Key Aspects:
- MSC Grandiosa has arrived at Port Canaveral to begin homeporting from Florida for the winter.
- The ship will offer Caribbean itineraries from 3-8 nights visiting top destinations in the region.
- She is the first Meraviglia-plus class ship to homeport from a US port.
MSC Cruises has doubled its presence at Port Canaveral with the arrival of MSC Grandiosa for her winter season of Caribbean sailings. The ship arrived on Saturday, December 6, 2025, following her transatlantic sailing that departed Genoa, Italy on November 19.
She joins MSC Seashore, which will be offering a variety of shorter cruises through the winter months.
Both ships are welcome additions to Port Canaveral’s homeport fleet at a time when cruising is on the rise and the central Florida port has taken the title as the World’s Busiest Cruise Port.
“MSC is a valued partner, and we’re thrilled to have this beautiful new ship call Port Canaveral her home,” said Captain John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. “The addition of MSC Grandiosa doubles their sailing options from our Port and speaks volumes to the confidence in our ability to consistently deliver a world-class guest experience.”
MSC Grandiosa adds an even more exciting option for eager cruisers, as this is the first time a Meraviglia-plus class ship has homeported from the US.
Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France, MSC Grandiosa joined the fleet in late 2019. At 181,541-gross-tons and with the ability to welcome more than 6,300 guests when fully booked, she is one of MSC Cruises’ largest ships outside the dominating World class of vessels.
“MSC Grandiosa’s arrival marks a major milestone for us. This is the first time we’ve had two ships sailing from Port Canaveral,” said Lynn Torrent, president of MSC Cruises North America.
“I want to thank our partners at Port Canaveral for supporting our continued investment in the region, which is making it easier than ever for guests to enjoy MSC Cruises’ mix of European style and American comfort.”
Second Inaugural Visit in Two Days
To commemorate the ship’s first-ever visit to Port Canaveral, port officials and the ship’s master, Captain Danilo Cha, held a traditional maritime plaque exchange onboard.
These ceremonies are customary whenever a ship visits a port for the first time, whether as a homeport arrival or a port of call visit. These gestures demonstrate the goodwill between the cruise line, local officials, and port authorities.
Interestingly, this is the second plaque exchange for MSC Grandiosa in just two days. On Friday, December 5, the ship arrived in the US at PortMiami and enjoyed a great welcome and plaque exchange with that South Florida port during a day visit.
In April 2026, Miami will be the first port the ship visits as she departs the US to return to the Mediterranean for the summer, though she will be back to Port Canaveral (also via a day visit to Miami) in November 2026.
MSC Cruises From Port Canaveral
Slightly larger than MSC Seashore, her sister ship, already sailing from central Florida, MSC Grandiosa has a diverse schedule for the months ahead. Her sailings range from 3-8 nights, as well as a longer transatlantic voyage when she departs for Europe in April.
Offering both Eastern and Western Caribbean options, the ship will visit such top destinations as Nassau, Puerto Plata, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Jamaica, and San Juan.
Select sailings will also visit MSC Cruises’ private island in the Bahamas, MSC Ocean Cay Marine Reserve.
On April 18, 2026, MSC Grandiosa will bid a fond farewell to Port Canaveral (at least for a few months) with a 14-night transatlantic itinerary that will stop in Miami first, then St. Maarten before heading across the Atlantic to Madeira and on to Barcelona to begin her Mediterranean summer.
