MSC Grandiosa

The 2019-built MSC Grandiosa cruise ship is MSC’s first MERAVIGLIA PLUS-class vessel, with sisterships MSC Virtuosa (2021) and MSC Euribia (2023). Meraviglia-Plus ships are an enlarged and upgraded evolution of the earlier Meraviglia-class vessels MSC Meraviglia (2017) and MSC Bellissima (2019).

The vessel (IMO number 9803613) is currently Malta-flagged (MMSI 215325000) and registered in Valletta.

History - construction and ownership

MSC Cruises (MSC Crociere) is a passenger shipping company headquartered in Genoa and Naples, established in 1960. Today MSC Crociere is a subsidiary of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), the world’s second-largest container shipping company. MSC Crociere is also the world’s largest privately owned cruise company.

By annual passenger volumes, MSC ranks as the world’s third-largest cruise shipowner, behind Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Group.

Decks and Cabins

MSC Grandiosastaterooms (2421 total across 17 categories) accommodate up to 6334 passengers (4810 lower berths), and approximately 75% of all cabins feature private step-out balconies. The largest accommodations are the MSC Yacht Club Royal Suites (700 ft2 / 65 m2 plus a 430 ft2 / 40 m2 terrace with Jacuzzi).

The vessel has 18 decks (3 crew-only, 15 for passengers, 11 with cabins) and also offers “cluster cabins” (modular stateroom groupings for families), allowing up to three connecting cabins for a maximum capacity of 10 guests. Additional accommodations include 95 Yacht Club Suites (with 24-hour butler service), 15 Interior Studios for solo travelers (without single supplement), and 60 ADA-compliant staterooms for guests with disabilities or reduced mobility.

All MSC Grandiosa decks are named after world-renowned painters.

The ship features a total service area of 460,000 m2 (4.95 million ft2) and 35,000 m2 (376,736 ft2) of public spaces, with a public-area ratio of 7.7 m2 (83 ft2) per passenger. Amenities include 4 swimming pools (one with a sliding roof and one exclusive to MSC Yacht Club), 9 outdoor whirlpools, and 32 elevators (19 for passengers, including one MSC Yacht Club lift and two panoramic Atrium elevators).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The ship offers 12 diverse dining venues. These include the Mediterranean Village specialty restaurant and the exclusive Yacht Club Fine Dining Restaurant. The main buffet is open 20 hours daily, serving international dishes, Mediterranean specialties, itinerary-themed cuisine using locally sourced ingredients, and a wide range of healthy and dietary options. Specialty dining venues include Kaito Sushi Bar, Kaito Teppanyaki Restaurant, and an American-style steakhouse offering premium meats from around the world.

Below is the complete list of MSC Grandiosa restaurants and food bars:

• Main Restaurant (Italian-inspired meals and wines; open for breakfast 7:00–9:30 a.m., lunch 12:00–2:00 p.m., and dinner with two fixed seatings at 7:00 and 9:30 p.m.; features a 7-course dinner menu including vegan and vegetarian options)
• Purple Crab Restaurant (598 seats; 11302 ft2 / 1050 m2; open 7–9 a.m., 12–2 p.m., and 6:45–9:30 p.m.) is the only complimentary venue serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Though aft-located on Deck 5, it has only porthole windows. Tables vary from 2 to 8 seats. The Blue Danube section offers buffet-style service with à la carte items (e.g., Eggs Benedict, omelets). Hot dishes include pancakes, French toast, pastries, and waffles. Adjacent spaces include the galley and food/beverage storage areas.
• "HOLA! Tapas" Bar by Michelin-starred chef Ramon Freixas (56 seats; 1614 ft2 / 150 m2), replacing the former Eataly Restaurant.
• La Loggia Restaurant (714 seats; 10,763 ft2 / 1000 m2; open 6:15–10 p.m.) with high ceilings, large windows, and Flexi/MyTime dining.
• La Perla Grigia & La Perle Grise (908 seats; 14402 ft2 / 1338 m2; open 6:45–9:30 p.m.) divided by a central walkway with wine displays and Enomatic dispensers; offers Flexi/MyTime dining.
• Masters of the Sea Pub (81 seats; 200 m2) designed like a classic British pub with live music, 12 beers on tap, 47 bottled beers, cider, and bar snacks including fish ’n’ chips.
• Kaito Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar (95 m2 Sushi / 72 m2 Teppanyaki; open 12–2:30 p.m. and 7–11 p.m.) offering three menu levels: Geisha (EUR 18), Samurai (EUR 24), and Emperor (EUR 45). The venue includes two teppanyaki cooking stations and a promenade-facing sushi bar.
• Butcher’s Cut (58 seats; 753 ft2 / 70 m2; open 12–2:30 p.m. and 7–11 p.m.), an American steakhouse with an open kitchen and indoor/outdoor seating overlooking the promenade.
• Il Campo Restaurant (188 seats; 3584 ft2 / 333 m2).
• Marketplace Buffet Restaurant & Bar (1336 seats; 39288 ft2 / 3650 m2; open 6:30 a.m.–10 p.m.) serving international and Mediterranean cuisine.
• Sports Bar (24 seats; 3433 ft2 / 319 m2) offering drinks, hot dogs, popcorn, snacks, shakes, and energy/protein beverages.
• MSC Yacht Club Restaurant (140 seats; 4359 ft2 / 405 m2), serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with no fixed dining times and menus reflecting the ship’s itinerary.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Meraviglia-Plus ships feature eight original production shows, with each ship carrying two unique contrasting shows. The first pair premiered aboard MSC Meraviglia in June 2017.

MSC Grandiosa has a large water park connected to a two-level indoor amusement area and a double-deck entertainment promenade housing specialty restaurants, bars, and duty-free shops. The Promenade is topped by the “digital sky,” a massive LED dome ceiling displaying animated visual shows.

The ship also features advanced wristband technology enabling onboard payments, restaurant and spa reservations, and geo-location tracking for children.

Below is the complete list of MSC Grandiosa lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults:

• L’Atelier Bistrot (130 seats; 437 m2) with Art Wall
• Carousel Lounge (373 seats; 1100 m2) hosting 12 weekly Cirque du Soleil-style shows (VIAGGIO, SONOR, COSMOS, EXENTRICKS), each 40 minutes, enhanced by 80 kinetic LED lights.
• Broadway Theater (945 seats; 10763 ft2 / 1000 m2) presenting six shows per voyage, including opera, flamenco, and themed productions.
• Grandiosa Bar Lounge (62 seats; 3390 ft2 / 315 m2)
• Business Centre (58 seats; 721 ft2 / 67 m2)
• Infinity Atrium over three decks, with the 22-seat Infinity Bar and 24-hour Reception
• Piazza del Lusso (duty-free shops, patisserie, ice cream bar, live music)
• Galleria Grandiosa (1250 m2) – indoor promenade with bars, restaurants, nightlife, and an 80-meter LED ceiling (480 m2 “digital sky”)
• Jean-Philippe Chocolate & Coffee (80 seats; 2475 ft2 / 230 m2)
• Jean-Philippe Crepes & Ice Cream (15 seats; 441 ft2 / 41 m2)
• MSC Excursions / MSC Future Cruise area
• La Vetrina, Luxury Plaza, Photo Shop, Edge Cocktail Bar, MSC Foundation Centre, Emotions Immersive Gallery
• MSC Aurea Spa (11840 ft2 / 1100 m2) with thermal suite, treatment rooms, and Balinese therapies
• TV Studio & Bar (101 seats; 3659 ft2 / 340 m2)
• Champagne Bar (155 seats; 6393 ft2 / 594 m2)
• Grandiosa Library (6-seat walkthrough library)
• Le Grand Casino (600 seats; 15068 ft2 / 1400 m2)
• Solarium (adults-only relaxation area)
• Main Pool areas (Safari Pool & Bar, Atmosphere Pool, whirlpools, sunbathing decks)
• Top Sail Lounge (167 seats; 4553 ft2 / 423 m2) for Yacht Club guests only
• MSC Gym by TechnoGym (6135 ft2 / 570 m2)
• 4D Interactive Cinema, SPORTPLEX Arena, Super Amusement Park (F1 simulators, bowling, flight simulator), Virtual Games Arcade, Power Walking Track
• Horizon Amphitheatre (outdoor theater with 140 loungers)
• Sky Lounge & Bar (180 seats; 6781 ft2 / 630 m2) with Cigar Room
• Attic Club (41 seats; 753 ft2 / 70 m2) and Horizon Bar
• Children’s facilities: Baby Club CHICCO, Mini Club LEGO, Juniors Club LEGO, Young Club, Teen Club, WEB Creator Room
• MSC Yacht Club Open Area (13185 ft2 / 1225 m2) with pool, bar, grill, and two solariums
• TOP 19 Exclusive Solarium (500 m2, adults-only)
• Wild Forest Aquapark & Bar with four waterslides and ropes course

