The MSC Cruises fleet has grown enormously lately. As lately as early 2017, the road had simply 12 ships in operation. But it surely’s been including new cruise vessels at a blistering tempo, and it now operates 22 ships, with three extra on the way in which within the subsequent few years.
Because of the expansion, MSC Cruises lately handed Norwegian Cruise Line to grow to be the world’s third-biggest cruise model when measured by passenger capability. Solely Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line are larger.
Like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Carnival, MSC Cruises operates a variety of ship kinds and designs. The road’s latest ships are among the many largest ever constructed by any line. Eight MSC Cruises vessels rank among the many world’s 20 largest cruise vessels. However not all MSC Cruises ships are supersized. MSC Cruises additionally operates fairly a couple of comparatively smaller, intimate vessels.
For extra cruise guides, critiques and information, join TPG’s cruise publication.
Certainly, 4 MSC Cruises ships are lower than a 3rd the dimensions of its largest ship (the lately unveiled MSC World Europa) and rank among the many smallest of cruise ships operated by the key mass-market strains. Which means you’ve lots of selections relating to selecting the right MSC Cruises ship for you.
The excellent news for these of you attempting to get a deal with on all of the choices is that the 22 ships within the MSC Cruises fleet can simply be bunched into simply six teams of vessels which have comparable facilities. If you understand one member of the group, you understand all of them.
These six teams, made up of ships constructed across the similar time to the identical fundamental design, are recognized in cruise business lingo as “courses,” and every has its personal feel and appear.
An introduction to MSC Cruises ships
As famous above, MSC Cruises is now the world’s third largest cruise line, after a number of years of fast progress. Not together with pulldown bunks and pullout sofas, the road’s 22 ships have 77,832 berths — about 24,000 greater than Norwegian’s fleet. And the expansion will not be slowing anytime quickly. Three extra large new MSC Cruises vessels are on order for supply over the subsequent few years that can add one other 15,000 berths.
At its present tempo of progress, MSC Cruises quickly might cross Carnival to grow to be the world’s second-biggest line.
Join our each day publication
The grand dame of the MSC Cruises fleet is its lately unveiled MSC World Europa. At 215,863 tons, it is the most important MSC Cruises ship ever constructed and the primary of a brand new collection of so-called World-class vessels which are almost as large as Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships (the world’s largest cruise ships).
Associated: The last word information to MSC Cruises ships and itineraries
The following-biggest ships within the MSC Cruises fleet are its also-recently-unveiled Meraviglia-class vessels: MSC Meraviglia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Virtuosa and MSC Euribia. Comparable in design, these 5 ships aren’t fairly as large as MSC World Europa, however they’re proper up there relating to dimension, facilities and passenger capability.
MSC Grandiosa, MSC Virtuosa and MSC Euribia, which debuted in 2019, 2021 and 2023, respectively, are a tad longer than MSC Bellissima and MSC Meraviglia and are thought of a subset of the category often called Meraviglia Plus. They every can maintain 4,842 passengers at double occupancy — 6,334 passengers if each final pulldown bunk and pullout couch is crammed.
The opposite two Meraviglia-class ships, which date to 2019 and 2017, respectively, can carry greater than 5,600 passengers with each berth crammed.
Along with these 5 giants, MSC Cruises additionally operates 4 massive Seaside-class ships that every have a complete capability of 5,336 to five,632 passengers.
Add these in, and MSC Cruises operates 10 of the world’s 35 largest cruise ships.
The road additionally operates 4 considerably smaller Fantasia-class vessels that may every maintain round 4,400 passengers at most occupancy.
Associated: The 5 finest locations you may go to on an MSC Cruises ship
Collectively, the 14 World-, Meraviglia-, Seaside- and Fantasia-class vessels make up MSC Cruises’ big-ship fleet. The road’s remaining eight vessels, break up amongst two courses, are significantly smaller, with most occupancy topping out at round 2,700 to three,200 passengers.
The eight smaller ships, which typically are the road’s older ships, permit MSC Cruises to supply itineraries to locations that aren’t as simple for giant ships to go to. Not all ports on the planet can deal with a ship the dimensions of the World-class or Meraviglia-class vessels, though even the most important MSC Cruises ships are nonetheless designed to have the ability to name at most ports all over the world.
