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MSC Opera

MSC Opera cruise ship
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MSC Cruises

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MSC Opera Review and Specifications

Specifications of MSC Opera

Year built2004  /  Age : 16
Flag state Panama
BuilderChantiers de l’Atlantique (Saint-Nazaire, STX France)
ClassLirica
Building costUSD 270 million
OwnerMediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
OperatorMSC Cruises
Speed22 kn / 41 kph / 25 mph
Length (LOA)275 m / 902 ft
Beam (width)32 m / 105 ft
Gross Tonnage65591 gt
Passengers2142 - 2570
Crew728
Passengers-to-space ratio26
Decks13
Cabins1071
Decks with cabins5
Last Refurbishment2015
Christened bySophia Loren

Current position of MSC Opera

All Itineraries Current Position

Review of MSC Opera

Launched in 2004, MSC Opera is the 4th and last of MSC Cruises Lirica-class ships, together with Armonia, Sinfonia and Lirica.

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) - 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 world's 4th largest cruise company (after Carnival Corporation, RCCL-Royal Caribbean and NCL-Norwegian) with over 5% global market share.

MSC cruise ship stretching (Armonia, Lirica, Opera, Sinfonia)

All 4 vessels of this class (Armonia, Lirica, Opera, Sinfonia) were enlarged/elongated by 24 m (80 ft), adding around 193 new cruise staterooms (including Balcony), 59 more crew cabins, plus new public spaces, new kids facilities (with LEGO and Chicco themed activities), outdoor water park ("Spray Park" with interactive slides, jets and water toys).

MSC cruise ship stretching (Armonia, Lirica, Opera, Sinfonia)

The 59,058-ton, 1,700-passenger cruise ship MSC Opera delivers her guests a real Italian style cruise vacation. Fantastic establishments and pleasant staff in addition to thorough itineraries help make MSC Opera the perfect ship.

Cruise itinerary program

MSC Opera itinerary program is based on cruises to Cuba. The ship offers 7-days Caribbean itineraries roundtrip from Havana (two nights), with feature port destinations Montego Bay Jamaica, George Town (Grand Cayman Island) and Cozumel Mexico. In July 2015, MSC Cruises announced that due to rising demand the company will homeport in Havana Cuba the Opera ship for the Winter 2016-2017 season. From November 2016, a second ship (MSC Armonia) joined Opera for the entire season.

During summer, the ship cruises in Europe (Mediterranean and Baltic).

Cabins

MSC Opera has a total of 878 cabins (of which 28 Suites, 172 Balcony, 359 Inside rooms) in 8 grades. Most MSC Opera staterooms are 140-sq. foot Oceanview rooms and Insides. The largest aboard MSC Opera is the Balcony Suite (250 ft2).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

There are no dining surcharges onboard the MSC Opera because there are no speciality restaurants on this ship. Opera offers an abundance of Italian food, but the quality can vary. The La Caravella Restaurant on Deck 5 is the larger of the two main dining rooms. It features tables for two to six diners. The casual buffet is located on Deck 11 and provides an alternative to the main dining rooms.

MSC Opera cruise ship

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

  • La Caravella Restaurant (681-seat aft Dining Room, open for Breakfast 7:00-9:30 a.m., Lunch 12:00-2:00 p.m., and Dinner with 2 fixed seatings at 7:00 and 9:30 p.m., features a 3-course menu for lunch, 7-course for dinner)
  • L’Approdo Restaurant (422-seat aft Dining Room, dinner only, with 2 fixed seatings)
  • Il Patio Restaurant (402-seats alfresco eatery with two sections - Pizzeria and Outdoor Grill)
  • Le Vele Restaurant (380-seat complimentary self-service buffet restaurant; also serving Afternoon Tea).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

There are lots of thrilling things to do on the MSC Opera. Energetic guests onboard can enjoy the mini-golf, jogging track, or two pools with two jacuzzis, plus sauna and beauty salon, along with a well-equipped gymnasium. After benefiting these establishments, passengers may relax with a hot stone massage and feel brand new and rejuvenated. Additional amenities include complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service, Supervised Children Program, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry.

