MSC Sinfonia

The 2002-built//2015-stretched 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).

The vessel (IMO number 9210153) is currently Panama-flagged (MMSI 356716000) 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.

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 2000-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.

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.

MSC Sinfonia decks are named after famous composers.

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 (capacity 1039 seats aft Dining Room, open for Breakfast 7-10am, Lunch 12-2pm, and Dinner (2 fixed seatings- at 6:45 and 9:15pm, with 3-course lunch and 7-course dinner menu, size 600 m2)
• Il Covo Restaurant (capacity 353 seats aft Dining Room for dinner only – with 2 fixed seatings - at 6:45 or 9:15 pm, size 583 m2)
• La Terrazza Restaurant (aft location self-service cafeteria-buffet restaurant/complimentary, capacity 285 seats; open 6 am - 2 am, also for Afternoon Tea between 4-5 pm, size 710 m2)
• Caffe Del Mare Restaurant (364 seats complimentary alfresco buffet with full Bar, Pizzeria and Outdoor Grill/burger bar, size 968 m2)л

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 (capacity 557 seats, for grand-style musical productions and shows, including concerts, acrobatics, cabaret, with 2 shows a night- at 7:30 and 9:30 pm, level 1 of 2, size 1135 m2)
• Sinfonia Atrium (2-decks high centralship open area)
• Reception Desk (136-seat guest services, reservations, bookings, size 490 m2)
• Shore Excursions Desk (booking, planning, information - Voyagers Club info point, size 40 m2)
• Sinfonia@Cafe (8 Internet computers room/cyber cafe, size 90 m2)
• 5th Avenue (shopping alley- MSC logo shop, brand perfumes and cosmetics, jewelry, clothes, accessories)
• Gallery (shop for jewelry, sunglasses, watches, size 60 m2)
• Jewelry Shop (luxury jewelry and accessories, size 100 m2)
• Boutique (for bags, casual and fashion clothing, size 60 m2)
• Duty-Free Shop / Mini Mall (tax-free store for snacks, liquor,  tobaccos, essentials, size 249 m2)
• Shelagh’s House Pub (114 seats Irish pub bar/smoking allowed area, with multiple TVs and live music, size 376 m2)
• Ambassador (15 seats cigar room/smoking lounge, size 50 m2)
• Manhattan Lounge & Bar (224 seats, with dance floor, live music, also hosts bingo, art auctions, size 600 m2)
• Cafe Le Baroque (94 seats specialty coffee bar/a la carte pricing, with complimentary desserts, coffee packages, size 295 m2)
• Video Games Arcade (size 45 m2)
• Teens Club (33 seats, size 95 m2)
• Business Center (122 seats conference/meeting room and cinema, size 394 m2)
• Sanremo Casino (capacity 127 seats, smoking allowed area, slots and gambling tables, own full bar, size 454 m2)
• Sinfonia Lounge & Bar (capacity 120 seats show lounge with live music performances, dance floor, full bar, dance classes in the day, nightclub, size 319 m2)
• Card Room & Library (70 seats double function room)
• Buddha Bar (91 seats piano bar, size 210 m2)
• Galleria Mazzini (luxury jewelry, brand sunglasses and watches, size 60 m2)
• Photo Gallery & Shop (photo services, cameras, binoculars, accessories, size 131 m2)
• Medical Center (3-seat Infirmary, size 107 m2) 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
• MSC Sinfonia Aurea Spa & Fitness Complex (has Thalassotherapy Room, Treatment Rooms, 2 Saunas, 1 Steam Room, Relaxation Room, Beauty Salon, complimentary Gym/Gymnasium, with separate aerobics studio/classes; open 9 am - 9 pm, size 943 m2)
• Baby Club (size 52 m2) & Mini Club (size 42 m2) - Pinocchio Playroom (kids play area with TVs, Playstations, movies, games, toys, craft and arts)
• Sinfonia’s Le Piscine Pool Area (with 2 twin saltwater pools and 2 Whirlpools)
• Doremi Spray Park
• Capri Bar (223 seats poolside bar, size  with 3 different sections 2364 m2- main Bar/full, La Gelateria (Ice Cream Bar, open 10 am - 6 pm/surcharge) and Vitamin Bar (fresh juices)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track (7 laps = 1 mi, size 1200 m2)
• Young Club (size 54 m2) & Juniors Club (size 100 m2) - The Planet Club (11 seats teen club lounge for dance classes, live music, night disco, sports and video games contests) and Galaxy Video Games Arcade (with foosball and tennis tables)
• Pasha Club Disco & Nightclub (215 seats, with a full bar; during the day serving as a quiet area for panoramic views and relaxation, size 739 m2)
• Sundeck / Top 13 Solarium (adult-only relaxation area with loungers), Golf Simulator (size 300 m2, at surcharge).
• Sports Center (combined sports court- volleyball, basketball, tennis, mini football, size 337 m2), Shuffleboard (size 40 m2)
• 9-hole Mini-Golf Course (size 270 m2, also has 1 foosball table).

Itineraries

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 Civitavecchia-Rome, also visiting the Canary Islands.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the MSC ship Sinfonia was paused for 2 years (between March 2020-2022), restarting operations on March 26 (Eastern Mediterranean from Venice-Marghera). The boat's South America 2021-2022 program (from Rio de Janeiro) was canceled.

Due to the Israel-Palestine war, The winter program for MSC Sinfonia's winter 2023-2024 Eastern Mediterranean program (November-April) was canceled as the 11-day itinerary's highlight was Haifa/Nazareth. The season was based on homeporting in Genoa, Civitavecchia-Rome, Messina Sicily and Haifa.

The vessel (Chantiers de l’Atlantique yard/hull number X31) has volume 65542 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 8707 tons, max draught 7 m. The powerplant is based on Wartisla marine diesel engines (model 12V38) with combined output 31,68 MW (42480 hp). The registered shipowner is NEWCO SINFONIA SA, while the registered manager is MSC MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING CO.

MSC's liner Sinfonia was built as "MS European Stars" for Festival Cruises (2002-2004, now defunct).

Sinfonia is MSC's second Lirica-class vessel, with sisterships Armonia, Lirica, Opera. Ship's decks are named after famous composers (Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Bach, Tchaikovski, Sibelius, Debussy, Bizet).

n 2015, MSC 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

MSC Sinfonia's last drydocking was in 2024 (February 19-March 23) conducted at Palumbo Shipyard (Valletta, Malta). The project was for routine maintenance, safety inspections and classification works.

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.