Description

MSC OPERA CRUISE SHIP

FULLY BUILT AND READY TO DISPLAY, HIGH QUALITY SHIP MODEL

Dimension Approx.: 36L x 4.75W x 12.5H
The model is already built, NOT a model ship kit

Launched in 2004 from the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint‑Nazaire, MSC Opera was the second vessel built expressly for MSC Cruises and one of the defining ships of the early Lirica class. At 65,000 gross tons with accommodations for 2,679 passengers and a crew of more than 700, she represented MSC’s transition from a modest European operator into a global cruise brand. For two years, until the arrival of MSC Musica in 2006, Opera proudly served as the company’s flagship.

Her introduction to the world was characteristically elegant. After leaving France, she sailed to Barcelona, Marseille, and Naples, where she hosted a charity gala for the Italian Association of Cancer Research. She continued on to Civitavecchia and Genoa, where she was officially named on 26 June 2004 by MSC’s longtime godmother, Sophia Loren. The following day she embarked on her maiden voyage, beginning a Western Mediterranean season before repositioning to the Caribbean for the 2004–2005 winter.

A decade into her career, MSC Opera underwent a dramatic transformation. As part of MSC’s ambitious Renaissance Program, she was jumboised in Palermo in 2015 — a 25‑meter midsection was inserted, increasing her capacity, expanding public spaces, and adding new cabins, lounges, shops, children’s areas, and a spray park. The refit modernized the ship while preserving the clean, classic lines that define the Lirica class.

Opera’s long career has not been without incident. In 2010, UK authorities uncovered a major cocaine‑smuggling operation involving four passenger cabins, resulting in multiple convictions. In 2011, she suffered an engine failure in the Baltic Sea and had to be towed to Nynäshamn, Sweden, where roughly 1,700 passengers were flown home after temporary sanitation issues caused by the loss of power. Both events were widely reported, but neither diminished the ship’s long‑term role in MSC’s fleet.

Today, more than twenty years after her debut, MSC Opera remains in active global service, sailing Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries and offering the mid‑sized cruise experience that many travelers still prefer. Her amenities — pools, spa, gym, theaters, lounges, and dedicated children’s and teen spaces — reflect MSC’s blend of classic European style and modern family‑friendly design.

From her 2004 debut as MSC’s flagship to her 2015 renaissance and her continued worldwide operations, MSC Opera stands as a testament to the durability and adaptability of the Lirica class. She remains a popular choice for guests seeking a ship with history, character, and a warm, traditional cruise atmosphere.