Guests booked on the last sailing of MSC Cruises’ MSC Poesia before the planned February dry dock have been notified that their cruise is now cancelled.

The 10-night sailing was to have departed Southampton, UK on Friday, February 13, 2026, with visits to Lisbon, Cadiz, Barcelona, Marseille, and Rome before arriving in Malta on Monday, February 23.

Now, however, that voyage is cancelled, along with all embarkation points along the way as the ship heads for dry dock.

“Regrettably, due to operational reasons affecting the deployment of MSC Poesia, we have had to cancel the scheduled cruise departing on 2/13/2026 from Southampton/London, United Kingdom,” the notification email confirmed.

MSC Cruises is offering compensation to guests whose cruise plans are now unfortunately cancelled.

First, all impacted travelers will receive a full refund back to their original form of payment. Furthermore, guests are also being offered a credit they can use toward a future MSC Cruises vacation.

“As a gesture of goodwill, we are pleased to offer a Future Cruise Credit equal to 50% of the cruise fare paid for the cancelled sailing,” the email explained. “This credit may be applied toward any future MSC Cruises sailing of your choice.”

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If guests have cruise-related expenses such as flights or other pre- or post-travel arrangements, they can submit proof of purchase claims to the cruise line for reimbursement consideration as well.

It may take a week or two for refunds to be fully processed, depending on individual banking institution policies. Considering MSC Poesia can welcome 2,550 guests at double occupancy or up to 3,605 travelers when fully booked, it can take some time to process all the necessary refunds.

Why the Last Minute Cancellation?

While MSC Cruises has not definitively stated why the sailing has been cancelled, it is possible the ship’s upcoming dry dock at the Palumbo Shipyard in Malta needs to be adjusted.

MSC Poesia is slated for dry dock refreshment from February 23 through April 5, with her next cruise scheduled to depart from Rome on April 6.

It is possible that the shipyard’s schedule has shifted somewhat and the 92,627-gross-ton, Musica-class ship can now be accommodated earlier than expected.

The scheduling change could relate to labor expectations and the amount of work required, which could take more time than initially expected.

It is also possible that because the ship can enter dry dock sooner than planned, she may be finished with her refurbishment sooner than expected. If this is the case, MSC Cruises might schedule new last-minute sailings as the ship reenters service, though this has not been confirmed.

Because shipyard schedules are often set months, if not years, ahead of planned ship renovations, it is not unusual for timing to be tweaked as dry dock dates approach.

For example, in April 2025, MSC Seashore had a similar cancellation for dry dock scheduling. That impacted cruise was due to depart on April 5, 2026 – giving travelers a year to adjust their travel plans to a different cruise.

What Work Will Be Done?

The dry dock for MSC Poesia is one of the largest the cruise line has ever planned for an older ship. The exclusive MSC Yacht Club will be added to the ship, as well as two specialty restaurants – the Butcher’s Cut steakhouse and Kaito Sushi Bar. The new All-Stars Sports Bar will also be added to the ship.

The MSC Aurea Spa will be updated with new equipment for the very latest in fitness trends, with expansive ocean views for workouts with an ocean vibe.

Other refreshments to public areas, such as updated flooring or upholstery, updated lighting, and new paint, are also likely. The ship’s hull may be painted, and pools or whirlpools could be refinished.

Technical updates to the ship’s systems are also likely to ensure she keeps operating as smoothly and safely as possible, incomplete compliance with the most current environmental and safety regulations.

Thousands Impacted as MSC Poesia Cancels February Cruise Before Dry Dock