MSC

7 reasons to book a cruise on the MSC Grandiosa

I did my very first cruise with my family when I was 15 years old and something immediately made me love it. I love the idea of falling asleep in one place and wakeup in another the next morning and I love discovering multiple places and countries and just unpacking once. That being said, I was and still am a huge ship geek as well and sailing on these giant ships has always been an experience for me. So when I got the chance to sail on MSCs newest and largest ship, the MSC Grandiosa, I simply couldn’t say no.

The Grandiosa holds true to its name: it is massive! One of the newest shis in the MSC family can accommodate up to 6334 passengers on 19 decks, with 11 restaurants and 20 bars and dozens of activities. I just couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw how huge she is for the first time!

We all know that cruise ships have had a bad rap over the last few years due to their environmental impact. Well, the good news is that MSC Grandiosa has some amazing environmental features. For example, the ship is equipped with a selective catalytic reduction system that helps to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 90%, along with a closed-loop exhaust gas cleaning system that reduces ship sulfur emissions by 97%. All lights onboard are LED and there’s also a pretty amazing water filter system that doesn’t dump grey water in the sea. Furthermore, the ship also plugs into the port electric system to delivers electricity and reduce emissions when docked. I am so glad that a big cruise company such as MSC is moving forward with better environmental features!

So now, let’s talk about 7 reasons you should book a cruise on the Grandiosa.

Activities

You would think that you would find time to explore the whole ship and experience everything it has to offer on a week-long cruise, but you would be wrond. MSC Grandiosa offers so many different activities onboard for those who love adventure, cusine, relaxing… there’s something for everybody. The Grandiosa has its own casino, bowling alley but also an impressive game arcade with VR games and F1 simulators! If you prefer to read a book in a cozy atmosphere, there are plenty of bars and lounges to spend time and, after dinner, there are shows in the 2 theatres, including one by Cirque du Soleil. There is also a spa onboard if you’d like to take relaxing to another level!

Pressing pause

If you like to relax as much as you like to explore during your vacation, you’ll be happy to learn that there are plenty of things to press pause during your cruise! The ship has multiple swimming pools and jacuzzis, both indoors and outdoors, which means that you’ll always be able to relax, no matter the weather! But that’s not all, there’s also a spa on board with plenty of treatments to help you relax a bit more. There’s even a barbershop as well! But to be honest with you, my favorite way to relax was to stare out at the sea on my private balcony. I could hear the waves and enjoy the view without any noise around!

Cabins

Well, let’s start with what I liked the most: our cabin! On previous cruises I did, I almost always had the cheapest guarantee inside cabin which I love don’t get me wrong. They allow me to cruise on budget and in turn cruise more often, buuuuut… that doesn’t mean I would say no to a balbony cabin! When we entered our cabin aboard the Grandiosa, I was immediately blown away by how much light and space we had. Our room was on deck 12, which means that we were high above the sea and that we had a panoramic view of each city we visited, definitely a perk that inside cabins do not have! Our cabin also had a very comfy couch that can turn into a bed if you’re traveling with kids. What struck me the most is that even if space is limited (the max size is 22 square meters), everything has been cleverly designed to maximize space. There’s a good size closet, with plenty of hanging space, but also a very long desk with shelves and drawers to organize everything. Each cabin is also equipped with Zoe, a voice-controlled personal assistant that can answer most of your questions regarding the ship, like restaurant hours or showtimes.

If you prefer a larger or smaller cabin, the options are pretty endless! We visited a suite that had its own jacuzzi but also a duplex suite, with breathtaking views on the sea. If you’re more on a budget, they also have interior cabins & studios that are more affordable.

Luxurious design!

From the glamorous, blinged out Swarovski staircase to the artfully themed Galleria Grandiosa, you will be surrounded by elegance in all design elements on this ship. Perhaps the most stunning example is the almost 90 meters long LED dome that projects a digital sky over the 2-story promenade. Whether you are shopping, dining at one of the specialty restaurants, sipping a cocktail in one of the bars, or socializing and enjoying in some live entertainment, you are sure to love Galleria Grandiosa and the rest of the luxurious touches throughout the ship.

Galleria Grandiosa was probably my favorite area of the ship. There was always something happening in the Galleria and no matter how many times I walked along the promenade I was always in shock that this is actually… on a ship!

Powered by technology

Besides the technology behind the innovative stage productions and LED dome, MSC Grandiosa features the MSC for Me smartphone app. MSC for Me is MSC Cruises’ multi-channel digital program that enables guests to interact with the ship and crew members anytime, in any place, to better serve their needs, save them time and really make the most of their vacation. Key features include a handy app for smartphones, an interactive TV in the stateroom and interactive digital screens around the ship, meaning guests can access information, book services – like specialty restaurants and on board performances – navigate around the ship, and more.

One tech feature which everyone will notice onboard MSC Grandiosa is Zoe, the first virtual cruise assistant, ZOE can speak seven languages, answer hundreds of questions about the cruise and provide information about on-board services, guidance and suggestions or help to book a service.

Dining

Along with the traditional main dining room and buffet, MSC Grandiosa has several specialty venues for cruisers to indulge in various cuisines. Continuing the Mediterranean-influence, MSC Grandiosa is home to Hola Tapas Bar by Michelin-starred chef Ramon Freixa. Cruisers will also find the American-style steakhouse, Butcher’s Cut, serving up prime cuts. Kaito Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar serves up Asian favorites in a lively atmosphere. One new specialty restaurant also made a debut on MSC Grandiosa, L’Atelier Bistrot, a french restaurant whose design was inspired by neo-classical French architecture. An authentic experience all troughout, from cuisine to interior design! Further, those with a sweet tooth will love Jean Philippe’s Crepes, Ice Cream, and Chocolate.

