MSC Armonia

MSC Armonia is a Lirica-class cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises. Originally built in 2001 for the now defunct Festival Cruises as MS European Vision, she has been operating for MSC Cruises since 2004. At 58,600 gross tons, she can accommodate 2,065 passengers in 783 cabins and 760 crew members.^[3]

MSC Armonia

MSC Armonia in Valletta, 2015
History
Panama
Name	2001–2004: European Vision 2004 onwards: MSC Armonia
Owner	2001–2004: Festival Cruises 2004 onwards: MSC Cruises[1]
Operator	2001–2004: Festival Cruises 2004 onwards: MSC Cruises[1]
Port of registry	2001–2004: Genoa,  Italy[1] 2004 onwards: Panama City,  Panama[2]
Builder	Chantiers de l'Atlantique St. Nazaire, France
Yard number	V31[1]
Launched	1 December 2000[1]
Christened	22 June 2001[1]
Acquired	22 June 2001[1]
In service	1 July 2001[1]
Identification	IMO number: 9210141[1] MMSI number: 357281000 Callsign: H8EW
Status	In service
General characteristics (as European Vision)[1]
Class and type	Lirica-class cruise ship
Tonnage	58,174 GT 6,980 DWT
Length	251.25 m (824 ft 4 in)
Beam	28.8 m (94 ft 6 in)
Height	54 m (177 ft 2 in)
Draught	6.8 m (22 ft 4 in)
Installed power	4 × Wärtsilä 12V38 31680 kW (combined)
Speed	20.8 knots (38.5 km/h; 23.9 mph)
Capacity	2,679 passengers
General characteristics (as MSC Armonia)[2]
Class and type	Lirica-class cruise ship
Tonnage	58,625 GT 65,542 GT (after renovation)
Length	251.25 m (824.3 ft) 274.9 m (902 ft) (after renovation)
Beam	28.8 m (94 ft) 32 m (105 ft) (after renovation)
Height	54 m (177 ft)
Draught	6.8 m (22 ft 4 in)
Depth	6.6 m (22 ft)
Decks	9 (passenger accessible) 13 (total)
Speed	21.1 knots (39.1 km/h; 24.3 mph)
Capacity	1,554 passengers (lower berths) 2,087 passengers (all berths) 2,679 passengers (after renovation)
Crew	721
Notes	Otherwise the same as European Vision

History

MSC Armonia as European Vision at Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 2003

As European Vision

As European Vision, she was chartered for the 27th G8 summit (20–22 July 2001) in Genoa, Italy as a secure location to house world leaders. Terrorism fears were high leading up to the 11 September attacks on the World Trade Centre. Al Qaeda was believed to be considering Genoa as a target.^[4] Although the ship was protected by a phalanx of anti-terrorism units including helicopters and missile launchers, U.S. President George W. Bush stayed at a dockside hotel instead.^[5]

As MSC Armonia

MSC Armonia has cruised around the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern Atlantic. On 10 April 2018, MSC Armonia struck a dock at the port in Roatán.^[6] Damage to the ship was minor. After repairs were made to the ship, Honduran Port State Control authorities cleared the ship to continue her journey to Belize.^[6] No injuries to the passengers and crew on board were reported.^[6] The ships' homeport was in Havana until December 2018. She was re-located to Miami, offering cruises to Cuba and, later, to the Caribbean.^[7] In November 2020, she was moved to Tampa, Florida as homeport for the first time and sailed to the Caribbean.^[8]

COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC reported as early as 22 April 2020, that at least one person who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, was symptomatic while on board.^[9]

The COVID-19 pandemic forced fleet redeployments and MSC Armonia was moved to Miami and continued sailing from there through 2021.^[10][11]

On 15 December 2023, a passenger fell overboard and was never found.^[12]