MSC Splendida

MSC Splendida is a Fantasia-class cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises. Built at the STX France shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, the vessel was one of two large ships commissioned by MSC Cruises as part of the Fantasia-class program. It entered service in July 2009 as the sister ship of MSC Fantasia and represented a major expansion of MSC's large-ship capacity at the time. The ship was initially developed under the provisional name MSC Serenata. MSC Cruises changed the name to MSC Splendida in May 2007, before construction was completed. Steel cutting began on 12 April 2007, the vessel was launched on 18 July 2008, and sea trials took place from 21 to 27 May 2009. MSC Cruises accepted delivery on 4 July 2009, and the ship began its maiden voyage that same day. Its formal naming ceremony took place in Barcelona on 12 July 2009, with actress Sophia Loren serving as godmother. MSC Splendida measures approximately 137,936 gross tons, is 333.30 metres long, has a beam of 37.98 metres, and can accommodate about 3,900 passengers. At the time of delivery, the ship and its sister were among the largest vessels operated by a European cruise company. Its scale allowed MSC Cruises to combine a high-capacity cruise operation with a broad range of onboard public spaces, entertainment areas, restaurants, and leisure facilities. The ship has operated in several regional markets over its career. Its itineraries have included the Mediterranean and the Far East, and it underwent refurbishment in 2017 before being deployed to China. MSC Splendida was also used in Asian and Southeast Asian cruise planning during the period around 2020. Later deployment plans included a South African homeport for the 2023–2024 season, with itineraries covering destinations such as Mozambique, Mauritius, Réunion, Namibia, Port Elizabeth, and Cape Town. MSC Splendida's public identity is tied to MSC Cruises' large-ship vacation model rather than to a separate consumer brand. Its onboard features include hospitality, dining, entertainment, family activities, and recreational facilities typical of a contemporary resort-style cruise ship. The vessel is also known for a programmed horn system that can play recognizable songs, including Queen's "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions," The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army," and "Happy Birthday to You." It has appeared in popular culture through the Indian Tamil film Manmadan Ambu. The ship's operating history also includes significant safety and public-health events. While docked in Tunis on 18 March 2015, it was present during the terrorist attack at the Bardo National Museum, in which cruise passengers were among those killed. During the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, a crew member displaying symptoms was medically evacuated while the ship was near Sardinia. Subsequent testing produced conflicting initial and repeat results, with the later test reported as positive, leading to quarantine measures for crew members and a later call at Genoa. These events formed part of the wider disruption experienced by the cruise industry during the pandemic.

MSC Splendida was ordered by MSC Cruises as part of a two-ship construction program at STX France in Saint-Nazaire. The order was placed on 16 November 2005, with the ships intended for delivery in 2009. The vessel was initially identified as MSC Serenata. Construction formally began with steel cutting on 12 April 2007, and MSC Cruises announced a name change to MSC Splendida in May of that year. The ship was launched from the shipyard on 18 July 2008. It began sea trials on 21 May 2009 and completed them on 27 May. MSC Cruises took delivery on 4 July 2009, and the ship embarked on its maiden voyage on the same date. The inaugural voyage concluded on 11 July, followed by the official naming ceremony in Barcelona on 12 July. Sophia Loren served as the ship's godmother, continuing her ceremonial association with MSC Cruises. MSC Splendida belongs to the Fantasia class and is the sister ship of MSC Fantasia. It has a gross tonnage of approximately 137,936, a length of 333.30 metres, a beam of 37.98 metres, a height of 66.81 metres, and a draft of 8.29 metres. Passenger capacity is approximately 3,900. At the time of delivery, the two Fantasia-class vessels were among the largest ships in a European cruise line's fleet, reflecting MSC Cruises' move toward higher-capacity vessels and broader resort-style onboard programming. During its operational life, MSC Splendida has served multiple geographic markets. The ship has cruised in the Mediterranean and the Far East. MSC Cruises refurbished the vessel in 2017 before assigning it to China. It was also associated with Southeast Asian operations around 2020, although the global cruise shutdown changed planned schedules and positioning. Later plans placed the ship in Durban for the 2023–2024 cruise season, with proposed voyages to Mozambique, Mauritius, Réunion, Namibia, Port Elizabeth, and Cape Town. The ship's amenities include accommodation, restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, recreational spaces, and other services associated with a large contemporary cruise ship. Its horn system is programmed to perform several popular melodies, a distinctive feature noted in descriptions of the vessel. MSC Splendida has also had a limited presence in popular culture, appearing in the Indian Tamil film Manmadan Ambu. Two incidents are particularly associated with the ship's public history. On 18 March 2015, while MSC Splendida was in Tunis alongside Costa Fascinosa, an armed attack took place at the Bardo National Museum. Twelve cruise passengers from several countries were reported killed. In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a Thai crew member working as a buffet attendant was evacuated by lifeboat after developing respiratory symptoms while the ship was near Sardinia. MSC Cruises initially reported a negative test, but a subsequent test was reported positive. Crew quarantines followed, and the ship later docked in Genoa to allow some crew members to disembark. These events occurred within the broader security and public-health challenges faced by international cruising.

