MSC Grandiosa or Costa Smeralda: A Classic of the Western Mediterranean
Short answer: The Costa Smeralda is a typical Italian cruise in the western Mediterranean, while the MSC Grandiosa is an international ship with an exclusive premium area and the Cirque du Soleil at Sea show, whose itinerary already extends beyond the Mediterranean. Both belong to the latest generation of their respective cruise lines and are designed for mass-market family vacations rather than intimate niche cruises.The MSC Grandiosa is the first ship of the Meraviglia-Plus generation, according to MSC Cruises’ official terminology. It spent its debut season in the western Mediterranean, making weekly stops in Genoa, Civitavecchia, Palermo, Valletta, Barcelona, and Marseille. On board is the MSC Yacht Club, which the company describes as a “ship-within-a-ship” concept: the Top Sail lounge, a private deck with the One Pool Deck, a separate restaurant, and butler service. The evening entertainment program features two Cirque du Soleil at Sea productions, created specifically for this ship.According to the company’s official description, the Costa Smeralda is synonymous with the Italian dolce vita. The heart of the ship is the multi-level Colosseo, featuring regular performances and themed lounge bars, alongside the Piazza di Spagna with its grand staircase leading down to the sea, and towering above it all is the panoramic Volare Skywalk at a height of 65 meters. The dining experience is deliberately Italian in character: the Pummid’Oro pizzeria, the Food LAB culinary school, the Frescobaldi wine bar, the Amarillo gelateria, plus Sushino at Costa and Teppanyaki for variety.This is an important distinction to consider before choosing a cabin. According to the current catalog schedule, the MSC Grandiosa’s one-week Western Mediterranean loops are scheduled through early November 2026, after which the published itinerary for the ship is the Caribbean from Port Canaveral. The Costa Smeralda’s itinerary, on the other hand, remains European. Therefore, if you’re specifically looking for a Mediterranean cruise for a particular week, start by selecting the date rather than the ship.The exact figures are calculated automatically and are always up to date; you can see them in the table below: year built, capacity, number of cruises available, regions, next departure, and lowest price. Next, we’ll compare the ships based on criteria that really matter on vacation.
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