Berlitz Guide to Cruising

Overview

MSC Opera is the second of a pair of newbuilds for MSC Cruises (the first being MSC Lirica), Italy’s largest privately owned cruise line (formerly Star Lauro Cruises), although this ship has almost 100 cabins more than MSC?Opera. The blue funnel is quite sleek, with a swept-back design that closely resembles that of the Princess Cruises ships, and carries the MSC logo in gold lettering. The ship is similar in size and structure to MSC Lirica, there are many modifications (mostly in technical spaces), and improvements in the layout of public rooms; there are also more cabins with private balcony.
From a technical viewpoint, the ship is fitted with an azimuthing pod propulsion system , instead of conventional rudders and propellers.
All decks are named after operas. The interior layout and passenger flow is quite good with the exception of a couple of points of congestion, typically when the first seating exits the dining room and passengers on second seating are waiting to enter. The decor has many Italian influences, including clean lines, minimalism in furniture design, and a collection of colors, soft furnishings and fabrics that work well together, and without any hint of garishness. Real wood and marble have been used extensively in the interiors, and the high quality reflects the commitment that MSC Cruises has in the vessel’s future. The “fit and finish” of the interior decor, and most carpeting, is very good.
Facilities include the ship’s main show lounge, a nightclub/discotheque, several lounges and bars, an internet center with 10 terminals, a virtual reality center, a children’s club, a shopping gallery named Via Conditti (with shops that have an integrated bar and entertainment area so that shopping becomes a city-like environment where you can shop, drink, and be entertained all in one convenient area). Gamblers will find pleasure in the Monte Carlo Casino, with blackjack, poker and roulette games, together with an array of slot machines. There is also a card room, but the integral library is small and disappointing, and there are no hardback books. Possible drinking places include the Sotto Vento Pub (under the show lounge), or the La Cabala lounge. Outside on deck, a neat 8-hole mini-golf course wraps around the funnel, while a walking/jogging track encircles the ship’s two swimming pools.
The ship is designed to accommodate families with children, who have their own play center, youth counselors, and programming.
MSC Opera typically features Mediterranean cruises during the summer and Caribbean cruises during the winter. The onboard currency is the euro (summer) and US$ (winter). Note that gratuities are extra, but bar drinks include a service charge.
Anyone who is wheelchair-bound should note that there is no access to the uppermost forward and aft decks, although access throughout most of the interior of the ship is very good (there are also several wheelchair-accessible public restrooms). The passenger hallways are a little narrow on some decks for you to pass when housekeeping carts are in place, however.
Minor niggles include the ship’s photographers who always seem to be in your face; constant music in every lounge; and the fact that standing in line for embarkation, disembarkation, shore tenders and for self-serve buffet meals is an inevitable aspect of cruising aboard all large ships (although lines are minimal when the ship operates from Port Everglades). Smokers are everywhere, and are virtually impossible to avoid (in typical European fashion, ashtrays are simply moved – if used at all – to wherever smokers happen to be sitting). Sadly, there is no forward observation lounge.
The ship’s onboard product delivery changes (for the better) when operated during the winter Caribbean season. This is because the ship operates under the auspices of MSC Cruises (USA), when the product is “tweaked” to accommodate American tastes and preferences.

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008

Ship Facts

Large (Resort) Ship: 59,058 tons
Lifestyle: Standard
Cruise Line: MSC Cruises
Former Names: none
Builder: Chantiers de l’Atlantique
(France)
Original Cost: $266 million
Entered Service: Mar 2004
Registry: Italy
Length (ft/m): 830.7/256.25
Beam (ft/m): 94.4/28.8
Draft (ft/m): 22.4/6.85
Propulsion/Propellers: diesel
(31,680kW)/2 azimuthing pods
Passenger Decks: 10
Total Crew: 701
Passengers
(lower beds/all berths): 1,756/2,200
Passenger Space Ratio
(lower beds/all berths): 33.6/26.8
Crew/Passenger Ratio
(lower beds/all berths): 2.5/3.1
Navigation Officers: Italian
Cabins (total): 878
Size Range (sq ft/m): 139.9–302.0/
13.0–28.0
Cabins (outside view): 504
Cabins (interior/no view): 276
Cabins (for one person): 0
Cabins (with private balcony): 200
Cabins (wheelchair accessible): 4
Cabin Voltage: 110 and 220
Elevators: 9
Casino (gaming tables): Yes
Slot Machines: Yes
Swimming Pools (outdoors): 2
Swimming Pools (indoors): 0
Whirlpools: 2
Self-Service Launderette: No
Dedicated Cinema/Seats: No
Library: Yes
Classification Society: Bureau Veritas


OVERALL SCORE: 1,438 (OUT OF A POSSIBLE 2,000 POINTS)

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008