Is there a typical MSC traveller?

I must admit I have never considered an MSC cruise, however recently I have seen all the tempting images and am seriously now really interested.

MSC are the Med experts of the cruise world and offer passengers a relaxed voyage of discovery with their distinctive Mediterranean flair. Despite having one of the youngest fleets at sea – with twelve ships that have an average age of only five years – MSC have a grand heritage and knowledge of sailing.

Their cruises formally started in Naples in 1995 and have grown rapidly into one of the world’s largest cruising lines – The Mediterranean Shipping Company (get the name now?). MSC was created by the Aponte family, who have been transporting goods on ships for over 300 years.

With a fleet of twelve ships sailing to seventy two countries and two hundred and nine ports of call, MSC offer cruises of between two and thirty three nights at sea.

Embodying the spirit of the Mediterranean has meant that their cruises allow passengers to relax and enjoy a laid back experience with all the added luxuries and entertainment options that make your cruise the holiday of a life time.

MSC cruises are ideal for holiday makers who want to experience the culture of the Med, whether this be families, couples or singles. They aim to give passengers holiday memories to treasure by delivering a voyage they won’t forget.

If pampering is your thing then try out the Aurea class of accommodation which offers spa privileges and peace of mind. If you crave exclusivity then try the MSC Yacht Club.

Their décor is modern and stylish, with features like glass fronted lifts, floor to ceiling windows for a panoramic ocean view and the use of Italian marble, leaving you feeling like you are in a modern hotel. If cleanliness is important to you than you’ll be pleased to know that out of all the major cruise lines they are also known as the cleanest, thanks to their high staff to passenger ratio.

MSC Yacht Club

Sit back, relax and get away from it all with MSC Yacht Club.

If ultra-luxury and exclusivity is what you’re after then the MSC Yacht Club on-board Fantasia class ships will suit you! This select area caters to only a small number of luxurious suites, giving you an indulgent, extravagant voyage. You can have the intimate small ship experience, whilst enjoying all the amenities of a large ship.

Other great features of this class of accommodation include a private butler service. Your butler can unpack and re-pack your suitcase for you, change your towels twice a day, shine your shoes, deliver your favourite newspaper, give you priority check-in and out as well as serving you afternoon tea every day! You can even get your butler to open the tax & duty free shopping facilities out of hours, allowing you to shop at your own pace in a quiet environment.

In short – you’ll be treated like royalty! You can also create your own shore-excursions and explore without the rest of the passengers, as well as enjoying priority debarkation.

A private lift will take you down to the MSC Aurea Spa where you will have discounted treatments and a private Thermal Suite area. Your dedicated concierge service can make your spa reservations for you and there is also a private library.

MSC Yacht Club provides gourmet restaurants only available to their guests, allowing you to dine in style and comfort at any time you choose. The One Bar is a private bar, similarly only available to Yacht Club, for the ultimate intimate experience! The Top Sail Lounge additionally offers a panoramic view of the sea in style with breakfasts, buffets and lunches and waiter service available.

Suite amenities include superior mattresses, fine sheets of Egyptian cotton, a pillow menu a marble bathroom, plasma TV, ample mini bar, available laptops and a games console.

Entertainment

There is plenty of entertainment aboard MSC to keep you busy and don’t think that MSC will only have shows and entertainment in Italian because this isn’t the case! All entertainment will cater to English speaking guests and many shows will be non-lingual and focus on spectacle to accommodate a variety of nationalities. It’ll be a feast for the eyes; think of shows like Cirque de Soleil where language isn’t necessary!

MSC ships boast many cutting edge technologies such as a Formula 1 simulator (letting you be Lewis Hamilton for the afternoon), a 4D cinema (showing the latest blockbusters) and a bowling alley.

If you’re feeling active  (or need to work off some of that delicious cruise food you had the day before) then you can get involved in basketball, football, table tennis, tennis and volleyball. Fitness and sports equipment is there for you to use so why not try your hand at squash, mini golf or table football? Lessons are available for aerobics, Zumba and Aquagym and there are, of course, full state of the art gym facilities on-board.

Sun and fun worshippers will appreciate the choice of up to 5 swimming pools, adult only solarium with retractable roof (on MSC Fantasia class ships) and the longest single body waterslide at sea (available on MSC Prezosia.)

So hopefully will be posting another blog later this year with my own spin on MSC, what are your thoughts? Have you travelled with MSC?