MSC Fantasia

The 2008-built MSC Fantasia cruise ship is the first of MSC's Fantasia-class liner, followed by the sisterships Divina, Preziosa, Splendida.

The vessel (IMO number 9359791) is currently Panama-flagged (MMSI 370648000) and registered in Colon.

History - construction and ownership

MSC Cruises (MSC Crociere) is a passenger shipping company headquartered in Genoa and Naples. It was established in 1960. Today, MSC Crociere is a subsidiary of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) - the world's 2nd largest containership company. MSC Crociere is the world's largest privately-owned cruise company.

By annual passenger shipping volumes, MSC is ranked the world's 3rd largest cruise shipowner - following only Carnival Corporation and RCG-Royal Caribbean Group.

The 4000-passenger ship MSC Fantasia debuted in December 2008. At that time her capacity made this MSC cruise ship the largest ever built for the line. Fantasia is a brand-new class representative for this rapidly growing company. 

Decks and Cabins

MSC Fantasia staterooms (1637 total, in 12 grades) include 107x Suites, 1142x Balcony, 94x Oceanview, 294x Inside. Most staterooms are Balcony (sized 190 ft2 / 18 m2) with cabin balconies sized 40 ft2 / 4 m2. The largest accommodations are the Yacht Club Royal Suites (400 ft2 / 37 m2, with wraparound terrace sized 170 ft2 / 16 m2).

The boat has 17 decks, of which 14 are passenger-accessible and 9 with cabins.

MSC Fantasia decks are named with Italian adjectives and superlatives.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The ship's MDR, Red Velvet, is split between two decks and features furnishings ranging from Murano glass chandeliers, refined porcelain and crystal glasses to red velvet cushions and silver flatware. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Red Velvet serves a different menu each evening, inspired by an Italian region with typical cuisine and renowned wines. The breakfast menu features an MSC Express breakfast or a selection of fried, scrambled, hard-boiled or poached eggs cooked to order, omelettes, bacon, tomatoes, cold meats, yogurt, cereals,fresh fruit, pastries, bread, smoked salmon, cheese, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and juices along with a special of the day. A 3-course menu is served for lunch comprising of starters, main course, a special dish and desserts.

Follows the complete list of MSC Fantasia restaurants and food bars.

• Red Velvet Restaurant (2-level forward Dining Room, capacity 650 seats on level 1, size 1080 m2; capacity 568 seats on level 2, size 907 m2; open for Breakfast 7-10 am, Lunch 12-2 pm and Dinner (with 2 fixed dinner seatings- 7 pm and 9:30 pm), with different Italian region traditional meals and wines served each evening, 7-course dinner menu, including vegan and vegetarian dishes, Deck 5)
• Il Cerchio d’Oro Restaurant (aft Dining Room, capacity 724 seats, Mediterranean cuisine, open for Breakfast 7:00-10:00 a.m., Lunch 12:00-2:00 p.m., and Dinner with 2 fixed seatings at 7:00 and 9:45 p.m., features a 3-course menu for lunch, 7-course for dinner, size 1227 m2)
• Zanzibar (473 seats) and L’ Africana (443 seats) Buffet Restaurants (self service, complimentary, open for Breakfast 6:30-10am, lunch 12-3:30pm and Dinner 7-10pm). Both buffets have different food stations/corners- Grill Takeaway (hot dogs, burgers, wraps), Pizza, Pasta, Mediterranean, Ethnic, Carving Show (pork, beef, chicken, turkey), Children (healthy food), Bakery.
• L’ Etoile Restaurant (96-seat aft Dining Room for MSC yacht club passengers/dinner-only, French and Italian gourmet cuisine, selected French, Italian and Spanish wines; surcharges a la carte, size 218 m2).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

MSC Fantasia offers a casino, theatre, and library. For those who are keen on sports, there is a modern fitness center, sauna, 12 jacuzzis, 4 swimming pools (Aqua Park, Il Tropici, Catalano, The One/yacht club). Among the best features of this MSC ship, are the signature “Aurea Spa” treatments, the “MSC Yacht Club” complex with its 71 beautiful suites, and the adults-only “Top 18” premium deck area. 

Ship's beauty is a perfect mix of advanced technology and elegance, combined with exclusive services. For the very first time on a ship, guests can walk on stairs made from Swarovski crystal. A transparent ceiling allows passengers to experience all the magic of the night sky while cruising.

Additional amenities include complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service, Supervised Children Program, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry.

