MSC Opera Ship Statistics

Cruise Line:               MSC Cruises

Builder:                       Chantiers de l’Atlantique (France)

Entered Service:        2004

Cost:                            $266 million

Registry:                      Panama

Gross tons:                 59,058

Length:                       824.3 feet (251.25 meters)

Width:                        94.48 feet (28.8 meters)

Draft:                          22.31 feet (6.80 meters).

Propulsion:                Four 7429 kw diesel electric engines + one 3960 kw diesel electric

Stabilizers:                    2 Azimuthing pods

Cruise Speed:             21 knots

CDC Vessel Sanitation Rating:  99

Passenger Decks:         9

Cabins:                         856

Handicapped Cabins:  5  

Passengers:                  1756 (do)/ 2055 full capacity

Crew                            Italian/International                           

Officers:                      Italian

Passenger Decks:  9

Launderettes:              None; personal laundry service available

Electrical Appliances: 110 volt (American current); 220-volt (European current)

Ship Currency:         

Euro in Europe/US dollar in Caribbean, S. America, S.Africa    

Mobile phones:           

Ocean Cell service is available. A GSM roaming service is available and fees incurred will be billed to guest’s mobile provider.

Smoking:                     

Allowed only in the staterooms and designated areas in the public lounges. It is not permitted in the indoor dining rooms, theaters, elevators, the Spa and children’s areas.

Medical Center:           

Equipped. Staff physician and nurses on 24-hour call. Fees charged for services and medications.   

Gratuities:                    

Not included in cruise fare. In the Caribbean, the rate is $12 per day per guest that is added to guest’s shipboard bill. (Children under 18 sharing a cabin with adults are $6 per day.) Ten percent gratuity is already included in the price of all beverages.

Attire on Board:          

Casual clothing for daytime. For casual evenings, open-neck shirts, slacks and sports outfits are appropriate (no shorts). For informal evenings, dresses or pantsuits for women; jackets for men (tie optional). For formal evenings, tuxedo, dinner jacket or dark suit for men; evening dress or cocktail dress for women.

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Company History

MSC Cruises is a division of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), a privately owned company that was founded in 1970 by Captain Gianluigi Aponte who started out with one cargo ship purchased for $5000. The Geneva-based parent company grew significantly in the ensuing years and today it is the world’s second largest carrier in respect to the number of vessels operated (134), and the fourth largest carrier in terms of container slot capacity and is headquartered in Geneva.  Website: www.mscgva.ch

In 1989, Aponte entered the cruise market when he acquired a 50 percent share of Lauro Cruise Lines, which he renamed Starlauro Cruises. He acquired the ship Monterey from the Matson Line.

By 1995, Starlauro Cruises was renamed Mediterranean Shipping Cruises.

In 1996, Mediterranean Shipping Cruises acquired Premier Cruise Lines’ Melody (originally Home Lines’ Atlantic).

In 1998, Mediterranean Shipping Cruises calls at Port Everglades, Florida for the first time with M/V Melody offering Caribbean cruises. A year later, in 1999, the cruise company begins promoting its cruises to the North American market.

In 2001 Mediterranean Shipping Cruises changes its name to MSC Italian Cruises. It orders it first new cruise ship from Chantiers de l’Atlantique at a cost of $250 million with the aim of expanding its presence in the North American market.

In June 2003 MSC Lirica is launched.

In 2004, MSC Italian Cruises changes its name to MSC Cruises and appoints Rick Sasso CEO and president of MSC Cruises (USA); moves its main office from New Jersey to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; and orders two more cruise ships to be built by Chanters de l’Atlantique—MSC Musica and MSC Orchestra. The company also purchases MSC Sinfonia (formerly European Stars) and increases the fleet to seven vessels.

The MSC Opera, after her inaugural Mediterranean season, makes her US debut in Ft. Lauderdale, on December 2 and is berthed next to the MSC Ulsan, a 5000-ton container ship owned by the parent company, which now has moved its US cargo operation from Miami to Port Everglades.

In 2005, MSC Lirica joins her sister ship MSC Opera in operating Caribbean cruises. The MSC Sinfonia, after a multimillion renovation, officially joins the MSC fleet for Mediterranean cruises.

In November, MSC Cruises announces it will build two 133,500 post-Panamax ships—MSC Fantasia and MSC Serenata—to join the fleet, respectively, in 2008 and 2009.

In March 2006, MSC announces it has signed a contract to build an additional Panamax vessel—MSC Poesia—that will debut in 2008. The line also has an option to build a fourth Panamax ship.

The addition of this fifth new order will increase the MSC Cruises’ fleet to 12 ships by 2009.