MSC Sinfonia

The 2002-built/2015-stretched MSC Sinfonia cruise ship is the second of MSC’s Lirica-class liners, with sisterships Armonia, Opera, and Lirica. Sinfonia joined the MSC fleet in 2005. Before that, she operated as “MS European Stars” for Festival Cruises (founded 1992, 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. Established in 1960, MSC Crociere is a subsidiary of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) – the world’s 2nd largest containership operator. MSC Crociere is the world’s largest privately owned cruise company.

By annual passenger volumes, MSC ranks as the world’s 3rd largest cruise shipowner, following Carnival Corporation and RCG–Royal Caribbean Group.

All four vessels of this class (Armonia, Lirica, Opera, Sinfonia) were enlarged by 24 m (80 ft), adding approximately 193 new passenger staterooms (including Balcony cabins), 59 crew cabins, new public spaces, expanded kids’ facilities (with LEGO and Chicco-themed activities), and a new outdoor water park (“Spray Park” with interactive slides, jets, and water toys).

The 2000-passenger MSC Sinfonia delivers a comfortable, affordable cruise experience. Inspired by Europe’s greatest composers, the ship blends elegance, art, and a warm Italian atmosphere, from refined wood décor to classic artwork and a relaxing spa.

Decks and Cabins

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

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

MSC Sinfonia’s decks are named after famous composers.

Shipboard dining options – Food and Drinks

There are no dining surcharges on MSC Sinfonia, as the ship has no specialty restaurants. Sinfonia offers a wide selection of Italian cuisine, though quality may vary. The Il Galeone Restaurant on Deck 5 is the larger of the two main dining rooms and features tables for two to six guests. The casual buffet venue is located on Deck 11 and serves as an alternative to the main dining rooms.

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

• Il Galeone Restaurant (1039 seats, aft Dining Room; open for Breakfast 7–10 am, Lunch 12–2 pm, Dinner with two fixed seatings at 6:45 and 9:15 pm; 3-course lunch and 7-course dinner menu; size 600 m²)
• Il Covo Restaurant (353 seats, aft Dining Room; dinner only, with two fixed seatings at 6:45 or 9:15 pm; size 583 m²)
• La Terrazza Restaurant (aft buffet restaurant, complimentary; 285 seats; open 6 am–2 am, also Afternoon Tea 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)

Shipboard entertainment options – Fun and Sport

MSC Sinfonia offers numerous activities day and night, including the MSC Irish Bar, Buddha Pub, cafés, and the Sinfonia Casino. Guests can visit the cinema, relax in the library, or stay active in the fitness center with panoramic sea views. The two swimming pools, jogging track, two jacuzzis, sauna, and spa further enhance the onboard experience. One of the ship’s signature features is the modern Virtual Golf Simulator, ideal for practicing your swing at sea.

Additional amenities include complimentary 24-hour room service, supervised children’s programs, Internet/WiFi access, and laundry services. Kids can enjoy mini-golf and a colorful play area with numerous activities.

