A big cruise ship arrives in Miami after a major refurbishment

The latest fancy cruise ship to dock at PortMiami arrived early Wednesday morning, and it’ll give travelers a new option to sail to the Caribbean later this year.

The MSC Poesia, from the European conglomerate the MSC Group, docked at about 7 a.m., according to the website Cruise Mapper, the end of 17-day voyage that started in Rome.

The ship will stay at the Miami port all-day Wednesday, providing a tour to the media, travel agents and other guests. Afterward, the Poesia will depart to the West Coast where it will operate seven-nights cruises to Alaska from its home in Seattle.

MSC Poesia will return to Miami, where starting Oct. 17 and throughout the winter, it’ll offer 5 to 29-night voyages to the Caribbean.

The vessel, built in 2008, has 1,229 staterooms and a capacity of 3,223 guests. It holds 1,039 crew members.

But MSC Poesia was refurbished this year. The ship now has a new Yacht Club onboard where guests can enjoy sunset cocktails. It boasts new specialty restaurants like Butcher’s Cut with prime steak Kaito Sushi Bar. The ship has also upgraded its spa and gym.

While nearly two decades old, this year marks the ship’s first sailings to Alaska, a destination becoming more popular among cruisers. The company describes the remodeled vessel as a place “where European style meets American comfort on the Last Frontier.”

The MSC Group has its global headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The firm’s cruise business is within MSC Cruises which has been increasingly betting on Miami.

Earlier this year, MSC Cruises and luxury sister company Explora Journeys opened a new North America headquarters in Overtown. Last year, the carrier opened a new modern terminal at PortMiami.

This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 1:47 PM.