Name: MSC Opera
Brand: MSC Cruises
Availability: InStock

At a glance

MSC Opera is a large-size cruise ship operated by MSC Cruises, in service since 2003. It carries 1,756 guests and 750 crew (2.3 guests per crew member) at 58,600 gross tons. It is the 20th largest of 23 MSC Cruises ships by guest capacity. On Cruiseable's Bliss scale it scores highest for entertainment and family friendly (7.5/10) and lowest for cultural (2/10). 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 47 cruises on sale, with lead fares from $209 to $2,918. 21 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

Guests: 1,756
Crew: 750
Gross tons: 58,600
Decks: 9
Length: 824 ft
Beam: 94 ft
Maiden voyage: 2003
Launched: 2004
Refurbished: 2015
Space ratio: 2.3; Gross tons per guest
Guests per crew: 2.3
Speed (mph): 25
IMO: 9250464

Bliss scores

What MSC Opera 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.

Active 5.0
Adventure and nature 4.0
Cultural 2.0
Dining 5.8
Entertainment 7.5
Family friendly 7.5
Party 5.5
Romantic 5.5
Spa and fitness 6.5
Staterooms 7.0

Our review

MSC Opera: Opulence mixed with modern comforts

MSC Opera certainly lives up to its name — classic, grand, opulent. It's a cruise ship with something to sing about! A true sense of grandeur and spaciousness prevails on MSC Opera, one of the most welcoming ships in the fleet of Italy-based MSC Cruises.

MSC Opera offers a fun onboard atmosphere with more than enough activities both day and night to keep passengers of all ages entertained. Although one of the smallest within the MSC fleet, Opera manages to convey a sense of spaciousness and offers some superb accommodations — in fact, MSC Cruises has some of the best staterooms at sea.

To cruise aboard MSC Opera is to experience the best of old-fashioned elegance mixed with modern home comforts. Once on board you can look forward to a truly magnificent experience: Enjoy an espresso at the coffee bar or indulge in fresh home-made ice cream at the Gelato Bar. Take Italian lessons, stop by the Internet Cafe or simply enjoy a perfectly blended cocktail on the open deck.

Who will like sailing on MSC Opera

MSC Opera will appeal to those who want to discover the Med way of life! This is a ship for all ages and tastes. MSC Opera is a good choice for those looking for something a little different from their cruise vacation. She is a ship full of Mediterranean flare, and that is evident throughout in her decor and cuisine.

The ship's passengers come from the world over, so there is a constant mix of nationalities on board — this is always fun during daytime activities on the open deck — and her onboard programs are conveyed in several different languages. I'm British and never had a problem understanding what was going on.

Where MSC Opera sails

MSC Opera sails mostly 7-night itineraries in the Mediterranean to ports such as Dubrovnik and Kotor as well as 7-night voyages in the Persian Gulf out of Dubai with stops in Abu Dhabi.

My voyage: On a recent sailing, I embarked on a 10-night Southampton round-trip Atlantic voyage with stops at Le Havre, France; Ijmuiden, the Netherlands; Lisbon, Portugal; Vigo and Bilbao, Spain, and Saint Peter Port, Guernsey. The ship was a hive of activity during the entire voyage — never a miserable face did I see, though I was thoroughly miserable when I had to bid her farewell on disembarkation day.

Read the full review

Top dining options on MSC Opera

MSC Opera offers two main restaurants, La Caravella and L'Approdo. Both offer waiter service and boast a top gastronomic selection of treats, from king prawns to succulent steak and some wonderful vegetarian options all accompanied by a superb selection of fresh breads that are expertly baked on board.

La Vele Cafeteria, the ship's beautifully decorated buffet restaurant, extends down the port and starboard side of the ship. You'll find a wonderful selection of food available morning, noon and night, including a fantastic selection of fresh salad, cheeses, several different meats and various pasta and other dishes.

A large al fresco snack area, Il Patio, offers a selection of delicious pizzas, burgers and hot dogs for you to munch on while soaking up the sun.

Of MSC Opera's 856 cabins, 172 are balcony cabins and 28 are balcony suites that span two decks. Here's the Aurea Suite. Courtesy of MSC Cruises

Spa & wellness

On board MSC Opera, you'll find the award-winning MSC Aurea Spa, one of the best spas at sea. Fluffy towels and plush robes for the steam room and sauna, delicate flower petals and warm lighting in your massage room and all-new, state-of-the-art fitness equipment in the gym await you.

There is also a relaxation and meditation area surrounded by glass overlooking the open ocean that is simply calling out your name. Beauty treatments blend the best of ancient and modern practices incorporating elements of natural minerals, healing salts and aromatherapy to modern methods such as electronic stimulation.

The health center offers specialized regimens that include anti-wrinkle facial treatments, firming and exfoliating all-over body treatments and several types of massage incorporating shiatsu, reflexology and sports therapy. The hair salon offers the full range of services from cuts and coloring to make-up application and waxing.