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

• Teatro San Carlo Theatre (557 seats; grand-style productions including concerts, acrobatics, cabaret; two nightly shows at 7:30 and 9:30 pm; level 1 of 2; size 1135 m²)
• Sinfonia Atrium (two-deck-high central open area)
• Reception Desk (136 seats; guest services, reservations, bookings; size 490 m²)
• Shore Excursions Desk (booking, planning, information; Voyagers Club info point; size 40 m²)
• Sinfonia@Cafe (Internet/cyber café with 8 computer stations; size 90 m²)
• 5th Avenue (shopping alley – MSC logo shop, perfumes, cosmetics, jewelry, clothing, accessories)
• Gallery (jewelry, sunglasses, watches; size 60 m²)
• Jewelry Shop (luxury jewelry and accessories; size 100 m²)
• Boutique (bags, casual and fashion clothing; size 60 m²)
• Duty-Free Shop / Mini Mall (tax-free shop for snacks, liquor, tobacco, essentials; size 249 m²)
• Shelagh’s House Pub (114-seat Irish pub and bar; smoking allowed; TVs and live music; size 376 m²)
• Ambassador (15-seat cigar lounge; size 50 m²)
• Manhattan Lounge & Bar (224 seats; dance floor, live music, bingo, art auctions; size 600 m²)
• Café Le Baroque (94 seats; specialty coffee bar with à-la-carte pricing; complimentary desserts; coffee packages available; size 295 m²)
• Video Games Arcade (size 45 m²)
• Teens Club (33 seats; size 95 m²)
• Business Center (122-seat conference/meeting room and cinema; size 394 m²)
• Sanremo Casino (127 seats; smoking allowed; slot machines and gaming tables; full bar; size 454 m²)
• Sinfonia Lounge & Bar (120-seat show lounge with live music, dance floor, full bar, dance classes by day, nightclub by night; size 319 m²)
• Card Room & Library (70 seats)
• Buddha Bar (91-seat piano bar; size 210 m²)
• Galleria Mazzini (luxury jewelry, sunglasses, watches; size 60 m²)
• Photo Gallery & Shop (photo services, cameras, accessories; size 131 m²)
• Medical Center (3-bed infirmary operated by shipboard doctors and nurses, 24-hour service; size 107 m²; payments via boarding pass; passengers advised to carry cruise health insurance, as standard policies do not apply)
• MSC Sinfonia Aurea Spa & Fitness Complex (Thalassotherapy Room, treatment rooms, 2 saunas, steam room, relaxation room, beauty salon, complimentary gym and aerobics studio; open 9 am–9 pm; size 943 m²)
• Baby Club (52 m²) & Mini Club (42 m²) – Pinocchio Playroom (kids’ play area with TVs, PlayStations, movies, games, toys, arts and crafts)
• Le Piscine Pool Area (two twin saltwater pools and two whirlpools)
• Doremi Spray Park
• Capri Bar (223-seat poolside bar; includes main bar, La Gelateria – Ice Cream Bar (10 am–6 pm, surcharge), and Vitamin Bar with fresh juices; size 2364 m²)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track (7 laps = 1 mile; size 1200 m²)
• Young Club (54 m²) & Juniors Club (100 m²) – The Planet Club (11-seat teen lounge with dance classes, live music, disco, sports and video game contests) and Galaxy Video Games Arcade
• Pasha Club Disco & Nightclub (215 seats; full bar; serves as a daytime relaxation lounge with panoramic views; size 739 m²)
• Sundeck / Top 13 Solarium (adults-only sun deck with loungers); Golf Simulator (size 300 m², surcharge)
• Sports Center (multi-sport court for volleyball, basketball, tennis, mini-football; size 337 m²), Shuffleboard (size 40 m²)
• 9-hole Mini-Golf Course (size 270 m²; includes foosball table)

Itineraries

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

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

Due to the Israel-Palestine conflict, 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 planned with homeporting in Genoa, Civitavecchia-Rome, Messina (Sicily), and Haifa.

The vessel (Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard, hull number X31) has a volume of 65,542 GT, deadweight of 8,707 tons, and a maximum draught of 7 m. The power plant is based on Wärtsilä marine diesel engines (model 12V38) with a combined output of 31.68 MW (42,480 hp). The registered shipowner is NEWCO SINFONIA SA, and the registered manager is MSC MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING CO.

MSC’s liner Sinfonia was originally built as “MS European Stars” for Festival Cruises (2002–2004, now defunct).

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

In 2015, MSC Sinfonia was stretched (elongated by 25 m / 82 ft) during a drydock refit at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Palermo, Sicily. During the dry dock (January 12–March 16), the vessel was cut in two and a pre-built midship section was inserted. The reconstruction project was part of MSC Cruises’ USD 273 million “Renaissance Program,” under which Sinfonia and her sisterships Armonia, Lirica, and Opera were all enlarged.

MSC Sinfonia refurbishment 2015 review

MSC Sinfonia’s most recent drydocking took place in 2024 (February 19–March 23) at Palumbo Shipyard (Valletta, Malta). The project covered routine maintenance, safety inspections, and classification works.

The ship underwent a major refit and refurbishment in 2015 (January 12–March 16). Significant deck plan changes followed the stretching project. Upgrades included:

• Renovation and upgrade of all passenger cabins.
• Introduction of new stateroom categories.
• Addition of 193 new cruise cabins and suites (on decks 9–Tchaikovski, 10–Sibelius, 12–Bizet) plus 59 new crew cabins.
• Installation of an Aqua Park (Spray Park) with waterfalls and interactive slides.
• Upgraded boutique shops with redesigned interiors.
• Addition of a new luxury perfumes shop.
• Upgraded supervised kids’ clubs and play areas with new equipment and toys by Chicco and LEGO.

The 10-week dry dock project was valued at nearly EUR 50 million.