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MSC Magnifica

Large ship Bliss scored

As her name would suggest, MSC Magnifica is a true jewel within the MSC Cruises family — she welcomes you aboard with Italian style, Mediterranean luxury and an atmosphere infused with energy.

  • 2,518guests
  • 95,128gross tons
  • 116cruises now
  • $268fares from

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The 2,500-passenger MSC Magnifica. The Italian cruise ship sails to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and South America, including Brazil and Argentina.

At a glance

MSC Magnifica is a large-size cruise ship operated by MSC Cruises, in service since 2010. It carries 2,518 guests and 1,027 crew (2.5 guests per crew member) at 95,128 gross tons. It is the 21st largest of 25 MSC Cruises ships by guest capacity. On Cruiseable's Bliss scale it scores highest for family friendly and staterooms (8/10) and lowest for adventure & nature (4/10). It is rated 4 out of 5 by Cruiseable, 3.5 out of 5 by Berlitz and 4 out of 5 by Cruise Critic. It has 116 cruises on sale, with lead fares from $268 to $45,209. 16 of its upcoming sailings dropped in price since the previous weekly fare check.

Builder's plate

Specs

Cruiseable
4 / 5
Berlitz
3.5 / 5
Cruise Critic
4 / 5
  • Gold Award Contemporary Ship, Travel Weekly Magellan Awards (2013)
Guests
2,518
Crew
1,027
Gross tons
95,128
Decks
13
Length
963 ft
Beam
106 ft
Maiden voyage
2010
Launched
2009
Space ratio
2.5
Gross tons per guest
Guests per crew
2.5
Speed (mph)
26
IMO
9387085

Bliss scores

What MSC Magnifica is best at

Ten dimensions scored by our editors on a 10-point scale. The Cruiseable app ranks every cruise against the mix you care about.

  1. Active 5.0
  2. Adventure and nature 4.0
  3. Cultural 6.0
  4. Dining 6.0
  5. Entertainment 6.2
  6. Family friendly 8.0
  7. Party 5.0
  8. Romantic 5.0
  9. Spa and fitness 7.0
  10. Staterooms 8.0

Our review

MSC Magnifica: An impressive mix of comfort, design & technology

As its name would suggest, MSC Magnifica is a true jewel within the MSC Cruises family — you are welcomed aboard with Italian style, Mediterranean luxury and an atmosphere infused with energy.

A revolutionary cruise ship, MSC Magnifica marries extraordinary comfort with pioneering design and breakthrough technology that takes energy efficiency and environmental performance to new levels.

The ship offers space aboard for 2,500 passengers, the majority of whom can enjoy the luxury of a sea-facing cabin with balcony. Every stateroom aboard MSC Magnifica is beautifully presented, and its balcony options are some of the best within this size range.

You'll find three swimming pools on board — one with a retractable roof — several restaurants, spa and hair salon, fitness center, sports center, several bars and lounges, theater, gaming arcade, casino and a cool interactive 4-D cinema.

Who will like sailing on MSC Magnifica

MSC Magnifica is best for people looking for something a little different in a cruise vacation, and it's an ideal choice for young couples and families. Passengers come from all over the world, so there is a constant mix of nationalities onboard — this is always fun during daytime activities on the open deck — and the onboard programs are conveyed in several different languages; no need to ask at reception, your cabin steward will arrange the right program for you.

Where MSC Magnifica sails

MSC Magnifica sails to some superb destinations. In the Mediterranean you can choose from 7-night voyages starting in Venice with stops in Mykonos and Athens (Piraeus) or 11-night sailings starting in Genoa with  stops in Rome, Haifa, Rhodes, Athens (Piraeus), Barcelona, Málaga, Costa del Sol, Casablanca, Canary Islands and Funchal, Madeira. Farther afield, the ship also visits Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan in the Middle East as well as Northern Europe.

My voyage: I embarked on a journey to explore the Med way of life, and I was not disappointed. I joined MSC Magnifica in Amsterdam for a short three-night cruise. We stopped in Hamburg, Germany, before I reluctantly disembarked in Dover, England.

Read the full review

Top dining options on MSC Magnifica

MSC Magnifica offers two main restaurants, L'Edera and Quattro Venti. Each one boasts a wide selection of Italian, Mediterranean and international cuisine. Every product is fresh and carefully handled, including a superb selection of delicious breads, all baked onboard with the passion and knowledge of the most distinctive boulangerie.

Sahara, the onboard buffet restaurant, is a cut above what you find on many other ships. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Sahara offers a stylish decor and floor-to-ceiling windows with superb views across the open ocean. A double-sided station offers dishes from all over the world along with a dedicated section for children’s options and desserts. There is also a large chilled section featuring choice meats, several kinds of cheese, crispy, fresh salad and olives.

MSC Magnifica also offers a pizzeria and burger station on the open decks and there's a large gelato bar at the indoor pool.

You can also grab a snack in the Topazio bar or through room service.

Specialty restaurant: Oriental Plaza

For something different and exciting, have a night out at the Oriental Plaza restaurant on deck 7 at midship. You can experience the best of Asian dishes from the spicy hot North to the sizzling sweeter fare of the South, or if you prefer just a snack, try the mid-morning dim sum specialties from every region of China.

