View source for MSC Opera

{{Short description|Ship built in 2004}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin |display title=ital}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=MSCOperaArgostoli1.jpg
|Ship caption=MSC ''Opera'' in the port of [[Argostoli]]
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship name=''MSC Opera''
|Ship owner=[[MSC Cruises]]
|Ship operator=MSC Cruises
|Ship registry=[[Panama City]], {{PAN}}
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Chantiers de l'Atlantique]], [[St. Nazaire]], [[France]]
|Ship original cost=
|Ship yard number=
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched=11 September 2003
|Ship completed=
|Ship christened=June 26, 2004 <small>by [[Sophia Loren]] in [[Genoa]]</small><ref name="prnewswire">{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sophia-loren-to-be-godmother-of-new-msc-opera-74994577.html|title=Sophia Loren to be Godmother of New MSC Opera|work=PRNewswire|date=15 Jun 2004|access-date=30 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623225007/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sophia-loren-to-be-godmother-of-new-msc-opera-74994577.html|archive-date=23 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|Ship acquired=
|Ship maiden voyage=June 27, 2004<ref name="prnewswire" />
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
| Ship identification      =*[[Maritime call sign|Call sign]]: H3FV
*{{IMO Number|9250464}}
*[[Maritime Mobile Service Identity|MMSI no.:]] 357627000
|Ship fate=
|Ship status= In service
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class={{sclass|Lirica|cruise ship}}
|Ship tonnage=*{{GT|59,058}}
*{{GT|65,591}} (after renovation)
|Ship displacement=
|Ship length=*{{convert|251.25|m|abbr=on}}
*{{convert|274.9|m|abbr=on}} (after renovation)
|Ship beam=*{{convert|28.8|m|abbr=on}}
*{{convert|32|m|abbr=on}} (after renovation)
|Ship height={{convert|54|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|6.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship depth={{convert|6.6|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship decks=*9 (passengers accessible)
*13 (total)
|Ship deck clearance=
|Ship ramps=
|Ship ice class=
|Ship sail plan=
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=*4 × [[Wärtsilä]] 12V38A
*30,600&nbsp;kW (combined)
|Ship speed={{convert|21.1|kn}}
|Ship capacity=*2,150 (double occupancy)
*2,679 passengers (maximum after renovation)
|Ship crew=728
}}
|}
'''''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 {{ship||MSC Musica}} entered service in 2006.

==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]].<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vQPWEKcDGM |title=Building the World's Biggest Ships - Heavy Lift: Jumboisation - Free Documentary|date=2022-04-15 |type=Television Production |publisher=Quintus Media GmbH |place=Berlin, Germany |people=Crookston, Adrian; Scorza, Alex}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/11113-msc-cruises-renaissance-program-begins-with-laying-out-of-msc-armonias-new-section.html|title=MSC Renaissance Program Begins with Laying Out of Armonia's New Section|first=C. I. N.|last=Staff|date=20 May 2014|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com}}</ref>

==Incidents==
In May 2010, one week after a similar incident on board {{ship||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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2011/may/30cruise-ship-cocaine |title=UK Border Agency &#124; Cruise ship cocaine smugglers jailed |website=www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602193457/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2011/may/30cruise-ship-cocaine |archive-date=2 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna43046563|title=Cruise ship loses power at sea|work=NBC News|date=16 May 2011}}</ref> 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.{{need citation|date=June 2019}} 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 {{convert|18|kg}} of cocaine hidden in bags of chips.<ref>{{cite news|title=Drug Bust on the MSC Opera: Cocaine in Your Cheetos?|author=Jim Walker|website=Cruise Law News|date=2019-03-28|url=https://www.cruiselawnews.com/2019/03/articles/drugs/drug-bust-on-the-msc-opera-cocaine-in-your-cheetos/}}</ref>

On 2 June 2019, the ship [[Collision#Allision|collided]] with the [[wharf|quay]] and a docked river cruise ship moored at the [[San Basilio Pier]] in the [[Giudecca Canal]] in [[Venice, Italy]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lastampa.it/cronaca/2019/06/03/news/nave-da-crociera-fuori-controllo-paura-e-polemiche-a-venezia-1.36538104|title = Nave da crociera fuori controllo, paura e polemiche a Venezia|date = 3 June 2019}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Metro9774386>{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/06/02/least-five-injured-cruise-ship-smashes-dock-venice-9774386/|title=Four injured as cruise ship smashes into dock at Venice|first=Georgia|last=Dibelius|publisher=Associated Newspapers|work=Metro|date=2 June 2019|accessdate=2 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Venice crash captain ordered 'all procedures to avoid impact'|work=BBC News|date=3 June 2019|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48496412|accessdate=3 June 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|IMO 9250464}}
*{{Official website|https://www.msccruises.co.uk/our-cruises/ships/msc-opera}}

{{MSC Ships}}
{{Lirica class}}
{{Mistral class}}
{{Portal bar|Transport}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ships of MSC Cruises|Opera]]
[[Category:Ships built in France]]
[[Category:2003 ships]]