MSC Splendida

Launched in 2009, MSC Splendida is the second of MSC Cruises Fantasia-class ships, together with Divina, Fantasia and Preziosa.

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.

The 137,936-ton, 3,959-passenger cruise ship MSC Splendida is a relatively new and very large vessel which was designed by MSC for the European market. Splendida has a wide range of amusement along with rich cuisine alternatives. She features appropriate for families design. Passengers tend to be all age ranges and mostly European.

Cruise itinerary program

MSC Splendida itinerary program is based on Western Mediterranean cruises from  Rome, Palermo, Barcelona and Marseille. The ship also visits the Canary Islands and Madeira. During summer, MSC Splendida operates Baltic Sea and British Isles cruises out of Hamburg. From May 2018 MSC Splendida will serve the Chinese market following dry dock refurbishment planned for 2017.

In 2018, MSC deploys Splendida to China (replacing MSC Lirica / repositioned there since May 2016) in order to meet the Asian market's growing demand. From May 2018, Splendida will serve the Chinese market following a drydock refurbishment (November-December 2017). The new Asian cruise itineraries will include ports in Japan, Korea and China (details are yet to be revealed).

Cabins

MSC Splendida has a total of 1637 cabins (of which 107 Suites, 1151 Balcony, 295 Inside rooms) in 11 grades. Most MSC Splendida staterooms (80%) are 210-sq. foot Balcony rooms. The largest aboard MSC Splendida is the Yacht Club Royal Suite (215 ft2). The ship also has 31 Aurea Spa Suites.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The 2-deck-high formal restaurant serves open seating breakfast and lunch, as well as dinner in two assigned seatings. A couple of speciality restaurants serve Tex-Mex and Italian cuisine. The Lido buffet is a casual-dining option. The buffet restaurant serves pizza at night. Coffee bars are a good option when the buffet is closed, but a charge is applied for coffee and pastries. MSC Splendida room service features a limited menu of cold sandwiches and Continental breakfast. Midnight buffet varies nightly and ranges from snacks to gala affair.

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

La Palmeraie (yacht club)

• La Reggia Restaurant (626-seat, 2-level forward Dining Room, offers different Italian traditional meals and wines; 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.; with 7-course dinner menu; also features vegan and vegetarian meals)
• Villa Verde Restaurant (766-seat aft Dining Room, open for Breakfast 7:00-10:00 a.m., Lunch 12:00-2:00 p.m., and Dinner with 2 fixed seatings at 7:00 and 9:45 p.m., features a 3-course menu for lunch, 7-course for dinner)
• L’Enoteca Bar (105-seat wine bar and Italian speciality restaurant; offers lunch and dinner)
• Santa Fe Steakhouse Restaurant (108-seat speciality restaurant, offers Mexican cuisine; dinner only)
• Bora Bora (412-seat, forward) and Pago Pago (404-seat, aft) Buffet Restaurants (self-service complimentary cafeterias with various food stations - Grill Corner, Pasta, Pizza, Carving Show, Ethnic Corner, Mediterranean, Bakery, Kids corner)
• L’Olivo Restaurant (136-seat aft Dining Room; MSC yacht club Suite guests only).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

MSC Cruises Splendida provides a casino, cinema, library. Sports lovers enjoy the fitness centre, 5 pools (L’Equatore/covered), twelve jacuzzis, plus sauna, solarium, Turkish bath, relaxation room and Thalassotherapy. The Aurea Spa will take good care of you with Balinese massage and holistic water treatments. Enjoy all the relaxing facilities and luxurious surroundings. As one of the MSC largest ships, Splendida has the “MSC Yacht Club” complex (with its 71 luxury suites) and the “Top 18” deck area. Additional amenities include complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service, Supervised Children Program, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry.