The main dining room and buffet offer a good variety of quality dishes but I would definitely recommend dining in at least one speciality restaurant. They all offer themed dishes and an authentic, unique experiences! Oh, and definitely treat yourself with some Jean Philippe’s Crepes located in the Galleria, they were delicious…!

Entertainment

In addition to nightly live music and six different productions shows in the main theater, MSC Grandiosa also hosts two one of a kind Cirque du Soleil shows. The Carousel Lounge is a circular venue that is custom built to accommodate these theatrical performances. Guests can enjoy a dinner and a show experience. Each of these shows has a unique concept, ambiance, storyline, and costumes. These shows, not found anywhere else in the world, are part of a longstanding partnership with the entertainment leader for a total of eight original shows on MSC Cruises’ Meraviglia class ships. You can also participate in various dance lessons, quizzes and other types of entertainment onboard!

In conclusion, I would highly recommend booking a cruise on Grandiosa or on any of her sister ships (Meraviglia, Bellissima, Virtuosa) These ships have everything you can think of and more. There is always something to do it just depends on what you like! Grandsioa also has an amazing itinerary in the Mediterranean so… what are you waiting for!

I also sailed on Grandiosa’s older sister ship MSC Bellissima, so if you’d like to read more about that experience CLICK HERE and if you have any questions about MSC or Grandiosa or anything really, feel free to send me a message on Instagram, Twitter or just e-mail me!

As always, thank you for reading, Dominik!

6 reasons to book a cruise aboard MSC Bellissima!

27. November 2019.4. January 2020.Dominik | Cruise Ship Paradise1 Comment

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to be on the last Mediterranean cruise of MSC Bellissima before her repositioning to much warmer climates of UAE and ultimately the Far East! I had a wonderful time on this beautiful (Bellissima in Italian means beautiful!) ship and these are my top reasons why you should book a cruise on her!

Luxurious design!

From the glamorous, blinged out Swarovski staircase to the artfully themed Galleria Bellissima, you will be surrounded by elegance in all design elements on this ship. Perhaps the most stunning example is the almost 90 meters long LED dome that projects a digital sky over the 2-story promenade. Whether you are shopping, dining at one of the specialty restaurants, sipping a cocktail in one of the bars, or socializing and enjoying in some live entertainment, you are sure to love Galleria Bellissima and the rest of the luxurious touches throughout the ship.

Galleria Bellissima was probably my favorite area of the ship. There was always something happening in the Galleria and no matter how many times I walked along the promenade I was always in shock that this is actually… on a ship!

Dining

Along with the traditional main dining room and buffet, MSC Bellissima has several specialty venues for cruisers to indulge in various cuisines. Continuing the Mediterranean-influence, MSC Bellissima is home to Hola Tapas Bar by Michelin-starred chef Ramon Freixa. Cruisers will also find the American-style steakhouse, Butcher’s Cut, serving up prime cuts. Kaito Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar serves up Asian favorites in a lively atmosphere. One new specialty restaurant also made a debut on MSC Bellissima, L’Atelier Bistrot, a french restaurant whose design was inspired by neo-classical French architecture. An authentic experience all troughout, from cuisine to interior design! Further, those with a sweet tooth will love Jean Philippe’s Crepes, Ice Cream, and Chocolate.

Entertainment

In addition to nightly live music and six different productions shows in the main theater, MSC Bellissima also hosts two one of a kind Cirque du Soleil shows. The Carousel Lounge is a circular venue that is custom built to accommodate these theatrical performances. Guests can enjoy a dinner and a show experience. Each of these shows has a unique concept, ambiance, storyline, and costumes. These shows, not found anywhere else in the world, are part of a longstanding partnership with the entertainment leader for a total of eight original shows on MSC Cruises’ Meraviglia class ships. You can also participate in various dance lessons, quizzes and other types of entertainment onboard!

Top deck activities

With some of the most deck space per passenger on any modern cruise ship, MSC Bellissima has a lounge chair for every guest. The Atmosphere Pool, centrally located on the pool deck, offers plenty of space for those seeking the sun. The Horizon Pool, located aft on the ship, offers more poolside relaxation and some great views. This area then becomes an outdoor entertainment area by night. The Grand Canyon Pool is an indoor pool with a retractable roof that allows cruisers to still take a dip even if the weather is not cooperating (this pool was really useful on my sailing!). There is even a splash pool for kids to keep everyone in the family entertained. And if you are more of a jacuzzi type person there are plenty of them onboard!

Family friendly

MSC Bellissima offers a diverse range of activities that are fun for cruisers of all ages. The Arizona waterpark features 3 waterslides. Thrillseekers will enjoy the Himalayan bridge, a ropes course suspended high up above the ship that offers a variety of challenges. There is an interactive XD cinema dark ride experience, a full size bowling alley, a flight simulator, F1 racing simulators, and the Sportplex. There are also multiple LEGO-themed activities for kids, including LEGO-designed play rooms. Too bad ships like this didn’t exsist when I was a kid…

Powered by technology

Besides the technology behind the innovative stage productions and LED dome, MSC Bellissima features the MSC for Me smartphone app. MSC for Me is MSC Cruises’ multi-channel digital program that enables guests to interact with the ship and crew members anytime, in any place, to better serve their needs, save them time and really make the most of their vacation. Key features include a handy app for smartphones, an interactive TV in the stateroom and interactive digital screens around the ship, meaning guests can access information, book services – like specialty restaurants and on board performances – navigate around the ship, and more.

