MSC Armonia

The 2001-built//2014-stretched MSC Armonia cruise ship is the first of MSC's Lirica-class liners, with sisterships Opera, Sinfonia, Lirica. The Armonia ship entered the MSC fleet in 2004. Before that, the boat was operated under the name “MS European Vision” by Festival Cruises (1992-founded/2004-defunct).

The vessel (IMO number 9210141) is currently Panama-flagged (MMSI 357281000) and registered in Colon.

History - construction and ownership

MSC Cruises (MSC Crociere) is a passenger shipping company headquartered in Genoa and Naples. It was established in 1960. Today, MSC Crociere is a subsidiary of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) - the world's 2nd largest containership company. MSC Crociere is the world's largest privately-owned cruise company.

By annual passenger shipping volumes, MSC is ranked the world's 3rd largest cruise shipowner - following only Carnival Corporation and RCG-Royal Caribbean Group.

All 4 vessels of this class (Armonia, Lirica, Opera, Sinfonia) were enlarged/elongated by 24 m (80 ft), adding around 193 new cruise staterooms (including Balcony), 59 more crew cabins, plus new public spaces, new kids facilities (with LEGO and Chicco themed activities), outdoor water park ("Spray Park" with interactive slides, jets and water toys).

The 2200-passenger ship MSC Armonia was built in 2001 in France. Her contemporary features and intimacy are in perfect harmony. The Armonia ship boasts many of other cruise liners’ characteristics, including four restaurants, six bars, Internet Cafe, a video arcade.

Decks and Cabins

MSC Armonia staterooms (975 total, in 9 grades) include 130 Suites, 94 Balcony, 401 Oceanview and 350 Inside cabins. Most staterooms are sized 140 ft2 / 13 m2. Most cabin balconies are sized 40 ft2 / 4 m2. The largest are the Balcony Suites (250 ft2 / 24 m2 plus 55 ft2 / 5 m2 terrace). The ship has only 4 wheelchair-accessible cabins (type Inside).

The boat has 13 decks, of which 9 are passenger-accessible and 5 with cabins.

MSC Armonia decks are named after precious gemstones.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

There are no dining surcharges onboard the MSC Armonia because there are no speciality restaurants on this ship. Armonia offers an abundance of Italian food, but the quality can vary. The Marco Polo Restaurant on Deck 5 is the larger of the two main dining rooms. It features tables for two to six diners. The casual buffet is located on Deck 11 and provides an alternative to the main dining rooms.

Follows the complete list of MSC Armonia restaurants and food bars.

• Marco Polo Restaurant (aft Dining Room, capacity 974 seats, open for Breakfast 7-9:30am, Lunch 12-2pm, and Dinner (with 2 fixed seatings- at 7 and 9:30pm, with 3-course menu for lunch and 7-course dinner menu, size 6,458 ft2/600 m2)
• The White Lion Pub (90-seat English pub bar/smoking allowed area, live music, multiple TVs, size 4,047 ft2/376 m2)
• La Pergola Restaurant (aft Dining Room, capacity 287 seats, dinner only- with 2 fixed seatings- at 7 or 9:30 pm, size 5,747 ft2/534 m2)
• Surf & Turf Restaurant (38-seat specialty restaurant)
• La Brasserie Restaurant (344-seat complimentary self-service cafeteria-buffet restaurant; open 6 am - 2 am, serving Afternoon Tea between 4-5 pm, size 7,642 ft/710 m2)
• Il Girasole Restaurant (402-seat alfresco eatery with 2 sections- Pizzeria/pizzas and salads, and Outdoor Grill/burger bar, size 10,419 ft2/968 m2)

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

MSC Armonia ship’s special features include a casino, theatre, disco and cabaret, library, and for those who love sports there is a fitness centre, simulation golf range, two outdoor swimming pools, jacuzzi and SPA. Don’t forget to pamper in the beauty salon. For kids, a special playroom is provided. Additional amenities include complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service, Supervised Children Program, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry.