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

• Splendida Atrium (5-deck high central ship area with live entertainment)
• Splendida Bar (28-seat Atrium Lobby bar)
• Cyber Library (Internet computers room and 10-seat library)
• Cybercafe (Internet computers room)
• The Strand Theatre (1600-seat, 2-level; features grand-style show productions and classical concerts, with 2 shows per night - at 8:00 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.)
• Royal Palm Casino (323-seat, smoking allowed area, own full bar)
• Poker Room (separate card games lounge)
• The Cigar Lounge and Bar (31-seat smoking room with full bar)
• La Piazzetta (80-seat Italian Square area with live music, Ice Cream Bar, Cocktail- and Wine Bars, Coffee Bar, Chocolate and Pastry shop)
• The Mini Mall (Duty-Free Shop); La Boutique; MSC Logo Shop; Il Gioiello; Accessories; L’Angolo dell’Oggetto; La Caramella; La Profumeria; Fashion Bijoux; The Pool Shop; Photo Gallery and Shop
• L’Aperitivo (98-seat, with live music from ship's Atrium)
• La Prua Bar (108-seat piano bar with live music and speciality cocktails)
• Gallery Plaza (art exhibitions and auctions)
• The Purple Jazz Bar (106-seat jazz bar with liquor selection, live music and quiz games)
• Sports Bar (87-seat; has large TVs and bowling lanes)
• L’Espresso (58-seat speciality coffee bar; offers complimentary cookies and pastries)
• The Aft Lounge (268-seat aft show lounge with full bar and dance floor; hosts shows, bingo, trivia quizzes)
• MSC Splendida Aurea Spa (1700 m2 complex, with 2 Steam Rooms and 4 Saunas, Relaxation Room, Treatment Rooms, Thalassotherapy hot tubs, 3 Whirlpools, sliding-roof heated pool, Aerobics Studio/Yoga classes, Solarium Area, Beauty Salon, Bar)
• Fitness (complimentary Gym, fitness classes at a surcharge)
• L’Equatore Pool (has a sliding glass roof, 3 Whirlpools; served by L’Equatore Bar)
• Aqua Park (family pool, two Whirlpools, splash area, water jets, fountains)
• LED Wall (open air video screen)
• Bar del Riccio (97-seat poolside bar)
• Tartaruga Bar (Aqua Park poolside bar)
• Top Sail Lounge (141-seat MSC Yacht Club Lounge with piano live music, afternoon tea)
• Il Polo Nord; Mini and Junior (kids play area with kids pool, TVs, movies, crafts, games, climbing area, mini-football; with a 2-section Kids Club - for children 3-6 yo, and Junior - for 7-12 yo; also hosts feature activities by MSC-LEGO partnership called “Lego Experience at Sea”)
• Graffiti’s Disco and Club (31-seat teens only club); Teens Toboga (3-deck high Divina water slide); Teen’s Area (live music, dance classes, sports and video games)
• Playa del Sol Pool (adult-only “infinity pool” with 2 Whirlpools, served by Movida Bar)
• Club 33 Disco and Nightclub (120-seat, with a full bar)
• Le Club (22-seat MSC Yacht Club private area)
• Video Games Arcade; Virtual World (ten video games arcades); F1 Simulator (Formula 1 car racing)
• 4D Cinema (ten moving seats)
• MSC Arena Sports Center (combined sports court- basketball, volleyball, soccer, with stadium seating and outdoor large movie screen); Shuffleboard, Table Tennis, Squash
• MSC Yacht Club Area; The One Pool (MSC Yacht Club members only, with 2 Whirlpools, served by The One Bar)
• Top 18 Exclusive Solarium (adult-only area, with one Whirlpool, garden, Tiki Bar)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track.

Splendida is MSC's largest Fantasia-class liner (inaugural cruise July 4, 2009, christened on July 11), with sisterships Divina, Fantasia, Preziosa. Initially, this MSC ship was to be named "Serenata" (renamed in 2007). 

Don't forget that on MSC Splendida cruises kids sail for free!

(March 18, 2015 accident) MSC Cruises Splendida ship was docked at the La Goulette cruise port (Tunis, North Africa) when terrorists started shooting at civilians in front of the Bardo museum. Among the victims (21 killed, over 25 injured) were 12 cruise passengers from Splendida and 5 passengers from the Costa Fascinosa ship, plus local civilians and police officers. The MSC line decided to replace Tunisia with Malta (La Valletta port) for all Western Mediterranean 2015 cruises.

In 2018, MSC deployed Splendida to China (replacing MSC Lirica / repositioned there since May 2016) in order to meet the Asian market's growing demand. From May 2018, Splendida will serve the Chinese market following a 2017 dry dock refurbishment. The Asian itineraries will include ports in Japan, Korea and China (details are yet to be revealed). The ship's customization for the Chinese market featured a new restaurant (via a partnership with celebrity chef Jereme Leung), new "MSC for Me” program (with Deloitte), new shipwide artificial intelligence translation system (based on the Baidu search engine and technology provided by Tuge). The new translation system automatically identifies the languages spoken and translates, allowing passenger-crew interactions in real time.

Ship’s Captain is Giuseppe Moresco.

On December 18, 2018, MSC announced a partnership with celebrity chef Harald Wohlfahrt (3-starred Michelin chef). The German chef created a new menu of Mediterranean and international specialties for the exclusive MSC Yacht Club Restaurant on Meraviglia, Splendida, and Preziosa. The enhanced menu is offered only on cruises in Northern Europe. He also created two new main courses for the "Elegant Night" - a formal dining event held in the Main Dining Room on each voyage. Chef Wohlfahrt also completed an interactive training to all MSC's cruise ship chefs.