Line Detail

Mediterranean Shipping Company, a privately owned company with a longstanding history on the seas headed by captain Gianluigi Aponte, entered the cruise industry in 1988. After acquiring the Starlauro, a prestigious shipping company, and executing a total renewal and re-launch, MSC Cruises was officially born.

MSC Cruises combines a deep heritage at sea with an enthusiastic, young and motivated management team to present a company philosophy of "Innovation = Tradition". MSC Cruises uniquely blends maritime traditions, culture and famous Mediterranean cuisine to deliver the ultimate cruise experience while displaying a real commitment to the finest hospitality afloat. In essence, MSC Cruises has made true Italian service the heart of its business and its key point of differentiation in the cruise industry.

Cruise the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean gave birth to the Renaissance, the great cultural, intellectual, artistic, scientific and spiritual explosion whose energy lit all Europe and ended a thousand years of dark ages.
Whether you are dreaming of unwinding on sun-baked beaches or contemplating art in Museums, our Mediterranean itineraries will transport you to the hidden corners of history, culture and nature. Sprawling beaches, rustic villages, ancient ruins and sophisticated cities are just some of the infinite possibilities revealed.
MSC cruises offers a choice of excursions to satisfy both your Body & Mind. Optional half day and full day trips may include a walking tour through Capri, a cable car ride over Funchal, shopping in Barcelona, catamarans in Palma de Mallarco or a theatrical show in Odessa. Remote beaches and opulent palaces, modest fishing towns and glamorous international jetsetters are just some of the possibilities available to you during an MSC cruise.

Dining

From breakfast in the morning to the midnight buffet, there are several dining options available on board. Have brunch delivered to the privacy of your stateroom, enjoy a casual outdoor lunch by the pool from the grill or pizzeria and sample a variety of snacks during the afternoon and evening.

Dinner is always a special occasion, the Italian meal itself is an art form! Traditional Italian cuisine is home cooking, la cucina casalinga, amateur cooking, from amare, cooking with love. Like our warm service, the spirit of our cuisine is always hospitable.

During our renowned seven-course dinner menu, experience the zest of flavours and gaiety of colours from an authentic Mediterranean cucina garlic, olives, basil, red pepper and tomatoes in our traditional family recipes. Our well-trained dining staff serves regional specialties creatively prepared from scratch by our chefs as well as classic favourites.

Wine connoisseurs will savour the selections or cap dinner off with a cappuccino or espresso. Afterwards, dessert! From Italian treats of tiramisu and cannolis to your favourite cakes, pastries and tarts! If you are celebrating a special occasion like a birthday, retirement, honeymoon or anniversary, do it with classic operatic drama: a cake, some bubbly and an Italian serenade.

Health & Medical Requirements

Please check with your doctor, or your travel agent, which vaccinations or medications are recommended for the countries you are visiting, Information can also be obtained from the Department of Health.
Pregnant women up to 27 weeks at the time of embarkation must obtain a medical certificate from their doctors confirming the fitness to travel. Pregnant women of 27 weeks or more are unable to travel with us. Every ship carries a doctor and medical personnel who are able to treat ailments and injuries short of those requiring major surgery. Passengers should not expect facilities onboard to be comparative to a hospital. The company also makes no representations regarding the quality of the medical treatment at any port of call or at any place where the passenger may have landed. The quality of medical assistance and treatment will vary at every port of call. Charges may be made on board for medical services. The company recommends that each traveller has taken out there own insurance.

Leisure & Entertainment

What to do, what to do? Each day brings different activities. Sleep in or wake up early. Stroll around the deck or run on the jogging track. Get refreshed with a swim or relaxed in the whirlpool. Work out at the gym or try out one of the aerobic and step classes offered on board. Join in a game of cards, table tennis or shuffleboard or play a game of tennis or volleyball. The library is stocked with books for your perusal. Our cinema features recently released and classic movies. There is the Internet Cafe to email friends and family with updates throughout your journey, duty-free shopping boutiques, a video arcade and a card room or you can enjoy the simple pleasure of lounging on a deck chair under the warmth of the sun sipping tropical drinks.

After dinner, let MSC Cruises entertain you. The lounges have bands playing music for all tastes from pianists and string quartets to pop, rock and oldies. Many of our nightly shows have an accent of the Mediterranean, vivid Flamenco dancers from Spain or historical glances back to Old Europe.

Next, it's time for Vegas. We'll keep your glass filled as you test your luck with poker, roulette or blackjack in the casino. After a visit to the midnight buffet for a late-night snack, have one more dance or slip away to the privacy of your stateroom with the promise of another perfect day ahead.

Life on Board - Pampering

Pampering is all about choices. Have a healthy or hearty breakfast. Lounge around the deck leisurely or hit the courts competitively. Take advantage of our spa services to get completely revitalized, restored and refreshed.

For the body...
Maintain your regular fitness program. Our fitness coordinators will gladly show you around the jogging track, the swimming pools and guide you through the workout room’s free weights, treadmills, stationary bikes and other strength and endurance equipment. Our fitness programs, led by certified instructors, have a daily schedule of classes such as aerobics, stretch and yoga as well as toning classes that zone in on specific spots including the mind.

