MSC Opera

MSC Opera is a cruise ship operated by MSC Cruises, the cruise division of the Mediterranean Shipping Company group. Built in 2004, the vessel belongs to MSC's Lirica class and was among the company's early purpose-built ships for expanding its presence in the international cruise market. The ship has a published capacity of 2,679 passengers accommodated in 1,071 cabins, supported by an approximate crew complement of 728. Its scale places it in the mainstream large-ship cruise segment rather than the ultra-luxury or expedition categories. During the first part of its service life, MSC Opera held particular importance within the MSC Cruises fleet. It served as the company's flagship until MSC Musica entered service in 2006. That transition reflected the rapid expansion of the fleet and the introduction of newer, larger or more extensively equipped vessels, while MSC Opera continued to operate as a core passenger ship. MSC Opera underwent a substantial refurbishment under MSC Cruises' Renaissance Program. It was the third Lirica-class vessel to receive the program's treatment. The work was carried out at the port of Palermo by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and included jumboisation, increasing the ship's size and passenger capacity. The completed work added or upgraded several passenger-facing facilities, including a spray park, renovated shops, expanded children's and teen areas, an improved buffet, a new lounge and an extended restaurant. The refurbishment was completed on 4 July 2015, extending the ship's practical service life and aligning its public spaces with the expectations of contemporary family-oriented cruising. The vessel has operated on more than one regional itinerary pattern, including Baltic Sea and Caribbean voyages, and it has also been associated with Mediterranean operations. As with other cruise ships, its offering is a bundled travel experience combining accommodation, dining, entertainment and port visits rather than a conventional consumer product sold independently. MSC Opera's positioning is therefore best understood as an upper-mainstream or mid-to-upper-market cruise experience within MSC Cruises' broader portfolio. The ship has also been involved in several significant operational and security incidents. In 2010, UK Border Agency officers at Dover found cocaine concealed in four passenger cabins; seven passengers from Latvia and Lithuania were subsequently convicted and received aggregate prison sentences of 84 years. In May 2011, an engine failure in the Baltic Sea left the vessel without power and led to its being towed to Nynäshamn near Stockholm. Passengers were transferred to smaller vessels, and approximately 1,700 were flown home from Stockholm. In March 2019, Portuguese police arrested twelve people after finding 18 kilograms of cocaine hidden in bags of chips on board during a call at Funchal, Madeira. In June 2019, MSC Opera collided with the quay and a docked river cruise ship in Venice's Giudecca Canal. The ship sustained superficial scratches, the smaller vessel suffered more damage, and five people received minor injuries. The reported cause involved technical difficulties with the ship's engines while it was under tow.

MSC Opera entered service in 2004 as a member of MSC Cruises' Lirica class. The ship was built for the expanding Swiss cruise company and formed part of a fleet development phase in which MSC Cruises established a larger presence in international passenger cruising. With accommodation for 2,679 passengers in 1,071 cabins and a crew of approximately 728, MSC Opera was designed as a full-service cruise vessel combining hotel accommodation, restaurants, entertainment and scheduled port calls. For a period after entering service, MSC Opera served as the flagship of MSC Cruises. That role ended when MSC Musica entered service in 2006, reflecting the arrival of newer fleet tonnage rather than the withdrawal of MSC Opera. The ship continued operating within the MSC Cruises network and was used on different regional programs, including Baltic Sea and Caribbean itineraries, as well as Mediterranean operations. A major later stage in the vessel's history was its participation in MSC Cruises' Renaissance Program. MSC Opera was the third Lirica-class ship to undergo the program. The refurbishment was completed at Palermo by Fincantieri and included jumboisation, a process that increased the vessel's capacity and created space for additional or enlarged public areas. Passenger facilities added or upgraded through the work included a spray park, renovated retail spaces, new children's and teen areas, an enhanced buffet, a new lounge and an extended restaurant. The work was completed on 4 July 2015. MSC Opera's operating history also includes several incidents reported in connection with the vessel. In May 2010, UK authorities at Dover found cocaine concealed in four passenger cabins; seven passengers were subsequently convicted in England. In May 2011, an engine failure in the Baltic Sea caused a loss of power and required a tow to Nynäshamn near Stockholm. Passengers were moved to smaller vessels, and about 1,700 were flown home from Stockholm before the ship proceeded to Gdynia for repairs. In March 2019, Portuguese police arrested twelve people on board at Funchal after finding 18 kilograms of cocaine concealed in bags of chips. In June of the same year, the ship collided with a quay and a moored river cruise vessel in Venice's Giudecca Canal. Five people sustained minor injuries. The reported technical cause concerned engine difficulties while MSC Opera was under tow. These events form part of the documented operational record of a cruise ship that has otherwise remained in service as an MSC Cruises vessel. Its identity is tied to the ship itself and to the Lirica-class design, while its commercial role is the delivery of packaged cruise holidays across several international regions.

