MSC Splendida
“The original Fantasia-class showpiece — Mediterranean summers, South African winters.”
MSC Splendida entered service in July 2009 as the second Fantasia-class ship, named by Sophia Loren in Barcelona. She spends her year on one of the more distinctive deployment patterns in the MSC fleet — Mediterranean sailings from Genoa in summer, then a long repositioning down to Durban, South Africa for a full winter season of South African coastal and Indian Ocean cruises. Onboard she has the classic Fantasia-class layout: a real stone piazza, six restaurants including the elegant La Reggia dining room, and an Aqua Park that serves as the ship's main outdoor social hub. She's an approachable, value-oriented ship for cruisers on both continents.
MSC Splendida's Aqua Park — the covered L'Equatore pool flowing into an open-air deck that functions as the ship's liveliest gathering spot, with daily pool parties, live music, and themed events running from morning stretch classes through to late-night entertainment.
What’s Onboard
Dining
- ✓La Reggia main dining room (fine Italian cuisine, extensive wine list)
- ✓Villa Verda second main dining room
- ✓L'Olivio à la carte French specialty restaurant
- ✓Santa Fe Tex-Mex restaurant
- ✓Pago Pago and Bora Bora buffet/pizzeria venues
- ✓Six restaurants and numerous bars and lounges
Pools & Recreation
- ✓L'Equatore covered pool leading into the Aqua Park
- ✓Aqua Park — the ship's main outdoor social hub
- ✓MSC Aurea Spa with thermal suite
- ✓Virtual World zone with F1 racing simulator
- ✓4D cinema
- ✓Two-lane bowling alley in the Sports Bar
Entertainment
- ✓Broadway-style production shows in the main theatre
- ✓Real stone piazza with live music and evening events
- ✓Full casino with table games and slots
- ✓Daily themed pool parties on the Aqua Park deck
- ✓Multiple bars and lounges
- ✓Disco nightclub
Cabins
- ✓Interior, Oceanview, Balcony & Suite categories
- ✓MSC Yacht Club suites with private restaurant and butler service
- ✓MSC Aurea Spa suites with included spa access
- ✓Family-friendly balcony staterooms
- ✓Accessible cabins across categories
- ✓Around 1,637 staterooms across the ship
Family & Kids
- ✓MSC Doremi kids' club (ages 3–6)
- ✓MSC Explorers (7–11) and Teens Club (12–17)
- ✓Aqua Park splash areas for younger cruisers
- ✓Family staterooms and connecting cabins
- ✓Kids-eat-free policy on select sailings
- ✓Family game shows and themed entertainment
Video Tour
MSC Splendida Full Ship Tour
- ✦Mediterranean cruisers sailing from Genoa and Italian ports
- ✦South African travellers wanting local winter homeporting
- ✦Value-focused cruisers wanting a large ship without flagship pricing
- ✦MSC Yacht Club guests seeking affordable ship-within-a-ship luxury
Cruisers wanting a single, predictable homeport year-round — Splendida repositions between Europe and South Africa seasonally. Also not for those seeking the newest waterslides and tech found on MSC's World and Seaside-class ships.
7-night Mediterranean or South Africa from ~$600/pp (inside) to $2,000+/pp (Yacht Club suite)