MSC Grandiosa also features two Formula 1 VR racing simulators. In 2022, two new Carousel Lounge shows—STRINGS and SWEET—were added, produced by MSC’s “Carousel Productions at Sea.”

Itineraries

MSC Grandiosa’s itinerary program launched with 7-day Western Mediterranean cruises during winter 2019–2020. Bookings opened on March 5, 2018.

After the COVID pause, the vessel operated in Europe/Mediterranean and seasonally in South America, homeporting in Santos and Salvador de Bahia (Brazil).

Starting December 2025, MSC Grandiosa is scheduled to operate 7-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Port Canaveral / Orlando (Florida, USA).

The vessel (built by STX France, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, yard/hull number G34) has a volume of 181,541 GT, a deadweight of 19,610 tons, and a maximum draught of 9 m. The powerplant consists of four Wärtsilä marine diesel engines (2x 12V46DF and 2x 16V46DF) with a combined output of 64 MW (85,830 hp). Propulsion is provided by two Azipod thrusters with a total output of 40 MW (53,640 hp). The registered shipowner is VISTA 3 COMPANIA NAVIERA SA, and the registered manager is MSC CROCIERE SPA.

The ship name “MSC Grandiosa” was filed as a trademark on September 13, 2016 (serial number 79197602) and registered on September 12, 2017 (registration number 5283204). On November 15, 2017, at the STX France shipyard in St Nazaire, the keel-laying (coin ceremony) for MSC Bellissima was held, along with the steel-cutting ceremony for MSC Grandiosa. Their deliveries were scheduled for March 2019 and November 2019, respectively. As of 2017, MSC Cruises had four ships under construction and a total of 11 vessels planned for delivery between 2017 and 2020 as part of the company’s EUR 9 billion fleet expansion program.

Bookings for MSC Grandiosa opened on March 5, 2018 (for MSC Voyagers Club loyalty members) and on March 19 for the general public. Sales for the inaugural cruise (November 10, 2019, from Hamburg) began on October 7, 2018. The promotional offer provided exclusive advance access for MSC Voyagers Club members through October 21, along with an additional 5% discount on top of their standard 5% loyalty discount.

The vessel was floated out from drydock on January 5, 2019. Sea trials in the Atlantic Ocean were successfully conducted August 28–31, 2019. The christening ceremony was initially scheduled for November 2, then rescheduled to November 9, 2019.

Following the shipyard’s official delivery to MSC (October 31, 2019), Captain Marco Massa took command. He has been with MSC since 1995. Earlier in his career he served on Symphony, Rhapsody, Melody, Lirica, Opera, Sinfonia, Musica, Orchestra, Poesia, Fantasia, Splendida, Magnifica, Divina, as well as the 2008-built containership MSC Monterey (IMO 9349796, capacity 4860 TEU). He first became Master on MSC Musica in 2012. Before Grandiosa, he also commanded MSC Seaview (2018), MSC Magnifica (during MSC’s first World Cruise in 2019), and MSC Seaside (2019).

