MSC Cruises has shelved its plans to extend MSC Magnifica in favour of focusing on new build hips.
The line had announced $140 million plans to lengthen the Musica-class vessel by 23 metres in 2019, ahead of an anticipated UK season in 2020 and before the Covid crisis.
Speaking ahead of the naming of new flagship MSC Seashore at private island at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, chief executive Gianni Onorato said MSC Cruises’ emphasis would now be on new ships.
“We are not going to do it as it is too complex and we are going to focus on maintaining our new-build programme,” he said.
Magnifica would have seen its passenger capacity increase from 2,518 to 4,000 had the revamp gone head.
The ship was originally due to return from a 2020 dry-dock with 215 additional cabins, a water park, two restaurants and a promenade shopping area onboard ahead of what would have been its largest ever UK season with 24 itineraries out of Southampton.
MSC Cruises has however committed to the UK market, with Onorato saying it hopes to deploy “the latest hardware” out of Southampton.