The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands, one of the intriguing places that MSC Magnifica calls on.
The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands is one of the intriguing places that MSC Magnifica calls on. Javier Betancor / Courtesy of Tourist Office of Spain

Bars & lounges

On MSC Magnifica guests can choose from 17 bars and lounges, inspired by different themes and wide-ranging in their assortment of wines and foods. One of the most impressive is the Tiger Bar, decorated, as you would expect, in tiger print but with a luxurious touch. The Sports Bar is also a popular place to enjoy a drink onboard and features some cool sporting memorabilia, including a full-size bobsleigh! The entire lounge is filled with TV screens, so you never miss out on the action, and there's a pool table for those who want to show off some of their own sporting skills. Another bar, L'Olimpiade, offers pub fare in a casual but stylish setting and lets you cue up a game of pool. 

Entertainment

MSC Cruises's reputation for some of the top entertainment programs at sea continues with MSC Magnifica. The ship features a state-of-the-art, 1,240-seat, two-deck Royal Theatre, futuristic T32 Disco, Atlantic City Casino with about 2,000 square feet of casino gaming and a Video Arcade. MSC Magnifica also boasts a small bowling alley, which is always a good way for families or couples to spend time together.

Guests can enjoy a dip in La Grotta Azzurra, MSC Magnifica's tranquil azure-colored indoor pool, during their cruise.
Guests can enjoy a dip in La Grotta Azzurra, MSC Magnifica's tranquil azure-colored indoor pool, during their cruise. Courtesy of MSC Cruises

Wellness & tranquility: The MSC Aurea Spa

At the heart of MSC Magnifica is a haven of tranquility: the luxurious and award-winning MSC Aurea Spa. This sumptuous wellness center offers a myriad of options from saunas and Turkish baths to a fitness center, beauty salon, Thalassotherapy (water therapy) room, relaxation area and massage rooms. The MSC Aurea Spa really is one of the very best at sea and we recommend a wellness visit during your vacation — maybe two!

Family-friendly Kids Clubs

Like its sister ships, MSC Magnifica is a child-friendly vessel and offers a fully comprehensive onboard program for children ages 3 to 17. There are dedicated play areas both inside and out on the open decks, a kids' pool and a highly trained crew who will entertain them from the morning hours until late into the evening. The kids' areas on MSC Magnifica are located on deck 14 at midship. The play area located on the outer deck features a slide, trampoline and splash pool.

Staterooms

MSC Magnifica offers a wide variety of stateroom options, from comfortable inside cabins to spacious balcony cabins, all the way up to the top-of-the-line suites with balcony, which measure 290 square feet (27 square meters). All staterooms offer in-suite facilities, TV, mini-bar and safe. For guests with reduced mobility or disabilities, MSC Magnifica also offers specially adapted inside cabins with wider doors, fold-down shower seat and grab rails.

Disclosure

Danielle Fear sailed on MSC Magnifica on a press/blogger trip as a guest of MSC Cruises. See Cruiseable's Ethics & disclosure policy. 

Updated from an earlier review.

Your take

Have you sailed on MSC Magnifica? Please share a story, tip or discovery. What was the highlight for you? I'd love to know!

Interested in a cruise on this ship?

For pricing, itinerary information and to reserve your spot on MSC Magnifica, contact a Cruiseable travel consultant by email or call 1-877-322-3773.

SEE ALL MSC MAGNIFICA SAILINGS

On board highlights

Dining

Where to eat on MSC Magnifica

Photos

Inside and out

Dining 1

  • In the mood for a snack? Try the mid-morning dim sum specialties from every region of China at Oriental Plaza aboard MSC Magnifica.

On board 7

  • Feel reinvigorated with a spa treatment and great view of the ocean in MSC Magnifica's Aurea Spa.
  • The Aurea Spa aboard MSC Magnifica has all the latest equipment for you to keep up your exercise regimen.
  • MSC Magnifica's aptly named sports bar, L'Olimpiade, offers pub fare in a casual but stylish setting.
  • MSC cruise ships are family friendly, with pools and entertainment areas dedicated to children and teens.
  • The Lido Deck of MSC Magnifica at sunset.
  • Try your luck at roulette in the casino of MSC Magnifica.
  • Try your luck at craps in the casino of MSC Magnifica.

Ship exteriors 1

  • A few of the aft of MSC Magnifica as she prepares for a voyage.

More photos 12

  • The 2,500-passenger MSC Magnifica. The Italian cruise ship sails to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and South America, including Brazil and Argentina.
  • Guests can enjoy a dip in La Grotta Azzurra, MSC Magnifica's tranquil azure-colored indoor pool, during their cruise.
  • Be impressed by a live performance in the Royal Theatre during your travels aboard MSC Magnifica.
  • Sit back and listen to live piano music in L'Ametista Lounge throughout your sailing aboard MSC Magnifica.
  • MSC Magnifica's L'Oasi Restaurant offers panoramic views of the passing landscapes and signature dishes designed by two-star Michelin chef Mauro Uliassi.
  • Quattro Venti, on deck 6 of MSC Magnifica, seats 714 guests and is open for dinner only. It offers assigned seating times of 6 and 8:30 pm and has the same menu as the ship's L’Edera dining room.
  • At the specialty restaurant Oriental Plaza on MSC Magnifica, the menu features a wide range of Asian dishes, from the spicy hot of northern China to the sizzling sweeter fare of south China.
  • Experience a first-class luxury holiday on your cruise aboard MSC Magnifica.
  • Have some fun with family and friends in MSC Magnifica's bowling alley.
  • Travel in style aboard MSC Magnifica. The ship sails to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and South America.
  • With palms, brilliant pops of color and a sparkling ceiling, MSC Magnifica's Le Gocce reception area beautifully evokes Italian style and design.
  • The 2,500 passenger MSC Magnifica sails to ports across the Mediterranean and along South America.

Sailing now

Cruises on MSC Magnifica

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