MSC Orchestra — Deck Plans, Live Tracker, Dining & Videos

MSC Orchestra is the second ship of MSC Cruises' Musica Class, delivered on 30 April 2007 at Saint-Nazaire by Aker Yards France and christened on 14 May 2007 in Civitavecchia by Sophia Loren, with Maestro Ennio Morricone conducting at the ceremony. She measures 92,409 gross tons and 293.8 metres in length, carries 2,550 guests at double occupancy (3,060 maximum) across 1,275 cabins with a crew of 1,054, and flies the Panamanian flag from Colón. In 2026 she sails Western Mediterranean itineraries from Civitavecchia (Rome); in early 2027 she enters a Q1 drydock to receive a new MSC Yacht Club enclave, returning to service on 13 March 2027 from Bari.

Key Facts

  • Cruise Line: MSC Cruises
  • Class: Musica Class (sisters MSC Musica, MSC Poesia, MSC Magnifica)
  • Year: 2007
  • Tonnage: 92,409 GT
  • Guests: 2,550 (double) / 3,060 (max)
  • Crew: 1,054
  • IMO: 9320099
  • Delivered: 30 April 2007, Saint-Nazaire (Aker Yards France, hull R32)
  • Godmother: Sophia Loren (14 May 2007, Civitavecchia — ceremony with Ennio Morricone)
  • Cabins: 1,275
  • Length × Beam: 293.8 m × 32.2 m
  • Registry: Panama (Colón)

Quick Answer: MSC Orchestra (92,409 GT, 2,550 double / 3,060 max, 1,054 crew, delivered 2007) is the second Musica Class ship — sisters MSC Musica, MSC Poesia, and MSC Magnifica. She carries two main dining rooms (Villa Borghese and L'Ibiscus), two separate buffets (La Piazzetta and Four Seasons), a single Asian Restaurant specialty, the two-deck Covent Garden Theatre, the Palm Beach Casino, and the MSC Aurea Spa. Western Mediterranean summer 2026; Q1 2027 Yacht Club refit, then Eastern Mediterranean from Bari starting 13 March 2027.

Who She's For: Mediterranean cruisers drawn to classical Italian interiors and a mid-size ship with a manageable 2,550-guest scale, Rome-based travellers who want a summer 2026 Western Med sailing from Civitavecchia, and suite-experience cruisers eyeing her new MSC Yacht Club coming in a Q1 2027 refit. Good pick for guests who prefer a traditional atrium-centric layout over newer LED-dome promenade ships. Not for guests expecting Cirque du Soleil at Sea, waterslides, or a fully-built Yacht Club right now — the enclave installs in early 2027.

MSC Orchestra is the second of four Musica Class ships — MSC Musica (2006, first-in-class), MSC Poesia (2008), and MSC Magnifica (2010) complete the class. All four were built at Saint-Nazaire in the yard that went through Alstom → Aker Yards → STX France ownership (Orchestra delivered under Aker Yards France in April 2007). Each sister uses unique MDR names — Orchestra's Villa Borghese and L'Ibiscus are distinct from Musica's L'Oleandro and Belle Époque and Magnifica's L'Edera and Quattro Venti. Orchestra's main theatre is the two-deck Covent Garden Theatre (named after London's opera house), her casino is Palm Beach, and her late-night venue is the R32 Disco on Deck 14 — where the "R32" is a reference to her builder hull number. MSC announced in February 2026 that Orchestra will receive an MSC Yacht Club enclave in a Q1 2027 refit, completing the Yacht Club rollout across the Musica class after sister ships MSC Magnifica (2025 refit) and MSC Poesia (early-2026 refit) received theirs first.

