MSC Cruises · Lirica Class
MSC Opera: ship guide
MSC’s first year-round Southern Caribbean ship, from La Romana since November 2026.
Best for: Travelers who want a smaller MSC ship on a seven-night Southern Caribbean island-hopper from La Romana or Fort-de-France, including summer 2027 when no other MSC ship sails the region. Sails from Genoa, Marseille, Barcelona, La Romana, Fort-de-France, Bridgetown in 2026 and 2027.
About MSC Opera
MSC Opera entered service in 2004 and is a Lirica Class ship of 65,591 gross tons and 902 feet with 1,070 staterooms and 728 crew. In 2015 it went through MSC’s Renaissance Programme at Fincantieri, which inserted a 24-meter midsection with close to 200 extra staterooms, the Doremi Spray Park, new kids and teen areas and a new walk-through shopping arcade. The decks carry opera names from Aida to Tosca, and the ship keeps the classic lines that let it visit ports closed to larger vessels.
On board, dinner is in the La Caravella or L’Approdo restaurant with the Le Vele buffet and Il Patio pizza and pasta counter for casual meals. Evenings run through the Teatro dell’Opera, the Med Pearl Casino, the La Cabala Piano Bar, the Cotton Club and the Byblos Disco. A double pool complex with whirlpools, mini golf, a power walking track and the MSC Aurea Spa with sauna and Turkish bath cover the daytime. Unlike its sisters, MSC Opera offers Deluxe Balcony Aurea staterooms as well as Junior Suites.
In summer 2026 MSC Opera sails ten-night Western Mediterranean cruises embarking in Genoa, Marseille, Barcelona and Spanish and Portuguese ports, then crosses the Atlantic from Barcelona on November 2, 2026. From November 16, 2026 it becomes MSC’s first ship to sail year-round in the Southern Caribbean, with seven-night cruises from La Romana in the Dominican Republic through summer 2027 and beyond, adding Fort-de-France in Martinique as a second embarkation port from April 2027 and Bridgetown, Barbados on selected dates.
- Year-round Southern Caribbean deployment from La Romana starting November 16, 2026, an MSC first
- Fort-de-France embarkation from April 2027 and 14-night butterfly combinations of two different weeks
- Calls at Virgin Gorda, Tortola, St. John’s, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts, Sint Maarten, Grenada and the ABC islands
- Renaissance Programme stretch in 2015 added a 24-meter midsection, about 200 staterooms and the Doremi Spray Park
- Teatro dell’Opera with Circus 1920, City of Stars, Icons and Pulse
- Med Pearl Casino, La Cabala Piano Bar, Cotton Club and the Byblos Disco
- Double pool complex with whirlpools, mini golf and a power walking track
- Deluxe Balcony Aurea staterooms, the only Lirica Class ship with the Aurea experience on balconies
Staterooms and suites
Junior Interior
Interior staterooms of about 140 sq ft with a double bed convertible to two singles and pullman beds for a third and fourth guest; the budget choice for a seven-night Caribbean island-hopper.
Junior Ocean View
About 140 sq ft with a window, also sold with an obstructed view; third and fourth beds available.
Premium Ocean View
Larger ocean view staterooms of about 237 sq ft, a good family option.
Junior Balcony and Deluxe Balcony Aurea
Balcony staterooms of about 140 sq ft plus a 32 sq ft private balcony; the Deluxe Balcony Aurea version is sold with the Aurea experience and its drinks package, priority boarding and spa benefits. Balconies are limited on this class, so book early.
Junior Suite Aurea
The top category at about 248 sq ft plus a 54 sq ft balcony and bathtub, with the Aurea experience included. MSC Opera has no MSC Yacht Club.
MSC Opera 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.
13 - Minigolf Sun Deck
Top 13 Exclusive Solarium, Mini Golf.
- Top 13 Exclusive SolariumTop 13 Exclusive Solarium
- MinigolfYou'll need to combine hand-to-eye coordination with a deft, light touch to get around the entertaining open-air mini-golf course onboard the ship. Get together with your friends and family to see who has what it takes to be crowned the Mini Golf King or Queen.
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 Opera
Dining on MSC Opera
La Caravella RestaurantIncluded
Main restaurant serving multi-course Mediterranean and international dinners at a set seating.
L’Approdo RestaurantIncluded
Second main restaurant with the same evening menu and open-seating breakfast and lunch on some days.
Le Vele BuffetIncluded
Self-service buffet open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night snacks.
Il Patio Pizza and PastaIncluded
Freshly made Italian pizza and pasta by the pool.
Aroma Coffee BarSpecialty
Italian espresso bar with pastries, charged per item or covered by drink packages.
Gelateria Italiana and The Vitamin BarSpecialty
Gelato by the scoop and fresh juices and smoothies on the pool deck.
Bars and loungesSpecialty
Sottovento Pub, La Cabala Piano Bar, Lo Spinnaker pool bar, Piazza di Spagna, Cotton Club, the Casino Bar and the Byblos Discoteca Bar.
Entertainment and activities
- Teatro dell’Opera with production shows including Circus 1920, City of Stars, Icons and Pulse
- Med Pearl Casino and the Byblos Disco
- Double pool complex with whirlpools and the Doremi Spray Park
- MSC Aurea Spa with Balinese massages, sauna and Turkish bath, and the MSC Aurea Solarium
- MSC Gym powered by Technogym and an outdoor power walking track
- Mini golf, shuffleboard and the arcade with virtual reality games
- Karaoke, game shows, themed parties and the La Cabala Piano Bar
Families and who it suits
The 2015 stretch added play areas designed with Chicco, LEGO and Namco: the Baby Club for under-threes, the Mini Club for 3 to 6, the Junior Club for 7 to 11, the Young Club for 12 to 14 and the Teen Club for 15 to 17 are included in the fare, and the Doremi Spray Park and double pool complex suit families on Caribbean sea days.
Best for: Travelers who want a smaller MSC ship on a seven-night Southern Caribbean island-hopper from La Romana or Fort-de-France, including summer 2027 when no other MSC ship sails the region.
Sails from: Genoa, Marseille, Barcelona, La Romana, Fort-de-France, Bridgetown · Regions: Western Mediterranean, Southern Caribbean, French Antilles and British Virgin Islands, ABC Islands and Grenada, Transatlantic
MSC Opera questions we answer every day
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What are the Bella, Fantastica and Aurea experiences on MSC Opera?
Facts checked against MSC Cruises USA: MSC Opera, MSC Cruises USA: MSC Opera staterooms and suites, MSC Cruises UK: MSC Opera cruise search (2026-2028 departures from La Romana and Fort-de-France), Cruise Industry News: MSC Opera to sail year-round in South Caribbean on October 13, 2026. Ship details change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the current layout when you book.
Every MSC Opera sailing, priced all-in
Every MSC Opera 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 Opera 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.