- Launched
- March 2004 (lengthened 2015)
- Gross tonnage
- 65,591 GT
- Passengers
- 2,199 (max), 1,984 (double occupancy)
- Crew
- 728
- Length
- 275 m
- Home port
- Mediterranean / Red Sea / Grand Voyages
MSC Opera entered service in March 2004 as the second Lirica-class ship. She was lengthened alongside Lirica in 2015 and has since become one of MSC's principal Red Sea and Middle East mid-size deployments.
Opera shares Lirica's compact modern-traditional format: no Yacht Club, fewer specialty restaurants, a more classic entertainment programme. Her scale gives her access to Red Sea, Egyptian and smaller Mediterranean ports the larger classes cannot enter.
For guests looking for a lower-density MSC experience on a well-priced platform, Opera continues to represent one of the strongest value propositions in the fleet.
Highlights
Red Sea deployment
Regular seasonal programmes from Aqaba and Egyptian ports.
Renaissance refit
Lengthened by 24 metres in 2015.
Traditional small-ship feel
Approximately 2,000 double-occupancy — a fraction of flagship density.
Same class
Sister ships
Launched 2015)
MSC Lirica
The class lead — MSC's oldest active modern ship, lengthened in 2015 and deployed on port-intensive itineraries.
Launched 2014)
MSC Armonia
Ex-Festival Cruises hull adopted by MSC in 2004 — small-ship format with a Cuban deployment history.
Launched 2015)
MSC Sinfonia
The second ex-Festival hull adopted by MSC — small-ship format with a long South African deployment history.
Also in MSC Cruises
Other ships in the fleet
Launched 2022
MSC World Europa
MSC's LNG-powered European flagship, the first World-class ship and the current showcase for the MSC Yacht Club.
Launched 2025
MSC World America
MSC's Miami flagship — the second World-class ship, reconfigured for the North American Caribbean market with a redesigned promenade and expanded Yacht Club.
Launched 2017
MSC Seaside
The lead Seaside-class ship — MSC's first vessel purpose-designed for the North American Caribbean market.
Launched 2018
MSC Seaview
Seaside's European sister — the same outdoor-living platform deployed in the Mediterranean and Brazil.
Launched 2021
MSC Seashore
The first Seaside EVO ship — 20 metres longer than the original pair, with a larger Yacht Club and new dining and wellness spaces.
Launched 2022
MSC Seascape
The second Seaside EVO ship — Miami-based, and the ship that first proved the format works alongside a World-class flagship at the same homeport.
Launched 2017
MSC Meraviglia
The lead Meraviglia-class ship — the vessel that introduced the LED-domed Galleria and Cirque du Soleil at Sea.
Launched 2019
MSC Bellissima
Meraviglia's near-identical sister — the class's UK and Middle East workhorse.
Launched 2019
MSC Grandiosa
The first Meraviglia-Plus ship — larger Yacht Club, extended Galleria, and MSC's most complete children's facilities of the class.
Launched 2021
MSC Virtuosa
Meraviglia-Plus sister to Grandiosa — MSC's flagship UK-market ship, with a robotic bartender and an expanded Yacht Club.
Launched 2008
MSC Fantasia
The class lead — the first mainstream cruise ship to feature a true ship-within-ship enclave in the MSC Yacht Club.
Launched 2009
MSC Splendida
Fantasia's near-identical sister — Mediterranean summers, seasonal South Africa deployment.
Launched 2012
MSC Divina
The third Fantasia-class ship — MSC's long-serving US Caribbean workhorse and a firm favourite of the North American MSC base.
Launched 2013
MSC Preziosa
The final Fantasia-class ship — Mediterranean summers, Northern European and Grand Voyage deployments.
Launched 2006
MSC Musica
The class lead — MSC's original mid-size Mediterranean workhorse and a favourite for longer port-intensive itineraries.
Launched 2007
MSC Orchestra
Near-identical Musica sister — Mediterranean summers, seasonal South African deployment.
Launched 2008
MSC Poesia
Third Musica-class ship — Mediterranean and Northern European specialist.
Launched 2010
MSC Magnifica
The final and slightly enlarged Musica-class ship — MSC's regular World Cruise vessel.
Available on this ship
Onboard experiences
Cruise line
Explore the brand
MSC Cruises
European-flavoured contemporary cruising with an aggressive value proposition and a strong ship-within-ship suite product.
MSC Group (parent group)
MSC Group is a privately-held Swiss-Italian shipping conglomerate controlled by the Aponte family, owner of MSC Cruises and the ultra-luxury Explora Journeys.
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