Follows the complete list of MSC Armonia lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Teatro La Fenice Theatre (capacity 550-seat, grand-style live musical and show productions, classical concerts, acrobatics, with 2 shows a night- at 7:30 and 9:30 pm, size 12,217 ft2/1,135 m2, level 1 of 2)
• Armonia Atrium (2-decks high midship open area)
• Reception Desk (96-seat guest services, reservations, bookings, size 5,274 ft2/490 m2)
• Armonia Shore Excursions Desk (booking, planning, information, size 430 ft2/40 m2)
• Armonia@Cafe (6 Internet computers room/cyber cafe, size 861 ft2/80 m2)
• Gallery (brand watches and jewelry shop, size 645 ft2/60 m2)
• Jewelry Shop (luxury jewelry and accessories, size 1,076 ft2/100 m2)
• Via Della Spica (shopping alley with duty-free shops for snacks, liquor,  tobacco, top brand perfumes and cosmetics, clothing and bags, MSC logo apparel and toys, size 645 ft2/60 m2)
• Mini Mall (duty-free, size 2,680 ft2/949 m2)
• Cigar Room (16-seat smoking club lounge, size 538ft2/50 m2)
• Bar Del Duomo Lounge & Bar (205-seat cocktail bar, with live music, hosts also bingo games and art auctions, size 6,458 ft2/600 m2)
• Caffe San Marco (100 seats specialty coffee bar/a la carte pricing, with complimentary cookies and pastries, also offering coffee packages)
• Teens Club (18-seat, size 1,022 ft2/95 m2)
• Video Games Arcade (size 484 ft2/45 m2)
• Business Center (125-seat conference/meeting room and cinema, size 4,241 ft2/394 m2)
• Palm Beach Casino (125-seat smoking allowed area, slots and gambling tables, own full bar, size 4,886 ft2/454 m2)
• Armonia Lounge & Library  (130-seat double function room, size 3,433 ft2/319 m2)
• The Red Bar (101 seats piano bar with live music)
• Shopping Area, including San Marco Shop (luxury jewelry, brand sunglasses and watches shop, size 645 ft2/60 m2)
• Photo Gallery & Shop (photo services, cameras, binoculars, accessories, size 1,410 ft2/131 m2)
• Armonia Lounge (capacity 424 seats show lounge for grand-scale live music performances, with dance floor and full bar, dance classes, night cabaret show)
• Medical Center (3-seat Infirmary, size 1,151 ft/107 m2) is the ship’s hospital operated by resident doctors/physicians and nurses on 24-hour duty. Payments are made by the boarding pass (treatments equivalent to a private doctor’s visit). General health insurance policies do not apply, so buying cruise health insurance is recommended
• MSC Armonia Aurea Spa & Fitness Complex (Thalassotherapy Room, Treatment Rooms, 2 Saunas and 1 Steam Room, Relaxation Room, Beauty Salon, Gym/Gymnasium, with aerobics studio/classes; open 9 am - 9 pm, size 8,944 ft2/831 m2)
• Baby Club (559 ft2) & Mini Club (452 ft2) - 1-7 Nani Playroom (kids play area with TVs, Playstations, ball pool, movies, games, crafts-arts)
• Armonia’s Le Piscine Pool Area (with 2 twin saltwater pools and 2 Whirlpools)
• Doremi Spray Park
• Il Lido Bar (280-seat poolside bar, size 25,446 ft2/2,364 m2), has 3 sections- Main/full bar, La Gelateria Bar (121 seats ice cream bar/surcharge; open 10 am - 6 pm) and Vitamin Bar (fresh juices)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track (7 laps = 1 mi)
• Young Club / Juniors Club - Teen Club (size 581 ft2/54 m2, teenagers lounge for dance classes, night disco, sports-video games contests, trivia)
• Starlight Disco & Nightclub (capacity 225 seats, size 7,954 ft2/739 m2) with a full bar; during the day serves as a retreat area for panoramic views)
• Sundeck / Top 13 Solarium (adults-only relaxation area with loungers), Golf Simulator (at surcharge)
• Sports Center (combined sports court- tennis, volleyball, basketball, mini football), Shuffleboard
• 9-hole Mini-Golf Course (equipment from Deck 5 reception).

Itineraries

In early-June 2020, MSC Cruises announced that in 2021 the Armonia ship will be homeported in PortMiami (Florida USA) for 3- and 4-night (short-break) cruises departing on Mondays and Fridays. All itineraries visit MSC's private island Ocean Cay.

MSC Armonia itinerary program is currently based on Caribbean roundtrips from homeport Tampa (Florida USA). Starting November 11, 2020, out of Tampa the liner visits ports in Yucatan Mexico and Bahamas the whole year-round. Ship's full winter season (November 2020 – April 2021) offers 4- and 5-night roundtrips. Follows a full summer season (May-November 2021) of 7-day cruises.

Armonia's call ports on shorter (4- and 5-night) voyages include Mexico (Costa Maya, Cozumel, Progreso), Florida (Key West) and Bahamas (Ocean Cay / MSC's private island). By booking B2Bs (back-to-back cruises), MSC cruisers can extend the length of their vacations with 9- or 10-night options. Pricing varies from USD 240 pp (4-night Tampa to Key West and Ocean Cay) to USD 290 (5-night Tampa to to Key West and Progreso) to USD 300 pp (5-night Tampa to Cozumel and Costa Maya).

