While not the biggest cruise line in the world, MSC Cruises still boasts an impressive more than 20 ships in its fleet. These ships range from older, smaller ships — with the oldest in the fleet being 2001’s MSC Armonia — to bigger, better ships with lots of bells and whistles, like the brand-new, 2025 MSC World America.
If you’re interested in cruising with MSC Cruises, but are unsure which ship you should sail on, here are the quick, need-to-know details, with MSC Cruises’ ships organized from newest to oldest.
MSC World America (2025)
Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, MSC World America is the second among MSC Cruises’ World Class ships. The ship was intended to debut in early 2024, but was pushed back a year, after construction started in October 2022.
While not the largest cruise ship in the world, the World Class does contain some of the largest in the world and MSC World America is very similar to the World Class’s lead ship, MSC World Europa, but with a few slight differences.
Read Also: I Took a Sneak Peek at the Huge MSC World America While Under Construction
The ship will feature the very first Eataly at sea, and it will also introduce a few brand-new restaurants to the brand, including the new Paxos Greek Restaurant and Paxos on the Go, as well as Promenade Bites and The Harbour Bar & Bites. New bar, lounge and dessert experiences are also planned.
- Enterring service: April 2025
- Gross tonnage: 215,683
- Passenger capacity: 6,762
- Length: 1,092 ft.
MSC Euribia (2023)
Also built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, MSC Euribia is a member of the Meraviglia Plus-class. Construction started in late 2021 and the ship debuted in 2023.
This ship is slightly smaller than MSC World America, but still offers impressive features. The ship is exceptionally environmentally friendly, featuring an advanced onboard wastewater treatment system, waste management system and a high level of energy efficiency. It’s also LNG-powered.
The ship features a large amount of art onboard. There are five pools capable of, all together, holding a thousand cruisers at once, and the ship’s Galleria Euribia features the longest LED dome at sea. MSC Euribia also features the first MSC Foundation Youth Centre.
- Entered service: June 2023
- Gross tonnage: 183,500
- Passenger capacity: 6,327
- Length: 1,087 ft.
MSC World Europa (2022)
Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique with construction starting in 2020, MSC World Europa is the lead ship for the World class. The LNG-powered cruise ship (the first of its kind for MSC Cruises), at the same gross tonnage and at a slightly longer length than sister ship MSC World America, is currently one of the biggest cruise ships in the world not owned by Royal Caribbean.
Stand-out features on this ship included its Y-shaped open aft and the Venom Drop dry slide, which is the longest dry slide at sea currently. The ship also offers the largest waterpark out of any MSC Cruises ship, and has seven swimming pools.
- Entered service: December 2022
- Gross tonnage: 215,683
- Passenger capacity: 6,762
- Length: 1,093 ft.
MSC Seascape (2022)
This Fincantieri-built ship is a member of the Seaside EVO class. With construction starting in 2019, the ship was delivered in late 2022, with her naming ceremony taking place in New York City in December 2022.
The ship boasts a large casino, lots of family-friendly activities, more than a dozen pools and water features, nearly 20 bars and lounges and 11 dining venues. It also features the cruise industry’s only three-seat Robotron thrill ride.
- Entered service: November 2022
- Gross tonnage: 169,400
- Passenger capacity: 5,877
- Length: 1,112 ft.
MSC Seashore (2021)
Also built by Fincantieri, starting in 2019, and a member of the Seaside EVO class, MSC Seashore is quite similar to MSC Seascape. It’s the same size as the newer ship in the class.
It features a New York City-inspired design and various environmental features, as well as more than three acres of outdoor space. When it launched, it was the longest ship in the entire MSC Cruises fleet. The vessel’s naming ceremony took place at the cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas.
- Entered service: August 2021
- Gross tonnage: 169,400
- Passenger capacity: 5,877
- Length: 1,112 ft.
MSC Virtuosa (2021)
A member of the Meraviglia Plus class, this Chantiers de l’Atlantique-built ship began construction in 2018 and was originally planned to launch in 2020. However, pandemic-related delays meant that this ship did not start service until May of 2021.
Unique ship features include a Formula 1 simulator ride, a robotic bartender named Rob (the first of his kind at sea) and the largest shopping area at sea in the Galleria Virtuosa, with its 11 art boutiques and more than 250 brands on display.
- Entered service: May 2021
- Gross tonnage: 181,541
- Passenger capacity: 6,334
- Length: 1,087 ft.
MSC Grandiosa (2019)
MSC Grandiosa preceded sister ship MSC Virtuosa as the lead in the Meraviglia Plus class. The Meraviglia Plus class is a sub-class of the Meraviglia class.
MSC Grandiosa is very similar to MSC Virtuosa. Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique with construction beginning in 2018, the ship offers an expansive shopping space, lots of kid-friendly amenities and the MSC Yacht Club.
