- Launched
- July 2009
- Gross tonnage
- 137,936 GT
- Passengers
- 3,900 (double occupancy)
- Crew
- 1,313
- Length
- 333 m
- Home port
- Mediterranean / South Africa (seasonal)
MSC Splendida entered service in July 2009 as Fantasia's near-identical sister. She has developed a strong following through her winter South African programme, homeported in Durban and Cape Town.
Splendida shares Fantasia's public spaces, Yacht Club architecture, and stateroom mix. The South African deployment makes her one of only a handful of large ships regularly in that market and the primary MSC vessel accessible to Southern African cruisers.
Summer sees Splendida return to the Mediterranean on 7-night itineraries out of Genoa, Marseille and Barcelona.
Highlights
South Africa flagship
One of very few modern mega-ships regularly deployed to Southern Africa.
Yacht Club
Original Fantasia-class enclave, forward decks 15-16.
Mediterranean summers
7-night Genoa/Marseille/Barcelona rotation.
Same class
Sister ships
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 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.
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 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.
Launched 2015)
MSC Lirica
The class lead — MSC's oldest active modern ship, lengthened in 2015 and deployed on port-intensive itineraries.
Launched 2015)
MSC Opera
Near-identical Lirica sister — traditional format, port-intensive Mediterranean and Red Sea 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.
Available on this ship
Onboard experiences
MSC Yacht Club
MSC's ship-within-ship suite enclave — a private, gated luxury product inside a mainstream ship.
MSC Aurea Experience
MSC's premium spa-oriented fare tier — a step below Yacht Club, a step above standard.
MSC Fantastica Experience
MSC's mid-tier fare — flexible dining, better cabins, and modest onboard perks.
MSC Bella Experience
MSC's entry-level fare — cheapest way onto an MSC ship.
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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