Following the inaugural Tampa homeporting season, Armonia offers 7-night roundtrips (May through November 2021) with call ports Key West, Cozumel, Progreso, Ocean Cay. Prices start at USD 300 pp.

Previously, Armonia's cruise program was based on the Caribbean homeports Havana Cuba, Cozumel Mexico and Miami Florida.

• 7-day roundtrip from Havana to Roatan (Honduras), Belize City (Belize), Costa Maya (Mexico), Isla de la Juventud (Cuba)
• 7-day roundtrip from Havana to Montego Bay (Jamaica), George Town (Grand Cayman Island) and Cozumel (Mexico).

Both itineraries were combinable into B2B (14-day back-to-back cruise). In January 2016, MSC Cruises became the industry's first global brand to homeport in Havana. In December 2015, MSC Cruises announced it will further strengthen the company's presence in Cuba by homeporting the second ship in Havana for winter 2016-2017 season. From November 2016, Armonia joined the fleet mate MSC Opera for the entire season. Armonia operated two separate 7-day itineraries, visiting Central America and the Caribbean.

Starting December 2018, MSC Armonia added PortMiami to its list of homeports and to its 8-day Cuban itinerary (with 2 days in Havana / overnight stay). In Miami, Armonia joined the fleetmates MSC Divina and MSC Seaside (2017-built).

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the MSC ship Armonia was paused for 2+ years (between March 2020 and April 2022), restarting operations on April 10 (Mediterranean from Venice, Brindisi, Piraeus-Athens).

The vessel (Chantiers de l’Atlantique yard/hull number V31) has volume 65542 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 8707 tons, max draught 7 m. The powerplant is based on Wartisla marine diesel engines (model 12V38) with combined output 31,68 MW (42480 hp). The registered shipowner is NEWCO ARMONIA SA, while the registered manager is MSC MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING CO.

The MSC liner Armonia was built as "European Vision" for Festival Cruises (2001-2004).

Armonia is MSC's 1st Lirica-class vessel (in the fleet since 2004) with sisterships Lirica, Opera, Sinfonia. In 2014, Armonia was stretched (elongated by 25 m / 82 ft) in) during a drydock refit done at Fincantieri's shipyard in Palermo Sicily. During the August-November 2014 drydock, the vessel was cut in two and a pre-built section was inserted midship.  Ship's reconstruction project was part of MSC's USD 273 million "Renaissance Program", by which besides Armonia were also enlarged the sisterships Lirica, Opera, and Sinfonia.

MSC Armonia refurbishment 2019 review

Ship's last drydock (November 18 through December 8, 2019) was in Freeport Bahamas. By this USD 30 million project were renovated all public areas and staterooms and were done general maintenance works and minor technical upgrades.

MSC Armonia refurbishment 2014 review

Armonia was majorly furbished in 2014 (dry-dock between August 31 and November 17). There are substantial deck plan changes after that since the ship was stretched (elongated by 25 m / 82 ft). The list of refurbishment 2014 changes includes:

• All cruise cabins were renovated and their amenities upgraded.
• A total of 193 new passenger cabins were added (on deck 9-Ametista, 10-Tormalina, 12-Zaffiro), plus 59 new crew cabins.
• New stateroom categories were introduced.
• An Aqua Park (named Spray Park, with waterfalls and interactive slides) was installed.
• All boutique shops were upgraded (new designs), and one new luxury perfumes shop was added.
• The supervised kids' clubs and play areas were upgraded with equipment and toys by Chicco and LEGO.

The 10-week drydock was valued at nearly EUR 50 million.

Cuba cruise itineraries 2016-2017-2019

In December 2015, MSC Cruises announced that during winter 2016-2017 season, Armonia ship's itinerary program will include two 7-day cruises to Cuba with overnight stays in Havana. The itineraries also included the Caribbean ports Costa Maya, Roatan, Belize City, Grand Cayman and Montego Bay (Jamaica). Another visited Cuban port was Isla de la Juventud.

Armonia became MSC's second ship (together with MSC Opera) with scheduled departures out of Cuba. MSC also offers Caribbean fly-cruise deals from Europe (Spain, Italy, France, Germany), also from Canada and South America (Brazil, Argentina).

Starting December 10, 2018, MSC Armonia cruises on 7-day Caribbean roundtrips (from homeport Miami) that visit Havana (overnight / 2-day port stay). Armonia's deployment is year-round. Itinerary's other call ports include Montego Bay, Georgetown, and Cozumel, then Havana (Saturday arrival, Sunday departure), with only one sea day. Balcony cabin prices started at USD 1170 per person (twin-share rates). In Miami, Armonia joined the larger fleet mates Divina (2012-built) and Seaside (2017-built).