Ashley KosciolekLooking for a new cruise option from Florida? MSC Cruises’ MSC Grandiosa, the first ship in the line’s Meraviglia Plus Class, is about to relocate from the Mediterranean to the United States East Coast. It will run voyages from Port Canaveral near Orlando, starting in November.
Here’s all you need to know about the ship, which offers the same elegant ambiance, fun entertainment and reasonable pricing as other vessels in the MSC fleet.
1. It will be sailing Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries.
Joining MSC Seashore as the second MSC ship to cruise from Port Canaveral, MSC Grandiosa will offer a series of three- and four-night voyages to the Bahamas and seven- to 14-night sailings to the Eastern and Western Caribbean through April 2026 and again starting in November 2026.
Ports on Bahamas sailings include Nassau and the line’s private island Ocean Cay. Longer sailings to the Caribbean feature both of those Bahamian ports, as well as calls on Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamiaca’s Montego Bay and San Juan in Puerto Rico.
2. It’s big but not the biggest.
At 6,334 passengers and 181,541 gross registered tons, MSC Grandiosa is huge, but it’s far from the largest ship at sea. In terms of tonnage (or interior volume), the ship ties with sister ship MSC Virtuosa for fourth-largest in MSC’s fleet. As for where it ranks worldwide, it doesn’t even crack the top 10 for tonnage or passenger count.
However, it’s still large enough to offer 19 decks, four pools, nine hot tubs, a small water park, 10 restaurants and nearly two dozen bars and lounges. Passengers will also find a massive indoor promenade, kids club, a spa and fitness center, and a theater for nightly shows, as well as a creperie and gelato counter and a chocolate shop where travelers can watch edible art created right in front of them.
3. You’ll pay extra for a lot.
Although MSC’s cruise fares are some of the least expensive in the industry, you largely get what you pay for. When you book, if you’re not in the MSC Yacht Club (the ship’s exclusive suite enclave), you’ll have to choose one of three experience packages.
If you book the most restrictive Bella package, expect to pay extra for most things, including drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities. You also won’t have control over your cabin placement or the dining time to which you’re assigned. Booking a slightly higher-tiered package can help with this.
However, even if you buy one of the most inclusive packages, you’ll still have to shell out for specialty dining and games and experiences in the vessel’s sprawling Deck 16 arcade complex. Specialty coffee, gelato and chocolate from the onboard Jean-Philippe outposts also cost extra.
4. Food is best in the for-fee restaurants.
Speaking of specialty dining, that’s where you’ll find the best food, hands down. Items in the ship’s five main dining rooms are hit-or-miss in terms of quality. It’s clear that dishes are mass-produced, and hot items often arrive lukewarm. Pacing can be a problem, too.
Overcrowding is an issue in both the main dining rooms and the ship’s Marketplace Restaurant buffet. Tables in the former are placed so close together that you might as well be dining with several dozen tablemates. In the latter, lines are chaotic, and finding a table is a struggle during peak times.
The only exception is the Yacht Club Restaurant, an upscale dining room that’s open only to passengers booked in Yacht Club suites. For everyone else, there are the alternative eateries, which come with a fee but deliver exceptional cuisine, ranging from steak and Mexican to French and Asian. There are some a la carte options, but passengers generally pay a flat fee for a set number of courses. Dining packages of two, three or four meals can offer savings.
5. Entertainment is a strong suit.
Although the ship was largely limited to nonverbal entertainment when it sailed in the Mediterranean – an effort to accommodate the many languages spoken onboard – when the vessel repositions to the U.S., it will offer additional acts beyond standard song-and-dance numbers. (Although you’ll still see some of that, too, along with jaw-dropping acrobatics, juggling and more.)
Expect magicians, comedians and musical performers to be added to the mix, further diversifying the nighttime show selections.
For a nominal added fee, cruisers on MSC Grandiosa can attend shows in the ship’s Carousel Lounge. The fee includes a welcome drink, as well as truly impressive and immersive entertainment by the ship’s specialty performance cast. They include acrobats, jugglers, aerialists and more.