MSC Opera cruise ship

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

  • Teatro dell’ Opera Theatre (713-seat, 2-level; features grand-style show productions and classical concerts, with 2 shows per night - at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.)
  • Sotto Vento Pub (172-seats English pub bar)
  • Opera Atrium (2-deck high midship open area)
  • Internet computers room and Cyber Cafe
  • Gallery (shop selling brand watches and jewellery); Gioielleria (Jewelry Shop); Lei and Lui Boutique; Duty-Free Shop (alcohol, tobaccos)
  • Via Condotti (shopping alley with duty-free shops); Beauty and Cosmetics; Accessories Shop
  • Photo Gallery and Shop
  • Cotton Club Lounge and Bar (155-seat cocktail bar; hosts bingo games, art auctions)
  • Piazza di Spagna (259-seat piano bar); La Cabala (102-seat piano bar)
  • Montecarlo Casino (119-seat, smoking allowed area, own full bar)
  • Card Room and Library (33-seat double function room)
  • Aroma Bar (91-seat speciality coffee bar, with complimentary cookies and pastries)
  • Caruso Lounge and Bar (334-seat show lounge for live music performances; hosts dance classes and night cabaret shows)
  • MSC Opera Aurea Spa and Fitness Complex (with Treatment Rooms, Thalassotherapy Room, Saunas, Steam Room, Relaxation Room, Beauty Salon, Gym with aerobics studio for classes)
  • Buffalo Bill Playroom (kids play area)
  • Le Piscine Pool Area (with two twin saltwater pools and two Whirlpools)
  • Opera Water Park with slide (2015 refurbishment)
  • Lo Spinnaker Bar (with 3 sections - Main, La Gelateria Bar and Vitamin Bar)
  • Teen Club (teenagers lounge for night disco, dance classes, sports-video games contests)
  • Virtual Reality Games (tennis and foosball tables)
  • Discoteca Byblos (322-seat, with own full bar)
  • Sundeck with Solarium (adult-only relaxation area), Golf Simulator, 8-hole Mini Golf Course
  • Sports Center (combined sports court - Shuffleboard, volleyball, basketball, tennis, mini football)
  • Power Walking/Jogging Track.

MSC Opera - user reviews and comments

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MSC Opera ship related cruise news

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MSC Opera Wiki

Opera is MSC's 4th and last Lirica-class liner, with sisterships Armonia, Lirica, Sinfonia. In 2015, the MSC ship Opera was stretched/elongated by 25 m (82 ft) during a drydock refit done at Fincantieri's shipyard in Palermo Sicily. During the dry-dock (between May 2 and July 4), the vessel was cut in two and a pre-built section was inserted midship.  Ship's reconstruction project was part of MSC's USD 273 million "Renaissance Program", by which besides Opera were also enlarged the sisterships Armonia, Lirica, and Sinfonia.

MSC Opera refurbishment 2015 review

The ship was majorly refitted and refurbished in 2015 (dry-dock between May 2 and July 4). There are substantial deck plan changes following the project since the cruise ship was stretched (elongated by 25 m / 82 ft). The list of deckplan changes after the refurbishment includes:

  • All cruise cabins were renovated and upgraded as amenities.
  • A total of 197 new cruise cabins and suites (of which 30 with balconies) were added (on decks 9-Norma, 10-Turandot, 12-La Boheme) plus 59 new crew cabins.
  • New stateroom categories were introduced.
  • An Aqua Park (named Spray Park, with waterfalls and interactive slides) was installed.
  • All boutique shops were upgraded (new designs).
  • A new luxury perfumes shop was added.
  • The supervised kids' clubs and play areas were upgraded with equipment and toys by Chicco and LEGO.

MSC cruise ship stretching (Armonia, Lirica, Opera, Sinfonia)

The 10-week drydock was valued at nearly EUR 50 million. 

MSC cruise ship stretching (Armonia, Lirica, Opera, Sinfonia)

Cuba cruise itineraries 2016-2017

In July 2015, MSC announced that the Opera ship will be homeported in Havana Cuba. Starting on December 22 (2015), the ship operated during the winter season (2015-2016) a total of 16 roundtrip 7-night Caribbean cruises from Cuba.

