My Poetic Week Aboard MSC Poesia

with Nina Slawek

The MSC Poesia

Has a great pizzeria

Every day I did munch

And quaffed down with punch

Slices of margherita with carciofi

So good

They should give it a trophy

Or at least a plaque

Thin crispy crust dusted with flour, perfectly melted cheese, light tomato sauce, topped with slices of fresh artichoke. Biting into that pizza after first boarding the MSC Poesia, I relaxed, knowing I was in the company of the few mortals who can truly master a pizza oven. Things would be fine.

I’m not a big cruiser. The idea of those fat hulls crashing through however many cubic tonnes of salt water, powerful currents and wavy waves is not comforting to me. However, learning that MSC has the youngest fleet out there, with the most advanced technology, was very reassuring.

Come 2:00 am, as I gyrated in the disco, I seemed to have long forgotten about my watery worries. In fact, by day three, I pretty much knew the names of most waiters and bartenders, the maitre D, the entertainment crew and the sommelier. Things were ship shape in the ‘Ciao, Nina!’ department. And every night, as my husband will attest, the rocking of the ship lulled me into a snuffling stupor.

So, what is MSC all about? It’s easier to start with what it is not. It is not a plastic affair. I never had the feeling I was being sold the prefab fun pack on the pool deck at 3:00 pm. The Italian G.O.’s are spontaneous, engaging and don’t take themselves seriously. There wasn’t a woman of a certain age who wasn’t made to feel young on the dance floor in the skilled arms of these bon vivants. Silly games, dance lessons and the crowning of Mr. Italia all felt like the time spent at the cottage with a group of intimate friends.

The main dining rooms serve continental cuisine with an Italian flair. The best risotto I’ve ever had was aboard the Poesia – a tricky feat when serving thousands of guests. The six course a la carte dinner in L’Obelisco was nothing short of stupendous. The only downside is that the large room, which doubles as part of the buffet during the day, lacked the intimacy I might have liked for a tête-a-tête.

Musical entertainment was on par with any cruise ship’s casual lounge setting. The theatre offered a varied program of music and variety shows which were very well received – particularly the Puccini opera night.

For Canadian guests, the European ambiance resonates particularly well. Passengers are from a wide variety of backgrounds, languages and cultures, but the two things everyone had in common was a genuine interest in the destinations and a relaxed, friendly attitude. The only posing took place on the karaoke stage where would-be crooners belted out the favourite cruising tunes.

Of course, the highlight of every day was a steam and sauna at the Aurea spa. And since those treats are gratis for all guests, I felt free to offer myself the occasional Balinese massage or facial rejuvenation treatment. Pricing while in port was hard to resist.

The itinerary we enjoyed was the newest addition to MSC’s offerings, the New England cruise from NYC to YQB. As a Canadian, sailing to picturesque Prince Edward Island or along Newfoundland’s majestic fjords was a proud moment. And judging from the crowds snapping pics from the deck, we weren’t the only ones enjoying the view.

This itinerary was also the perfect fit for Porter’s service to both port cities. As a Toronto downtowner, flying in and out of the line-up free city centre was not only painless, we took full advantage of cappuccinos and ginger cookies as a holiday kick off meal! Both flights were on time, onboard service tip top, and the proffered glass of wine most welcome. All in all, a very relaxing holiday.

Some things to note regarding an MSC cruise:

• Very few PA announcements: This is a godsend for those of us with sensitive eardrums.
• Cleanliness: This ship would make Mr. Clean proud. Shining, polishing, scrubbing goes on day and night. So much so, the line received a 100% public health rating from the Canadian Health Board. Apparently that doesn’t happen very often.
• Smoking: It is allowed in certain open areas of the ship. For smokers, this is heaven. For non-smokers, one can occasionally detect the smell, but it is not intrusive.
• Kids: MSC has very attractive family pricing. Children 11 and under sail free on all cruises. And on certain itineraries, even children up to 17 sail free.
• Commissions: MSC pays commission on advance purchases for transfers, spa packages and shore excursions.

 

The MSC Cruises Fleet

MSC Cruises fleet of 11 ships carry 1.2 million million passengers per year. MSC Cruises is a leader in the Mediterranean cruise market, sailing in the region throughout the year, as well as offering a wide range of seasonal itineraries in Northern Europe, Transatlantic, the Caribbean, Canada/New England, South America, the Indian Ocean, South and West Africa. The company is entirely European-owned. It employs 12,000 staff around the world and has offices in 42 countries.