Follows the complete list of MSC Fantasia lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Medical Center (6-seat Infirmary, size 284 m2, Deck 4) is the ship’s hospital operated by resident doctors/physicians and nurses on 24-hour duty. Payments are made by the boarding pass (treatments equivalent to a private doctor’s visit). General health insurance policies do not apply, so buying cruise health insurance is recommended.
• Fantasia Atrium (5-decks high midship area, panoramic elevators, live entertainment)
• Reception (140-seat guest services desk, reservations, booking, assistance, size 479 m2, Deck 5)
• Business Center (36-seat conference/meeting room, size 47m2, Deck 5)
• Fantasia Bar (129-seat Atrium Lobby bar, size 120 m2, Deck 5)
• Cyber Library (4 Internet computers room, combined with 10 seat library, size 52 m2, Deck 5)
• Teatro L’Avanguardia Theatre (capacity 1649 seats, for concerts, classical music, grand show and musical productions, offering 2 shows per night- at 7 and 8:45 pm, level 1 of 2, size 2086 m2, Deck 6/7)
• Casino Delle Palme (capacity 323 seats, guests must be over 18, smoking allowed in certain areas, has slots, gambling tables, a full bar, size 1017 m2, Deck 6)
• Poker Room (27-seat Texas Hold’Em room next to the Fantasia’s Casino, size 55 m2, Deck 6)
• Video Games Arcade (size 55 m2, Deck 6)
• The Cigar Club Lounge (29-seat smoking room, with brand liquors selection, size 85 m2, Deck 6)
• Piazza San Giorgio (80-seat Italian Square designed area with live music, with Ice Cream/Gelato Bar, Chocolate and Pastry shop; surcharges a la carte, size 460 m2, Deck 6)
• The Mini Mall ((duty-free alcohol, tobacco, electronic equipment, snacks, iPhones, gaming consoles, size 53 m2, Deck 6)
• Duty-Free Shop (for snacks, liquors,  tobaccos, electronic equipment, Deck 6)
• La Boutique (6-seat, brand fashion clothes, size 76 m2, Deck 6)
• MSC Logo Shop (sweatshirts, toys, games, etc, size 42 m2, Deck 6)
• Il Gioiello Shop (jewelry, accessories, leather goods, watches, size 62 m2, Deck 6)
• La Vele Bar (89-seat specialty cocktails bar, size 392 m2, Deck 6)
• Shore Excursions Desk (14-seat, planning and booking, size 100 m2, Deck 6)
• L’Angolo dell’Oggetto Shop (jewelry, watches, sunglasses, size 43 m2, Deck 6)
• La Caramella Shop (candies, sweets and toys, size 30 m2, Deck 6)
• La Profumeria  (shop for brand cosmetics and perfumes, size 48 m2, Deck 7)
• Logo Shop (selling MSC Logo items and toys, size 42 m2, Deck 7)
• Il Transatlantico Bar (108-seat piano bar, live music, hosts Martini tastings, size 393 m2, Deck 7)
• Gallery Plaza (4-seat art exhibitions and auctions, size 110 m2, Deck 7)
• Photo Gallery (photo services and equipment shop, size 145 m2, Deck 7)
• Manhattan Bar (112-seat jazz bar, rare liquors selection, live music, trivia quizzes, size 235 m2, Deck 7)
• Sports Bar (88-seat, open 3-12 pm; has large TVs and 2 10-pin bowling lanes, karaoke; a la carte surcharge snacks, sandwiches, salads, size 148 m2, Deck 7)
• Il Cappuccino Bar (58-seat specialty coffee bar, with complimentary cookies and pastries, featuring Cappucino, American Coffee, Espresso Martini; coffee packages available for purchasing, size 258 m2, Deck 7)
• La Cantina Toscana (117-seat tapas and wine bar, wine tastings, size 340 m2, Deck 7)
• L’ Insolito Lounge (232-seat, 888 m2 aft show lounge, with dance floor, full bar, also hosts bingo and trivia games, Deck 7)
• MSC Fantasia Aurea Spa (18299 ft2 / 1700 m2 spa complex/open 9am-9pm; with Beauty Salon, Treatment Rooms, Relaxation Room, Solarium, Thermal Suite- 2 Steam Rooms and 4 Saunas, Thalassotherapy hot tubs, 1 heated pool with sliding roof, 3 Whirlpools, Deck 14)
• Fitness (Gym is open 6am-10pm, guests must be over 14, Deck 14)
• The Pool Shop (swimwear, accessories, size 42 m2, Deck 14)
• I Tropici Pool (54-seat spa pool with sliding glass roof; open 7am-7pm), served by the I Tropici Bar (poolside cold-hot drinks, fruit juices, cocktails, size 820 m2, Deck 14)
• LED Wall (open air video games screen, Deck 14)
• Aqua Park (water play area, with 1 main pool, 2 Whirlpools, splash kids areas; open 7am-7pm, size 2091 m2, Deck 14)
• Bar Delle Fontane (102-seat Aqua Park ice cream bar/and drinks, Deck 14)
• The Glass Bar (94-seat outdoor Aqua Park poolside bar, Deck 14)
• Top Sail Lounge (116-seat MSC Yacht Club Lounge with panoramic views and piano live music, serving continental breakfast 11:30am-2pm, buffet lunch 12-4:30pm and Afternoon Tea after 4:30pm, size 297 m2, Deck 15)
• Concierge Area (24-seat, size 113 m2, Deck 15)
• 2 Whirlpools, Deck 15
• Power Walking/Jogging Track (6,5 laps = 1 ml), Deck 15
• Il Polo Nord (kids club Arctic-themed area with 1 outdoor pool and indoor play areas with TVs, games, arts-crafts, etc; size 195 m2, Deck 15). The kids' lounge also hosts feature activities by the new MSC-LEGO partnership called “Lego Experience at Sea”. The new fleetwide program is complimentary and uses LEGO materials for: LEGO DUPLO (kids 3- yo), Classic LEGO bricks plus Vertical Play Wall (kids 7-11 yo), Building Happening (6-11 yo /themed builds).
• I Graffiti Disco (50-seat teens club, has a dance floor, bar, karaoke, foosball, size 110 m2, Deck 15)
• Kids Club (kids play area, TV screens, movies, games, craft activities, climbing area, mini football nets, with a 2 section Kids Club –  Mini Club for children aged 3-6 years, and Junior Club for 7-12 years, Deck 15).
• Teens Toboga (the Fantasia’s water slide, open 2-5 pm)
• Lido Catalano Pool (adults only, open 7am-7pm, size 320 m2, Deck 15), served by the Gaudi Bar (126-seat alfresco poolside bar, size 57 m2)
• Liquid Disco & Nightclub (136-seat, 504 m2 disco club with a full bar, dancing lessons, Deck 16)
• Teen Club / Teen’s Area (for younger passengers between 13 and 17 years, live music, dance classes, sports, and video games, 30-seat, size 85 m2, Deck 16)
• Teens Toboga (water slide, entrance; open 2-5 pm, Deck 16)
• Virtual World (10-seat, teen-only, with 10 video games arcade machines; open 9am-8pm, size 80 m2, Deck 16)
• F1 Simulator (Formula 1 car simulator/at a surcharge, size 40 m2, Deck 16)
• 4D Cinema (10 moving seats/surcharge, size 45 m2, Deck 16)
• MSC Arena Sports Center (combined sports court for basketball, volleyball, soccer, with stadium seating and huge outdoor movie screen with 137 seats and size 290 m2, Deck 16)
• Shuffleboard, Squash, Tennis, and Foosball Tables, Deck 16
• Fantasia’s The One Pool (128-seat, for MSC Yacht Club guests only, with 2 Whirlpools), served by The One Bar (12-seat complimentary butler service restaurant for lunch/pasta, salads), size 1177 m2, Deck 18
• Top 18 Exclusive Solarium (adult-only private area, has 1 Whirlpool, Garden area, Tiki Bar; daily or full cruise passes can be purchased at the reception or at the entrance of the Top 18, Deck 18).

