Reviews & Ratings for the Msc-Opera

MSC Cruises has announced the cancellation of three repositioning 'Grand Voyage' sailings scheduled for April, originating from South Africa and the UAE towards Europe, due to escalating security risks in the Red Sea. The company has cited ongoing attacks on merchant vessels in the area as the driving factor behind the decision to scrap these itineraries. The affected sailings include the 'MSC Splendida' on a 24-night journey from Durban to Genoa, the 'MSC Opera' with a 21-night route from Dubai to Genoa, and the 'MSC Virtuosa,' which was set for a 23-night voyage from Dubai to Southampton, UK. Unfortunately, MSC Cruises reported that there were no feasible alternative routes available that would ensure passenger safety. Therefore, the three vessels will now direct sail to their European destinations without any passengers on board, strategically avoiding the Red Sea by circumnavigating around the Cape of Good Hope and along the west coast of Africa. All travelers previously booked on these Grand Voyages have been, or are in the process of being, directly contacted or reached out to through their travel agents. They have the option to transfer their booking to a future Grand Voyage of a similar duration at no extra cost. Alternatively, passengers can choose to rebook any other cruise offered in MSC's extensive global network, with either a partial refund or an additional charge for price differences, or opt for a complete reimbursement without any cancellation fees.

In a significant legal development following the tragic incident involving the 'MSC Opera' in Venice on June 2, 2019, Captain Carmine Siviero has been sentenced to five months in prison. This decision comes after the vessel collided with the river cruise ship 'River Countess' and a pier while navigating through the Giudecca Canal, resulting in substantial damage and injuries to four individuals on board. Alongside Captain Siviero, other crew members have also faced penalties: the chief engineer and chief electrician each received two-month sentences, while two additional crew members were handed ten-day sentences. The Italian court found that several missteps by the crew contributed to the accident, although MSC Cruises has attributed the blame to the shipyard, Chantiers de l’Atlantique. During the incident, a critical warning signal regarding a malfunction in the main switchboard was present on the 'MSC Opera's' surveillance monitors prior to entering the lagoon. This malfunction impacted the power supply to the bridge and the propulsion system control. Unfortunately, the technical officer and the chief engineer overlooked this warning, opting not to resolve the issue by simply toggling two switches. Instead, they relied on an emergency power supply that ultimately failed just before the allision. Due to this power failure, the 'MSC Opera' was rendered unable to maneuver effectively, leading to its ill-fated collision with the 'River Countess' at the San Basilio cruise terminal, where it scraped along the pier. Eyewitness reports indicated that some passengers managed to escape to safety as chaos unfolded. Moreover, it was revealed that the 'MSC Opera' was slightly exceeding the speed limit at the time of the incident, traveling at 6 knots instead of the permitted 5.8 knots, a violation further adding to the complications of the case. Throughout the trial, MSC Cruises acknowledged the technical issues but maintained that the alarm system had failed to display the crucial warning at the time, limiting the crew's ability to respond effectively. This failure, they argued, was ultimately a fault of the shipyard. In a twist of fate, the captains of the operating tugs, 'Ivonne C' and 'Angelina C', were cleared of any wrongdoing, with experts affirming their efforts to avert further damage. Additional crew members initially suspected, including the officer on watch and co-navigator, were also exonerated. It is important to note that while the trial focused on the criminal negligence aspects of the incident, the involved parties have already settled damage claims with their respective insurance companies.

A recent investigation into the June 2, 2019 allision involving the 'MSC Opera' and the 'River Countess' in the picturesque city of Venice has attributed the incident to the captain's lack of competence. The report, provided by three experts from the Italian navy to the public prosecutor, emphasizes that the crew of the 'MSC Opera' was not adequately trained for emergencies. During the incident, the vessel was operating under its own power when it made a left turn into the Giudecca Canal and experienced a steering failure. Although this critical information was communicated to the bridge crew, the captain did not relay it to the pilots who boarded shortly after the malfunction. Moreover, the captain neglected to engage the emergency system designed to halt the engines immediately, which rendered the tugs ineffective in redirecting the vessel’s path. This negligence resulted in the hawser of one tug snapping. Thankfully, the 'MSC Opera' made contact with the riverbank at an angle, which minimized the impact force. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper training and immediate communication in maritime operations.