1. 2015Renaissance Program refurbishment completed

   Fincantieri completes MSC Opera's jumboisation and refurbishment at Palermo, adding and upgrading family, dining, retail and lounge facilities.

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2. 2006MSC Musica replaces MSC Opera as fleet flagship

   MSC Opera's flagship role ends when MSC Musica enters service.

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3. 2004MSC Opera is built and enters service

   MSC Opera is built as a Lirica-class cruise ship for MSC Cruises, with 1,071 cabins and capacity for 2,679 passengers.

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Upper-mainstream cruise ship offering family-oriented accommodation, dining, entertainment and regional itineraries.

• MSC OperaCruise ship2004

  MSC Opera is a Lirica-class cruise ship offering bundled holiday travel that combines passenger cabins, restaurants, entertainment, children's and teen facilities, retail areas and visits to regional ports. Its 2015 Renaissance Program refurbishment expanded the ship through jumboisation and modernized several public spaces, including the buffet, lounge, restaurant, shops and family recreation areas. The ship has operated on Baltic Sea, Caribbean and Mediterranean-related itineraries.

• 2015MSC Cruises completes Renaissance Program refurbishmentStrategy

  MSC Opera was the third Lirica-class vessel selected for the Renaissance Program, which sought to extend the ship's usable life and refresh its onboard facilities.

  What changed. Fincantieri carried out jumboisation and refurbishment work at Palermo, adding capacity and upgrading family areas, retail spaces, buffet, lounge and restaurant facilities.

  Aftermath. The work was completed on 4 July 2015, allowing MSC Opera to continue operating as a modernized member of the MSC Cruises fleet.

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• 2019Portuguese police arrest twelve passengers after cocaine discovery

  During a call at Funchal in Madeira after a Caribbean voyage, Portuguese police arrested twelve people after discovering 18 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside bags of chips on board MSC Opera.

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• 2019MSC Opera collides with quay and river cruise ship in Venice

  MSC Opera struck the quay and a docked river cruise ship at the San Basilio Pier in Venice's Giudecca Canal. The ship suffered superficial scratches, the smaller vessel sustained greater damage, and five people were slightly injured. The reported cause was technical engine difficulty while the ship was under tow.

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• 2011Engine failure stranded MSC Opera in the Baltic Sea

  An engine failure left the ship without power in the Baltic Sea. It was towed to Nynäshamn near Stockholm, where passengers were transferred to smaller vessels and approximately 1,700 people were flown home. The ship later sailed to Gdynia for repairs, and passengers received a cruise voucher.

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• 2010Cocaine found concealed in passenger cabins at Dover

  UK Border Agency officers discovered a large quantity of cocaine concealed in four passenger cabins on MSC Opera at Dover. Four Latvians and three Lithuanians were later convicted at Canterbury Crown Court and received total prison sentences of 84 years.

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1. MSC Opera