A Theatre and a Half, Atlantic City at Sea and Little Italy!

MSC Cruises are a bit like Marmite, you either love them or you loath them, but isn’t this the same with all cruise lines? As I say too many of people, read reviews and take them with a pinch of salt but before you dismiss doing a cruise line, try and grab yourself a bargain and get on board and get your own angle on a cruise line.

MSC has a couple different classes of ships,

Lirica Class which is MSC Opera, MSC Lirica, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Armonia, these are the oldest ships in the fleet but will all have had a multimillion euro refits by the end of November 2015.

Musica Class which is MSC Magnifica, MSC Poesia, MSC Orchestra and MSC Musica

Finally you have the newest ships which are the Fantasia Class which is MSC Preziosa, MSC Divina, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia. These ships also offer the private Yacht Club on board which is a similar concept to the Haven on NCL or the Grills on Cunard.

I have been very fortunate to have been on the MSC Opera and the MSC Poesia and of recent the MSC Magnifica. I am due to go on the MSC Splendida in April which she is on a call in Southampton and I am extremely looking forward to seeing her and seeing the difference between the Magnifica and Splendida.

MSC Opera and Poesia where lovely ships but they never particular sat high up on my list of favourites, so back in October I was invited on board the MSC Magnifica to see what she had to offer and to say I was impressed is an understatement. Many that speak to me will know that I love Celebrity and I must say from the Outside Magnifica has a lot of features found on Celebrity, a clean fresh look with the use of a deep blue coloured glass, very Chic.

So here is my review on the MSC Magnifica, starting on Sports Deck, Deck 16. Spilt in to two sections, one found forward and one aft.

For those that like a decent sports court, MSC have a full sized basket ball court but that’s if you can stop looking at the amazing views as this sit in the higher point of the ship at the very back.

 On the Front half there is a lovey open air bar with sun bathing area, more of an peace and tranquillity area away from the fun and game on the pool deck. I don’t seem to be able to find my pictures from here so if you have any I can add please let me know.

Next on Capri Deck, Deck 15. Again this is split in to two different deck, the forward part is accommodation on this deck and the lower deck you have the Suites.

On the Aft part on the Port side you have the Kids Slide and on the starboard side what cruise ship would be complete without a shuffle board!

And of course more sunbathing areas!

Down on Positano Deck, Deck 14 you T32 Disco, again covering the entire AFT of the ship you have some amazing views from here, this is the late night party venue, there is even a bowling alley up here! Very stylish.

As we leave here on the Port side you have the 4D Video arcade which is something very unique to MSC, Also you have the Kids Clubs up here. Other than that the rest of the deck is a power walking track and more Suite accommodation.

The jogging track looks down over the pool deck and has more sunbathing.

Now as we venture down to Porto Cervo Deck, Deck 13. Rather uncommon for ships to have a deck 13 as its an unlikely number, if you look at many deck plans you will see deck 12 then deck 14.

Deck 13 on the Back have the Sahara Cafeteria and Buffet, this is very much as the name suggests Moroccan and African themed, I must admit on of the nicest feeling buffets I have seen in a while. Has a lot of character.

As you leave the dining area you reach another different chill area, this is the La Grotta Azzurra Pool Area. I love this area, with a sliding roof for when the weather is good and they shut it when its not so good, of course in Southampton they had it shut.

You also have a pool bar here where you can get a drink and a bite to eat.

As you leave this pool you have the main pool deck again very stylish and relaxing, the is a stage area for entertainment during the day and a bar so you don’t have to walk to far to get a drink!

On the very front you have the MSC Aurea Spa, this has one of the best views from the gym, I personally would have put the crows nest bar here, this is something the Magnifica does not have a forward facing bar but I suppose there has to be comprises.

So Portovenere (12), Ischia (11), Riccione (10), Panarea (9) and Camogi (8) are accommodation decks. The back of the ship is completely Balconies, no suites making those balconies affordable and if you haven’t yet experienced an AFT facing balcony then I can highly recommend then, some of the best views found on the entire ship.

Amalfi Deck, Deck 7, this is really the main promenade deck, at the very aft of the ship you have L’Ametista Lounge. One of the more girly lounges with lots of shades of Purple.

As we venture more mid ship on the Starboard side we have the Photo Gallery, again like the shuffle board,  no cruise ship would be complete!

On the Port side we have the Sports Bar, again this one thing I love about MSC no two spaces are the same. L’Olimpiade!

As we leave this venue we then have the Cyber Café,

On the other side you have the Cuba Lounge which is the Cigar room, but more importantly this is the top level of the main atrium offering fantastic views down to the lower levels, and its very Purple!

As we move forward we have Oriental Plaza which is one of the on-board speciality restaurants.

Then just off from here we have the Card room and the Library.

From here you lead though to the Atlantic City Casino, a very snazzy place you can gamble the night away.

There is also a lovely staircase down to the Tiger Bar on the next deck down, it just goes to show no money was spared in the design of the MSC Magnifica.

Next up is my all-time favourite, and it is the more glamour theatre I have ever seen and no word will sum up how beautiful it is, so here it is for you to see for yourselves.

They even have a floor made out of gold leaf on the entrance.

As you exit here, they have the Tiger Bar, this is Tiger print, all of the ships have them on the Poesia if my memory serves me correct its a Zebra bar.

On from here you have the Topazio Bar, this is the Cabaret bar on board, this is also where you will do all your duty free shopping.

On from here you have the Atrium area, here you have a few more bar areas and the MSC Travel Agency on board. Not a bad job!

On the very back you have Quattro Venti Restaurant which is a purple themed restaurant similar to the one we ate in but I don’t have any pictures of this so again if you have any I can use please feel free to send them over.

Finally on Sorrento Deck, Deck 5 we have the lowest level of the Atrium.

Finally the last port of call on this level is the L’ Edera Restaurant. It was Italian Night so the Italian flags are not permanently there.

And the views arent to bad either.

So next time you are looking though the last minute deals have a look at what MSC can offer you and you might just be pleasantly Surprised.

Have a Magnific time on MSC Magnifica!

Let me know what you think?