MSC Cruises has 19 ships currently in service, with two more being launched in 2022 which will bring the total number of ships in the fleet to 21.
With so many ships, it can be tricky to know which one to choose. When you see a particular cruise advertised, it’s good to know if it’s on one of the newer, bigger ships or an older, smaller one. This can help you to work out if the cruise you want to book is good value for money.
Even regular cruisers can get mixed up about which ship is which, so I’ve created this handy guide to MSC Cruises ships, with tables to order the MSC ships by size, year and class.
MSC Ships By Size
The following table shows MSC Cruises ships ordered by size, largest to smallest…
| Ship | Gross Tonnage | Passengers | Length (Metres) | Decks | Guest Decks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSC Virtuosa | 181,541 | 6,334 | 331 | 19 | 15 |
| MSC Grandiosa | 181,541 | 6,334 | 331 | 19 | 15 |
| MSC Bellissima | 171,598 | 5,686 | 316 | 19 | 15 |
| MSC Meraviglia | 171,598 | 5,655 | 316 | 19 | 15 |
| MSC Seashore | 169,400 | 5,632 | 339 | 20 | 16 |
| MSC Seaside | 153,516 | 5,336 | 323 | 20 | 15 |
| MSC Seaview | 153,516 | 5,119 | 323 | 20 | 15 |
| MSC Preziosa | 139,072 | 4,345 | 333 | 18 | 14 |
| MSC Divina | 139,072 | 4,345 | 333 | 18 | 14 |
| MSC Splendida | 137,936 | 4,363 | 333 | 18 | 14 |
| MSC Fantasia | 137,936 | 4,363 | 333 | 18 | 14 |
| MSC Magnifica | 95,128 | 3,013 | 294 | 16 | 13 |
| MSC Poesia | 92,627 | 3,013 | 294 | 16 | 13 |
| MSC Orchestra | 92,409 | 3,013 | 294 | 16 | 13 |
| MSC Musica | 92,409 | 3,013 | 294 | 16 | 13 |
| MSC Opera | 65,591 | 2,579 | 275 | 13 | 9 |
| MSC Lirica | 65,591 | 2,548 | 275 | 13 | 9 |
| MSC Sinfonia | 65,542 | 2,546 | 248 | 13 | 9 |
| MSC Armonia | 65,542 | 2,520 | 275 | 13 | 9 |
Gross tonnage is a measurement of the overall internal volume of a ship. It’s one of the best ways to measure the size of a cruise ship.
The passenger number is based on how many passengers each cruise ship can accommodate at maximum occupancy. That would mean that all the extra beds are in use. In reality, ships don’t cruise as maximum occupancy because sometimes you will have just two people in a cabin and so they won’t use the sofa bed or Pullman beds.
How big are MSC cruise ships?
MSC Cruises’ ships range in size from 248 metres long to 331 metres long. Each ship can accommodate between 2,520 and 6,334 passengers over 13 to 20 decks.
Compared to other mainstream cruise lines, MSC Cruises’ ships are quite average in size, with some mega ships, some large ships and a few medium-sized ships.
MSC Cruises has no small ships. However, in 2023, the MSC Group will launch a new cruise line called Explora Journeys. This will feature only small, luxury ships.
Suggested read: Who Owns MSC Cruises?
Which MSC Cruises ship is the biggest?
MSC Cruises’ largest ships are MSC Grandiosa and MSC Virtuosa. These virtually-identical sister-ships are 331 metres long and can accommodate up to 6,334 passengers. They each have 19 decks, 15 of which are accessible to passengers.
MSC Grandiosa and MSC Virtuosa are the joint ninth biggest cruise ships in the world, behind Royal Caribbean’s four Oasis-class ships, and four other ships that were all made to a similar design – Costa Smeralda, P&O Cruises’ Iona, AIDAnova and Carnival Mardi Gras.
Are bigger cruise ships better?
Which size of ship is the best is a matter of personal preference and each has its advantages. For some people, bigger is always better, whereas other people will only choose to cruise on small or medium-sized ships.
Bigger ships tend to be newer and have more features and attractions on-board, this can also mean that cruise tickets cost more. Smaller ships have their advantages in that they tend to offer more port-intensive itineraries as they can access some ports which larger ships cannot.
