---

January 23, 2026

How many things have already been seen: cruise ships that, in their first life, carried containers, or ferries that transported not only passengers but also vehicles. In the second half of the 20th century, many cruise ships still came from ocean liner service and were given a second life as pleasure vessels.

There have also been and still are ships delivered to companies different from those that originally ordered them. The reasons can include the bankruptcy of the original client, the shipyard, or both, as in the current case of the Disney Adventure, now nearing entry into service. For MSC Preziosa, however, the story is different and particularly unique.

It was Friday, 4 June 2010. In a brief press release, Libya’s state-owned General National Maritime Transport Company (GNMTC) announced that its “first advisor,” Captain Hannibal Muammar al-Gaddafi, had signed a letter of intent with the STX France Cruise shipyard in Saint-Nazaire for the construction of a 139,400 GT cruise ship with 1,739 cabins, to be delivered in December 2012. The new vessel was intended to resemble MSC Cruises’ Fantasia class, but be larger and accommodate more passengers. On 30 June 2010, Dominique Bussereau, France’s Secretary of State for Transport, confirmed the signing of a formal contract for construction number X32. At that time, STX France Cruise’s order situation was difficult. The disaster of building the Norwegian Epic had only just been overcome with the ship’s delivery. Construction of the future MSC Divina had already begun, although financing was not yet fully secured. Moreover, Saint-Nazaire shipyard was only building the amphibious assault ship Dixmude for the French Navy.

Hannibal al-Gaddafi is the fifth son of Libya’s revolutionary leader and long-time dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi. In 1999 he graduated from the Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science, and in 2003 he obtained his captain’s licence at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport. From 2007 he served as the GNMTC’s “first advisor.” Muammar al-Gaddafi’s regime came to a sudden end during the Arab Spring in 2011, and the despot was killed by rebels on 20 October 2011, after the capital Tripoli had already fallen to the rebels of the National Transitional Council two months earlier. Hannibal al-Gaddafi fled to Algeria. By June 2011, STX France Cruise had already terminated the contract with GNMTC, citing non-payment of instalments as the reason.

The hull was launched on 25 February 2012. A few weeks later, on 13 March 2012, MSC Cruises announced the acquisition of the unfinished ship, which would be delivered in March 2013 under the name MSC Preziosa. In an interview with the Financial Times, Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises, confirmed that GNMTC had wanted to name the ship Phoenicia and that Hannibal al-Gaddafi had planned, among other things, a 210-ton shark aquarium. As a sister ship to MSC Divina, MSC Preziosa was to resemble her in many ways, but there was no longer space for the aquarium.

On 14 March 2013, MSC Preziosa was delivered to MSC Cruises in Saint-Nazaire and placed under the command of Captain Giuliano Bossi, setting course for Genoa. MSC Preziosa has an overall length of 333.33 metres, a beam of 37.92 metres and a gross tonnage of 139,072 GT, slightly below the figure originally planned by GNMTC. Main propulsion is provided by two 16-cylinder Wärtsilä 16V46 diesel engines and three 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 12V46 diesel engines, for a total power output of 71,400 kW. The propulsion system is diesel-electric, with electric motors delivering 43,600 kW, and the cruising speed is 22.3 knots.

The ship has 1,751 cabins, the same number as her sister ship MSC Divina and 12 more than initially planned. Compared with the earlier MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida, which are similar in length and beam, MSC Divina and MSC Preziosa are mainly distinguished by the larger superstructures on decks 8–13 in the aft section, which allow for additional cabins. Overall, MSC Preziosa has 13 passenger decks (from 5 to 18), while – as on all MSC ships – there is no Deck 17, considered unlucky in Italy. Passenger cabins are located on decks 5 and 8–13, with the exclusive MSC Yacht Club suites on decks 15 and 16. As is customary on MSC, there are four so-called “experiences”, which influence, among other things, the range of services included. In Bella cabins it is not possible to choose a specific cabin number, and you must wait almost in line to select your dining time. The Fantastica experience represents the standard offering, with free choice of cabin within differentiated categories, while the Aurea experience is designed for wellness-oriented travellers, with services that vary depending on whether you choose a balcony cabin or a suite. Finally, the exclusive MSC Yacht Club is a “ship within a ship” located on decks 15, 16 and 18, featuring spacious suites and dedicated butler service.

All cabins on MSC Preziosa share the use of dark woods, while the colour scheme varies depending on the category and the cabin’s location on the deck, with dominant tones of blue, red, yellow or purple. With an average surface area of 16 m², even the interior cabins are fairly spacious, while balcony cabins offer approximately 2 m² of additional space, plus the balcony itself. All standard cabins feature the same compact bathroom with a shower cabin (no dancing curtains!), a large mirror, a toilet and sufficiently wide shelves. MSC has created the company’s signature fragrance, Med by MSC, whose products are found in all bathrooms (up to the MSC Yacht Club) and can be purchased on board as room diffusers and other products, so you can take a little of the cruise atmosphere home with you.

