MSC Fantasia Part three – the luscious bars!!

The bars on board are more than a place to get a drink. They are the social hub and meeting places of many people before excursions, dinner, shows or for a bed time tipple.

Below is my quick guide to the bars on the Fantasia.

Ll Transatlantico
This is the Piano Bar on board, well every ship must have one! The lighting here was very understated and it did feel as if it has a more formal vibe to it compared to some of the other bars. It is located on deck 7 and it’s closeness to the Theatre made it a popular choice pre or post entertainment. Also the spiral stair case down the centre of the bar leads directly down through the middle of the ship to the main reception so it proved to be a popular place due to the ease of goi ng from deck to deck without having to go in those pesky lifts.

ll Cappuccino
This bar was very popular in the morning as it had a small self service area of the bar filled with pastries so if you fancied a light, quick breakfast this was the to go place. The tables are very limited here and many times we found ourselves having to share a table with some other travellers, but that did not bother us. It is however not an oasis of calm. It is located in the main throughfare with shops right beside it and the theatre at one end of the ship with the restaurant at the other. Not a place to go for a quiet chat.

Le Vele
This is the bar located right at the main reception on deck 6. Just like a normal foyer bar at a hotel it is ‘the’ place to people watch. It only seats about 90 people so again tables and seats are like gold dust and well worth hovering about trying to get one.

Fantasia Bar
This bar is probably going to be the first one you see when embarking on the ship and located on deck 6 it is the perfect meeting place pre or post excursion. Again going along with the theme of the other bars on board it is small and intimate but this one felt a lot quieter and you could really have a relaxing drink here.

Manhattan Bar
This became our main meeting point. With neon colours, fantastic drinks and lively music it soon became the main hub of pre-dinner drinks for a lot of the guests. The bar staff were friendly, waiters nice if not a tad slow in bringing the drinks but as we were in holidays vibe and enjoying the tunes we didn’t let it frustrate us too much.

Cigar lounge
This was the smokers oasis so no where that I visited. The bar is surounded by glass, obviously to keep the smoke in, and those travelling with us that smoked loved it and the comfy environment that they could partake a smoke and a drink in.

Casino
This was loud, loud loud and honest to god the smell of smoke would choke you as you battles your way through here to get to the shows. Smoking is allowed here and if you are easily offended with people smoking continuously like Marge Simpsons sisters then this is most definitely not the place for you.

Pool bars
There are 4 different pool bars located around the ship. One at the main pool (Bar delle Fontaine), one at the heated covered pool (l Tropici Bar), one at the Aqua park (the Glass Bar) and one at the zen pool at the very aft of the ship (Gaudi Bar). All serve all day long but be prepared to wait for your drinks. No matter if we waited at the bar or ordered from the waitress we waited 15-20 everytime we ordered a drink so don’t wait til your gasping would be my tip.

The Sports Bar
Just off the Manhattan Bar is the door to the Sports Bar. During the day all types of sports are live here. They also have a small 10 pin bowling lane ( a cost of around 5 euro per game applies). With a full bar and a speciality snack food menu (fee applies for items ordered here) it is the place to go to catch up with all that is going on in the sporting world. At night it turns into the ships karoke bar so enter at your peril!!

Last but not least was my favourite area of the ship, Piazza San Giorgio. This relaxing, cool square is like an oasis in the desert. Due to its location, just off the casino and in the main duty free shopping area, you could be forgiven for thinking it would be loud and horrible but you could not be more wrong. With the gentle sounds of the water running from the two fountains there to the gentle music being played in the back ground we were transported to a square in Italy. With the roof painted in a sky scene with tinkly lights for stars it could have come across as tacky but it didn’t. They have a full bar menu here and the majority of it is covered by the ships drinks package. The pastries where to die for and at supplements only starting from 80 cents they did not break the bank and were so tasty. The ice cream served here is also covered in the drinks package so it was lovely to pop down here in the afternoon to cool off. At night they had two singers down here and the atmosphere was relaxing and enjoyable. The best feature on the ship by far.