6. You’ll need the mobile app.
If you’re someone who likes to disconnect when they sail, know that MSC relies heavily on its mobile app, MSC for Me, to deliver a proper onboard experience. Passengers no longer receive daily paper schedules in their rooms. Instead, they must access them on their cabin TVs, on digital screens in elevator banks or on their mobile devices. If you’re not in the Yacht Club, you might have trouble obtaining paper copies, as guest services personnel are loath to give them out.
The same is true for paper account statements, which are no longer delivered on paper. Additionally, the app allows cruisers to check in for their sailings, make dining and shore excursion reservations once they’re onboard, see bar and restaurant hours, and send messages to fellow passengers – even if they don’t buy a Wi-Fi package.
7. Expect lines and bottlenecks.
Despite the fact that MSC Grandiosa’s interior design is aesthetically pleasing, it’s definitely a case of form over function in some areas. Various hallways come to dead ends, due to the placement of galleys and other crew spaces. That means you have to head up or down a couple of decks, over and back down in order to reach your destination.
In other areas – like the Infinity Atrium, one of the ship’s main thoroughfares, which rises up through Decks 5, 6 and 7 – furniture at nearby bars or lounges is placed so close to the walking pathways that it creates bottlenecks. It’s especially bad during busy times, such as embarkation or after a theater show finishes. It also happens in the buffet and in front of the theater entrance prior to the doors opening for showtime.
8. There are several pool options.
Unlike many other ships of similar size, MSC Grandiosa has a decent amount of onboard pool space, and it’s spread out. The main Atmosphere Pool on Deck 15 is often the most crowded with people swimming, sunbathing and simply reserving sun loungers. If you can’t find a spot or the weather is poor, head forward to the Deck 15 Safari Pool. The area is a solarium that also features hot tubs and a retractable roof that’s closed if there’s rain.
Want to escape the kids? Make your way to the Horizon Pool, all the way aft on Deck 16, for a sunny adults-only space that also has a bar, loungers and a couple of hot tubs.
And, finally, the MSC Yacht Club Pool and sun deck area are open exclusively to travelers staying in the ship’s Yacht Club suites. It’s also where they can grab private alfresco buffet breakfast and lunch each day.
9. Adults-only spaces exist.
We already mentioned the Horizon Pool area, but if you’re not a water baby, aren’t working on your tan or just want a quiet space to grab a drink, read or take in the views without children, you won’t want to miss the Sky Lounge on Deck 18, midship. It looks out over the main pool area below and offers a relaxing ambiance, sometimes accompanied by live piano music.
If you’re into cigars, don’t blink, or you might miss the adjacent cigar lounge. It’s hidden and doesn’t appear on the ship’s deck plans, so be sure to ask a crew member if you can’t find it. It’s a quiet space for cigar smoking, and cruisers can purchase cigars and cognac during select hours.
10. The indoor promenade is the place to be.
MSC Grandiosa’s indoor promenade, Galleria Grandiosa, is the place to be, especially at night. The two-story space on Decks 6 and 7 is flanked on both sides by bars, restaurants and shops. It’s also where you’ll find the ship’s specialty eateries, the onboard chocolate cafe and gelateria, and the Grandiosa Bar, which often houses trivia, live music and dancing.
Look up to take in fun, brightly colored graphics – and occasionally even shows – on the promenade’s digital screen, which runs the full length of the space’s ceiling. The screen will change to fit theme nights or parties and kids activities frequently held in the area.
Bottom Line
MSC Grandiosa is relocating to Port Canaveral, offering another option for passengers wishing to sail from the Sunshine State. What you can expect are sailings to the Bahamas and Caribbean, ranging from three days to two weeks.
The line has some of the lowest fares in the cruise industry, making it an affordable choice for almost anyone. However, know that you’ll pay extra for many add-ons if you opt for the least expensive (read: least inclusive) package.
In terms of what needs work, consider steering clear of the included dining in favor of specialty restaurant fare. Also do your best to avoid the buffet during the busiest hours. Where the ship excels is in its added-fee fare, entertainment options, pools, indoor promenade and adults-only spaces. Its indoor basketball court and gaming area are super fun, too.
If nothing else, download the app, brace yourself to wait in line for everything from embarkation to theater entry, and you’ll be all set for a cruise on this elegant ship.
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