Get the full beauty treatment with a haircut or manicure & pedicure from our salon. Dig a little deeper with muscle and mind-melting massages to relax from top to bottom. Purify and balance your skin with intensive complexion-cleansing facials that exfoliate, extract and hydrate. Sink into the jacuzzi or slip into the sauna or step into the steam room for a few minutes to help dissolve any tension that remains.

For the mind.
Stimulate your intellect with our enrichment-at-sea programs. You do not need to be on land to make discoveries and learn something new on a cruise. From Italian language lessons to guest lectures on a variety of topics, computer program or Internet lessons to cooking classes, we offer a host of educational and informational seminars and classes. We have guest lecturers on board every cruise, experts in various industries, respected historians, academics, artists, writers and musicians. The discussion might be on foreign films, art history, architecture, design, literature, health, current events or food and wine. Our educational programs are challenging, instructive and take place in any student's dream classroom setting.

Life on Board - Spa & Health

On board the MSC Opera and MSC Lirica, you'll find fluffy towels and plush robes for the steam room and sauna, delicate flower petals and warm lighting in your massage room and all new, state-of-the-art fitness equipment in the gym. Right near the luxurious private spa treatment rooms, there is a relaxation and meditation area surrounded by glass overlooking the open ocean. Furnished with small teak beds and located on the top deck of the ship, it is the perfect place for some quiet time to rest and rejuvenate.

Our beauty treatments blend the best of ancient and modern practices incorporating elements of natural minerals, healing salts and aromatherapy to modern methods such as electronic stimulation. Our health centre offers specialized treatments targeted for various purposes including anti-wrinkle facial treatments, firming and exfoliating all-over body treatments and several types of massage incorporating shiatsu, reflexology and sports therapy. Our salon offers the full range of services from cuts and colouring to make-up application and waxing.

Other information

+Currency
The currency on board is the Euro, we have a cashless society on board that means that you sign for the drinks and bar purchases. At the end of the cruise an itemised bill may be settled with Visa and Mastercard credit cards. All accounts will be settled in the morning before the cruise finishes.

+What to wear
Lightweight, loose fitting clothing is ideal in the daytime. Be sure to bring headcovering too. For informal evenings, we recommend summary dresses for women and a lightweight jacket for men. For those with few formal evenings, cocktail dresses for the ladies and a lightweight suit or even dinner jacket for men.

+Tipping
It is customary to tip staff on board that have given you good service, and we recommend as a guide that you set a side around £6 per passenger per day.

+Special diets
Passengers requiring special diets must advise us at the time of the booking. Full details of your request should be included on the booking form. Descriptions such as vegetarian are not sufficient, The company will endeavour but does not guarantee to meet any special diet requirements or special requests you may have

+Baggage
Free airline baggage allowance is usually 20kg per person on scheduled flights and 15kg per person on charters or 'no frills' airlines but passengers are advised to check the baggage allowance on the airline ticket.

+ Visa & Passports
All passengers must be in possession of a full passport, valid for the entire period of the cruise holiday. British citizens are covered by a group visa on all cruises contained. British subjects and other nationalities must check visa requirements with their travel agent or the appropriate authority.

+Children Fares
There are inclusive fares for children under 12 years, these fares only apply when two or more adults are accommodated in the same cabin. NB. Child fares do not apply on certain categories.

+Restaurant sittings & Meal times
There are usually two sittings for meals. Tables may be reserved after boarding with the Maitre d'. Please indicate on the booking form first or second sitting & table size. Whilst we will try to accommodate your seating requirements, please note that this is not a guarantee or a contractual term. Buffet breakfast is also served on deck or Continental breakfast may be taken in your cabin between 7am and 9am. Lunch is served in the restaurant and more informality on deck. Meal times may vary to accommodate shore excursions, and times will be published in the Daily Programme, The dining room is non-smoking.

+Cruise rates include
Cruise rates include the accommodation you have a selected; economy class return flights as shown; port & airport taxes; all meals on board - breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and on occasions, a midnight buffet; a well planned programme of activities during sea days and entertainment every evening; free use of other on board facilities, like the library, pool, whirlpools etc; transfers where detailed in the cruise itinerary.

+Cruise rates exclude
Cruise rates exclude transportation to and from designated UK airport; on board ship and items of a personal nature such as tea and coffee in lounges, drinks from the bar and laundry etc.; shore excursions and any item not specifically mentioned in the brochures as being included.

The Pleasure of Leisure

Sleep in or wake up early. Stroll around the deck or run the jogging track. Get refreshed with a swim or relax in a whirlpool. Work out in the gym or stretch out underneath the warm Mediterranean sun whilst sipping a tropical drink overlooking the sea - the choice is yours.
Experience the Italian meal, an art form in itself. A zest of flavours and gaiety of colours from around the Mediterranean will have you coming back for more. From pasta dishes and fresh fish to filet mignon and prime rib we pride ourselves on our warm hospitable service.

After dinner let MSC entertain you. The lounges have bands playing music for all tastes and ages, from pianists and string quartets to pop, rock and oldies. Many of our nightly shows have a Mediterranean accent, vivid flamenco dancing from Spain or historical glances back to 'Old Europe'. On other nights you may be transported back to glimpses of a New York Broadway show. If live shows are not your thing then perhaps catch up with a movie, chance your luck in the casino playing poker, roulette or blackjack or just relax in one of the many bars.
Visit the midnight buffet for a late snack, dance the night away in one of the after hours clubs or perhaps retire early with the promise of another perfect day ahead.