One new feature onboard MSC Bellissima is Zoe, the first virtual cruise assistant, ZOE can speak seven languages, answer hundreds of questions about the cruise and provide information about on-board services, guidance and suggestions or help to book a service.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend booking a cruise on Bellissima or on her sister ship Meraviglia that is currently homeporting in Miami! This ship has everything you can think of and more. There is always something to do it just depends on what you like! Bellissima also had an amazing itinerary in the Mediterranean which is now operated by Bellissima’s brand new and bigger sister ship MSC Grandiosa!

If you want to read a full review of my cruise on MSC Bellissima, CLICK HERE and if you have any questions about MSC or Belissima or anything really, feel free to send me a message on Instagram, Twitter or just e-mail me!

As always, thank you for reading, Dominik!

MSC Bellissima – review (2019)

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MSC Bellissima docked in La Seyne-sur-Mer, France!

Hello everyone! I’m back from yet another exciting cruise adventure! This time I was on a 3-night mini cruise out of Genova on MSC Bellissima! This wasn’t my first MSC cruise, but it was my first time on a big MSC ship, like Bellissima. Here are my thoughts on this giant beauty!

About the ship:

MSC Bellissima is a HUGE cruise ship, and no I’m not exaggerating. At 171,598 gross tons and with 15 passengers decks she definitely feels big and spacious. At double occupancy, Bellissima can carry 4.500 guests and around 5.600 with all berths filled. There are also 1.500 crew members that are taking care of you and the ship. MSC Bellissima has a nearly identical, two years older sister ship MSC Meraviglia. They are both newer ships with Meraviglia being delivered in Spring of 2017 and Bellissima in Spring of 2019. She also has a brand new, slightly bigger sister ship MSC Grandiosa, which does have some new features but is still quite similar. Bellissima is still pretty new so all the spaces still have that new, “fresh out of the shipyard” look and smell, even though she spent a whole summer season sailing in the Mediterannean. Her sister ship Meraviglia is currently sailing out of her new winter homeport Miami, Florida and MSC Grandiosa will be doing 7-night cruises in the Mediterranean.

Meraviglia class ships offer so many things to do on-board, it’s honestly hard to do it all on a 7-night itinerary so imagine how busy I was trying to do as much as I can on my 3 night mini-cruise! From a huge Arizona water park to an amazing, thrill packed Sportsplex to the relaxing Aurea spa…. on this ship they have it all. But more about all of that later!

Before every cruise I always read a bunch of reviews and ask my fellow cruisers about the ship I’ll be sailing on. What I really wanted to know about this ship was how crowded does it get, because I never really sailed on a ship of that size so I was slightly worried about crowding. I was positively surprised, I would say that this ship handles crowds pretty well considering it carries five thousand people. With such a huge number of people onboard, of course you can expect some lines during peak hours at the buffet… elevators were also in high demand (I recommend taking the stairs if you can use them) but I never really felt trapped by people! Some areas of the ship definitely get more foot traffic at certain times, but it was never a disorganized chaos like it can be on some ships. And also you can always find a quiet spot somewhere on this ship (places like the Sky lounge on deck 18) which always seems to have a nice and quiet atmosphere. Top decks were usually deserted in the evenings and there are plenty of nice seating areas up there too.

Stateroom

I booked a guaranteed inside cabin for an insanely good price but guess what! I got upgraded to a balcony cabin on Deck 12, mid-ship! Now I don’t know if that’s because I got lucky or because I run a cruise blog in my free time… but either way, I loved it! Location of the cabin was perfect, it was just across the hallway from the mid ship elevators and surprisingly there was no noise from the hallway. This cabin was spacious, in a good condition and pretty functional. The cabin looked contemporary and had everything I needed. I really liked the layout of this cabin and especially the layout of the bathroom, it is not big at all but it’s so functional that it really doesn’t need to be any bigger. The storage space is decent with a closet and drawers under the table, but it could get tight if you’re going on a longer cruise. I don’t usually stay in balcony cabins because, as we all know, they cost more, so I usually opt for more affordable inside cabin. Some people really dislike inside cabins, but to me they’re perfect since I spend most of my time walking around the ship, so even when I have a balcony I don’t really use it all that much… it all depends on what you like and need! On this cruise the weather was definitely not great for using the balcony, but since I had it, I made it my top priority to use it! It was nice to watch sailaways from the balcony, but it would get cold quite quickly so I didn’t spend much time out there. Overall, I really liked my cabin, probably so much so that I’ll never look at my guaranteed inside cabins in the same way again! Ha-ha!

Activities onboard

On the top deck you will find four pools and seven whirlpools. One pool (Grand Canyon pool) is covered by a retractable roof so it can be used pretty much anytime anywhere! Main pool deck on this ship is one of the biggest ones I’ve seen on any ship so far. There are two big pools surrounded by a Baja shelf where awesome, comfy sun beds are located, I would call them prime real estate! Around both pools there is enough space for lounging and sunbathing, there are also pool bars nearby if you fancy a drink by the pool. Since this was a mid-November cruise you can imagine how busy the pools were. The indoor pool was used by some people, but it never got busy and I haven’t seen anyone using outdoor pools… I guess nobody was brave enough!

There is also a huge waterpark at the back of the ship. It is called the Arizona water park and it features three water slides and a big waterpark area with all kinds of water features for young and young at heart cruisers! There is also a ropes course, just aft of the waterpark. This activity is also included in your cruise fare and I never really saw a line for it, but sadly I haven’t had time to do it. Maybe next time!