- Entered service: November 2019
- Gross tonnage: 181,541
- Passenger capacity: 6,334
- Length: 1,087 ft.
MSC Bellissima (2019)
The last of the Meraviglia-class ships, MSC Bellissima, was built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, and construction began in 2017.
MSC Bellissima offers many of the same features that cruisers can expect on MSC Cruises’ newer ships, including the MSC Yacht Club, the large galleria promenade, an expansive theater and spa, as well as robust children’s programming and lots of outdoor spaces.
- Entered service: March 2019
- Gross tonnage: 171,598
- Passenger capacity: 5,655
- Length: 1,034 ft.
MSC Seaview (2018)
Before there was the Seaside EVO class, there was the plain Seaside class. Slightly smaller ships, the newest Seaside class ship is MSC Seaview. Built by Fincantieri, construction began in early 2017.
Very similar to the other ship in this class, MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview provides features as the longest zip line at sea, multiple pools, a waterfront boardwalk, a four-deck atrium and more.
- Entered service: June 2018
- Gross tonnage: 153,516
- Passenger capacity: 5,079
- Length: 1,060 ft.
MSC Seaside (2017)
The lead ship for the Seaside class, MSC Seaside debuted directly ahead of sister ship MSC Seaview. The ship was likewise built by Fincantieri, and construction began in 2016.
While considered relatively modest in size by today’s standards, when this ship debuted it was in the top 15 largest cruise ships in the world. The ship features a waterfront boardwalk, multiple pools, a four-deck atrium and all the other venues that MSC Cruises fans know and love from the ships that debuted during this time period, such as the MSC Yacht Club and MSC Aurea Spa.
- Entered service: December 2017
- Gross tonnage: 153,516
- Passenger capacity: 5,079
- Length: 1,060 ft.
MSC Meraviglia (2017)
The first ship to debut in the Meravgilia class, the lead MSC Meraviglia was built by STX Europe, with construction beginning in late 2015. While older than the entirety of the Seaside class, MSC Meraviglia is still larger than the ships in that class, and, at time of launch, the ship was the sixth largest cruise ship in the world.
Beyond the classic features on this ship, such as the promenade and multiple pools, the ship also features water slides and a ropes course.
- Entered service: June 2017
- Gross tonnage: 171,598
- Passenger capacity: 5,642
- Length: 1,036 ft.
MSC Preziosa (2013)
With construction starting in 2010, interestingly, MSC Preziosa was originally ordered not by MSC Cruises, but by the Libyan government, which had intents to launch a luxury cruising industry in the country.
When the Libyan Civil War began, builder STX Europe canceled the contract and MSC Cruises swooped in to buy the beginnings of what would become MSC Preziosa.
MSC Preziosa is the final Fantasia class ship. Given the ship’s age, it has undergone some minimal renovations since launching more than a decade ago. Today, cruisers will find lots to love, including a water park, one of the longest water slides at sea, the MSC Yacht Club and more.
- Entered service: March 2013
- Gross tonnage: 139,072
- Passenger capacity: 4,345
- Length: 1,094 ft.
MSC Divina (2012)
Also in the Fantasia class and directly preceding MSC Preziosa, MSC Divina‘s construction began in 2010, at STX Europe.
While MSC Divina and MSC Preziosa are the same size, they’re both slightly larger than the other two ships in the Fantasia class. MSC Divina contains eye-catching features such as Swarovski staircases and a stone piazza.
- Entered service: May 2012
- Gross tonnage: 139,072
- Passenger capacity: 4,345
- Length: 1,094
MSC Magnifica (2010)
One of the cruise line’s (relatively) smaller ships, MSC Magnifica may not be as grand and filled-with-fun as some of MSC Cruises’ newer ships, but it does still offer classic MSC Cruises style (think European-inspired décor) and a handful of dining options and entertainment venues, including five restaurants, 11 bars and lounges and just under 1,300 cabins and suites.
The last ship in MSC Cruises’ Musica class, construction on MSC Magnifica began in 2008, at STX Europe.
- Entered service: March 2010
- Gross tonnage: 95,128
- Passenger capacity: 3,223
- Length: 964 ft.
MSC Splendida (2009)
MSC Splendida was the second ship in the Fantasia class. While hardly impressive in terms of size today, this ship was originally one of the largest ships owned by a European cruise line, at the time of debut. The ship was the second of MSC ships to offer the MSC Yacht Club, with construction at STX Europe starting in 2007.
- Entered service: July 2009
- Gross tonnage: 137,936
- Passenger capacity: 4,363
- Length: 1,093 ft.
MSC Fantasia (2008)
Leading the vessels of the Fantasia class is, of course, MSC Fantasia. This ship shares many features with sister ship MSC Splendida, including size.
