The best ships of MSC Cruises – which one suits you?

MSC Grandiosa, MSC Virtuosa, and MSC Euribia are among the best ships of MSC Cruises and amongst some of the largest cruise ships at sea. They all belong to the Meraviglia Plus class ships. In addition, in April 2025, MSC World America will be welcomed to the fleet.

Italian-born and built MSC Cruises launched these ships in 2019, 2021, and 2023 respectively. MSC Euribia is hailed as one of the most environmentally friendly cruise ships at sea. It boasts advanced admissions technology and modern wastewater treatments.

Designed for cruise travelers in North America, MSC World America offers an array of innovative onboard experiences, from expanded family suites to diverse dining and entertainment options, that make it one of the most exciting additions to the MSC fleet.

For those of you not familiar with MSC Cruises, this Italian cruise company started life in commercial shipping back in 1970. The "Mediterranean Shipping Company" grew to eventually offer passenger cruises with their first cruise ship in 1988. It is now one of the largest cruise companies in the world.

If you are looking for a value-for-money cruise vacation, we recommend that you take a close look at the best ships of MSC Cruises.

Traditionally elegant cruise ships for all ages

MSC Cruises is a big seller in the travel industry. From loyal MSC customers who choose them time and again for a cruise vacation to families completely new to the cruise experience, MSC delivers. And very often for well under the price that other cruise lines charge. It is especially attractive if you are cruising on a budget.

Many MSC guests we have spoken to have commented on the classy feel of the MSC Ships, and we tend to agree.

From layout to design and decor, the cruise ships are elegant with a touch of glamour. This is especially true for the newest ships with fantastic architectural details.

The larger the ship, the younger the crowd

This is a trend for most cruise lines. Larger cruise ships have more activities and entertainment venues, attracting a younger crowd looking for an action-packed experience.

So, in addition to guests in the 60+ age group, traditionally the largest segment of cruise customers, couples, families, and honeymooners are often found on board, especially on the largest ships sailing the oceans.

How do MSC Cruises compare with Royal Caribbean Group?

The two cruise lines, MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean Group offer worldwide cruises on some of the largest cruise ships at sea. But in many ways, they offer very different experiences.

MSC entertainment – hit or miss?

Royal Caribbean has a reputation for great entertainment, including Broadway-style shows. To put it plainly, MSC does not.

It does have its acclaimed Cirque du Soleil show on MSC Grandiosa, Bellissima, and Meraviglia. If you enjoy comedians, magicians, and sing-and-dance routines, then MSC will suit you as long as you are content with the same type of show each night.

Overall, the theater experience on board Royal Caribbean is hands down better.

But all this may change as the MSC ships become bigger, newer, and more advanced. They need to get the shows up to the same Broadway-style quality that Royal Caribbean does so brilliantly.

The cruise cuisine

Cuisine onboard Royal Caribbean is often of slightly higher quality and variety than MSC Cruises. It’s not that we don’t love Italian-style food; a good range of dishes and cuisine is always available. And some of our meals were outstanding when we tested three different MSC cruise ships.

But overall, there is a difference, and Royal Caribbean has a better reputation for its cuisine. If you are a first-time cruise guest choosing MSC Cruises, you will find the food range and variety more than plenty. And we recommend you try out the specialty restaurants on board, which are very good.

An international guest list

Royal Caribbean attracts more American and Canadian customers than MSC Cruises, which has a more significant number of international guests. And this makes sense, being a European cruise company.

With this, all announcements are repeated in many languages, whereas Royal Caribbean tends to stick to English. Regardless of where you come from, you can be sure to meet new friends from around the world.

How to choose the best cruise ship for you

When choosing your MSC cruise ship, look closely at the onboard facilities.

The older and smaller the cruise ship, the less variety of facilities on board. The newer and bigger the cruise ship, the more bells and whistles you will find.

Ask yourself the following before you plan your cruise:

- Why are you going on a cruise?
- Who are you going with?
- What do you want out of your cruise vacation?

Cruise to get you where you want to go

Both MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean Group have fantastic itineraries. Both offer the “core” stops that most other cruise lines include. For example, in the Caribbean, there are the Bahamas, Cozumel, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman Islands.

In Europe, there is Barcelona, Rome, Venice, and Athens. Many other stops can be unique to that particular cruise line.

MSC Cruises also offers its unique island experience in the Bahamas (as Royal Caribbean does at CocoCay). MSC has Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, where you’ll find beaches, cafes, bars, and shopping.

MSC Ocean Cay Marine Reserve is part of the Bimini chain of islands in the Bahamas, just 100km east of Miami.

So check the itineraries, research the ports of call, and create a bucket list of dream destinations you want to visit.

Then, start looking at itineraries that tick most places. Is there a great ship that can get you there? Look at the ship and facilities on board. Narrow your list until you find the right one for you and your family.

What is MSC Yacht Club, and is it worth the extra price tag?

MSC Cruises offers different types of cruising “experiences” in the price categories of inside, window, balcony, and suite cabins.

The three main categories are Bella, Fantastica, and Aurea. You can find detailed information about what’s included in each “experience” here.

And then there is the most expensive price category, MSC Yacht Club.

MSC Yacht Club is an all-suite price category with 24-hour butler service, a dedicated concierge, and access to a private lounge, restaurant, and pool deck exclusively for Yacht Club guests.

A complimentary mini-bar and a wide-screen TV in your cabin are also included. You have free access to the thermal suite in the Spa area, but actual treatments are charged extra.

If you choose this category and book a suite, be sure to know if you are booking a balcony or if your suite has panoramic windows. MSC Cruises boast their Yacht Club category as a “ship within a ship” concept. And it is excellent. Certainly comparable to the Royal Caribbeans Aqua class, and many guests say they get more value with Yacht Club than the Aqua class.

MSC Cruises’ fleet of ships

Seaside and Seaside EVO Class Ships of MSC Cruises

MSC’s “Seaside” class first started sailing in 2017. There are currently three ships sailing and one planned for launch in 2022:

• MSC Seaside
• MSC Seaview
• MSC Seashore
• MSC Seascape

They are visually stunning ships with a guest capacity of over 5000. As sister ships, MSC Seaview and MSC Seaside sail the Mediterranean in the summer before heading to the Caribbean and the private island paradise of MSC Ocean Cay for winter.

MSC Seashore and its sister ship, Seascape, are slightly more extensive than the Seaside class ships above. And therefore, these ships have been classed as MSC Seaside EVO (meaning “evolution”).

They are more environmentally friendly and have a slightly larger capacity (around 5400 guests) than MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview.

However, they are smaller than the 6300 guest capacity ships in the Meraviglia Plus class.

What we love about MSC Seashore class ships is their waterfront concept with huge outdoor promenades, bringing you closer to the ocean.

There are some fantastic architectural moments on board, such as the glass-floored bridge – The Bridge of Sighs- and the Swarovski Staircase. So you will undoubtedly feel you are floating in a luxurious hotel when on board.

MSC Seashore will sail in the Caribbean, including MSC’s private island Ocean Cay and The Antilles, in summer and winter.

Meraviglia class ships of MSC Cruises

• MSC Meraviglia
• MSC Bellissima

In 2017, MSC Cruises launched its latest advanced ship onto the cruise market, Meraviglia, and it became one of the largest ships at sea. Also on board are MSC’s first solo cabins for guests traveling alone. In total, these ships can accommodate 4500 guests on board.

Quickly followed two years later by its beautiful sister ship, MSC Bellissima, both are glamorous and packed full of fun activities that work perfectly for families.

MSC Cruises have announced that the beautiful MSC Meraviglia with call New York home and offer cruises to Bermuda, Canada and New England, and even down to the Caribbean from April 2023. This is a first for MSC Cruises from Brooklyn Cruise Port! Cruises are bookable now. So enjoy the Big Apple before you cruise from New York, and experience Atlantic Canada and wonderful New England on a Canada and New England cruise. One to tick off the bucket list!

Meraviglia Plus class ships of MSC Cruises

• MSC Grandiosa
• MSC Virtuosa
• MSC World Europa
• MSC Euribia
• MSC World America
• MSC World Asia

MSC Grandiosa was the first of this Plus class, launched in 2019, and is sailing in the Mediterranean in the summer.

MSC Virtuosa sails in the United Arab Emirates and the Mediterranean.

MSC World Europa will be MSCs first LNG (liquefied natural gas) powered ship. Together with its sister ships, they are among the largest cruise ships at sea, accommodating 6,850 guests each.

The first is MSC World America, which will cruise from Miami to the Caribbean in Spring 2025. MSC World Asia will start cruising in the Mediterranean in winter 2026.

Completing the Meraviglia Plus class, the stunning MSC Euribia set sail from Copenhagen in June 2023. Now, you can embark on an unforgettable journey aboard this magnificent ship, exploring Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar during the winter seasons of 2025 and 2026—or experience the charm of Northern Europe in the summer of 2025 and 2026.

MSC Fantasia class ships of MSC Cruises

• MSC Fantasia
• MSC Splendida
• MSC Divina
• MSC Preziosa

Built in 2008 and 2009, respectively, MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida are elegant ships with onboard facilities such as a theater, pools and spa, mini golf, and basketball courts. They attract slightly older guests, and there are fewer families with small children, so they offer a more relaxed type of cruise.

We have cruised Fantasia around the Mediterranean and Splendida to the Norwegian Fjords, both excellent itineraries. There are, however, limited activities on board for families. MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia are in the Mediterranean for the summer of 2022.

MSC Divina and MSC Preziosa are similar ships but are larger, accommodating more guests with more activities on board. MSC Divina cruises in the Caribbean, including the private island of MSC Ocean Cay, and MSC Preziosa offers cruises in Northern Europe, the Baltics, and the spectacular Norwegian Fjords.

MSC Musica class ship of MSC Cruises

• MSC Musica
• MSC Orchestra
• MSC Poesia
• MSC Magnifica

MSC Musica, the first ship built in this class in 2006, accommodates around 2500 guests. MSC Orchestra is a little larger, with 3200 guests.

Smaller ships with fewer passengers mean calmer sailing. Choose these ships if you love the itinerary and not if you are looking for a wide range of action-packed activities.

MSC Musica has cruises in the Mediterranean and Greek Isles in the summer. MSC Orchestra, Poesia, and Magnifica sail in Northern Europe and the Norwegian Fjords.

MSC Lirica class ship of MSC Cruises

• MSC Armonia
• MSC Sinfonia
• MSC Lyrica
• MSC Opera

The Lirica class of MSC Cruises’ fleet of ships are the oldest and smallest cruise ships of MSC Cruises. The lead ship in this class, MSC Lirica, was built in 2002.

All the ships have been refurbished since then and have a capacity of around 1560.

This smaller capacity means a more intimate sailing experience and the possibility of reaching smaller ports. Facilities include pools, spas, a casino, shopping, and a theater. So a quieter cruise with fewer activities. It’s very much an adult cruising experience.

The latest MSC concept – Explora Journeys

Explora Journeys is MSC’s take on luxury cruising, and they’re doing it with serious style. Their ships are designed to feel like private yachts—think spacious oceanfront suites, sleek design, and plenty of spots to unwind, from gourmet restaurants to serene wellness spaces.

They launched EXPLORA I in 2023, followed by EXPLORA II in 2024, and four more are on the way by 2028.

The coolest part? The future ships, EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI, will run on cleaner energy, using LNG and hydrogen fuel cells to cut emissions.

But it’s not just about looking good—it’s about thoughtful travel. The ships come loaded with tech to minimize their environmental impacts, like shore-to-ship power connections and underwater noise reduction to keep marine life happy.

And the onboard experience? Incredible food (with a wine list to match), exclusive chef collaborations, and dreamy itineraries that take you to some of the most stunning places on the planet. It’s cruising, but with a whole new level of sophistication and sustainability.

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