I was really impressed with the Sportsplex and Leisure Centre on MSC Bellissima, sports complex come night club in the evening, is an incredibly large area. From a basket ball court to football, it can be used for just about anything. If that wasn’t enough the arcade complete with F1 simulation, 3D virtual reality activities and full sized bowling lane is enough to keep any game enthusiast busy. Note, some of these activities incur extra charges.

On-board gym, spa and wellness facilities are pretty big, as they should be for a ship of this size. The gym was never crowded and it is located just a deck above the buffet… I think MSC is trying to say something with that… haha! I haven’t used spa facilities on this ship, but I’ve heard some great reviews of the Aurea spa on all MSC ships!

Dining

MSC Bellissima has 12 different dining venues, including Hola! the tapas bar from 2* Michelin Star chef Ramón Freixa. If tapas are not your thing, you can try Kaito Teppanyaki & Sushi bar, the American Steakhouse Butcher’s Cut or L’atelier Bistrot, the French bistro. Many of these have outside tables with views over Bellissima’s two story indoor promenade, Galleria Bellissima, a great place to people watch.

Galleria Bellissima lined with shops and restaurants

As it was I mini cruise I didn’t have enough time to try many speciality dining options, but I did manage to dine in the Butcher’s Cut and in the Sushi bar. Freshly made Californian rolls with pickled ginger and wasabi were beyond delicious and fillet steak in the Butcher’s Cut was excellent. I would definitely recommend trying at least one speciality restaurant, not only beacuse the food is excellent, but also because each restaurant has a different decor and atmosphere so each night can be a totally different experience! There are some great dining packages on offer that do save you some money so look into that if you’re planning on dining in multiple speciality restaurants.

Oh, and how could I forget the delicious Crepes in the Jean-Philippe Crepes & Gelato shop on the Galleria Bellissima. The Crepes are worth every cent, they were so delicious! There are also many flavors of gelato offered here for around 3 euros a scoop. You can literally smell when this venue is open since the aroma of freshly made crepes spreads all throughout Galleria!

As well as the speciality dining, there are three main restaurants and a fabulous buffet restaurant. I was particularly impressed with the Marketplace buffet. The choice of fruit, cereals, breads and hot food was excellent. I loved the live cooking stations and had a hot breakfast with a freshly cooked omelette on mornings! One MAJOR thing I didn’t like was, there were no donuts for breakfast… if you’re a cruise donut lover like me, prepare to be disappointed. Other than that, I was impressed by the overall quality and variety of the food in the buffet! EDIT: When I came back home from the cruise and posted this review, a person who was on the same cruise contacted me and told me that there were in fact donuts served for breakfast but in the kids section of the buffet… excuse my sobs!

Dinner in the main dining room was good too. I love the way the Italians serve four smaller courses, rather than overload your plate with one large main course. The desserts were particularly good too – I didn’t expect anything less, desserts seem to be good on all Italian ships!

Entertainment

One of the biggest draws are the two Cirque du Soleil shows, that can not be seen anywhere else in the world. MSC built a specific auditorium for it’s Cirque du Soleil shows, with a 360 degree rotating stage and 40 meter long LED screens. Note there is an additional charge for Cirque du Soleil and it needs to be booked in advance. If Cirque du Soleil is not your thing, don’t worry, there are six different Broadway style shows to choose from. There are also 40 hours of live music each day and twenty different bars and lounges to choose from. Many of the bars and lounges are located close to the atrium of the ship, where the dazzling set of Swarovski crystal staircases is located. These are a feature on all newer MSC cruise ships and are considered a symbol of sophistication and a focal point of the ship. There are 96 steps in the main staircase (there are actually 6 Swarovski staircases on board) and each step has a staggering 640 Swarovski crystals! These stairs were ALWAYS busy, everyone wanted that signature Swarovski staircase photo!

During the day you can also participate in various events like dance lessons, quiz and trivia shows, karaoke… there is something for everyone.

Itinerary

On this short cruise we visited Barcelona, Spain and Toulon, France. We were originally supposed to visit Marseille instead of Toulon but due to strong winds we were redirected. I didn’t mind this change since I have more cruises booked that are visiting Marsille (most Mediterranean cruises visit Marseille). Toulon is slightly off the beaten path for large cruise ships and most ships that visit it are much smaller than MSC Bellissima. She is so big that she became the biggest ship to ever dock there. Though keep in mind that the ship does NOT dock in Toulon but in the small city near Toulon called La Seyne-sur-Mer from where you can catch a free shuttle bus or a shuttle boat to Toulon. Rides with both are not long at all, around 10-15 minutes. I would definitely recommend taking the shuttle boat not only because it docks right on the waterfront of Toulon but also because you get beautiful views of your ship as you’re sailing around it to reach Toulon. I really liked this city, as it’s not busy as Marseille and it is known for its fountains, found in many of the small squares, each with a different character. The original system of fountains was built in the late 17th century but most were rebuilt in the 18th or early 19th century. Toulon is also an important centre for naval construction, fishing and winemaking. It is located in Provence after all! All in all, a beautiful city with a lot of charm and I’m really glad I got to visit it!

Barcelona on the other hand is a complete opposite of Toulon. It is a bustling port city and the second largest city in Spain. If you’ve been on a Mediterranean cruise, chances are that you’ve been to Barcelona, it is a major cruise port. At this stop we didn’t have a lot of time, so we decided to take the metro to Sagrada Familia and walk around the city centre. We also strolled trough La Rambla and many surrounding streets lined with many shops, cafes and restaurants. You can visit Barcelona a million times and still see something new each time. I love this city and its metropolitan atmosphere. I can’t wait to go back!