The MSC Yacht Club is a “small world of its own” on decks 15–18, accessible only to guests staying there via keycard. It has a private two-deck lobby with concierge service and lounge areas on both levels, a small library and the Top Sail Lounge with a spectacular panoramic view over the bow. Booking a suite always includes the most comprehensive drinks package and, in addition to attentive butler service, several snacks are served throughout the day in the Top Sail Lounge, from breakfast to late-night bites. A private outdoor area with comfortable loungers, tables and chairs, a pool, hot tubs, a bar and a small buffet on Deck 18 completes the offering.

But is something still missing? Yes, indeed: MSC Preziosa is the last ship in the fleet where the MSC Yacht Club restaurant is not part of the “ship within a ship” area. This changed only with the entry into service of MSC Meraviglia in 2017. On MSC Preziosa, however, the Oriental-inspired restaurant La Palmeraie is reserved exclusively for MSC Yacht Club guests: it is located in the opposite part of the ship from the “ship within a ship” area, on Deck 15 aft, and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

With the aforementioned MSC Meraviglia, MSC introduced a new design concept, characterised above all by the use of mirrored surfaces, which make the staircases brighter. MSC Preziosa, on the other hand, is the last ship in the fleet not to adopt this “new look”. At the same time, it is also the last MSC vessel whose entry into service was followed by a multi-year pause – a full four years – before the company launched two new ship classes, Meraviglia and Seaside. Since then, the company’s rapid expansion has continued without interruption and, unlike many other major cruise lines, MSC has not retired older ships even during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current shipbuilding programme includes vessels up to the mid-2030s, with options extending beyond.

Finally, let’s take a brief tour of MSC Preziosa’s public spaces, which cover a total of 27,000 m². In the centre of the ship is the spacious lobby, which extends from Deck 5 to Deck 7 and continues into an atrium with panoramic elevators. Bars for socialising can be found on all three levels. The reception desk is located on Deck 5, while the shore excursions office is one deck above. Some of the onboard shops overlook the lobby on Decks 6 and 7. At the bow is the large Platinum Theatre, which spans three decks and offers 1,645 seats, representing a type of spacious theatre that is now rare on modern ships. For comparison, the World Theatre on MSC World Europa offers almost 500 fewer seats, despite the ship being 55% larger and able to accommodate the same number of additional passengers as MSC Preziosa.

Aft of the lobby is the Golden Lobster Restaurant, the larger of the ship’s two main dining rooms, with 790 seats on Deck 5 and an additional 534 on the gallery one deck above. The second restaurant, called L’Arabesque, is located aft on Deck 6 and can accommodate 740 guests. Moving forward from the lobby on this deck, you reach the Phoenician Plaza, featuring an Oriental touch and, in homage to the name originally planned for MSC Preziosa, Phoenician-style details. At certain times of the day, live music is played here and guests can purchase drinks, pastries and ice cream. Around the plaza there are again several small shops. Between the Phoenician Plaza and the forward Platinum Theatre lies the Millennium Star Casino, covering approximately 1,000 m², with gaming tables and slot machines.

The casino is connected via an open lobby to the El Dorado Piano Bar, located above on Deck 7. With its spacious seating areas, ship-deck style flooring and predominant blue and gold tones, it appears very elegant. Behind the adjacent staircase, towards the aft, are two distinct areas: the Green Sax Bar, with its characteristic glass lamps and colourful illuminated columns in a modern design, occupies the starboard side and is a popular meeting place every evening for fans of contemporary music. On the port side is the Sports Bar, where, in addition to drinks, snacks are served at certain times of the day. For those who don’t want to “put the oars away,” there is a 50 m² bowling alley where guests can try for a strike. The room is decorated with various sports items, in perfect thematic style.

In the rustic Italian tavern style, the wine bar La Locanda is located aft of the lobby. Live music is sometimes played here, and in addition to wines and other beverages, guests can also enjoy pizzas. On the port side is one of MSC Preziosa’s two specialty restaurants, the American steakhouse Butcher’s Cut, with 121 seats, which replaced the former Eataly restaurant. Meals are available à la carte or via a paid three-course fixed menu. Next to Butcher’s Cut, on the starboard side, is the photo gallery, featuring the classic display walls where guests can purchase prints taken by the ship’s photographers. Behind the aft staircase stretches the Safari Lounge with 313 seats. Leopard-print upholstery and carpet, along with columns reminiscent of giraffe necks, create the atmosphere suggested by the name. Small shows can take place in the Safari Lounge, while a large dance floor invites guests to burn off any extra calories gained on board, following the rhythm of live music. On Deck 7 there is also an outdoor promenade, although for most of the route it is hidden by lifeboats and does not form a complete walk around the ship; there are still some open spots where guests can enjoy the sea view.