  • Destination ports of call list include Mexico (Cozumel /2-night stay), Jamaica (Montego Bay), Grand Cayman (George Town) and Havana (2-night stay).
  • MSC also offered Caribbean fly-cruise deals from Europe (Spain, Italy, France, Germany), also from USA, Canada and South America (Brazil, Argentina).
  • MSC Opera's originally scheduled for 2015 Canary Islands cruises (also including Madeira Island and Morocco) were canceled. All booked passengers received full refunds or re-booked on alternative MSC Mediterranean itineraries with compensations onboard credit or cabin upgrades. Those who re-booked to Cuba with fly-cruise deals received a flight discount (fixed fee EUR 285 per person).
  • MSC's local partner is Cubanacan Group (hotel chain).
  • Another MSC ship with scheduled for 2016-2017 itineraries to Havana was MSC Armonia.
  • With Opera, MSC became the world's first major cruise line to homeport a big-sized ship in Cuba.
  • Opera's first cruise out of Havana left on December 22, 2015, following the Transatlantic repositioning to Cuba from Genoa Italy (December 2-21).
  • On April 12, 2016, MSC Opera left Havana for a Transatlantic cruise to Europe (ending in Warnemunde-Rostock Germany on May 7).

MSC Opera Itineraries

The below listed MSC Opera cruise prices on itineraries are only indicative and Per Person (in US dollars, based on double occupancy). These are the cheapest MSC Cruises fares on the ship’s lowest category cabins available for booking. Cruise fares typically change with departure dates approaching, last minute deals, discounts, promotions, independent travel agency offers.

DateCruise NameDeparture PortPrice from
2020 May 30 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 May 31 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Jun 06 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Jun 07 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Jun 13 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Jun 14 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Jun 20 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Jun 21 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Jun 27 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Jun 28 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Jul 04 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Jul 05 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Jul 11 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Jul 12 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Jul 18 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Jul 19 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Jul 25 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Jul 26 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Aug 01 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Aug 02 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Aug 08 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Aug 09 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Aug 15 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Aug 16 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Aug 22 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Aug 23 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Aug 29 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Aug 30 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Sep 05 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Sep 06 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Sep 12 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Sep 13 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Sep 19 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Sep 20 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Sep 26 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Sep 27 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Oct 03 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Oct 04 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Oct 10 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Oct 11 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Oct 17 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Oct 18 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Oct 24 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Oct 25 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Oct 31 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Bari
2020 Nov 01 7 days, round-trip Mediterranean Venice
2020 Nov 08 29 days, one-way from Venice to Durban Venice
2020 Nov 08 33 days, one-way from Venice to Cape Town Venice
2020 Dec 07 4 days, one-way from Durban to Cape Town Durban
2020 Dec 12 2 days, round-trip South Africa Cruise Cape Town
2020 Dec 14 5 days, round-trip South Africa Cruise Cape Town
2020 Dec 19 2 days, round-trip South Africa Cape Town
2020 Dec 21 5 days, round-trip South Africa Cape Town
2020 Dec 26 7 days, round-trip South Africa Cape Town
2021 Jan 02 2 days, round-trip South Africa Cruise Cape Town
2021 Jan 04 4 days, round-trip South Africa Cape Town
2021 Jan 08 4 days, one-way from Cape Town to Durban Cape Town
2021 Jan 12 3 days, round-trip South Africa Durban
2021 Jan 15 3 days, round-trip South Africa Durban
2021 Jan 18 4 days, round-trip South Africa Durban
2021 Jan 22 3 days, round-trip South Africa Durban
2021 Jan 25 7 days, one-way from Durban to Cape Town Durban
2021 Feb 01 5 days, round-trip South Africa Cape Town
2021 Feb 06 4 days, round-trip South Africa Cape Town
2021 Feb 10 5 days, round-trip South Africa Cape Town
2021 Feb 15 4 days, round-trip South Africa Cape Town
2021 Feb 19 5 days, round-trip South Africa Cape Town
2021 Feb 24 4 days, round-trip South Africa Cape Town
2021 Feb 28 5 days, round-trip South Africa Cape Town
2021 Mar 05 4 days, one-way from Cape Town to Durban Cape Town
2021 Mar 09 24 days, one-way from Durban to Venice Durban

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