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XVI maltatoday, Sunday, 3 May 2015 This Week A quality experience aboard the MSC Fantasia Claire Xuereb GreCh Having returned from a cruise aboard the MSC Fantasia along the shores of the West Mediterranean, I once again confirmed that cruising is such an exciting experience. MSC Fantasia has once again included Malta in its West Mediter- ranean itinerary after an absence of three years. The MSC flagship is sailing from Malta for 30 con- secutive weeks between April and November of this year, taking its 4,200 passengers to Palma de Mal- lorca, Barcelona, Marseilles, Genoa, Naples and Messina. Who said that only the biggest cruise liners travelled in the Carib- bean? The MSC Fantasia is defi- nitely one of the largest and most elegant ships in the Mediterranean. The interior is simply stunning. The first time I set foot in the foyer I was mesmerized by its golden handrails and sparkling Swarovski crystal stairs. Just being there, while listen- ing to the sweet notes being played on the piano, felt divine. Apart from the exquisite interior design, Fantasia is structured in a very special way since most of its cabins have balconies. The ship has 1,637 cabins including 1,115 rooms with balconies, 91 outside cabins, 283 inside cabins and also different types of suites and cabins purposely designed for people with differ- ent disabilities. The major benefit to a high ratio for verandas is that the more balconies a ship offers, the more affordable they are. It's worth having a room with balcony as it makes the cruising experience more complete. I loved waking up in the morning or coming back in my cabin after an excursion, putting on the white MSC robe and slippers and going out on my quiet private balcony to enjoy the fantastic scenes while relaxing in the sun; it felt luxurious. Authentic Italian cuisine The dining experience on the MSC Fantasia was a very positive experience indeed. I was not only satisfied with the variety of food that there was on the ship but also with the quality of the food itself. Even the pickiest eaters will satisfy their palate with the vast array of food found onboard. People with gluten and lactose intolerance are also taken care of. One of my friends accompanying me on the cruise has intolerance for gluten, so she had a crew member looking after her during meal times and suggesting different options especially designed for her needs. On board the MSC Fantasia there are 5 restaurants: Zanzibar and L'Africana are buffet restaurants where one can indulge and taste whatever meets the eye. Different cuts of meat, fish, chicken, pasta with different kind of sauces, salads, soups, side dishes, antipasti, pizza, hot dogs, chips, different kinds of cheeses, freshly cooked vegetables, fresh fruit, cakes of different kinds are some of the choices available in the buffet restaurants. I liked the ambience there because since they are situated on the top floor of the ship, that is 14 stories high, the view in these restaurants is amazing. Thanks to the large glass windows one can really enjoy the outside surrounds while eating. The two buffet restaurants are open almost all the time. They only close for a very short period of time in order to change the type of food between different meals. While travelling, especially on a ship, food is sacred and I dare say that I was very satisfied with the quality of the food onboard the MSC Fantasia. The variety of the food for breakfast was impressive and the quality of the food, even for the buffet restaurants is worth noting. I was pleasantly surprised to find authentic Italian cheeses like Parmigiano and different meat cuts like spare ribs and fillet steaks. I was very pleased with the fillets of fish and the delicious sauces which accompanied them. Entertainment L'Avanguardia, which is the two deck-high main theatre of the ship, makes its prominence by its size and its facilities. It takes 1,700 guests, it's larger than the MCC's theatre in Malta. MSC Fantasia takes great care to provide an enjoyable show to the people on board. The artists include singers, dancers and acrobats and provide a varied show. To mention a few shows, Zorro features 20 different performers that alternate on stage to provide a taste of the classic story. Parum D'Orient is a dance show with stunning costumes and a lovely choriography that ends with the acrobatic Can- Can. Another show had the tenor Enrico Scotto and Oksana Soloviova singing Italian famous opera pieces like O Sole Mio. Entertainment also comes in the form of live music, provided in most lounges by small musical groups, duets or solo musicians. MSC Fan- tasia provides 10 bars/lounge on the inside and 3 on the outside, all with different and outstanding interior design. Prices on the bar list are always very reasonable. My attention was captured by the speciality bars, for example, Il Cappuccino is the coffee bar par excellence especially suited for particular coffees. La Cantina Toscana specialises in wine tasting; Il Transatlantico is a piano bar; The Sports Bar is surrounded by big screens where one can enjoy American style food while watching a game or singing in a karaoke night. Manhattan bar is for jazz lovers while in Piazza San Giorgio, popular and cheerful music is always being played. L'Insolito lounge was my fa- vourite as it had a lively atmosphere with a spacious dance floor and a live band that played my favourite kind of music. On board the ship there is also the Liquid Disco with DJ Fabio which is situated on the top floor of the ship. The MSC Fantasia has its Casino which features blackjack, poker and roulette games, plus an array of slot machines. The casino is very popu- lar with many people who cannot smoke at the bar. The ship has a li- brary, an internet cafe, a 4D cinema, a Formula 1 simulator, a video game room and a water slide. The ship is designed to accommodate families with children, and kids and teenag- ers have their own separate clubs with activity programs. There is also a basketball, tennis court, football, volleyball, a 235 meters walking track, shuffleboard and squash court. On the top floors there is a gym and a SPA which offers differ- ent kinds of massages. Ongoing activities Activities on the ship are ongoing all the time, from art courses to workshops, yoga, aerobics, ballroom dancing and astronomy classes. The Fantasia has 5 pools, one of which has a retractable roof. This feature gave me a chance to swim although it was still April and temperatures outside were not ideal. On the ship there is a pool especially for kids and also 12 heated Jacuzzis. The deck ar- eas around the pools were magnets for people who like sunbathing. I was particularly happy with the duty free shopping on board. There is a pool shop, a logo shop, a confec- tionary and toy shop, a perfumery, a boutique, one for accessories and handbags and a jewellery shop. All had very reasonable prices, includ- ing the perfumery. I was pleas- antly relieved when I was charged a miserable price for a deodorant. At the Swarovski shop I was surprised by a 30% discount on the jewellery in store which I most promptly took advantage of. Seven days on the MSC Fanta- sia made me realise why cruises are becoming so popular. MSC cruises managed to offer a quality experience at a very competitive price. Now that I was part of it, I can understand how MSC cruises are achieving their well-deserved success. There is something special about the MSC Fantasia. Maybe it's the food, maybe it's the decor, maybe it's the itinerary or the on board entertainment. Maybe it's the ship in itself. I don't know, but it can be a mix of everything, and it works. I just know that I had a very pleasant experience and I was very satisfied with my stay. If I had the chance to do the cruise all over again, I would do it without hesitation as long as it's MSC. HAMILTON TRAVEL (MALTA) are MSC CRUISES exclusive agents in Malta. More information can be obtained on www.hamiltontravel.com.mt. Tel 21241292.