Also built at STX Europe and with construction beginning in 2016, the ship was the largest in MSC Cruises’ fleet when it first set sail and was the very first ship to include the MSC Yacht Club.
Other highlight features include a Formula 1 racing simulator and the ship’s 4D cinema. The ship offers guests a little over 1,600 staterooms and suites.
- Entered service: December 2008
- Gross tonnage: 137,936
- Passenger capacity: 4,363
- Length: 1,093 ft.
MSC Poesia (2008)
This Musica-class ship’s construction began in 2006. The smaller ship features three swimming pools, four hot tubs, three dining venues and 1,275 staterooms and suites.
This is definitely a more intimate ship, but if that’s what you prefer from a cruise line, you’ll feel right at home on MSC Poesia. MSC Poesia was built at STX Europe.
- Entered service: April 2008
- Gross tonnage: 92,627
- Passenger capacity: 3,223
- Length: 964 ft.
MSC Orchestra (2007)
MSC Orchestra is smaller than later Musica-class ships by gross tons, but it can still accommodate the same number of passengers as MSC Poesia. This ship does admittedly show its age (it was built in 2006 at STX Europe), even though it was refurbished as recently as 2021.
- Entered service: May 2007
- Gross tonnage: 92,409
- Passenger capacity: 3,223
- Length: 964 ft.
MSC Musica (2006)
MSC Musica is the lead ship in the Musica class. While this ship is small by today’s standards, and even by MSC Cruises’ modern standards overall, it was a landmark ship for the cruise line when it launched, as it was their largest ever, built at STX Europe in 2005.
Even more recently, though, the ship still broke size-related records, gaining status as the largest cruise ship to sail from Israel.
The ship was refurbished in 2019, at Port Marseille’s Chantier Naval de Marseille Shipyard. However, while all public venues, such as the gym and kids club, and staterooms were renovated, this ship does still feel its age, in terms of both décor and features.
- Entered service: July 2006
- Gross tonnage: 92,409
- Passenger capacity: 3,223
- Length: 964 ft.
MSC Opera (2004)
MSC Cruises’ final Lirica-class ship, this ship was built at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in 2004. This ship is about as small as it gets by modern standards, before you get into river cruise-specific and expedition ships. It can only hold a few thousand passengers and only has just over a thousand staterooms and suites.
- Entered service: June 2004
- Gross tonnage: 65,591
- Passenger capacity: 2,658
- Length: 902 ft.
MSC Lirica (2003)
While MSC Lirica does share a name with its Lirica class, this is not actually the oldest ship in this class, as is typically the case when a ship and class share a name.
Built at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in 2002, MSC Lirica is actually the third-oldest ship within its class and it was the very first new-build cruise ship for MSC Cruises. Previously, the cruise line sourced all its older ships from elsewhere.
The ship is relatively basic, and this basic-ness helps it feel slightly less outdated than some of the other ships introduced by MSC Cruises in the 2000s.
However, the ship’s small size means that there are very few options aboard the ship, in terms of dining and entertainment. The ship was refurbished in 2015, and this refurbishment saw the addition of an aqua park.
The ship has fewer than a thousand staterooms and suites.
- Entered service: March 2003
- Gross tonnage: 65,591
- Passenger capacity: 2,648
- Length: 902 ft.
MSC Sinfonia (2005)
More than two decades old, MSC Sinfonia was originally built at Chantiers de l’Atlantique, in 2002, for Festival Cruises. Festival Cruises was a Greek cruise line that operated in the 1990s and early 2000s, before declaring bankruptcy.
The ship was originally known as MS European Stars. MSC Cruises purchased the ship and redubbed it MSC Sinfonia in July 2004, adding it to its fleet as what would become the Lirica class.
Technically, this ship — as far as its life as an MSC Cruises ship — is younger than MSC Opera and MSC Lirica, but overall, the ship’s past life with Festival Cruises means that it’s older.
- Entered service (for MSC Cruises): March 2005
- Gross tonnage: 65,591
- Passenger capacity: 2,646
- Length: 902 ft.
MSC Armonia (2004)
Last, but certainly not least, the current oldest cruise ship in the MSC Cruises fleet is the MSC Armonia. Like its Lirica-class sister ship MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia was originally built at Chantiers de l’Atlantique for Festival Cruises, in 2001.
The cruise line had named the ship MS European Vision. After Festival Cruises declared bankruptcy, MSC Cruises purchased the ship, which had been sailing Festival itineraries for three years, and rechristened her.
Today, the ship is not only MSC Cruises’ oldest ship but also its smallest.
- Entered service (for MSC Cruises): 2004
- Gross tonnage: 65,542
- Passenger capacity: 2,620
- Length: 902 ft.
