MSC Cruises sails in a special place within the cruise industry. While not yet as well recognized as mainstream brands, MSC Cruises is setting course to becoming a major player in a competitive industry. As one of Europe’s favorite and most popular lines since its founding, MSC has been doing something right to achieve the success it has on the continent. Their secret? Providing a true Mediterranean experience at sea.
The experience aboard a MSC ship is quite unlike any other ship. While many cruise lines tend to tailor their product with a European touch while sailing in the Mediterranean, MSC has built their entire product around the Mediterranean. From the interior design and decorative touches, to the culinary experience and even entertainment: MSC has brought the style, culture, and culinary arts of the Mediterranean from the shore to the sea.
Mediterranean Style
Stepping board an MSC ship is comparable to entering a villa in the Italian countryside. Marble floors meet your feet, beautiful glass and spotless mirrors adorn the walls and ceiling. Gold fixtures accompany silver banisters and a waterfall flows from the high decks of the atrium into a small pool at the bottom. As you continue walking through the ship, you can tell it feels truly “European.” While the ship follows the plans of other ships, it feels truly unique, as if every detail was meticulously thought out over a number of years. It just feels special.
Mediterranean Culture
Depending on where you are sailing with MSC, the languages spoken aboard will vary, but Italian remains the prominent tongue aboard. The dominance of Italian language and culture aboard, combined with the array of international touches, creates an experience not found on many ships today. Onboard an MSC ship, you find yourself naturally immersed in the culture of the Mediterranean. From European staff, activities, fashion, music, and even service, you’ll find yourself not only enjoying a vacation at sea, but learning about the ways other cultures live their lives. It’s a truly special and unique experience that can really only be experienced on an international cruise line such as MSC.
Mediterranean Cuisine
Sailing with MSC offers cruisers one of the most tantalizing and enriching experiences at sea: immersion into the world of true Mediterranean cuisine. As a European cruise line, the culinary arts is an area MSC truly excels. Not only does the line offer some of the most interesting Mediterranean dishes, but almost every single dish is prepared fresh onboard each day. Early in the morning, European chefs warm the ovens, baking thousands of pieces of fresh bread. Elsewhere in the kitchen, fresh pasta is cut and prepared for a number of dishes throughout the day. Lasagna, meatballs, fresh fish, thick steaks, and an endless array of desserts are prepared in preparation for a true Mediterranean style dining experience. Whether your a fan of MSC’s array of fresh pizza pies or their exclusive partnership with Eataly, it’s easy to indulge in the true Mediterranean style of dining, an experience only to be had aboard an MSC ship.
For Europeans, the MSC experience is easily found aboard a wide array of sailings throughout the continent. For those of us from North America, MSC is striving to become our number one choice for a cruise vacation. Throughout this past year, one of MSC’s newest ships, the MSC Divina, has been offering Americans the true Mediterranean experience aboard weekly sailings from Miami to the Caribbean. Over the next few months, the line will continue to offer true Mediterranean style cruising on a number of itineraries from Miami. For those looking for a change in cruising style or want to experience Europe at sea, MSC Cruises offers the true Mediterranean style of cruising.
