MSC Sinfonia

The 2002-built MSC Sinfonia cruise ship is the second of MSC's Lirica-class liners, with sisterships Armonia, Opera, Lirica. The Sinfonia ship joined the MSC fleet in 2005. Before that, the boat was operated under the name “MS European Stars” by Festival Cruises (1992-founded/2004-defunct).

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.

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).

The 58,625-ton, 1,566-passenger cruise ship MSC Sinfonia delivers luxury at affordable prices. Influenced by the symphonies of Europe's greatest composers, the actual MSC Sinfonia cruise liner is often a wonderful mixture of relationship and enthusiasm in addition to venture. Italian ambience abounds, through refined timber, to great fine art in addition to the magnificently comforting spa.

Cruise itinerary program

MSC Sinfonia itinerary program is based on Baltic cruises from Copenhagen and Warnemunde-Rostock during summer. For the rest of the year, Sinfonia operates on Eastern Mediterranean voyages leaving out of Genoa and Rome, also visiting the Canary Islands.

Decks and Cabins

MSC Sinfonia staterooms (975 total, in 9 grades) include 130 Suites, 94 Balcony, 401 Oceanview and 350 Inside cabins. Most staterooms are sized 140 ft2 / 13 m2. Most cabin balconies are sized 40 ft2 / 4 m2. The largest are the Balcony Suites (250 ft2 / 24 m2 plus 55 ft2 / 5 m2 terrace). The ship has only 4 wheelchair-accessible cabins (type Inside).

The boat has 13 decks, of which 9 are passenger-accessible and 5 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

There are no dining surcharges onboard the MSC Sinfonia because there are no speciality restaurants on this ship. Sinfonia offers an abundance of Italian food, but the quality can vary. The Il Galeone 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.

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

• Il Galeone Restaurant (750-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)
• Il Covo Restaurant (350-seat aft Dining Room, dinner only, with 2 fixed seatings)
• Caffe Del Mare Restaurant (466-seats alfresco eatery with three sections - full Bar, Pizzeria and Outdoor Grill)
• La Terrazza Restaurant (286-seat complimentary self-service buffet restaurant; also serving Afternoon Tea).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Enjoy the MSC Sinfonia ship’s countless choices day and night, through MSC Irish Bar and Buddha Pub, the Cafe or Sinfonia casino. Visit the cinema, or why not the library. Stay active within the fitness centre featuring huge windows with perfect sea view. Get pleasure from swimming in one of the two pools, or jogging around. One of the special features of Sinfonia is her top-modern Virtual Golf Simulator. This is the perfect place for amateur golfers to practice their swing while cruising. You can also have a rest in one of the two jacuzzis, or try the sauna and the comforting SPA. Enrich yourself at sea with Italian language lessons. Let kids enjoy the mini-golf and the Sinfonia ship’s coloured play area with countless children team activities. Additional amenities include complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service, Supervised Children Program, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry.

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

• Teatro San Carlo Theatre (557-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.)
• Shelagh’s House Pub (114-seats English pub bar)
• Sinfonia Atrium (2-deck high midship open area)
• Sinfonia@Cafe (Internet computers room and Cyber Cafe)
• Gallery (shop selling brand watches and jewellery); Jewelry Shop; Boutique; Duty-Free Shop (alcohol, tobaccos)
• 5th Avenue (shopping alley with duty-free shops); Galleria Mazzini
• Photo Gallery and Shop
• Ambassador (15-seat cigar lounge)
• Manhattan Lounge and Bar (224-seat cocktail bar; hosts bingo games, art auctions)
• Business Center (165-seat conference room and cinema)
• Buddha Bar (91-seat piano bar)
• Sanremo Casino (127-seat, smoking allowed area, own full bar)
• Card Room and Library (32-seat double function room)
• Cafe Le Baroque (94-seat speciality coffee bar, with complimentary cookies and pastries)
• Sinfonia Lounge and Bar (383-seat show lounge for live music performances; hosts dance classes and night cabaret shows)
• MSC Sinfonia Aurea Spa and Fitness Complex (with Treatment Rooms, Thalassotherapy Room, Saunas, Steam Room, Relaxation Room, Beauty Salon, Gym with aerobics studio for classes)
• Pinocchio Playroom (kids play area)
• Le Piscine Pool Area (with two twin saltwater pools and two Whirlpools)
• Sinfonia Water Park with slide (2014 refurbishment)
• Capri Bar (with 3 sections - Main, La Gelateria Bar and Vitamin Bar)
• The Planet Club (teenagers lounge for night disco, dance classes, sports-video games contests)
• Galaxy Video Games Arcade (tennis and foosball tables)
• Pasha Club Disco and Nightclub (215-seat, with own full bar)
• Sundeck with Solarium (adult-only relaxation area), Golf Simulator, 9-hole Mini Golf Course
• Sports Center (combined sports court - Shuffleboard, volleyball, basketball, tennis, mini football)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track.

Sinfonia cruise ship was built as "MS European Stars" for Festival Cruises (2002-2004, now defunct). Sinfonia is MSC's 2nd Lirica-class liner, with sisterships Armonia, Lirica, Opera. Ship's decks are named after famous composers (Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Bach, Tchaikovski, Sibelius, Debussy, Bizet).

n 2015, the MSC ship Sinfonia was stretched (elongated by 25 m / 82 ft) in) during a drydock refit done at Fincantieri's shipyard in Palermo Sicily. During the dry-dock (between January 12 and March 16), the vessel was cut in two and a pre-built section was inserted midship.  Ship's reconstruction project was part of MSC Cruises' USD 273 million "Renaissance Program", by which besides Sinfonia were also enlarged the sisterships Armonia, Lirica, and Opera.

MSC Sinfonia refurbishment 2015 review

The ship was majorly refitted and refurbished in 2015 (dry-dock between January 12 and March 16). 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 passenger cabins were renovated and upgraded as amenities
• New stateroom categories were introduced.
• A total of 193 new cruise cabins and suites were added (on decks 9-Tchaikovski, 10-Sibelius, 12-Bizet) plus 59 new crew cabins.
• An Aqua Park (named Spray Park, with waterfalls and interactive slides) was installed.
• 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.

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