The smaller ships additionally attraction to a subset of MSC Cruises followers who’re prepared to surrender some onboard facilities in trade for intimacy. They’re additionally often cheaper on a per-day foundation.
Along with the entire above, MSC Group — the road’s mother or father firm — has introduced plans for yet one more class of huge ships to start out arriving later this decade, although there have been few particulars launched. MSC Group is also growing a collection of small luxurious vessels that’ll function underneath a separate model to be referred to as Explora Journeys.
World class
Ships at school: MSC World Europa (2022); MSC World America (coming in 2025); unnamed (coming in 2026); unnamed (coming in 2027).
Dimension: 215,863 tons.
In case you love nothing higher than an enormous, bustling resort with each form of amusement recognized to people, that is the MSC Cruises ship class for you. At present, just one ship is crusing, however one other will debut quickly, with two extra on the way in which.
Whereas not fairly as large as Royal Caribbean’s large Oasis-class vessels (the world’s largest floating megaresorts), the World-class ships should not far behind in grandeur and facilities. They’re larger and extra amenity-filled than any vessel you’ll discover at such rival big-ship strains as Norwegian, Carnival and Princess. Solely Royal Caribbean has ships of the identical scale.
Unveiled within the ultimate days of 2022 (so near 12 months’s finish that we thought of it a brand new vessel for 2023 after we listed the 12 months’s most enjoyable new ships), MSC World Europa can maintain as much as 6,762 passengers — nearly as many as can match on Royal Caribbean’s large Oasis-class vessels — and that’s an enormous deal.
That is the primary time within the 14-year historical past of the record-breaking Oasis-class collection {that a} vessel has come near the Royal Caribbean ships in passenger capability or dimension. MSC World Europa presents a significant new choice for cruisers who love being on the most important, most amenity-packed vessels.
At 215,863 tons, MSC World Europa is about 4% to eight% smaller than the 5 Oasis-class ships. However by one measure, it’s even larger. MSC World Europa is 21 decks excessive — three decks larger than the Oasis-class vessels.
Associated: The last word information to selecting the correct cruise for you
As for its onboard choices, MSC Cruises took a web page from Royal Caribbean’s playbook by breaking down the general public areas of MSC World Europa into districts. They embody an adults-only “Zen district” and a separate “household district” that homes as many as 10 new children’ amenities. There is also a central inside promenade with leisure, outlets and bars.
Moreover, MSC World Europa has six swimming pools and 14 sizzling tubs, making it one of the pool-covered ships at sea. The watery choices embody an Aquapark with a number of waterslides that combine digital actuality expertise. There’s additionally a household solar deck.
MSC World Europa has 13 eating venues, together with the new-for-the-line Chef’s Backyard Kitchen (an outlet targeted on microgreens) and La Pescaderia, a standard seafood grill with alfresco seating. In a twist, the ship has three separate buffet eating places, every with its personal ambiance.
Ingesting spots embody a two-deck English-style pub dubbed Masters of the Sea Pub, which serves beer made on board. There’s additionally a brand new gin bar, a primary for MSC Cruises.
MSC World Europa is simply the primary of at the very least 4 World-class vessels that MSC Cruises plans to unveil over the subsequent few years. The following ship within the collection, MSC World America, is due in 2025 and is scheduled to be deployed in Florida. Two extra World-class vessels are scheduled for completion in 2026 and 2027.
Seaside class
Ships at school: MSC Seaside (2017); MSC Seaview (2018); MSC Seashore (2021); MSC Seascape (2022).
Dimension: 153,516 to 170,412 tons.
Searching for a megaship particularly designed for cruising in warm-weather locales such because the Caribbean? The ships on this class could possibly be the reply.
The 4 vessels in MSC Cruises’ Seaside class function layouts with a number of outside areas for sunning, strolling and bar-hopping.
Every of the Seaside-class ships boasts an unusually broad, uncovered, outside promenade on Deck 8 that provides shut contact with the ocean and a Miami Seashore-like pool space in the back of the identical deck that’s surrounded by loungers. One other pool and lounge space on the high of every ship is linked to the decrease pool space by glass-enclosed elevators.