The embarkation and disembarkation port, Genova is a busy port city located on the Gulf of Genoa in the Ligurian Sea, Genova has historically been one of the most important ports on the Mediterranean, it is currently the busiest in Italy! It has been nicknamed la Superba due to its glorious past and impressive landmarks. Genova is also the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. The ship docks right in the city centre so if you have time definitely walk around the city and soak in the history that this place has the offer!

In conclusion, I would have to say that this ship exceeded my expectations. I expected huge crowds, lines and a shopping mall feeling, but in reality there were little to no crowds on-board and even though the ship is huge, it still feels, smells and looks like a ship! Embarkation and disembarkation were really easy and fast which was great since I didn’t have time to waste on this short mini cruise! I left the ship with a full stomach, and many great memories.

In my opinion, MSC offers a great product at reasonable prices. Officers and staff on board are welcoming and are working as hard as they can to ensure that you have the best on-board experience as possible. I’d say that you get your money’s worth no matter what! You can always grab something to eat, there’s always something happening on the ship and the itineraries that Bellissima offers are amazing.

I would not think twice about sailing on another Meraviglia class ship or with MSC in general. I really like what MSC offers, a subtle Italian experience on-board contemporary, state of the art ships!

If you have any questions about MSC Bellissima, MSC or anything in general just hit me up on Instagram or feel free to e-mail me!

Have you sailed on Bellissima or with MSC recently? What are your thoughts?

As always, thank you for reading, Dominik!

Three new ships delivered!

1. November 2019.4. January 2020.Dominik | Cruise Ship ParadiseLeave a comment

October is always a big month for ship deliveries but we rarely get three ships delivered three days in a row! They are all big, beautiful and unique in their own way. With these three giants in the game, cruise industry just got bigger by around 13 thousand berths. Here is a breakdown of what you can expect on each one!

Carnival Panorama

Carnival Panorama will launch year-round service from Long Beach, Calif., on Dec. 11, becoming the line’s first new ship homeported on the West Coast in more than 20 years.

As the name implies, Carnival Panorama reflects design inspiration with more opportunities to connect with the sea. The ship features a number of innovations including the first Sky Zone trampoline park at sea as well as a first-in-fleet culinary studio where guests can participate in hands-on cooking classes, tastings and other food-related activities hosted by the ship’s chefs.

Carnival Panorama also offers a variety of longtime guest favorites such as a massive WaterWorks aqua park, Sky Ride, the popular bike in the sky with breathtaking views, a suspended ropes course and dining venues like Bonsai Teppanyaki and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse with barbecue favorites from Food Network star and longtime Carnival partner Guy Fieri along with craft beers brewed on board.

A wide range of staterooms and suites are available as well, including spa staterooms with exclusive privileges at the luxurious Cloud 9 Spa, extra-spacious staterooms in Family Harbor and tropical-inspired Havana staterooms with access to a Cuban-themed bar and pool.

The third and final Vista-class vessel for Carnival, Carnival Panorama, was delivered by Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, near Venice on Oct. 29th but her inaugural journey will not take place until December and that is beacause Panorama has to make a 40 day long journey from Italy to California! Her journey will last this long because her lifeboat arangment is preventing her from going trough the Panama Canal. During this month long journey, the crew will be making sure that Panorama is prefectly ready for her inaugural cruise out of Long Beach!

Norwegian Encore

Taking the brand’s exclusive, stand-out attractions to the next level, Norwegian Encore features the world’s longest race track at sea at 1,100 feet with four high-speed curves extending up to 13 feet over the side of the ship; the largest outdoor laser tag arena at nearly 10,000 square feet with the addition of augmented reality elements; and new immersive escape room and interactive theatre experiences in the 10,000-square-foot Galaxy Pavilion.

In addition to featuring many of the highly rated restaurants and lounges that have made the Breakaway Plus class one of the most innovative and successful in the company’s history, Norwegian Encore will debut a new elevated Italian dining experience, Onda by Scarpetta, in collaboration with LDV Hospitality. The Tony Award®-winning musical, “Kinky Boots” will headline the world-class entertainment on board, with returning guest favorites “The Choir of Man,” “Happy Hour Prohibition: The Musical” and the rocking Beatles cover band of The Cavern Club.

She was delivered by Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany on Oct. 30th and she is the final Breakaway/plus class ship to be delivered to Norwegian. She is also the biggest ship owned by NCL to date, and it seems like that she will hold that title for quite some time since the next class of ships to be built for Norwegian, Leonardo class, will be slightly smaller than Norwegian Encore. What a fitting name for the final ship in this higly succesfull class that is loved by many!

Launching this November, Norwegian Encore will offer seven-day voyages to the Eastern Caribbean from Miami beginning Nov. 24, 2019; Bermuda, and Canada and New England itineraries from New York City beginning Apr. 22, 2020; voyages to the Western Caribbean from Miami beginning Dec. 12, 2020; and in the spring of 2021 will make her West Coast debut and sail to Alaska from Seattle.

MSC Grandiosa

As MSC Cruises’ most environmentally advanced ship to-date, MSC Grandiosa is equipped with some of the latest cutting-edge environmental technology including a state-of-the-art Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and next-generation Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) system. She has been designed to meet the world’s strictest environmental standards set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). MSC Grandiosa also offers a richness of guest experiences, from world-class entertainment, a wide choice of international dining options, original activities for families, an enhanced MSC Yacht Club to the world’s first virtual cruise personal assistant ZOE.