Itineraries

MSC Fantasia itinerary program is based on 7-day Western Mediterranean cruises from Civitavecchia-Rome, Naples, Barcelona and Marseille. Fantasia also offers voyages to Holy Land and the Canary Islands.

The vessel (STX France, Chantiers de l’Atlantique yard/hull number A33) has volume 137936 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 12614 tons, max draught 8,7 m. The powerplant is based on GE Power Conversion marine diesel engines (Converteam model 16V46C) with combined output 43,7 MW (58600 hp). The registered shipowner is FANTASIA BAIL SNC, while the registered manager is MSC CROCIERE SA.

Fantasia is NSC's first Fantasia-class liner, with sisterships Divina, Preziosa, Splendida. At the time of its launch, this was the largest passenger ship ever built for a European company. One of the most beautiful and affordable big cruise ships, 75% of all cabins are with private balconies.

Fantasia is the first MSC ship to visit the company's private island in the UAE. This is a small isle, connected to the main Sir Bani Yas island. It is for MSC passengers only, open when their ship stops at Sir Bani Yas as part of its Dubai cruise itinerary.

MSC Fantasia's last drydock refurbishment was in 2023 (Sept 25 - Oct 11) conducted at MSC's Palumbo Malta Shipyard (Valletta Harbour). The project included mainly routine/regularly scheduled maintenance and classification works, as well as technical overhauls and some interior enhancements/renovations.