MSC Opera

Last updated
MSCOperaArgostoli1.jpg
MSC Opera in the port of Argostoli
History
NameMSC Opera
Owner MSC Cruises
OperatorMSC Cruises
Port of registry Panama City, Flag of Panama.svg  Panama
Builder Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France
Launched11 September 2003
ChristenedJune 26, 2004 by Sophia Loren in Genoa [1]
Maiden voyageJune 27, 2004 [1]
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Class and type Lirica-class cruise ship
Tonnage
  • 59,058  GT
  • 65,591  GT (after renovation)
Length
  • 251.25 m (824.3 ft)
  • 274.9 m (902 ft) (after renovation)
Beam
  • 28.8 m (94 ft)
  • 32 m (105 ft) (after renovation)
Height54 m (177 ft)
Draught6.8 m (22 ft 4 in)
Depth6.6 m (22 ft)
Decks
  • 9 (passengers accessible)
  • 13 (total)
Propulsion
Speed21.1 knots (39.1 km/h; 24.3 mph)
Capacity
  • 2,150 (double occupancy)
  • 2,679 passengers (maximum after renovation)
Crew728

MSC Opera is a cruise ship built in 2004, carrying 2,679 passengers in 1,071 cabins, and with a crew complement of approximately 728, currently operated by Swiss company MSC Cruises. She served as the flagship of the company until MSC Musica entered service in 2006.

Contents

Renaissance program

It was the third ship of the Lirica class to undergo renovation under the "Renaissance Program" and involved jumboisation to increase capacity, with the work being completed in the port of Palermo by Italian ship builders Fincantieri. [2] New features included a spray park, refurbished shops, new child and teen areas, an enhanced buffet, a new lounge and an extended restaurant. The work was completed on 4 July 2015. [3]

Incidents

In May 2010, one week after a similar incident on board MSC Orchestra, UK Border Agency officers at Dover found a large quantity of cocaine concealed in four passenger cabins. Four Latvians and three Lithuanians were later convicted at Canterbury Crown Court and sentenced to a total of 84 years imprisonment. [4]

On 14 May 2011, MSC Opera suffered engine failure in the Baltic Sea and was towed to the port of Nynäshamn, south of Stockholm, where passengers were transferred to smaller vessels. [5] Around 1,700 passengers were flown home from Stockholm during the day. The ship was without power after the engine failure and internet reports stated that bathrooms were inoperable, causing some sanitation issues.[ citation needed ] Passengers were given a voucher to cover the cost of the cruise. On 17 May 2011, the ship departed Nynäshamn en route to Gdynia in Poland for repairs.

On 24 March 2019, the Portuguese police of Madeira arrested twelve people on board her (arriving at the port of Funchal in Madeira from the Caribbean), after finding 18 kilograms (40 lb) of cocaine hidden in bags of chips. [6]

On 2 June 2019, the ship collided with the quay and a docked river cruise ship moored at the San Basilio Pier in the Giudecca Canal in Venice, Italy. [7] The cause was later found to be technical difficulties with the engines while under tow. She sustained superficial scratches, while the smaller river vessel was more damaged. Five people were slightly injured. [8] [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mediterranean Shipping Company</span> Swiss international shipping line

Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A., branded as MSC, is an international shipping line founded by Gianluigi Aponte in Italy in 1970. The company is owned by the Aponte family with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, since 1978. It is the world's largest container shipping company by both fleet size and cargo capacity, controlling about 19.7 percent of the global container ship fleet.

<i>Celestyal Crystal</i> Cruise ship

Celestyal Crystal is a cruise ship, operated between 2007 and 2023 by the Cyprus-based Louis Group's Louis Cruise Lines and Celestyal Cruises. The ship was originally built as the cruiseferry Viking Saga in the 1980 at Wärtsilä Perno Shipyard and Turku Shipyard, Turku, Finland for Rederi Ab Sally. In 1986 she was renamed Sally Albatross, and rebuilt into a cruise ship the following year. The ship was destroyed by a fire in 1990, and completely rebuilt at Finnyards, Rauma, Finland. She was re-delivered in 1992, still named Sally Albatross. After partially sinking 1994 she was rebuilt at Industrie Navali Meccaniche Affini, La Spezia, Italy, re-entering service as Leeward for Norwegian Cruise Line. Subsequently she sailed as SuperStar Taurus for Star Cruises, Silja Opera for Silja Line. After being temporarily renamed Opera she was in service with Louis Group as Louis Cristal and later Celestyal Crystal.