Grandiosa’s senior officers also include Antonio Laccarino (Chief Engineer, with MSC Shipping since 1995 and MSC Cruises since 2000) and Giuseppe Maresca (Hotel Director, with MSC Cruises since 2000, previously on MSC Melody).

The christening ceremony took place on November 9, 2019, in Port Hamburg (Germany), where the vessel was berthed November 6–10. For the naming event, Hamburg Hafen’s Blue Port was transformed into a multi-venue stage centered around the Elbphilharmonie. Twenty locations across the harbor projected blue light art installations designed by Michael Batz. More than 14,000 travel agents and VIP guests attended. The ceremony was led by MSC’s longstanding godmother, Sophia Loren (born 1934 as Sofia Villani Scicolone).

MSC Grandiosa refurbishments review

The vessel’s first drydocking took place in 2024 (October 27–November 16) at Palumbo Shipyard (Valletta Harbour, Malta). Works included routine maintenance, safety and classification inspections, system and machinery overhauls, hull cleaning and repainting, and minor interior upgrades.

Meraviglia Plus-Class ship technology

On February 1, 2016, MSC announced an order for two new-class mega-liners. These newbuilds (Meraviglia Plus-class) accommodate up to 6300 passengers, feature 200 additional cabins, and are 16 m / 50 ft longer than the original Meraviglia class. Delivery dates were set for November 2019 (Grandiosa) and April 2020 (Virtuosa).

New features introduced on Meraviglia Plus-class ships include the first fine-art museum at sea (with original artworks), an extended indoor promenade (Galleria) of 111 m / 364 ft, and a larger LED screen (95 x 6 m / 280 x 20 ft) for the pool deck’s outdoor theater. The expanded Galleria layout accommodates two additional restaurants. MSC also signed exclusive partnerships with Samsung (digital technology provider) and Cirque du Soleil (live entertainment programming).

Meraviglia Plus-class ships are among the most technologically advanced in the MSC fleet, incorporating state-of-the-art marine engine systems. Their machinery includes hybrid scrubbers (exhaust gas cleaning systems), SCR units (selective catalytic reduction converting NOx into diatomic nitrogen), high-efficiency waste management systems, advanced wastewater treatment, superior recycling capabilities, emission-reducing systems, and a fuel-efficient heat recovery system.

MSC's ZOE

On February 1, 2019, MSC officially introduced the in-cabin digital assistant ZOE, the cruise industry’s first device of its kind. The system was developed by Harman International (a US-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics), a major provider of digital audio technologies for companies including Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.

• ZOE is an artificial intelligence device (voice-enabled with advanced voice recognition) available in all passenger cabins.
• ZOE speaks seven languages, answers cruise-related questions, provides information on onboard services, activities, and facilities, and supports reservations and bookings.
• The device features far-field microphones, a high-quality speaker, quad-core processor (for fast response), and direct phone connectivity via Bluetooth. Its database can be upgraded over time to expand functionality.
• Passenger data (itinerary preferences, excursion choices, onboard settings) is stored in cloud-based systems and reused on subsequent voyages.
• The device (approx. 15 cm) can be activated at the guest’s discretion. A waiver is required to authorize personal data storage.

Starting with MSC Bellissima (2019), ZOE is now available on all MSC newbuilds and has been rolled out fleetwide from 2019 through 2024.

Inaugural itineraries 2019

The ship’s maiden voyage departs from Genoa on November 16, 2019, calling at Civitavecchia (Rome), Palermo (Sicily), Valletta (Malta), Barcelona (Spain), and Marseille (France).

The following tables present the ship’s inaugural cruise itineraries with port call times. Prices (USD, based on double-occupancy Inside Cabin rates) started at USD 1040 per person.

7-day “Inaugural Cruise” – homeport Genoa roundtrip

7-day homeport Civitavecchia-Rome roundtrip

7-day homeport Palermo roundtrip

7-day homeport Barcelona roundtrip

7-day homeport Marseille roundtrip

Godspeed!