MSC Opera
MSC Cruise Line
MSC Opera is one of MSC's 23 active ships and first entered service in 2004 with its most recent renovation in 2024. In terms of size, it comes in at 65,591 gross tons, 902 feet in length, and 9 passenger decks. On board, it supports up to 2,679 guests and approximately 728 crew members. The ship had an estimated build cost of $266 million and is flagged in Panama.
MSC Opera
Ship Stats
Year Built
2004
Last Renovated
2024
Tonnage
65,591 GT
Length
902 ft
Capacity
2,679
Crew
728
Cost
$266 million
Decks
9
Lirica Class
Lirica Class groups ships with similar design and onboard features within MSC. The first ship introduced in this class was MSC Armonia (2001), followed by MSC Sinfonia (2002), MSC Lirica (2003), and MSC Opera (2004).
MSC Opera Ship Age
MSC Opera entered service in 2004. Across MSC's active fleet, the average build year is 2013 and across all major active cruise lines the average ship launch year is 2011. Ranked newest-to-oldest, this ship is 20 of 23 (newest ship = rank 1).
Timeline order: newest to oldest
- MSC Opera
Current ship
MSC Opera Renovations
Latest recorded dry dock / major renovation date: 2024.
Renovation details
The MSC Opera completed a technical and cosmetic dry dock in early 2024. The work focused on enhancing the Lido pool deck and refreshing the Teatro dell'Opera with new sound and lighting systems. Like its sister ships, it received mechanical optimizations to reduce its environmental footprint during its Canary Islands seasons.
MSC Opera Ship Size
Length and tonnage across MSC's fleet
MSC Opera measures 902 feet (275 m) (vs MSC fleet average of 1,030 ft) and has gross tonnage of 65,591 GT (vs fleet average of 136,380 GT). It ranks 23 of 23 by length and 21 of 23 by tonnage in MSC's active fleet.
Passenger Capacity & Crew Size
MSC Opera vs MSC fleet averages
MSC Opera carries 2,679 passengers (vs MSC average of 4,391) and has 728 crew members onboard (vs fleet average of 1,276). That puts this ship at a passenger-to-staff ratio of 3.68:1 compared with MSC's overall 3.44:1 average.
Passenger Capacity
2,679
passengers
Crew Members
728
staff members
Passenger to Crew Ratio
3.68 : 1
MSC Avg
3.44 : 1
Frequently Asked Questions
MSC Opera quick answers covering size, capacity, deck plans, and what to expect onboard.
You will find the MSC Opera Casino on Deck 6 of the ship.
You will find the MSC Opera buffet on Deck 11 of the ship.
The MSC Opera completed a technical and cosmetic dry dock in early 2024. The work focused on enhancing the Lido pool deck and refreshing the Teatro dell'Opera with new sound and lighting systems. Like its sister ships, it received mechanical optimizations to reduce its environmental footprint during its Canary Islands seasons.
The ship belongs to the MSC class of ships known as the Lirica class.
The MSC Opera has a total of 9 passenger decks. The lowest deck is Level 5. The upper most passenger deck is Level 13.
We're often asked how many passengers are on the MSC Opera. The ship's capacity is 2,679. When comparing the occupancy to the average MSC passenger capacity, you'll find that the average ship in the fleet holds 4,494 guests. Feel free to look at our graph above to see where this ship falls in line with all other live MSC ships.
The MSC Opera was built in 2004. MSC includes 23 active ships. The oldest in the fleet was built in 2001 while the newest ship was built in 2025. The average MSC ship is 13 years old and the median build date for all active ships is 2013
Each of MSC's ships offers a unique layout with features and activities catered to all. Whether the MSC Opera is right for you will depend on your individual preferences. Do you prefer a larger or smaller ship with many or fewer guests? Are you hoping for many family activities or entertainment options for an older clientele. Our deck maps layout and activities list provide a helpful guide to what you'll find on board. Feel free to explore the see if this ship is suited towards your preferences.
From end to end, the MSC Opera length equals 902 feet (275 meters). Compare that to the average ship length of all 23 active vessels in MSC fleet, measuring 1,030 feet (314 meters). Please see our size comparison chart above to see how this ship falls in line with all other active ships in the fleet.