A First Look at MSC Orchestra

MSC Orchestra exterior view
Photo: gabry.92g via Flickr
Msc Orchestra cruise ship
Photo: Andy Maguire via Flickr (CC BY)
MSC Orchestra bow at Porto Genova with name lettering visible and a small fishing boat in foreground
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
MSC Orchestra alongside at Porto Genova with broadside profile and MSC funnel logo visible
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
MSC Orchestra broadside at Istanbul viewed from the Bosphorus
Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Dining on MSC Orchestra → Browse All

MSC Cruises • Musica Class

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Key Facts About MSC Orchestra

MSC Orchestra Deck Plans

MSC Orchestra's 16-deck layout runs from Deck 5 up through the Top 16 Solarium. Deck 5 holds the Villa Borghese MDR; Deck 6 is the main public-room axis with the L'Ibiscus MDR, the five themed bars, and the lower Covent Garden Theatre. Deck 7 adds the Asian Restaurant specialty, The Shaker Lounge, La Cantinella Wine Bar, La Cubana Cigar Room, and the Palm Beach Casino. Deck 13 is the pool deck with La Piazzetta and Four Seasons buffets, the Barracuda and El Sombrero outdoor bars, and the MSC Aurea Spa. Deck 14 carries the R32 Disco; Deck 16 has the Top 16 Exclusive Solarium for Aurea Experience guests. The Q1 2027 refit will add a new MSC Yacht Club enclave on the forward upper decks.

Generic cruise ship deck layout overview
Simplified deck layout overview

Where Is MSC Orchestra Right Now?

See MSC Orchestra's current position, speed, heading, and next port on the live AIS tracker below.

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Frequently Asked Questions About MSC Orchestra

What dining options are on MSC Orchestra?

MSC Orchestra has two main dining rooms — Villa Borghese Ristorante (Deck 5) and L'Ibiscus Ristorante (Deck 6) — plus two separate buffets on Deck 13: La Piazzetta Buffet and Four Seasons Buffet. The single specialty restaurant on MSC's current official ship map is the Asian Restaurant on Deck 7 (formerly branded Shanghai Chinese — the Shanghai name has been removed from the current deck plan). Older third-party guides may still list a "Kaito Sushi Bar" or "Il Galeone" on Orchestra; neither appears on MSC's current deck plan PDF. See the Dining section above for the full list.

Which ships are in the same class as MSC Orchestra?

MSC Orchestra is the second ship of the Musica Class, together with MSC Musica (2006, first-in-class), MSC Poesia (2008), and MSC Magnifica (2010) — four ships total. All four were built at Saint-Nazaire through the yard's Alstom → Aker Yards → STX France ownership transitions. Orchestra was delivered under Aker Yards France branding in April 2007 (hull number R32). Each sister uses unique MDR and theatre names — Orchestra's Villa Borghese and L'Ibiscus distinguish her from Musica's L'Oleandro + Belle Époque and Magnifica's L'Edera + Quattro Venti.

Does MSC Orchestra have the MSC Yacht Club?

Not yet. The MSC Yacht Club ship-within-a-ship concept debuted on MSC Fantasia in 2008 and was never original equipment on the Musica-class ships. MSC Cruises announced in February 2026 that Orchestra will receive a new MSC Yacht Club enclave in a Q1 2027 refit, with the ship returning to service on 13 March 2027 from Bari for a rescheduled Eastern Mediterranean programme through 24 April 2027. The refit is planned to add a forward-upper-deck enclave with Top Sail Lounge, Yacht Club restaurant, private sundeck with hot tubs, a grill restaurant, and 24-hour butler service. Sister ships MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia received their Yacht Club enclaves in earlier refits (late 2025 and early 2026).

Where does MSC Orchestra sail in 2026-2027?

In spring and summer 2026 MSC Orchestra sails 7-night Western Mediterranean round-trips from Civitavecchia (Rome), calling at Valencia, Cagliari, Livorno, Marseille, and Palma de Mallorca. In early 2027 she enters a Q1 drydock for the new MSC Yacht Club installation. She returns to service on 13 March 2027 from Bari, running Eastern Mediterranean cruises through 24 April 2027. She is not currently deployed to South Africa — her most recent Durban season was winter 2021-22.

Who christened MSC Orchestra?

MSC Orchestra was christened on 14 May 2007 in Civitavecchia, Italy by Sophia Loren — MSC Cruises' long-standing godmother and her fourth MSC ship ceremony. The christening featured Maestro Ennio Morricone conducting at the ceremony. She was delivered by Aker Yards France at Saint-Nazaire on 30 April 2007 (hull R32). She is registered in Panama (Colón) and carries IMO number 9320099.

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