<i>Ocean Countess</i>

Ocean Countess was a cruise ship owned by Majestic International Cruises of Greece. She was completed in 1976 as Cunard Countess for Cunard Line and was a popular ship in the Caribbean cruise market for 20 years. After leaving Cunard service in 1996, she had a number of owners before being purchased by Majestic in 2004. She was retired in 2012 and scrapped in 2014 after a fire destroyed the ship.

<i>Carnival Freedom</i> Conquest-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Freedom is a Conquest-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She is the 22nd operating vessel in the fleet, and the last of the Conquest-class ships. The ship was built as part of a four-ship deal with Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard and was launched in Venice, Italy on April 28, 2006. She was delivered to Carnival on February 28, 2007.

<i>Margaritaville at Sea Paradise</i> Cruise ship built in 1991

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise is a cruise ship owned by Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and operating for Margaritaville at Sea. The ship was built in 1991 in Italy for Costa Cruises as Costa Classica. In 2000, a planned lengthening and refit was cancelled at the last moment. She was renamed Costa neoClassica in 2014, then left Costa fleet in 2018 when sold to Bahamas Paradise as Grand Classica. Since May 2022, the ship has been sailing as Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, after the cruise line announced a partnership with Margaritaville Resorts & Hotels.

<i>Carnival Splendor</i> Concordia-class cruise ship

Carnival Splendor is a Concordia-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. As she is the only Concordia-class ship in the Carnival fleet, she is also referred to as a Splendor-class ship. Her other sister ships are part of the Costa Crociere fleet. The ship was originally designed and ordered for Costa Cruises but she was transferred to Carnival Cruise Line during construction.

MS <i>Dream</i> (1998) Sun-class cruise ship

MS Dream is a cruise ship owned by Tianjin Orient International Cruise Line from 2023. She was built in Italy in 1998 as the Sun-classSea Princess for Princess Cruises, which operated her until 2020, except for a short period (2003–2005) with P&O Cruises as Adonia. Sold in 2020 and renamed Charming, the ship did not re-enter service until acquired by Tianjin Orient.

<i>MSC Lirica</i> Cruise ship

MSC Lirica is the lead ship in her class of cruise ship, owned and operated by MSC Cruises. She was the first newbuild cruise ship to enter service for MSC Cruises. She can accommodate 1,560 passengers in 780 cabins. Her crew complement is approximately 732. MSC Opera is an identical sister ship to the MSC Lirica. Her other sisters in the class, MSC Armonia and MSC Sinfonia are essentially the same, but have a smaller funnel and other modifications, such as the bow windows and changes to the interior.

<i>MSC Orchestra</i>

MSC Orchestra is a cruise ship that was built in 2007 for MSC Cruises. She is the second ship of the Musica class. She could at the time accommodate 2,550 passengers in 1,275 cabins. Most inside cabins were later refitted with two bunk beds and therefore she can now accommodate 3,200 passengers. Her crew complement is approximately 990.

<i>MSC Fantasia</i> Cruise ship operating for MSC Cruises

MSC Fantasia is a Fantasia-class cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises and serves as the lead vessel for the Fantasia class of ships. She entered service in December 2008 and ushered in a new generation of larger ships for MSC Cruises, becoming the largest ship to operate for MSC at the time of delivery. She was also the first vessel to feature the MSC Yacht Club, MSC Cruises ship within ship concept.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grimaldi Group</span> Shipping & logistics company

The Grimaldi Group is a private shipping company owned by the Grimaldi family and based in Naples, Italy. Grimaldi operates a large fleet of ro-ro, ro-ro/multipurpose, con-ro multipurpose, PCTC, ro-pax and cruise ferries vessels.