The Aurea Spa aboard MSC Opera blends Balinese massage with traditional therapeutic water treatments passed down from Roman times. Courtesy of MSC Cruises

Bars & lounges

MSC Opera offers guests the choice of several bars and lounges, each inspired by a different theme. They include Bar Aroma Café, Piazza di Spagna Piano Bar, Caruso Lounge, Cotton Club Bar, La Cabala Piano Bar, Byblos Discotheque (which is located on the very top deck at the aft of the ship and extends out onto the open deck), Monte Carlo Casino and the Opera Theatre.

You can relax and enjoy a post-dinner liqueur in La Cabala or dance the night away in Byblos – the choice is entirely up to you.

Entertainment

On-board entertainment across the entire MSC Cruises fleet is a big thing. You can enjoy everything from dance lessons on the Opera's open deck as the sun sets on the Mediterranean Sea to a first-class operatic performance in the ship's Teatro dell‘ Opera (Opera Theatre). The 4,300-square-foot casino is always open when the ship is at sea and is incredibly popular day and night. There is also a Virtual Reality Games room located at the aft of the ship — ideal for kids and adults.

Kids Clubs

MSC Opera offers a range of entertainment in her complimentary Kids Clubs. There is so much for kids to do with MSC Cruises, you may need longer than a week to fit it all in. MSC Opera offers a small mini-golf area on her top deck, which is always fun for the entire family, along with several designated kids' areas for those ages 3-17, staffed by trained and fully qualified professionals. As each age group has different interests, MSC has created clubs offering a wide range of activities from parties, live shows, arts and crafts lessons, sports tournaments and ship-based adventures — in short, more than enough to keep them busy all day. The kids clubs are open 9 am to 10 pm.

Staterooms

MSC Opera 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 Opera also offers specially adapted inside cabins with wider doors, fold-down shower seat and grab rails.

Disclosure

Danielle Fear sailed on MSC Opera as one of the journalists and bloggers who are occasionally invited aboard to write about the ship as guests of MSC Cruises. See Cruiseable's Ethics & disclosure policy.

Updated from an earlier review.

Your take

Have you sailed on MSC Opera? 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?

If you're interested in a cruise on MSC Opera, contact a Cruiseable travel advocate at 1-877-322-3773 or by email. You'll get a better deal than you can get by contacting the cruise line directly.

SEE ALL MSC OPERA SAILINGS

On board highlights

Balcony stateroom Nice selection of cabins throughout the ship
Monte Carlo Casino A large and exciting casino
MSC Aurea Spa One of best spa centers at sea

Dining

Where to eat on MSC Opera

Photos

Inside and out

Destinations 8

The famed Barbary Macaques make themselves seen on the Rock of Gibraltar.
The Gibraltar Airport stands in the shadow of the Rock.
St. Michael's Cave is the most visited of the more than 150 caves in Gibraltar.
Moorish fortifications in Gibraltar signal the contested nature of the region over the centuries.
Visitors to Gibraltar can take the cable car to the Top of the Rock.
British pageantry on display as the Corps of Drums of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment passes by the Convent.
The Strait of Gibraltar, separating Africa and Europe, brings visitors from across the globe.
Stroll through Gibraltar and stop for refreshments at Casemates Square.

On board 6

Unwind and feel rejuvenated with a spa package during your MSC Opera sailing. You can also sign up for a personal consultation provided by a spa therapist.
The theater and show lounge aboard MSC Opera.
Try your luck at the Monte Carlo Casino, on deck 6 of MSC Opera.
The pool deck during a busy afternoon on MSC Opera.
A view of the promenade deck, or upper deck, aboard MSC Opera.
MSC cruise ships are family friendly, with pools and entertainment areas dedicated to children and teens.

Ship exteriors 2

MSC Opera sails to South Africa as well as ports along the Mediterranean, including destinations in Spain, Itay, Greece and Malta.
View of the 1,756-passenger MSC Opera from the rear.

More photos 9

Travel on the luxury liner MSC Opera for a truly authentic Italian experience.
The Cotton Club bar and show lounge aboard MSC Opera features dancing, music and live events.
Of MSC Opera's 856 cabins, 172 are balcony cabins and 28 are balcony suites that span two decks. The Aurea Suites feature spacious private balconies along with two single beds that convert to a double, a wardrobe, bathroom with tub and shower, sitting room, TV, air conditioning and mini-bar. Other suites offer panoramic windows instead of a balcony.
Spend some time with friends rolling the dice in the Monte Carlo Casino during your cruise on MSC Opera.
For traditional refined fare, head to La Caravella, one of two main dining rooms aboard MSC Opera.
The understated, elegant atrium on MSC Opera, where the reception area is the first stop on your voyage to your chosen destination.
In the mood for fine dining? Head to L'Approdo on deck 6, one of the two main dining rooms aboard MSC Opera.
The Aurea Spa aboard MSC Opera blends Balinese massage with traditional therapeutic water treatments passed down from Roman times.
MSC Opera features four restaurants, 11 bars, two swimming pools, two whirlpools, a sumptuous spa, a disco, video games room, four kids clubs, Internet café, casino, team building facilities and a medical center.

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