Is bigger better?
That is the burning question! Up until now the cruise ships that I have experienced have been small to mid size – from the tiny Braemar (Fred Olsen) 929 passengers to the largest being the Ventura (P&O) 3192 passengers. In November, I have been invited the attend the launch of a brand new ship the MSC Grandiosa and at a whopping 6300 passenger capacity is nearly twice the size of the largest ship I will have been on!
There is a sister ship to follow in September 2020 called the Virtuosa. At 331 metres long these ships will be able to dock at any port giving a greater range of itineraries.
Both ships will house both a classic and contemporary fine art museum – the first at sea which will exhibit original artworks from around the world. There is also a partnership with the Cirque du Soleil who will perform on board. There will be an 111 metre-long indoor promenade which will house a LED ‘digital sky’ which will display events and views overhead. This will also house bars, restaurants and shops and will be the main hub of these huge ships. There will also be a massive screen 95 metres by 6 metres displaying yet more events.
Other Meraviglia facilities carried over to Meraviglia Plus ships include:
• Family group ‘cluster cabins’, where up to three cabins can be joined so larger families can stay together.
• Outdoor water park
• Double-deck indoor amusement park
• Double-deck entertainment space and aft lounge
• Up-to-the minute wristband technology that enables passengers to book restaurants and spa treatments, make payments and even keep track of their children with geo-locate software.
• VIP MSC Yacht Club featuring a solarium, lounge, restaurants and duplex suites.
Like the Meraviglia, both Meraviglia Plus ships are designed to maximize efficiency and are water emission free. They also feature scrubber technology, which neutralizes carbon dioxide emissions.
Ask me when I’m back in mid-November if I think ‘bigger is best’!
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Hello there! I have worked in the wonderful travel industry for longer than I care to think about (more than 25 years) how on earth did that go so fast? I have spent the past 5 years specializing in both ocean and river cruising and I have a real passion…
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If you can afford Yacht Club then, with the ability to disappear into its exclusive haven, it makes these ships the best of both worlds.
Doing so is our favourite way to cruise (Meraviglia twice).
The main 2-deck high by 100m long promenade on these ships is absolutely superb.
Whether they are so good vs smaller ships for those 95% always in the main part of the ship, I would be less able to say ?