• 2023

  Planned South African deployment

  [1]MSC Splendidaen.wikipedia.org

  MSC Splendida was scheduled for Durban-based operations during the 2023–2024 cruise season, with itineraries planned for southern African and Indian Ocean destinations.

• 2020

  COVID-19 crew case and quarantine measures

  [1]MSC Splendidaen.wikipedia.org

  A crew member was evacuated near Sardinia after developing respiratory symptoms. A later positive test resulted in quarantine measures affecting crew members.

• 2017

  Refurbishment before Chinese deployment

  [1]MSC Splendidaen.wikipedia.org

  MSC Splendida underwent refurbishment before being deployed to China.

• 2015

  Bardo National Museum attack

  [1]MSC Splendidaen.wikipedia.org

  Passengers associated with MSC Splendida were affected by the terrorist attack at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis while the ship was in port.

• 2009

  Delivery, maiden voyage, and naming

  [1]MSC Splendidaen.wikipedia.org

  MSC Cruises took delivery on 4 July 2009. The ship began its maiden voyage that day and was formally named in Barcelona on 12 July, with Sophia Loren as godmother.

• 2008

  Ship launched

  [1]MSC Splendidaen.wikipedia.org

  The vessel was launched from the Saint-Nazaire shipyard on 18 July 2008.

• 2007

  Construction began and name changed

  [1]MSC Splendidaen.wikipedia.org

  Steel cutting began on 12 April 2007 under the provisional name MSC Serenata. The vessel was renamed MSC Splendida in May.

• 2005

  Two-ship order placed

  [1]MSC Splendidaen.wikipedia.org

  MSC Cruises placed an order with STX France for two large cruise ships, one of which would become MSC Splendida.

A large, resort-style cruise ship operated by MSC Cruises for international leisure itineraries.

• Cruise ship · 2009

  MSC Splendida cruise ship

  The core offering is the MSC Splendida vessel itself: a Fantasia-class passenger ship operated by MSC Cruises. It combines passenger accommodation with restaurants, entertainment, recreation, and other hospitality facilities designed for multi-day international cruises. The ship has operated across Mediterranean, Asian, Southeast Asian, and planned southern African markets.

• Cruise vacation · 2009

  MSC Splendida cruise vacations

  Cruise vacations aboard MSC Splendida package transportation, accommodation, dining, onboard entertainment, and destination visits into a single leisure product. The ship's itinerary history includes Mediterranean and Far Eastern routes, with additional deployment in China, Southeast Asia, and planned Durban-based voyages.

• 2023

  Planned Durban-based seasonStrategy

  Background

  MSC Cruises planned to use MSC Splendida in the South African market during the 2023–2024 cruise season.

  Action taken

  The ship was scheduled to be based in Durban and operate voyages to destinations in southern Africa and the Indian Ocean.

  Aftermath

  The plan broadened the ship's stated regional deployment beyond its established Mediterranean and Asian operations.

  Source

• 2017

  Refurbishment and deployment to ChinaStrategy

  Background

  MSC Cruises was expanding the ship's use across Asian markets after operating it in established Mediterranean service.

  Action taken

  The company refurbished MSC Splendida and deployed it to China.

  Aftermath

  The ship continued serving Asian and Far Eastern cruise markets before later deployment planning in other regions.

  Source

• 2007

  Renaming from MSC Serenata to MSC SplendidaOther

  Background

  The vessel was being built under the provisional name MSC Serenata as part of MSC Cruises' Fantasia-class construction program.

  Action taken

  MSC Cruises changed the ship's name to MSC Splendida in May 2007.

  Aftermath

  The ship entered service under the new name in July 2009.

  Source

1. 1MSC Splendidaen.wikipedia.org