The new ship offers guests, among other features, two brand new shows from Cirque du Soleil at Sea, created exclusively for MSC Grandiosa guests. This is part of a long-term partnership between MSC Cruises and the world leader in artistic entertainment, Cirque du Soleil that will result in a total of eight original shows available on MSC Cruises’ four Meraviglia generation ships. MSC Grandiosa is the third ship to feature the exclusive entertainment concept. The four other Cirque du Soleil at Sea shows, two for each ship, have already been created for MSC Meraviglia and MSC Bellissima.MSC Grandiosa will showcase an even larger Mediterranean-style promenade, the ground-breaking feature unique to the Meraviglia and Meraviglia-plus prototypes. Serving as the social hub of the ship, the promenade features an array of shops and specialty restaurants as well as a new bar and lounge, L’Atelier Bistrot, which will offer lounge seating with a stage and a dance floor. Impressionist art will also be on display in this space and have “terrace” seating with Parisian Bistrot tables and chairs along the promenade. Throughout the day and the evening, the promenade will host surprise performances, including flash mobs and themed parties as well as awe-inspiring projections on an even longer 323 ft. LED Sky screen.
The industry-leading shipboard digital innovation program, MSC for Me, will allow guests to customize their vacation and enhance their cruise experience. As the Company continues to evolve and innovate the digital offering, guests can expect new features, offering a connected cruise experience to meet their individual needs.

She was delivered to MSC on Oct. 31st. and she will be christened in Hamburg by Sophia Loren in November! If you want to sail on a bigger and better version of Meraviglia or Bellissima this is a ship for you!

What do you think about these 3 new ships? I love them all! The only problem is… I want to try them all! Hopefully I will!

As always, thanks for reading, Dominik!

MSC Preziosa – sharks onboard?!

19. September 2019.4. January 2020.Dominik | Cruise Ship ParadiseLeave a comment

MSC logo being added to the funnel after the ship was acquired by MSC.
Photo by: C. Plague.

Did you know that MSC Preziosa was not originally ordered by MSC? Some of you might already know this, but for those who don’t here is a brief history breakdown of the last Fantasia class vessel!

Back in 2010 a letter of intent was signed between STX France and Libyan state-owned company General National Maritime Transport Corporation (GNMTC), to build one cruise ship similar to MSC Fantasia and Splendida. The fourth son of the late Libyan dictator, Hannibal ordered the ship to entertain guests but the opulent £300 million vessel was still unfinished when his father’s regime was overthrown in 2011.

Hannibal wanted the vessel – which would have been called Phoenicia as a tribute to the ancient civilisation that once ruled most of North Africa – to impress guests with it’s marble colums,statues,luxury fittings and gold- framed mirrors. The ship would have also boasted marble floors, panoramic glass lifts with virtual waterfalls, and glass walkways over the aquarium.

But the main feature of this ship was supposed to be a huge seawater shark tank that was designed to accommodate two sand tiger sharks, two white sharks and two blacktip reef sharks. Now I’m not a shark expert so I have no idea if those sharks mentioned above can co-habitate in a tank but it is a. let’s say, unique take on ship entertainment!

The tank would have run troughout the bar and reception area of the ship. Now that would’ve been a unique atrium centerpiece.

Who would have the honor of feeding and taking care of these sharks? Would it be the Captain you ask! Actually we even got the answer to that, four resident marine experts would have looked after the sharks, with a dedicated food store catering to their needs.

In drawings for the ship, which was halfway through being completed, the glass floors around the shark tank can been seen in the main foyer of the pre-diner bar and at the reception desk.

The builders managed to finish one of the main bar areas to Hannibal’s designs, complete with garish red furnishings, marble flooring and gaudy staircases.

In June 2011, STX France canceled the contract and began looking for a new buyer of the hull. On March 12, 2012, MSC announced it had reached an agreement to buy the ship for 550 million euros with specification to be identical to MSC Divina naming the vessel Preziosa. A year later, the Preziosa was delivered to MSC Cruises. She was christened by her godmother, Sophia Loren in March 2013.

So there you have it, we almost had a cruise ship with sharks onboard, now if that’s a good or a bad thing is on you to decide. Have you sailed on Preziosa and did you know that she had a quite unique and interesting life story?

Thanks for reading, Dominik!

MSC Seashore – more details unveiled!

19. September 2019.4. January 2020.Dominik | Cruise Ship ParadiseLeave a comment

MSC, a company that is experiencing a massive growth held a traditional maritime coin ceremony today at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, when the keel was laid for MSC Seashore. At the milestone event, MSC Cruises revealed details of the significantly transformed overall design and new features of the ship.
MSC Seashore will be the Company’s longest ship – 339 metres – when she enters service in June 2021, the first of two enriched “Seaside Evo” Class ships with the latest available environmental technology, extended public spaces, more cabins and the highest ratio of outdoor space per guest of any ship in the company’s fleet.

MSC Seashore will be fitted, amongst other, with a state-of-the-art Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system and a next-generation Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) system. SCR’s helps reduce nitrogen oxide by 90 per cent through advanced active emissions control technology. Nitrogen oxide from the engine operations is conducted through a catalyst and converts them into nitrogen and water, both harmless compounds. With AWT’s, wastewater undergoes a comprehensive purification process through a very fine filtration process that transforms it to near tap-water quality. The system meets the so-called ‘Baltic Standard’ and treats the wastewater to a higher standard than most waste standards available in cities around the world. The new build will also be fitted with shore-to-ship power which connects cruise ships while at berth to a port’s local power grid to reduce further the ship’s emissions.

These new features add to other effective environmental technologies deployed on MSC Seashore and across the Company’s fleet to minimise and continuously reduce environmental impact, including: cutting-edge hybrid Exhaust Gas Cleaning systems (EGCS) that removes 98 per cent of sulphur oxide from ship emissions; advanced waste management systems; ballast water treatment systems approved by the United States Coast Guard; latest-technology systems for the prevention of oil discharges from machinery spaces and various effective energy-efficiency improvements – from heat recovery systems to LED lighting.

