Tourism

What is the MSC Virtuosa cruise ship and when does it visit Gibraltar?

The cruise ship MSC Virtuosa
Photo: Virtual-Pano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Short answer

MSC Virtuosa is an MSC Cruises ship launched in 2021 that can carry up to 6,334 guests, one of the largest ships to call at Gibraltar. Its upcoming visits to Gibraltar, with times and expected passengers, are listed on this page.

Upcoming visits to Gibraltar

  • Saturday 7 November 2026, in port 08:00–18:00

    Also in port: Oosterdam. Combined: about 1,916 passengers where known.

  • Wednesday 4 August 2027, in port 07:00–16:00

    Also in port: Balmoral. Combined: about 1,350 passengers where known.

From the Port of Gibraltar schedule, last checked 15 October 2026.

Detailed answer

MSC Virtuosa was built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique at Saint-Nazaire in France, delivered in February 2021 and entered service in May 2021 from Southampton. MSC gives a gross tonnage of 181,541, a length of 331 metres, a maximum of 6,334 guests and a crew of 1,704. MSC sells it to families and guests of all ages, with kids' areas run with the LEGO Group, and to travellers wanting the MSC Yacht Club, a private suite area with butler service. Features include the Galleria Virtuosa with its long LED dome, Rob the robot bartender in the MSC Starship Club, the Savannah Aquapark, 11 dining venues, 21 bars and the MSC Aurea Spa.

How busy will town be?

The upcoming visits listed on this page show the passengers expected on each call and any other ships in port the same day. Town is busiest when several ships are in at once or a large ship arrives at a weekend. A ship carrying a few hundred passengers makes little difference on its own.

Can you sail on it from nearby?

Yes. MSC Virtuosa finishes its last summer season from Southampton in autumn 2026, then sails one-way from Southampton to Malaga, Barcelona and on to Brazil for the winter, with the segments sold separately. It returns to Barcelona from Brazil in April 2027 and from April to October 2027 sails seven-night western Mediterranean round trips from Barcelona to La Goulette for Tunis, Palermo, Naples, Livorno and Marseille. Check the current itinerary with MSC Cruises.