The ship was built for year-round cruising in the Mediterranean, so it offers more facilities than other vessels in the fleet, including a 4D cinema, Formula 1 Grand Prix simulator, water-slide and two speciality restaurants. One swimming pool has a retractable sun roof so passengers can take a dip no matter what the weather.

OVERVIEW

MSC Fantasia is the biggest ship MSC Cruises has ever built, but retains the Italian-ness of which the line is so proud by keeping Italian crew in key positions.

You’ll find Italians at reception and in the dining rooms; elsewhere there is a mix of nationalities, but mainly Indians, Filipinos and Indonesians.

The ship was built for year-round cruising in the Mediterranean, so it offers more facilities than other vessels in the fleet, including a 4D cinema, Formula 1 Grand Prix simulator, water-slide and two speciality restaurants. One swimming pool has a retractable sun roof so passengers can take a dip no matter what the weather.

There is also a controlled-access VIP area at the front end of the ship. For a hefty premium, cruisers can book a cabin or suite in the MSC Yacht Club, where they have their own lounge, small swimming pool and private deck space. 

DECK AREA

There are 13 public decks, numbered five to 18 (there is no deck 17), although only 12 run the full length of the ship.

Deck 18 is split fore and aft. The front is the private sun deck for the VIP Yacht Club, the back is a large space of sun deck open to all. Deck 16 is similarly split. There are VIP Yacht Club suites at the front, the disco, 4D cinema, F1 simulator and sports centre at the back.

The forward end of deck 15 is the lower deck of the VIP Yacht Club, housing more cabins and suites, the Top Sail Lounge and the VIP concierge. Outside the Yacht Club, there’s a jogging track around the top of the pool deck. Moving aft, there is a soft play area for small children, the teen club and water slide, the French restaurant and a small pool.

The Aurea Spa and gym is at the forward end of deck 14. Also on this deck you’ll find the covered swimming pool, an aqua park with jets and fountains, a couple of bars and the Zanzibar and L’Africana self-service restaurant.

Decks 13 to eight are devoted to cabins.

Deck seven is filled with bars and lounges. The forward end is the top tier of the three-deck theatre. Moving aft from there, you pass the Transatlantico Bar, the Manhattan Bar, which has a Sports Bar to the side, the Cappuccino coffee bar, La Cantina Toscana, the Tex-Mex speciality restaurant and the L’Insolito Lounge.

The forward end of deck six is the middle tier of the theatre. Moving aft, there is the casino, the Piazza San Giorgio, made to feel like an outdoor square, with shops subtly lining the outside, and the main foyer with the shore excursions desk. From here, silver staircases filled with Swarovski gems lead up to the coffee bar on the next deck.

Aft of the foyer is the top tier of Red Velvet, one of two dining rooms. The second, Il Cerchio d’Oro, is on the same deck but only accessible from the aft stairs on deck seven

Deck five houses the lower tier of the theatre. Moving aft, there are cabins, the reception desk, the internet café and lower level of Red Velvet.

CABINS

There are 1,637 cabins, of which 294 are inside, 85 are outside and 1,248 are outside with balconies. There are 99 cabins and suites in the Yacht Club, 10 without a balcony. A total 43 cabins have disabled access.

Room sizes range from 16.8 square metres for an inside cabin to 52.80 square metres for a Yacht Club suite. Outside cabins are between 18.30 square metres and 21.20 square metres, outside balcony rooms measure 19.30 square metres.

All cabins are equipped with mini bars, safes, flat-screen TVs and showers. Yacht Club cabins come with 24-hour butler service and toiletries. Several have bath tubs.

Outside the Yacht Club, room service breakfast is complimentary; otherwise there is a charge per item ordered.

ENTERTAINMENT

Having a multi-national audience rules out many types of entertainment – a comedian having to translate jokes into five languages would be painful - so expect plenty of musical and acrobatic shows each evening in the theatre L’Avanguardia.

There’s lively dancing each evening in L’Insolito lounge and even more lively in the Liquid Disco, although you have to stay up until nearly midnight before it really gets going.

DINING

There are two dining rooms, Red Velvet and Il Cerchio d’Oro, where dinner is served in two sittings, usually at 19.00 and 20.45. A time to dine and table number will be allocated for the duration of the cruise. Passengers should state their preference at the time of booking.

One of the dining rooms will also be open for breakfast and lunch. This will be indicated on the daily programme.

The self-service restaurant is also open for breakfast and lunch, but closed in the evening.

There are two speciality restaurants – El Sombrero for Tex-Mex-style dining and L’Etoile for French cuisine. Both cost extra – dishes are priced individually and mostly moderate – and reservations are required (although reports are that they are under-used so you might get without one).

La Cantina Toscana wine bar serves food at lunchtime and in the evening. Expect tapas, cold meat platters and foie gras. Food served here is charged as an extra.

SUITABILITY

This is a great ship for young couples on a budget - as long as they avoid the Yacht Club - who want a lively cruise and don’t mind the casual and rather laid-back Italian style and fairly basic service.

Most fellow passengers will be Italians, with sizeable numbers of Germans, Spanish and French, and just a smattering of British. Announcements will be in all languages and paperwork will be provided in English for British passengers.

This is also a good choice for families on a budget with very young children and teenagers as there is a soft play area, ideal for the under fives, and a teen’s disco. Bear in mind that British kids could find it difficult to make friends if they can’t speak at least one other European language.

HINTS & TIPS

Expect two formal nights per seven-night cruise. A dark suit and evening dress will suffice.

Per person gratuities are automatically added to the ship-board bill each day. There is a lower amount for children aged four to 17. The tip is optional and can be lowered or removed.

Complimentary iced water is not provided in the restaurant in the evening. You have to buy bottled water.

Currency switches to US dollars for cruises in the Caribbean, South America and South Africa.

Children under 18 cruise for free if they share a cabin with two adults, but there are still port taxes and gratuities to pay.

Parents can buy a Teen Card, which they load with euros so over-13s have freedom to spend money with their friends.

Smoking is permitted in a lot of public areas inside the ship.

SHIP INFO

• Year Entered Service: 2008
• Onboard Currency: Euro
• Nationality of Crew: Italian officers, international crew
• No. of Crew: 1325
• No. of Passengers: 3274
• Tonnage: 133500
• Passenger/crew ratio: 2.5
• Passenger/space ratio: 40.8

Interested?

For more information on this cruise line, call us today on (028) 3832 3618, arrange a callback or email us.

Alternatively, if you would prefer we are very happy to see you in person at our new Travel Lounge, Lurgan. Visitors are advised to make an appointment with one of our specialist consultants.

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