MSC Ships By Year
The following table shows MSC Cruises ships from newest to oldest…
| Ship | Year Built |
|---|---|
| MSC Seascape (coming soon) | 2022 |
| MSC World Europa (coming soon) | 2022 |
| MSC Seashore | 2021 |
| MSC Virtuosa | 2021 |
| MSC Grandiosa | 2019 |
| MSC Bellissima | 2019 |
| MSC Seaview | 2018 |
| MSC Seaside | 2017 |
| MSC Meraviglia | 2017 |
| MSC Preziosa | 2013 |
| MSC Divina | 2012 |
| MSC Magnifica | 2010 |
| MSC Splendida | 2009 |
| MSC Fantasia | 2008 |
| MSC Poesia | 2008 |
| MSC Orchestra | 2007 |
| MSC Musica | 2006 |
| MSC Opera | 2004 |
| MSC Lirica | 2003 |
| MSC Sinfonia | 2002 |
| MSC Armonia | 2001 |
Which is the newest MSC Cruises ship?
The newest MSC Cruises ship currently in service is MSC Seashore which entered service in August 2021. The first ship in the new Seaside EVO class, MSC Seashore is slightly larger than Seaside Class ships MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview.
Future MSC Cruises ships
Several new MSC cruise ships are currently being built, including MSC Seascape which will launch in November 2022 and MSC World Europa which will follow in December 2022. Construction has also started on another ship which will be names MSC Euribia in 2023.
MSC Ships By Class
In the MSC Cruises fleet, the ships are grouped into classes. Each ship in a class will be very similar, with a few small differences on board.
The following table shows MSC Cruises ships grouped by class…
| Ship | Class |
|---|---|
| MSC World Europa | World class |
| MSC Virtuosa | Meraviglia Plus class |
| MSC Grandiosa | Meraviglia Plus class |
| MSC Bellissima | Meraviglia class |
| MSC Meraviglia | Meraviglia class |
| MSC Seascape | Seaside EVO class |
| MSC Seashore | Seaside EVO class |
| MSC Seaview | Seaside class |
| MSC Seaside | Seaside class |
| MSC Preziosa | Fantasia class |
| MSC Divina | Fantasia class |
| MSC Splendida | Fantasia class |
| MSC Fantasia | Fantasia class |
| MSC Magnifica | Musica class |
| MSC Poesia | Musica class |
| MSC Orchestra | Musica class |
| MSC Musica | Musica class |
| MSC Opera | Lirica class |
| MSC Lirica | Lirica class |
| MSC Sinfonia | Lirica class |
| MSC Armonia | Lirica class |
Seaside EVO class
MSC Cruises will had a new class of ship for 2021, the Seaside EVO-class. Beginning with the launch of MSC Seashore in August 2021, Seaside EVO- class ships are slightly larger than Seaside class ships.
Ultra Luxury class
In 2023, MSC will launch the first of a new class of small, ultra-luxury cruise ships. These four new ships, built over four years, will be the smallest in the fleet at around a third the size of MSC Grandiosa. These won’t be part of the MSC Cruises fleet, instead, they will fall under a new sister brand called Explora Journeys.
MSC’s Ultra Luxury Class ships will be aimed at guests who enjoy the MSC Yacht Club, offering a premium experience for wealthy guests who want the best of the best.
On which ships is MSC for Me available?
MSC for Me is a digital technology that enables guests to interact with their cruise ship and its crew via touch screens around the ship, an in-cabin smart TV and a mobile phone app. Some ships will also have a virtual cruise assistant by the name of Zoe.
MSC for Me is available on the following ships:
- MSC Seashore
- MSC Virtuosa
- MSC Bellissima
- MSC Grandiosa
- MSC Meraviglia
- MSC Seaside
- MSC Seaview
- MSC Splendida
- MSC Magnifica
On MSC Splendid and MSC Magnifica, the MSC for Me programme has reduced features.
MSC Zoe is available on the following ships:
- MSC Grandiosa
- MSC Bellissima
Photo credit: MSC Cruises
Don’t Overpay For Your MSC Cruise!
Here’s how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise…
1. Compare prices from every travel agent in one place.
2. Choose a trusted travel agent with a best price guarantee.
Please don’t book with any old company just because they have a cheap deal. I recommend that you find the best price and then take it to a trusted travel agent who will beat it, as well as giving you the best service.
To conclude
MSC Cruises has ships of various sizes, with the largest ships being almost three times the size of the smallest ones in terms of volume (gross tonnage). As with all cruise lines, ships have got bigger over the years and the newest ships tend to be larger.
If you prefer smaller, more intimate ships, then look out for the MSC Group’s new ultra-luxury ships in the Explora Journeys brand. The first one will launch in 2023, offering a boutique, small ship experience for discerning cruisers.
To learn more about each of the ships in the MSC Cruises fleet, choose a ship below…
