhabela, Ilha Grande, Balneário Camboriú, and Punta del Este.

What is the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve?

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve is MSC Cruises’ private destination in the Bahamas. MSC describes it as featuring beaches and marine conservation initiatives, and the company has said the site is undergoing upgrades to accommodate two ships at once by late 2026.

How many ships in MSC’s fleet are expected to offer the Yacht Club experience by 2027?

MSC said the Yacht Club will be available on 20 of its 24 ships by 2027, reflecting the line’s plan to expand the concept across a larger portion of its fleet.