Berlitz Guide to Cruising

Overview

MSC Poesia is a sister ship to MSC Musica and MSC Orchestra. The ship’s blue funnel has a sleek, swept-back design and carries the MSC logo in gold lettering, and a balanced profile. The hull has large circular porthole-style windows instead of square or rectangular ones. From a technical viewpoint, the ship has a conventional rudders and propellers propulsion system.
The interior layout and passenger flow is quite good with the exception of a couple of points of congestion, typically when the first seating exits the two main dining rooms and passengers on the second seating are waiting to enter. The musically-themed decor has many Italian influences, including clean lines, minimalism in furniture design, and a collection of colors, soft furnishings and fabrics that work well together, although it’s a little more garish than one would expect. Real wood and marble have been used extensively in the interiors, and the high quality reflects the commitment that MSC Cruises has in the vessel’s future.
The focal point of the ship is the main three-deck high lobby, with a water-feature backdrop and a crystal piano on a small stage that appears to float on a pond. Other facilities include a large main show lounge, a nightclub, discotheque, numerous lounges and bars (including a wine bar), library, card room, an internet center, virtual reality center, children’s club, and cigar lounge. A shopping gallery, which includes an electronics store, has an integrated bar and entertainment area that flows through the main lobby so that shopping becomes a city-like environment where you can shop, drink, and be entertained all in one convenient area. Gamblers can find entertainment pleasure in the expansive Casino (with blackjack, poker and roulette games, together with an array of slot machines).
Drinking places include a pub-like venue as well as several comfortable lounges that have live music. On deck, a mini-golf course is on the port side of the funnel, while a walking/jogging track encircles an upper level above the ship’s two swimming pools. The ship is designed to accommodate families with children, who have their own play center, video games room, youth counselors, and activity programs.
Some of the artwork is quite whimsical. And do check out the “restroom with a view” – the men’s/ladies’ toilets adjacent to the Blue Marlin pool deck bar have a great ocean view (you can even watch the passing scenery while sitting on the toilet if you leave the door open).
Although access throughout most of the interior of the ship is very good, anyone who is wheelchair-bound should note that the passenger hallways are a little narrow on some decks for you to pass when housekeeping carts are in place. There is no walk-around open promenade deck.

Ship Facts

Lifestyle: Standard
Cruise Line: MSC Cruises
Former Names: none
Builder: Fincantieri (Italy)
Original Cost: $360 million
Entered Service: Oct 2008
Registry: Panama
Length (ft/m): 963.9/293.8
Beam (ft/m): 105.6/32.2
Draft (ft/m): 26.2/8.0
Propulsion/Propellers: diesel (58,000kW)/2
Passenger Decks: 13
Total Crew: 987
Passengers
(lower beds/all berths): 2,550/3,013
Passenger Space Ratio
(lower beds/all berths): 36.2/30.6
Crew/Passenger Ratio
(lower beds/all berths): 2.6/3.0
Navigation Officers: Italian
Cabins (total): 1,275
Size Range (sq ft/m): 150.6–301.3/
14.0/28.0
Cabins (outside view): 1,000
Cabins (interior/no view): 275
Cabins (for one person): 0
Cabins (with private balcony): 827
Cabins (wheelchair accessible): 17
Cabin Voltage: 110/220 volts
Elevators: 13
Casino (gaming tables): Yes
Slot Machines: Yes
Swimming Pools (outdoors): 2
Swimming Pools (indoors): 0
Whirlpools: 4
Self-Service Launderette: No
Dedicated Cinema/Seats: No
Library: Yes
Classification Society: Bureau Veritas