MSC Cruises
A large, family-friendly ship with tasteful, elegant décor and style
The Ship. MSC Splendida will appeal to young adult couples, solo travelers, and families with children and teens who enjoy big ships with a mix of nationalities, mostly European. Children appreciate Virtual World’s five white-knuckle 4D rides in a 10-seat thrill room. It all feels rather like a European city center, and is full of large and small rooms, nooks and crannies, and places to play in.
A sister ship to MSC Fantasia, MSC Splendida is a stunning ship, and one of the largest ships built for a European cruise company. It is about 33ft (10m) longer than the Eiffel Tower is high, and the propulsion power is the equivalent of 120 Ferraris. There are four swimming pools, one of which can be covered by a glass dome.
The interior includes an exclusive area called the MSC Yacht Club for the occupants of some 99 suites. This ‘club’ includes a Top-Sail Lounge (with butler service, canapés, and bite-sized food items), private sunbathing with an integral dip pool, two hot tubs, and concierge services for making dining reservations, and booking excursions and spa treatments.
If your budget allows, it’s worth paying extra to stay in Yacht Club accommodation. You’ll get silver-tray room service from a butler, a reserved (quieter) section of the Villa Verde Restaurant, and keycard access to a members-only sundeck sanctuary area that includes its own bar and food counters, a small dip pool, two hot tubs, and an open but sheltered lounging deck. It’s a world away from the hustle and bustle of the main pool decks and solarium on the decks below.
The ship’s interior decor is stunning. There are basically two decks full of public lounges and bars (most with live music), and eateries, including a large two-deck-high theater-style showlounge (The Strand), a nightclub/disco (The Aft Lounge), library, card room, an Internet center, virtual-reality center, extensive shopping gallery (that has the feel of a city), and large casino (inhabited by many who can smoke at the bar). The Royal Palm Casino features gaming tables plus an array of slot machines.
The ship is well designed to accommodate families with children. A 15 percent gratuity is added to all drinks/beverage orders.
Niggles include the fact that all the lounges flow into each other, and so the music from each one bleeds into the adjacent room. Note that only Yacht Club-grade occupants are escorted to their cabins by butlers. Men should note that the public restrooms have cubicles (there are no urinals).
Accommodation. Eighty percent of the cabins are outsides, and 95 percent of these have a balcony – the standard balcony cabin is almost 172 sq ft (16 sq m), plus bathroom and balcony. If the budget allows, it’s worth paying extra to stay in one of the 72 ‘suites’ (each 312 sq ft/29 sq m) in the Yacht Club area at the top, front end of the ship.
Spa Suites include unlimited access to the sauna and steam room, a private consultation with the spa doctor, a Balinese massage, a facial relax treatment, and a solarium session.
The Yacht Club has its own serene concierge lounge, small library, and reception desk. A Swarovski glass stairway leads to the Yacht Club suites, and private elevator accesses the Aurea Spa, located one deck below. The lounge has its own galley and dedicated chef.
Dining. La Reggia, the main restaurant spans two decks; it has two seatings for dinner, and open seating for breakfast and lunch. Tables are for two to eight, plus there’s some alcove banquette seating on both the main and balcony levels. A second restaurant, the single-level Villa Verde, is for occupants of suite-grade accommodation and features panoramic windows at the stern of the ship.
MSC Cruises highlights regional Italian cuisine and wines, with menus that feature food from Calabria, Piedmont, Lazio, Puglia, and Sicily. Items that are always available include spaghetti (with a tomato sauce freshly made each day), chicken breast, salmon fillet, and vegetables of the day. All pizza dough is made on board, and risotto is a daily signature item, as is fresh pasta. Several varieties of Italian breads such as bruschetta, focaccia, and panettone are provided. Light ‘always available’ and vegetarian dishes are also provided.
L’Olivo, an Italian/Mediterranean extra-cost, à la carte venue, is located in a smaller, more intimate setting aft, overlooking a small pool and relaxation area. The food is cooked to order, and dining here is a pleasant, less hurried experience. Reservations are required.
Santa Fe is an extra-cost, L-shaped Tex-Mex restaurant with food items cooked to order.
Bora Bora Cafeteria is a large casual self-serve lido buffet-style eatery. It is open 20 hours a day, for breakfast and lunch, and for sit-down, casual, waiter-served dinners each evening.
Extra-cost Lavazza coffees are available in several locations on the ship.
Entertainment. The Strand Theater has plush seating in tiers for as many as 1,700, and good sight lines. Because of the multi-national background of passengers, the shows concentrate on more visual entertainment such as mime, magic, dancing, and acrobatics, and are performed with recorded music – there is no orchestra pit. Live music for dancing and listening to is provided by a number of bands and soloists throughout the ship.
Spa/Fitness. The Aurea Spa (16,000 sq ft/1,485 sq m) has a beauty salon, well-equipped treatment rooms, and a large gymnasium with ocean views. Included is a large thermal suite, and saunas. The decor is welcoming and restful. The spa is run by OceanView. Gratuities to spa staff are at your own discretion. Sports facilities include deck quoits, large tennis/basketball court, mini-golf, and a jogging track.