MSC Preziosa
MSC Preziosa is a Fantasia-class cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises that entered passenger service in March 2013.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
MSC Preziosa is a large cruise ship in MSC Cruises' Fantasia class. She entered service in March 2013 as the fourth vessel in the class and was the thirteenth cruise ship delivered to the MSC Cruises fleet. The ship was built at the STX France shipyard in Saint-Nazaire between 2010 and 2013. Although her design was derived from the MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida platform, the vessel was completed as an enhanced version of those ships and is substantially similar to MSC Divina. The ship originated in a very different commercial context. In 2010, STX France signed a letter of intent with Libya's state-owned General National Maritime Transport Corporation for a cruise ship provisionally associated with the name Phoenicia. The project was promoted as part of an intended Libyan luxury-cruise venture and was reportedly commissioned at the initiative of Hannibal Gaddafi. Construction continued after the contract was disrupted by the Libyan Civil War, but the original customer did not take delivery. STX France subsequently sought another buyer for the partially completed hull. MSC Cruises agreed in March 2012 to purchase the vessel for a reported €550 million and specified a configuration closely matching MSC Divina. The ship was named MSC Preziosa while under construction. MSC Preziosa measures approximately 333 metres in length and has a moulded beam of about 37.9 metres. Published descriptions identify roughly 1,750 staterooms, including interior, ocean-view, balcony and accessible accommodations, with capacity for about 3,500 passengers. The crew complement is reported at approximately 1,325 to 1,370 people, depending on the operational specification cited. Public spaces include multiple restaurants, bars and lounges, swimming pools, a theatre seating about 1,600 people, a spa, fitness facilities, a sports area, a bowling alley, children's facilities and a jogging track. The ship's Yacht Club provides a more exclusive accommodation and service tier within the broader vessel. Its propulsion system uses diesel-electric architecture. Five Wärtsilä diesel engines generate electricity for two independent GE Energy Power Conversion propulsion motors, each driving a separate propeller. The arrangement provides redundancy and supports manoeuvrability in port, assisted by bow thrusters and independent steering systems. The vessel also incorporates stabilizing fins, wastewater treatment, seawater distillation and reverse-osmosis equipment, waste-processing systems, LED lighting and cabin energy-management controls. In 2017, MSC Preziosa was among the first MSC vessels to receive a retrofit exhaust-gas cleaning system, subject to marine-equipment certification and emissions testing. The ship was christened by Sophia Loren and began its inaugural itinerary from Saint-Nazaire, calling at ports including Lisbon, Cádiz, Casablanca, Valencia and Marseille before reaching Genoa on 22 March 2013. Its deployment has changed with seasonal demand. It operated South American cruises from Santos during its first winter season, Mediterranean itineraries from Genoa in subsequent years, British Isles and Northern European cruises, Caribbean voyages involving Trinidad, and longer Arctic and North Atlantic routes. The ship has also served itineraries involving Guadeloupe, Martinique, Svalbard and Norwegian ports. MSC Preziosa occupies a mainstream, resort-style cruise position rather than a specialist expedition or ultra-luxury niche. Its proposition combines high passenger capacity, extensive onboard entertainment and dining, multiple accommodation grades and geographically varied itineraries. The vessel has experienced operational incidents, including a crew-member cocaine-smuggling arrest in Brazil in 2014, a passenger disappearance in 2018 and reports of COVID-19 cases among crew in 2020. These events were reported in connection with the ship but do not by themselves establish misconduct by MSC Cruises. The ship remains part of MSC Cruises' operati…
History
MSC Preziosa was conceived as a large Fantasia-class cruise ship for a proposed Libyan maritime venture. On 4 June 2010, STX France signed a letter of intent with Libya's General National Maritime Transport Corporation for a ship similar to MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida. The original project was associated with an intended luxury-cruise industry in Libya and was reportedly initiated at the request of Hannibal Gaddafi. The design was expected to include facilities typical of the Fantasia class, together with distinctive features such as a large aquarium. Construction began at Saint-Nazaire in 2010. The outbreak of the Libyan Civil War in February 2011 disrupted the commercial arrangement. In June 2011, STX France cancelled the original contract and began seeking another purchaser for the incomplete vessel. MSC Cruises announced in March 2012 that it had agreed to acquire the ship for a reported €550 million. MSC ordered the vessel to be completed with specifications broadly matching MSC Divina and selected the name MSC Preziosa. The ship was delivered in March 2013 and became the fourth member of the Fantasia class. Sophia Loren served as godmother, as she had for MSC Divina. The pre-inaugural voyage departed Saint-Nazaire and visited Lisbon, Cádiz, Casablanca, Valencia and Marseille before arriving in Genoa on 22 March 2013. The vessel subsequently entered MSC Cruises' regular commercial program, initially including South American cruises from Santos and Mediterranean operations from Genoa. MSC Preziosa's later deployment reflected MSC Cruises' seasonal network. Mediterranean itineraries included calls in France, Italy, Spain, Tunisia and other regional destinations. Some Tunisian calls were cancelled in 2015 following the Sousse terrorist attack. The ship also operated routes around the British Isles, including its first visit to Invergordon in May 2017, and Northern European itineraries from 2018. From late 2018 it served Caribbean routes involving Trinidad, Guadeloupe and Martinique. In summer 2019, the ship operated a longer Arctic and North Atlantic itinerary from Hamburg, including Norwegian ports and Svalbard. The vessel has undergone technical and interior improvements. In 2016, MSC Cruises partnered with Technogym on a wellness program that included MSC Preziosa. By February 2017, the ship had received an exhaust-gas cleaning retrofit and obtained relevant marine-equipment certification from Bureau Veritas after testing under the MARPOL framework. Dining-area improvements were reported in April 2019, and De Jorio Design carried out Italian interior-design work later that year. A United Kingdom deployment with planned refurbishment was discussed for 2021, although the available material does not confirm the eventual scope or completion of that plan. Several incidents have been associated with the ship's service history. In March 2014, Brazilian police arrested a crew member for alleged cocaine smuggling. In January 2018, a Dutch passenger disappeared after an overboard-detection failure, despite searches involving naval and helicopter resources. In March 2019, three passengers were hospitalized after an MSC-arranged flight from Barbados reportedly experienced an onboard medical emergency; the available source does not establish that the incident was caused by the ship. During the COVID-19 pandemic, two crew members tested positive in late April and early May 2020. MSC Cruises then suspended North American itineraries as part of its pandemic response. The ship's identity remains tied to MSC Cruises' large-capacity, multi-region cruise offering.