<i>Costa Deliziosa</i> Cruise ship

Costa Deliziosa is a cruise ship flagship operated by Costa Crociere. Ordered in 2007 as part of a five-ship expansion of the Costa Cruises Fleet, Costa Deliziosa was constructed by Fincantieri, launched in March 2009, and handed over to Costa Crociere in January 2010.

<i>Costa Fascinosa</i> Cruise ship

Costa Fascinosa is a Concordia-class cruise ship that was ordered in October 2007 for Costa Crociere. Based on the Concordia-class design, Costa Fascinosa was constructed by Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard in Venice. Part of a five-ship expansion of the Costa Crociere fleet, the vessel entered service on 6 May 2012. She was Costa Crociere's flagship until Costa Diadema entered service.

<i>MSC Magnifica</i> Musica-class cruise ship

MSC Magnifica is a Musica-class cruise ship operated by MSC Cruises. Constructed by STX Europe in Saint-Nazaire, the ship was launched in January 2009, completed in January 2010, and entered service in March 2010.

<i>Royal Princess</i> (2012) Royal-class cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises

Royal Princess is a Royal-class cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc, and is the third ship to sail for the cruise line under that name. The largest ship to have been built for Princess at the time of delivery in 2013, she became the flagship of Princess. As the lead vessel of the Royal class, she lends her name to the company's Royal class, which will consist of six ships upon the last ship's delivery in 2021. The ship measures 142,714 GT and has a capacity of 3,560 passengers.

<i>MSC Divina</i> Cruise ship

MSC Divina is a cruise ship measured at 139,400 gross tonnage (GT) owned and operated by MSC Cruises. She was constructed from 2010 to 2012 being originally named MSC Fantastica while under construction. MSC renamed her when near complete in the shipyard to honour the actress Sophia Loren.

<i>MSC Preziosa</i> Fantasia-class cruise ship

MSC Preziosa is a Fantasia-class cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises. She entered service in March 2013. She is an enhanced version of her first two class member ships, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia, and is identical to the previous MSC Divina. She debuted on 13 March as the fourth ship in the Fantasia class.

<i>Mistral</i>-class cruise ship

The Mistral class is a class of cruise ships, now owned and operated by MSC Cruises and Ambassador Cruise Line. There are currently five active Mistral-class cruise ships, the lead vessel, MS Ambition, MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Lirica (2002) and MSC Opera (2003).

<i>MSC Seaside</i> Cruise ship operating for MSC Cruises

MSC Seaside is a Seaside-class cruise ship currently owned and operated by MSC Cruises. As the lead vessel of the Seaside class, she lends her name to the company's Seaside class. At 153,516 GT, she would become the largest cruise ship ever to be constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, and the 14th largest cruise ship in the world, behind Norwegian Epic, upon her delivery in December 2017.

<i>MSC Seaview</i> Seaside-class cruise ship

MSC Seaview is a Seaside-class cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises. Built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in Monfalcone and delivered in June 2018, she is the sister ship to her class' lead vessel, MSC Seaside.

References

  1. 1 2 "Sophia Loren to be Godmother of New MSC Opera". PRNewswire. 15 Jun 2004. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  2. ↑ Crookston, Adrian; Scorza, Alex (2022-04-15). Building the World's Biggest Ships - Heavy Lift: Jumboisation - Free Documentary (Television Production). Berlin, Germany: Quintus Media GmbH.
  3. ↑ Staff, C. I. N. (20 May 2014). "MSC Renaissance Program Begins with Laying Out of Armonia's New Section". www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
  4. ↑ "UK Border Agency | Cruise ship cocaine smugglers jailed". www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  5. ↑ "Cruise ship loses power at sea". NBC News. 16 May 2011.
  6. ↑ Jim Walker (2019-03-28). "Drug Bust on the MSC Opera: Cocaine in Your Cheetos?". Cruise Law News.
  7. ↑ "Nave da crociera fuori controllo, paura e polemiche a Venezia". 3 June 2019.
  8. ↑ Dibelius, Georgia (2 June 2019). "Four injured as cruise ship smashes into dock at Venice". Metro. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  9. ↑ "Venice crash captain ordered 'all procedures to avoid impact'". BBC News. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.