MSC Seashore is based on the ground-breaking “Seaside Class” prototype with a range of breathtaking design features enabling guests to connect with the ocean such as the spectacular Bridge of Sighs, stunning panoramic aft lifts and stylish glass catwalks. More than 40 per cent of the ship has been redesigned and enhanced, making MSC Seashore a significant evolution and improvement of sister ships MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview.
Some of the new enhancements are visible to the naked eye and include the 16-metres extended length of the ship, 200 additional cabins, a larger MSC Yacht Club and an additional double-deck aft lounge. The internal architecture has been completely redesigned with two central meeting points positioned at the middle and forward part of the ship, as well as specific measures to further enhance passenger flows. Overall the ship has 10,000 square metres of additional deck space for an even greater and more spacious onboard experience.
MSC Seashore will offer more suites thanks to the addition of 28 more terraced suites, two suites with private whirlpools and the MSC Yacht Club – the all-inclusive ‘ship within a ship’ premium concept available on MSC Cruises ships – will see two new cabin categories: 41 Deluxe Grand Suites and two Owner’s Suites with whirlpools.
The ship will feature new cabin designs such as cluster cabins for families that link two or three adjoining cabins and can accommodate between six and 10 people, plus bigger and more spacious cabins for guests with a disability – 75 in total – will be available.
Two brand new restaurants will be introduced, including one exclusively for Aurea guests. There will be a new location for the five specialty restaurants to allow for waterfront seating on the ship’s breathtaking boardwalk to give guests a greater sea view as they dine al fresco.
MSC Seashore will have a new double-decker show lounge at the aft part of the ship, a bigger casino and 20 distinct specialty bars. The ship will feature a new design of her aft pool design, an enlarged indoor pool and a new interactive waterpark will provide thrills and spills for guests of all ages. Clubs for young children and teenagers have been separated from a larger kids’ zone.
The ship will provide all her guests with latest customer-centric technology, including ZOE – the world’s first-virtual personal cruise assistant and an MSC Cruises exclusive in every cabin – and MSC for Me.

What do you think about MSC Seashore! So far I’m loving all the changes and I feel like this ship is truly going to be even more amazing than her two sisters, and those are hard to beat!

Thanks for reading, Dominik!

MSC Magnifica – bigger than ever!

10. September 2019.4. January 2020.Dominik | Cruise Ship ParadiseLeave a comment

Have you heard the news!? Today MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately-owned cruise line revealed brand-new itineraries for Summer 2021 sailing from Southampton. The newly refurbished MSC Magnifica will undergo a transformation adding 23 meters to the ship that will deliver an additional 7,000 m2 of added space to the ship. This will result in 215 extra cabins, bringing the total number of balcony cabins to 63% of the overall ship, a new water park, a redesigned kids area, plus additional features such as two new restaurants and a new shopping area. With added 23 meters, the ship will be 317 meters long! She will be even longer than Meraviglia, wonder how that will look like on such a smaller ship! Personally I cannot wait to see it, Magnifica has always been a different sister from the start, with a covered pool area (this feature cannot be found on Musica, Poesia and Orchestra) but this is taking it to another level!

The 24 sailings from Southampton beginning in May and ending in October will see the introduction of cruises ranging from 2 to 14 nights with brand new varied itineraries encompassing Canary Islands & Madeira, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Baltic Capitals. Most of the 24 sailings will begin on a Saturday ensuring guests can make the most of their holiday experience.

“We are delighted to be further enhancing our guest experience and offering brand new itineraries sailing from the UK. We are committed to providing UK guests with the holidays they want, and travel agents with cruises they want to sell. This announcement is the result of the on-going feedback we have received from agents and guests who want to sail with MSC Cruises from Southampton to new destinations. Our goal is always to provide more opportunities for the trade and more choice for the guest. ”
Antonio Paradiso MD MSC Cruises UK & Ireland

This is not the first time MSC Cruises have refurbished and stretched existing ships in the fleet, in 2015 the four much loved Lirica class of ships underwent a significant renovation as part of the €130 million ‘Renaissance project’, to improve facilities and enhance the onboard experience.

Could Magnifica be just the first one to go trough a huge refit? What do you think, Is MSC going to stretch every Musica class ship like they did with Lirica class or not…?

When works are completed, MSC Magnifica will feature two new major and important onboard environmental advances to complement a wide range of existing leading-edge environmental technologies across the company’s entire fleet: a state-of-the-art Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system and next-generation Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) system. SCR technology helps reduce nitrogen oxide into pure nitrogen and water through advanced active emissions control technology. MSC Cruises also took the opportunity to install a state-of-the-art advanced wastewater treatment system on board that meets the highest standards and that purifies used wastewater to near tap-water quality. The system meets the so-called ‘Baltic Standard’ and treats the wastewater to a higher standard than most waste standards available in cities around the world. To help reduce and continuously minimize emissions also while in port, the ship will be able to ‘plug in’ to the local power grid wherever such systems are available at berth.

Cruises will go on sale on the 12th September with prices starting from £149pp on a mini cruise and £549 for a Norwegian fjords cruise. To celebrate the launch of sales MSC Cruises will be offering up to £100 on board credit per cabin depending on the category of cabin booked on all MSC Magnifica EX-UK 2021 sailings. All prices include service charge and taxes. T’s & C’s apply and can be found at www.msccruises.co.uk.