- 2020
COVID-19 service disruption
[1]Two crew members tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, while MSC Cruises suspended North American itineraries during the pandemic.
- 2019
Interior and dining enhancements
[1]The dining area was enhanced and Italian interior-design work was undertaken during the year.
- 2018
Northern European deployment
[1]The ship began Northern European operations and also continued to be associated with a passenger disappearance investigation.
- 2017
Exhaust-gas cleaning retrofit
[1]MSC Preziosa became one of the first MSC ships to receive an exhaust-gas cleaning system and subsequent marine-equipment certification.
- 2016
Technogym wellness partnership
[1]MSC Cruises included MSC Preziosa in a wellness program developed with Technogym.
- 2014
South American and Mediterranean operations
[1]The ship operated South American cruises from Santos and later continued seasonal Mediterranean service.
- 2013
Delivery and entry into service
[1]MSC Preziosa was delivered in March, christened by Sophia Loren and introduced as the fourth Fantasia-class ship.
- 2012
MSC Cruises acquires the ship
[1]MSC Cruises agreed to acquire the incomplete vessel and ordered it completed to specifications similar to MSC Divina.
- 2011
Original contract cancelled
[1]The Libyan project was disrupted by the civil war, and STX France cancelled the original contract while seeking a new buyer for the hull.
- 2010
Original construction contract signed
[1]STX France signed a letter of intent with Libya's General National Maritime Transport Corporation for a Fantasia-class-related cruise ship.
Products and positioning
Mainstream, resort-style international cruise ship with a broad range of dining, entertainment, family, wellness and accommodation options.
Passenger cruise ship · 2013
MSC Preziosa cruise ship
The core offering is the ship itself: a 333-metre Fantasia-class vessel with approximately 1,750 staterooms and capacity for about 3,500 passengers. It combines hotel-style accommodation with restaurants, lounges, pools, theatre entertainment, sports facilities, a spa, children's areas and organized cruise itineraries. Accommodation includes interior, ocean-view, balcony and accessible cabins, alongside higher-tier MSC Yacht Club spaces.
Cruise vacations · 2013
MSC Preziosa cruise itineraries
MSC Preziosa has been deployed across several seasonal markets rather than serving one fixed route. Its recorded itinerary areas include the Mediterranean, South America, Northern Europe, the British Isles, the Caribbean, the Arctic and the North Atlantic. Cruises combine port calls with onboard dining, entertainment, wellness and family activities.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016MSC Cruises–Technogym wellness program
International
MSC Cruises partnered with Technogym on a wellness initiative that included MSC Preziosa, linking the ship's fitness and health-oriented facilities with a branded onboard program.
Outcome. The program expanded the ship's wellness positioning; the available reference does not provide performance figures.
Brand decisions
2019
Dining and interior enhancement programStrategyBackground
MSC Cruises continued updating older ships to maintain the appeal of its onboard product and passenger environments.
Action taken
The ship's dining area was enhanced in April, followed by Italian interior-design work by De Jorio Design in October.
Aftermath
The work refreshed selected guest-facing areas; the available material does not quantify its commercial effect.
2017
Exhaust-gas cleaning retrofitStrategyBackground
Cruise operators faced increasing environmental and emissions requirements, including limits associated with the MARPOL framework.
Action taken
MSC Preziosa was retrofitted with an exhaust-gas cleaning system and received marine-equipment certification after testing.
Aftermath
The retrofit supported emissions-control compliance and positioned the ship among MSC's early vessels using this technology.
2012
Purchase of the incomplete vesselM&ABackground
The original Libyan customer could not proceed with the ship after the disruption caused by the Libyan Civil War, leaving STX France seeking a replacement buyer.
Action taken
MSC Cruises agreed to acquire the vessel and complete it as MSC Preziosa, using a configuration substantially similar to MSC Divina.
Aftermath
The acquisition allowed the hull to enter service as the fourth Fantasia-class ship and expanded MSC Cruises' fleet in 2013.
Reported acquisition price. €550 million (Agreement announced in March 2012)
Sources1 sources
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