The latter pool space on the high of every of the ships is, notably, topped by twin zip strains that run from funnel to stern — at 345 ft the longest at sea. A 3rd pool space is positioned on the high of the ship towards its heart (this one with a closeable roof), and there’s a fourth pool space within the ship’s unique suite space, the MSC Yacht Membership.
Put all of it collectively, and the Seaside-class vessels have the very best ratio of outside area per passenger of any of the MSC Cruises ships, in keeping with the road.
As is typical for the most important megaships, Seaside vessels even have a variety of eating places, bars and lounges. Amongst 9 distinct eateries are two fundamental eating rooms, two buffet eateries, a pan-Asian restaurant, sushi bar, Teppanyaki eatery, American steakhouse and seafood restaurant. There are greater than a dozen bars.
Associated: Do not miss these loyalty perks when crusing with MSC Cruises
The entire ships even have a water park with waterslides and a dangling bridge function, a sports activities court docket, Components 1 race automotive simulators, digital arcade video games and bowling and an XD cinema (that includes 3D films plus immersive particular results, similar to shifting seats).
As well as, every of the vessels has a big spa, on line casino, disco, theater and library with a pool desk.
Measuring 153,516 to 170,412 tons, the Seaside-class ships are a tad smaller than the most important MSC Cruises ships (see the World class, above, and Meraviglia class, beneath).
MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview can carry 4,132 passengers at double occupancy (5,336 passengers with each berth crammed).
MSC Seashore and MSC Seascape are barely larger variations of the primary two ships within the collection which are a part of a subclass referred to as Seaside EVO (EVO stands for “evolution”). They every can maintain 4,540 passengers at double occupancy (5,877 with each berth crammed).
Meraviglia class
Ships at school: MSC Meraviglia (2017); MSC Bellissima (2019); MSC Grandiosa (2019); MSC Virtuosa (2021); MSC Euribia (2023).
Dimension: 171,598 to 181,541 tons.
Till late 2022, these have been the most important ships within the MSC Cruises fleet, and so they’re nonetheless large by any commonplace. In case you’re a fan of huge, bustling resorts which are loaded with all kinds of amusements, they need to be in your quick checklist amongst MSC Cruises vessels, together with the World-class ships.
Nineteen decks excessive and 1,036 ft lengthy, the primary two ships within the Meraviglia class — MSC Meraviglia and MSC Bellissima — are chock filled with 30 bars, lounges, eateries and snack shops (so many there’s little probability you’ll get to all of them on a single crusing).
The following three ships within the collection — MSC Grandiosa, MSC Virtuosa and MSC Euribia — provide much more shops. They’re barely stretched variations of the primary two ships, a subclass of the collection often called Meraviglia Plus.
All 5 of the vessels are constructed round a grand inside promenade that’s dwelling to eating places, bars and outlets. The promenade is roofed in an progressive “digital sky” made with LED screens.
The entire ships even have a large pool deck, a water park and a sprawling amusement space with race automotive simulators, a flight simulator and an XD cinema.
What you received’t discover on the Meraviglia-class ships is intimacy. These are vessels that may carry as many as 6,334 passengers when each berth is crammed. They every function with as much as 1,704 crew members. Which means you possibly can be sharing your trip with greater than 8,000 individuals.
Fantasia class
Ships at school: MSC Fantasia (2008); MSC Splendida (2009); MSC Divina (2012); MSC Preziosa (2013).
Dimension: 137,936 to 139,400 tons.
Again in 2008, when the ships on this collection started debuting, they have been among the many largest cruise vessels on the planet, and so they nonetheless are comparatively massive by cruise ship requirements — if not fairly as large as the newest MSC Cruises ships.
Whereas now not on the checklist of the highest 20 largest cruise vessels — certainly, they barely crack the highest 60 as of late, because of a flood of larger ships lately — they provide a traditional big-ship expertise with a number of eating places, bars, showrooms and deck-top points of interest.
On every of the Fantasia-class ships, you’ll discover 5 separate swimming pools (together with one with a retractable roof that’s excellent for wet days), 12 whirlpools, a waterslide, XD cinema, sports activities court docket, squash court docket, Components 1 race automotive simulator and in depth youngsters’s program areas.