As already mentioned, six decks are dedicated exclusively to cabins before reaching the next public areas on Deck 14. Forward, extending to the first deck of the staircase, is the MSC Aurea Spa, covering 1,700 m². Here fitness and wellness enthusiasts can find numerous facilities for sports and relaxation: from the whirlpool pool to thermal paths with a sauna, Turkish bath and cold room, to treatment rooms for massages and other therapies. In addition to a fitness center with a forward-facing view, the MSC Aurea Spa also includes a hairdresser and beauty services. Exclusive wellness cocktails are available at the Spa Bar.

La Playa Preciosa is the name of the indoor pool area that spans two decks, located aft. In addition to the pool, which is up to 1.90 meters deep, the whirlpool tubs also invite guests to relax; on the Deck 15 gallery there are also foosball and table tennis tables. The bar offers a special menu with smoothies, shakes and similar drinks, not available elsewhere on the ship. The indoor pool area connects on Deck 14 to the large main pool deck, called the Aqua Park. Those who enjoy lively Mediterranean-style entertainment will find the ideal spot here at certain times of the day. The spacious outdoor area provides plenty of room for numerous sunbeds and seating, partly also for smokers. On the upper deck, Deck 15, sun lovers will also find many loungers. At the rear of the pool deck are the two bars Saphir and Turquoise – at the latter you can also enjoy a delicious ice cream! The entire aft area of Deck 14 is occupied by the buffet restaurants Inca (forward) and Maya (aft), connected to each other. In addition to numerous food and drink stations, there is also a bar. In the front area, excellent pizza is continuously baked and is available almost all day free of charge.

On Deck 15, forward, you’ll find the lower level of the aforementioned MSC Yacht Club, followed by the upper sections of La Playa Preciosa and the Aqua Park. Further aft are the facilities dedicated to younger guests, including Doremiland for children under 12 and the Teen Club I Graffiti for ages 12 to 17. The La Palmeraie restaurant, as mentioned, is reserved exclusively for MSC Yacht Club guests, while the Garden Pool, complete with a bar and sunbeds, is accessible to all in the aft area. Many sunbeds are also available on Deck 16 aft. Near the funnel is the Doremi Castle water park. On the outer decks alongside the funnel, sunbeds can be placed again; on the starboard side, guests can play shuffleboard. Opposite the funnel are the Formula 1 simulator and the 4D cinema. Both are paid attractions, but they can be used at reduced rates with the Fun Pass, which can be booked in advance, along with the Sports Bar bowling alley and the arcade located in front of the Formula 1 simulator.

In the nearly circular structure, next to the arcade called Virtual World, there is a small room called Sky & Stars, which can be used for conferences or meetings for up to 51 people. However, most of the area is occupied by the Galaxy Restaurant and its namesake lounge, offering spectacular panoramic views. As at Butcher’s Cut, à la carte dishes in the Galaxy Restaurant—such as sushi and other oriental specialties—carry an extra charge, although a fixed-price menu is also available. Later in the evening, the Galaxy transforms into a nightclub, though it loses its incredible panoramic view in the process!

The Top 18 Solarium, on the upper level of the circular structure on Deck 18, is an exclusive sun deck reserved for Aurea guests. MSC Yacht Club passengers can also access it with their onboard keycard. Additionally, forward on the same deck is the exclusive area called The One, as previously mentioned. When calculating the space available in public areas per double occupancy, each passenger on MSC Preziosa has 7.71 m². For comparison, on MSC World Europa—currently the largest class in the MSC fleet—that figure is 7.31 m². However, this value does not account for how and when the areas are actually usable, so its significance is limited, similar to the “Passenger Space Ratio” calculated based on gross tonnage.

In general, MSC Preziosa offers generous space, especially on the exterior decks, which are relatively less crowded compared to newer ships. There are also numerous bars and lounges indoors. On a ship with a maximum capacity of 4,345 passengers, it is not uncommon for some areas to feel busy at certain times.

MSC Preziosa will spend the southern summer of 2025/2026 in South America, with cruises departing from Santos (Brazil) and Buenos Aires (Argentina). In April 2026, she will return to year-round operations in Northern Europe and continue sailing from Hamburg at least until October 2027. During the winter season of 2026/2027, however, other ports along the classic “metropolis route” – Rotterdam, Zeebrugge, Le Havre and Southampton – will also be used for embarkation and disembarkation.

Don’t miss the latest news, updates and reviews of MSC Cruises on Cruising Journal, with photos, videos and cruise deals.

Raoul Fiebig

Comments