Cuisine and dining on an MSC cruise
MSC Cruises provides better-quality ingredients (almost all sourced in Europe) than some of the other major cruise lines.
The cuisine is still of a mainstream market standard (you’ll find butter in packets). However, at the self-serve buffets, salt and pepper are typically provided on each table (not in packets as on most other cruise lines).
Espresso and cappuccino (Segafredo brand Italian coffee) are available in the dining rooms, at extra cost, and in almost all bars.
Room service: Continental breakfast is complimentary from 07.30 to10am, while room service snacks are available at extra cost at any other time. A basket of fruit is provided to all cabins at embarkation, and replenished daily for suite-grade accommodation.
Aboard the newest ships, MSC Cruises has introduced the Italian ‘slow food’ concept.
Always available items include spaghetti, chicken breast, salmon fillet, and vegetables of the day. Daily dining room menus feature food from various regions in Italy (examples: Calabria, Piedmont, Lazio, Puglia, Sicily), because MSC Cruises refreshingly spotlights regional Italian cuisine and wine.
All pizza dough is made on board, and not brought on board from ashore, while risotto (featured daily) has become somewhat of a signature item for MSC Cruises, and something the ships make really well.
Spaghetti is always available, with a tomato sauce freshly made each day (no pre-packaged sauces from ashore).
Many varieties of Italian breads such as bruschetta, focaccia, and panettone, are provided.
Family cruises with MSC Cruises
Children are divided into three age groups, with facilities to match: Mini Club for those from 3 to 9 years old; Junior Club for 10–13s; Teenagers Club for those over 14. While the facilities and play areas are not as extensive as those aboard most of other major cruise lines, a ‘baby-parking’ service is useful when parents want to go ashore on excursions.
Entertainment on MSC Cruises
The main production shows are colourful and visual, particularly aboard the newest ships. Other shows consist of unknown cabaret acts (typically singers, magicians, mime artistes, comedy jugglers, and others) doing the cruise ship circuit.
The ship carries a number of bands and small musical units that provide live music for dancing or listening, but there is no show band, and all production shows are done to pre-recorded ‘click’ tracks.
Spa and Fitness Facilities on MSC Cruises
The spas are operated as a concession by Blue Ocean (except MSC Musica, which is operated by Steiner Leisure). Treatments include acupuncture (not aboard MSC Rhapsody)
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