Highlights include a 12-night cruise that calls at three of the Canary Islands – Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote with their fantastic climate, distinctive landscapes and bustling ports the cruise departing early May is perfectly timed to catch the sun. A 14-night Western Mediterranean cruise in August, including popular destinations for UK guests such as Palma de Mallorca and Monte Carlo will be the perfect choice for the family summer holiday. MSC Magnifica will offer four different stunning Norwegian Fjord itineraries and will call at two brand new destinations; Skagen in Denmark renowned for hours of sun and unique light plus Rosendal, Norway, which is the world’s fourth largest fjord.
In addition to new itineraries MSC Magnifica will be back with all the ‘Best of British’ enhancements that were initially showcased on MSC Magnifica in 2018, including favourite’s such as pie & mash, back bacon and sausages available in the buffet and Kettles in cabins with of course Yorkshire Tea, which is back by popular demand.

As always, thank you for reading, Dominik!

MSC Sinfonia – ship visit!

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On August 11th of 2019 I was invited by MSC Cruises to visit one of their older ships, MSC Sinfonia! The visit took place in Split, Croatia, a beautiful city on the Dalmatian coast. A tourist hub for tourists travalling to many Croatian islands. Since I’ve never been on a smaller MSC ship, this was a huge opportunity to check out what MSC offers on their older, smaller ships!

About the ship:

MSC Sinfonia is one of the oldest ships in MSC’s fleet. She started her career as European Stars in 2002. Festival cruises, the company which owned her at the time, went bankrupt in January 2004. European Stars was impounded and laid up in Barcelona on 19th of January 2004. She remained there for several months until she was sold to MSC cruises and was renamed MSC Sinfonia. She also has an older identical sister ship MSC Armonia(European Vision), which shared the same fate as her sister. Sinfonia entered service with MSC in March 2005.

Quick facts:

Class and type:	Lirica class cruise ship
Tonnage:	58,625 GT 65,542 GT (after renovation)
Length:	251.25 m (824.3 ft) 274.9 m (902 ft) (after renovation)
Beam:	28.8 m (94 ft) 32 m (105 ft) (after renovation)
Height:	54 m (177 ft)
Draught:	6.8 m (22 ft 4 in)
Depth:	6.6 m (22 ft)
Decks:	9 (passenger accessible) 13 (total)
Speed:	21.1 knots (39.1 km/h; 24.3 mph)
Capacity:	2,087 passengers (double occupancy) 2,679 passengers (maximum after renovation)
Crew:	721

Time for a visit!

I boarded the ship at approx. 9 AM. The ship was already docked in Split for a couple of hours so many passangers were already off. The boarding was pretty painless, I had to show my visitors pass and proper identification. As soon as you board the ship you enter the main atrium which is not big, but it is a stunner. Atrium covers two decks, decks 5 and 6. At the atrium you will find the reception desk, a bar, a lounge and a beautiful water feature. A cascading water wall which gives the atrium a serene and peacefull vibe. Foward of the atrium is the main theatre which seats around 700 people and this is where the main shows are performed twice a night so everyone has a chance too see them. Have you noticed that newer ships have no water features or fountains that older ships have?

As I continued to explore the ship, I came across many bars and lounges such as Budha piano bar, Sinfonia lounge (which includes a small library with a variety of books in many lanuages), Manhattan bar and of course Shelagh’s House Irish Pub. You can find an Irish pub on every MSC ship! Each bar and lounge is themed beautifully so they are all unique and they are all spread out nicely so they do not get crowded.

Dining onboard

This ship has two main restaurants. First one called II Galeone on Deck 5 and the second one called II Covo on Deck 6. In these restaurants you can eat all 3 included meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) Breakfast and lunch will be served in a buffet style manner.

If you’re NOT the main reastaurant type, don’t worry. MSC Sinfonia has a beautiful buffet on deck 11 called La Terrazza Buffet. Something that I’ve never seen before but heard about was a really helpful Buffet map. It shows you what there is to eat and where is it in the buffet! How helpful, every cruise line should have this! Slightly foward of the buffet on Deck 11 is the Hamburger Paradise and Pizza & Pasta shop which are both also included in your cruise fare and offer fast food type of snacks and pizza. I had a chance to eat breakfast and lunch on this ship, and I must say the food was DELICIOUS. Sometimes I am a picky eater but on this ship there was something for everyone, truly the variety of food was as big as it was on my previous cruise on Costa Venezia, which is a ship many times larger than Sinfonia. If you’re cruising only because of food , then this is the ship for you!

Activities

On deck 11 you can also find two pools and a Doremi spray park which was added after her huge refit in which the ship was lengthend by 25 meters! Foward of the pool area is a small but not lacking spa and a gym with awesome foward facing sea views! On Deck 12 there is not much to talk about other than sun bed spaces and a Pasha club disco, which offers amazing aft views from the dop deck.

The ship also has dedicated children areas which look awesome, themed and sponsored by LEGO, they make me want to be a kid again just to be allowed in those areas! There is also a basketball court on the top deck and a mini golf area.

I love this ship class because it offers open aft public decks. These open decks offer you those amazing wake views we all love.

In conclusion I didn’t know what to expect since Sinfonia is an older ship and was not built for MSC, unlike her newer step-sisters MSC Lirica and Opera. But I was positively surprised by the state of the ship is in and by the ammenities it offers. I would reccomend this ship to anyone who knows what to expect on a cruise ship that is older than a couple of years. No, you will not find go karts or rock climbing walls on this ship. What you will find is a ship full of beautiful spaces to relax in, kick back and watch the world go by! Isn’t that the point of cruising?

This ship really made me wonder what other MSC ships have to offer and what they look like. I will for sure sail with MSC after what I’ve seen, I can only imagine what their bigger ships have to offer!