MSC Cruises upgrades Yacht Club restaurants across Fantasia-class ships

MSC Cruises has begun introducing redesigned MSC Yacht Club restaurants across its Fantasia-class ships as part of a broader programme of refit and refurbishment and upgrades taking place across the fleet.

The updated restaurant concept is already in operation aboard MSC Splendida following the vessel’s recent refurbishment at the Palumbo Malta Shipyard. Similar upgrades will be introduced on the remaining Fantasia-class ships over the next two years as the work progresses across the class.

The project forms part of a wider initiative by the cruise line to modernise onboard facilities while expanding elements of its MSC Yacht Club concept, the company’s private suite complex designed as a “ship-within-a-ship” experience.

The redesigned MSC Yacht Club restaurant introduces a contemporary interior layout intended to create a more intimate dining environment for suite guests.

The design incorporates darker colour palettes, textured materials, and updated lighting schemes, with partitions and vertical design elements intended to create a more structured space while maintaining open sightlines and panoramic sea views.

MSC Splendida is the first vessel to feature the redesigned restaurant following completion of its refurbishment programme. The rollout will continue with upgrades scheduled for MSC Fantasia in December 2026, followed by MSC Divina in April 2027 and MSC Preziosa in February 2028.

Within the MSC Yacht Club complex, the restaurant operates as a private dining venue reserved for guests staying in Yacht Club suites. The space forms part of a broader set of facilities that include a dedicated lounge, sundeck, and other restricted-access venues located within the Yacht Club area.

Guests staying in these suites also have access to concierge and butler services alongside private spaces that are separate from the main areas of the ship. The concept has become a central element of the company’s premium accommodation offering and has gradually been expanded across several ship classes in the fleet.

In addition to the restaurant redesign, the Fantasia-class refurbishment programme includes updated Future Cruise offices, which are used by passengers to book future sailings while onboard.

These offices have been redesigned with additional seating and updated interiors, and are currently available on MSC Divina, MSC Preziosa and MSC Splendida. Similar upgrades are expected to be completed aboard MSC Fantasia later this year.

The refurbishment work reflects the company’s ongoing strategy of updating existing ships while also introducing new vessels. In recent years, MSC Cruises has combined a significant newbuild programme with the gradual modernisation of earlier ships to ensure consistency across the fleet.

The introduction of the redesigned Yacht Club restaurants is also aligned with the expansion of the MSC Yacht Club concept across additional ships. The company recently confirmed that the suite complex will also be added to the four Musica-class vessels as part of future upgrades.

MSC Splendida, the first ship to feature the updated restaurant design, is currently operating Mediterranean itineraries and will deploy to South America later in the year before returning to Europe for a summer programme in 2027.