MSC Cruises said the 181,541 gross ton newbuilding MSC Euribia would be based at Southampton from October 2023 and operate from the UK port though the winter of 2023/24.

The ship would take over from the 2019 built, similar sized MSC Virtuosa that has been the line’s UK based ship since 2021.

Antonio Paradiso, Managing Director – UK and Ireland, MSC Cruises, said in a ststement: “We are committed to offering the best possible experience for our guests from the UK and Ireland and that is why our newest ship, MSC Euribia, will be in the UK during 2023 and 2024. Since our first full ex-UK season back in 2018, we’ve seen a huge demand for stress-free, no-fly cruises from Southampton on board MSC Virtuosa. Basing MSC Euribia in the UK will help us to build on this success by offering our UK customers the chance to experience one of the most impressive cruise experiences offering leading sustainability technology and cutting-edge design features.”

Itineraries on board MSC Euribia departing from Southampton offer UK customers the chance to visit destinations including Amsterdam, Bruges and Paris.

Cruises start from five-night getaways costing £359, seven-night cruises starting at £499 and a 21-night itinerary departing on 5th January 2024 and stopping at locations perfect for some Winter sun including Casablanca, the Canary Islands and Lisbon, prices starting at £2,399. Cruises on board MSC Euribia will be available to book from w/c Monday 24 October, the company said.