Hi fellow forum folks! Tim and Andy here, blogging live from the beautiful MSC Splendida. We were on a coach down to Heathrow at 1am this morning. We managed to get some sleep on the coach to set us up for the day ahead, and what a wonderful day we have had so far!
The flight to Hamburg with BA was very comfortable. After landing and baggage reclaim we were soon on our way to the port. As the coach drew near to the ship, a huge smile came across our faces. There’s no mistaking the beauty of an MSC ship when you get near her. Even at her impressive and perhaps daunting size of 137,936GT and with berths for 3274 passengers she maintains the beauty of a well-designed ship.
Check-in at Hamburg was quick. We were soon onboard after going through security and the usual check-in. The cabins on MSC are, in my experience, always spotlessly clean. Our balcony cabin was as we’d expected from previous experience on MSC. You wouldn’t believe this ship has now been in service for seven years.
At check-in with MSC, you don’t give your credit card. You need to take your cruise card to an ‘activation point’ which are dotted around the atrium. This has undoubtedly speeded up the check-in process since our first cruise with MSC in April 2014.
Next on our agenda was a well-earned glass of bubbly, to well and truly get our holiday off to a fabulous start. The ‘Allegrisimo’ drinks package which costs just £20 per passenger per day offers a huge list of drinks, with cocktails, branded spirits, draught beer and a choice of two white, two red, one rosé and two types of fizz (a semi dry and an extra dry). As an extra special treat, and based on the generosity of cruise.co.uk we upgraded our package to the premium all inclusive, the champagne has been flowing!!
As it’s still quite early, there hasn’t yet been a great deal of activities going on, but we have had a go in the Formula 1 simulator, which was an amazing experience. I’m not so sure my little Seat Ibiza will agree when I get home if I drive like I did on there!!
At the stern of deck 15 there is the Movida Bar and the Playa Del Sol pool area with two hot tubs - this is a bit of a hidden gem and somewhat of a retreat from the main goings on of the deck 14 pool deck. The service up there is brilliant as there are about ten tables and a couple of waiting staff. It’s a shame it’s been raining today as this is a truly great place to sit.
On that note, it’s time to grab another glass of fizz and listen to the wonderful music in this gorgeous atrium! Tonight we’re dined in the Tex Mex speciality restaurant. It made a nice meal and we had a great laugh with Connie and Jodie from cruise…
One thing we feel MSC really ticks the boxes for us is that there aren’t lots of different restaurants which all attract a cover charge. It’s nice to have a change from the MDR, but it’s also great to not have to think where to dine, make reservations and be stuck in never-ending queues to get a meal.
Cheers! Or as the Italians say, Saluti!
The flight to Hamburg with BA was very comfortable. After landing and baggage reclaim we were soon on our way to the port. As the coach drew near to the ship, a huge smile came across our faces. There’s no mistaking the beauty of an MSC ship when you get near her. Even at her impressive and perhaps daunting size of 137,936GT and with berths for 3274 passengers she maintains the beauty of a well-designed ship.
Check-in at Hamburg was quick. We were soon onboard after going through security and the usual check-in. The cabins on MSC are, in my experience, always spotlessly clean. Our balcony cabin was as we’d expected from previous experience on MSC. You wouldn’t believe this ship has now been in service for seven years.
At check-in with MSC, you don’t give your credit card. You need to take your cruise card to an ‘activation point’ which are dotted around the atrium. This has undoubtedly speeded up the check-in process since our first cruise with MSC in April 2014.
Next on our agenda was a well-earned glass of bubbly, to well and truly get our holiday off to a fabulous start. The ‘Allegrisimo’ drinks package which costs just £20 per passenger per day offers a huge list of drinks, with cocktails, branded spirits, draught beer and a choice of two white, two red, one rosé and two types of fizz (a semi dry and an extra dry). As an extra special treat, and based on the generosity of cruise.co.uk we upgraded our package to the premium all inclusive, the champagne has been flowing!!
As it’s still quite early, there hasn’t yet been a great deal of activities going on, but we have had a go in the Formula 1 simulator, which was an amazing experience. I’m not so sure my little Seat Ibiza will agree when I get home if I drive like I did on there!!
At the stern of deck 15 there is the Movida Bar and the Playa Del Sol pool area with two hot tubs - this is a bit of a hidden gem and somewhat of a retreat from the main goings on of the deck 14 pool deck. The service up there is brilliant as there are about ten tables and a couple of waiting staff. It’s a shame it’s been raining today as this is a truly great place to sit.
On that note, it’s time to grab another glass of fizz and listen to the wonderful music in this gorgeous atrium! Tonight we’re dined in the Tex Mex speciality restaurant. It made a nice meal and we had a great laugh with Connie and Jodie from cruise…
One thing we feel MSC really ticks the boxes for us is that there aren’t lots of different restaurants which all attract a cover charge. It’s nice to have a change from the MDR, but it’s also great to not have to think where to dine, make reservations and be stuck in never-ending queues to get a meal.
Cheers! Or as the Italians say, Saluti!
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