115-Night Cruise Circumnavigates the Earth with Several New Ports

Want to feel like world explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, but still live and eat in comfort the whole time? MSC Cruises has opened sales for its 2028 world voyage, and it’s a 115-night cruise that officially completes a full circle of the globe.

MSC Magnifica is scheduled to set sail in early January 2028, and guests can choose from four different starting points in the Mediterranean including Civitavecchia, Genoa (Italy), Marseille (France), and Barcelona (Spain).

The ship will return to Europe after crossing the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.

The Path Around the World

A true circumnavigation of the globe requires the ship to cross every time zone or meridian line on earth, something Magellan actually failed to do because he died halfway through the trip in 1521. 

But with this cruise you can actually claim to have circumnavigated the planet.  The cruise ship heads West, following a route that hits five continents and 29 countries.

• The Atlantic & The Americas: After leaving Europe, the ship crosses the Atlantic to the Caribbean. From there it will pass through the Panama Canal and move south along the coast of South America, visiting Ecuador, Peru, and Chile.
• The Pacific Crossing: The ship then heads across the open ocean, stopping at Easter Island (Hanga Roa) before spending time in French Polynesia and the South Pacific islands.            
• Australasia & Asia: The route continues to New Zealand and Australia before moving north into Southeast Asia. This is where the ship hits several of its brand-new ports in Vietnam and Cambodia.
• The Final Leg: The voyage finishes by crossing the Indian Ocean to the Arabian Peninsula (including Dubai), then traveling through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to return to the Mediterranean.

Seven New Destinations

This itinerary includes seven destinations that haven’t appeared on MSC’s itinerary for world cruises before. These new ports are a bit off the beaten path, but that’s what makes a trip like this so unique. 

Here are some of the new places this world cruise will visit:

• Nuku’alofa, Tonga: This stop is right in the middle of Polynesia and is known for gorgeous beaches and being one of the few places where you can visit the stone tombs of Polynesian kings.
• Manta, Ecuador: A coastal city with a lot of history, Manta is the gateway to Montecristi, the birthplace of the Panama hat.
• Arica, Chile: Located in the “City of Eternal Spring,” this port offers desert landscapes and some archaeological sites of ancient Andean civilizations to check out.
• Callao, Peru: This is the historic port of Lima and is known for its Spanish colonial architecture.
• Chan May, Vietnam: This is right near the imperial city of Hue, offering a look at Vietnam’s historical architecture and the Hai Van Pass.
• Sihanoukville, Cambodia: An area known for its beaches and inland excursions to the temples of Angkor Wat.
• Grand Turk Island, Turks & Caicos: While this popular Caribbean port is well-known to seasoned cruisers, it’s new for a world cruise with MSC Cruises.

The itinerary has 40 destinations. But to allow for more time in port the ship will have seven overnight calls. Some of these overnight calls include stays in Callao/Lima (Peru), Papeete (Tahiti), Sydney (Australia), and Hanoi (Vietnam).

MSC Magnifica was recently refurbished to include the MSC Yacht Club, a “ship within a ship” section that offers 24-hour butler service and private lounge areas.  63 new suites were added during the dry dock in addition to Butcher’s Cut and Kaito Sushi Bar.  The spa and fitness center were also overhauled and enhanced.