As well as, every of the vessels has a big spa, on line casino, disco, outside cinema and a number of showrooms, lounges and bars.
One notable distinction between the Fantasia-class ships and the brand new Meraviglia-class and Seaside-class ships is that they’ve fewer eating choices. You’ll discover two fundamental eating places on every of those vessels, a fundamental buffet, a separate self-service meals space with pizza and an American-style steakhouse.
At 137,936 to 139,400 tons, the Fantasia-class ships are about 36% smaller than the road’s new MSC World Europa and its coming World-class sisters, a major step down in dimension. They’re about 23% smaller than the Meraviglia-class ships.
Additionally they carry considerably fewer passengers than the World-class and Meraviglia-class ships. MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida carry 3,274 passengers at double occupancy (4,363 with each berth crammed). The marginally larger MSC Divina and MSC Preziosa carry 3,502 passengers at double occupancy.
Musica class
Ships at school: MSC Musica (2006); MSC Orchestra (2007); MSC Poesia (2008); MSC Magnifica (2010).
Dimension: 92,409 to 95,128 tons.
Undecided that you simply need to sail on a megaship with 6,000 individuals however nonetheless need a vessel with a superb quantity of options and actions? The Musica-class ships would be the excellent resolution.
At 92,409 to 95,128 tons, the 4 vessels within the collection are barely half the dimensions of MSC Cruises’ large Meraviglia-class ships however nonetheless sufficiently big that they’ve rather a lot to supply.
Every of the vessels has at the very least 4 locations to eat together with two fundamental eating places, an informal buffet and a sushi bar.
You’ll additionally discover two pool areas on every of the ships, whirlpools, a miniature golf course and a sports activities court docket. Every of the ships additionally has a theater, spa, on line casino and a number of bars and lounges.
What you received’t discover on the ships, due to their smaller dimension, are the really over-the-top household points of interest that you simply’ll discover on larger MSC Cruises ships similar to large waterparks with a number of slides and sprawling amusement areas with race automotive and flight simulators. In case you can’t dwell with out these kinds of options on a cruise ship, the Musica class in all probability isn’t for you.
You’ll additionally discover a far much less various array of eating places.
Every of the Musica-class ships holds a bit over 2,500 passengers at double occupancy (round 3,200 with each berth crammed). That’s lower than half the variety of passengers you’ll discover on the most important MSC Cruises ships.
That makes them excellent for cruisers who need to get away from the form of crowds which are on the most important megaships with out giving up too lots of the facilities that large ships have to supply.
Lirica class
Ships at school: MSC Armonia (2001); MSC Sinfonia (2002); MSC Lirica (2003); MSC Opera (2004).
Dimension: 65,542 to 65,591 tons.
Relationship to the early 2000s, the Lirica-class ships are the smallest at MSC Cruises, and so they provide fewer onboard points of interest and facilities than is typical for the road’s vessels.
Typically, they attraction to cruisers in search of a extra intimate expertise on a cruise ship than what you’ll discover on the large MSC Cruises ships. Additionally they draw cruisers who care extra in regards to the locations they go to on a cruise than onboard points of interest.
Alongside these strains, MSC Cruises typically sends a few of its Lirica-class ships to South America, South Africa and the Center East to function destination-intensive itineraries with considerable port calls. The vessels additionally typically sail voyages within the Mediterranean which are longer than the seven-night journeys which are the norm at MSC Cruises. In each circumstances, the attract of the cruises has extra to do with the ports the ships go to than the onboard expertise.
The Lirica-class ships don’t have the large water parks which are widespread on newer MSC Cruises ships. For probably the most half, their high decks are lined with swimming pools, whirlpools and sunning areas, as is typical for ships constructed within the early 2000s. All of them have at the very least two swimming pools and two whirlpools.
Associated: Is cruising best for you? Begin by asking your self these 7 questions
Along with a fundamental eating room and an informal buffet, every of the ships has an out of doors grill and pizza stand close to its fundamental pool space, in addition to a sushi bar.
Every of the Lirica-class ships holds about 2,000 passengers at double occupancy (round 2,700 with each berth crammed). That’s lower than a 3rd of the passengers you’ll discover on the most important MSC Cruises ships.
Planning a cruise? Begin with these tales:
