MSC Cruises · Fantasia Class
MSC Fantasia: ship guide
The ship that introduced the MSC Yacht Club, sailing the Canaries and the Med.
Best for: Couples and families who want a mid-size, Italian-styled ship with the original MSC Yacht Club for a winter Canary Islands week from Madeira or a summer 2027 Western Mediterranean loop. Sails from Funchal (Madeira), Cagliari, Civitavecchia (Rome), Livorno (Florence), Cannes, Barcelona, Trieste in 2026 and 2027.
About MSC Fantasia
MSC Fantasia entered service in December 2008 as the first of the Fantasia Class and the ship on which MSC introduced the MSC Yacht Club, the private ship-within-a-ship with its own concierge reception, 24-hour butlers, lounge, pool deck and the L’Etoile restaurant. At 137,936 gross tons with 1,636 staterooms it is a mid-size ship by current MSC standards, built around a real stone piazza with an espresso bar, pastries and gelato.
Public rooms carry the Fantasia Class’s Italian style: the grand Il Cerchio d’Oro and intimate Red Velvet dining rooms with Murano glass chandeliers, the L’Avanguardia theater, the Casinò delle Palme, the panoramic Liquid Disco and the Manhattan jazz bar. Sports and relaxation run from tennis, basketball, mini golf and a jogging track to the Aquapark, the Teens Toboga waterslide, the MSC Aurea Spa and the adults-only Top 18 sun deck.
After an Eastern Mediterranean season from Trieste in 2026, MSC Fantasia spends winter 2026 to 2027 homeported in Funchal, Madeira, on seven-night Canary Islands cruises from mid-December to late March, when its Yacht Club restaurant is also due for MSC’s new design. Summer 2027 brings seven-night Western Mediterranean loops between Cagliari, Civitavecchia, Livorno, Cannes, Barcelona and Ibiza, and the ship returns to the Canaries and Madeira for winter 2027 to 2028.
- Real stone piazza at the heart of the ship with espresso bar, pastries and Venchi gelato
- MSC Yacht Club, first introduced on this ship, with L’Etoile restaurant, Top Sail Lounge and a private pool deck
- Il Cerchio d’Oro and Red Velvet dining rooms with Murano glass chandeliers
- L’Avanguardia theater, Casinò delle Palme and the Liquid Disco
- MSC Formula Racer F1 simulator and XD interactive cinema
- Aquapark, Teens Toboga waterslide, tennis and basketball courts, mini golf and jogging track
- Top 18 adults-only sun deck and the MSC Aurea Spa thermal area
- Seven-night Canary Islands cruises from Funchal in winter, Western Mediterranean loops in summer 2027
Staterooms and suites
Interior
About 183 square feet on decks 5 to 13 in Interior and Deluxe Interior grades; roomier than the interiors on MSC’s newer ships and a sensible pick for a port-heavy Canaries week.
Ocean View
194 to 226 square feet on decks 5 to 13 with a picture window, in Ocean View and Premium Ocean View grades.
Balcony
205 to 215 square feet with balconies of 43 to 65 square feet on decks 8 to 13, in Balcony, Deluxe Balcony with Partial View, Premium Balcony and Deluxe Balcony Aurea grades.
Suites
Aurea suites of 237 to 441 square feet on decks 9 to 12: Junior Suite and Premium Suite with sealed window, Premium Suite with balcony and the Grand Suite, all with Aurea spa access, the Aurea Solarium and flexible dining.
MSC Yacht Club
The private area forward on decks 12 to 16 with Deluxe Suites, Grand Suites, Executive and Family Suites and Royal Suites of 248 to 570 square feet (balconies 43 to 172 square feet); includes 24-hour butler and concierge, priority boarding, the L’Etoile restaurant, Top Sail Lounge, private pool and sundeck, premium drinks, Wi-Fi and thermal-area access.
MSC Fantasia deck plans
Deck by deck, straight from our booking engine: the plan, the stateroom categories on that deck and the public rooms. Pick a deck.
18 - Sun Deck
MSC Yacht Club Area, Whirlpool Bath, The One Pool, Solarium.
- The MSC Yacht Club MSC Yacht Club guests enjoy countless complimentary “extras†that aren’t extra at all – such as wines and spirits, signature Butler service and gourmet delights. The luxurious enclave offers a private club ambiance with breathtaking views from the very front of the ship, and a wealth of valuable amenities included in your fare.
- Whirlpool Bath
- The One PoolThe One Pool
- The One BarThe One Bar
- Top 18 Exclusive Solarium The Top 18 Exclusive Solarium offer peace and pampering, and there are dedicated areas for kids and teens.
Plans are the cruise line’s current drawings as supplied to our booking engine. Layouts change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the exact stateroom when you book.
On board MSC Fantasia
Dining on MSC Fantasia
Il Cerchio d’Oro and Red VelvetIncluded
The two main dining rooms, one grand and one intimate with Murano glass chandeliers, with assigned seating.
BuffetIncluded
All-day buffet with international and Mediterranean stations from breakfast to late night.
L’EtoileIncluded
The MSC Yacht Club restaurant, exclusive to Yacht Club guests, scheduled for MSC’s redesigned Yacht Club restaurant concept in December 2026.
Butcher’s CutSpecialty
MSC’s American steakhouse with aged, hand-cut steaks, seafood and bold wines.
La Cantina ToscanaSpecialty
Wine bar with a long list of Italian wines, small bites and tapas, priced per item.
Piazza San GiorgioSpecialty
The stone piazza’s espresso bar with pastries, chocolates and gelato, priced per item.
Il Cappuccino and La CaramellaSpecialty
Coffee bar and candy shop in the piazza, priced per item.
Entertainment and activities
- L’Avanguardia theater productions including Aziza, Blinding Lights, Destination, Jukebox Live and the Ed Sheeran Songbook
- Casinò delle Palme, the panoramic Liquid Disco and L’insolito Lounge
- Manhattan Bar live jazz and Il Transatlantico piano bar
- MSC Formula Racer F1 simulator, XD interactive cinema and arcade
- Aquapark, Teens Toboga waterslide and the main pool complex
- Tennis and basketball courts, mini golf, jogging track and Technogym fitness center
- MSC Aurea Spa thermal area and the adults-only Top 18 sun deck
- Cigar Lounge, silent disco, themed parties and karaoke
Families and who it suits
Five included clubs cover ages 0 to 17: the Chicco-equipped Baby Club (0 to 3), the LEGO-partnered Mini Club (3 to 6), Junior Club (7 to 11), Young Club (12 to 14) and Teen Club (15 to 17), plus the Aquapark, Teens Toboga waterslide and family game shows; the ship draws a largely European mix of families and couples.
Best for: Couples and families who want a mid-size, Italian-styled ship with the original MSC Yacht Club for a winter Canary Islands week from Madeira or a summer 2027 Western Mediterranean loop.
Sails from: Funchal (Madeira), Cagliari, Civitavecchia (Rome), Livorno (Florence), Cannes, Barcelona, Trieste · Regions: Canary Islands and Madeira, Western Mediterranean, Eastern Mediterranean
MSC Fantasia questions we answer every day
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What are the Bella, Fantastica, Aurea and Yacht Club experiences?
Facts checked against MSC Cruises: MSC Fantasia, MSC Cruises: MSC Fantasia staterooms and suites, Cruise Industry News: MSC Opera starts interporting season in Portugal (MSC Fantasia from Funchal), Cruise Industry News: MSC updating Yacht Club restaurants across Fantasia-class ships on October 13, 2026. Ship details change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the current layout when you book.
Every MSC Fantasia sailing, priced all-in
Every MSC Fantasia departure the cruise line is selling, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. SmartCruiser picks at the top are sailings where booking with us gets you something extra. Stack the filters, then sort by lowest price, best value per night or sail date.
SmartCruiser picks
Sorted by what you save, biggest firstEvery MSC Fantasia sailing
Stack any filters, then pick a sortPrices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. Onboard credit shown on a sailing is per stateroom and applies to the lowest category offered unless stated otherwise.