Bellisima, Divina, Magnifica, Grandiosa, Fantasia. For most people, these names will sound strange, but for true fans of sea travel, they roll off the tongue. Cruise ships are becoming more and more popular and all the seas, oceans and rivers of the world are teeming with them. It is a community with a huge following, the size of which an outsider is bound to underestimate. But what really goes on in the belly of the mysterious cruise liner? And is it true that once you have tasted this ultimate form of comfortable travel, you will only choose to travel by cruise for the rest of your life? PureDeluxe found out for you, 7 days aboard the MSC ship Magnifica: a discovery of The Northern Pearls: Zeebrugge, IJmuiden, Hamburg, Southampton, and Le Havre.
discovery-walk
When you take your first steps into the distinctive world of the cruise ship, you will undoubtedly be short of eyes. During your discovery walk, which you will certainly make on your first day on board, the uniqueness of each space will make you fall from one surprise to another. From bar to restaurant, spa to gym, bowling alley to 4D cinema, swimming pool to theatre, every corner of the ship is decorated to perfection in its own eccentric style.
For example, in the kitschy Tigerbar you can listen to the singing talents of a folk-like woman on a gold-framed stage. In a tiger-print chair on a tiger rug, lit by a tiger lamp and with a cocktail in her hand, of course. But if animal prints and long robes are not your thing, stroll 10 metres down the street to the elegant jazz bar Topazio. Here, waiters balance “Smokey Cocktails” flawlessly on their trays, one hand on the back and to the beat of smooth jazz music. From casual to glitz and glamour, you’ll effortlessly roll from one atmosphere to the next.
Nine o’clock in the morning. I stretch once more in the kingsize bed, feeling the ray of sunlight shining through the slit of the red, velvet curtains burn my leg. I slide my feet one by one into the MSC slippers and slip my arms into the sleeves of my bathrobe. I stumble out of bed, pull open the curtains and find that the lights of the bustling city of Hamburg have been replaced by the morning sun shining into my eyes between the buildings of Southampton . I hear my stomach growl and wonder if I will dine extensively at the restaurant this morning, or join the buffet. Dressed and ready, I swing open the door of my cabin. In the corridor, covered with the dark red carpet and immersed in the soundtrack of quiet jazz music, I am greeted as usual by the first bright white smile of the day. “Goodmorning Miss, how are you?
salsos, salsas and soprano voices
You are never bored on a cruise ship. Besides comfort, entertainment is central. In the evening you can always expect to find a folder on your bed, in which the extensive programme – yes, including the weather forecast – for the following day can be found. From bingo to dance lessons and quizzes, there is something going on all day long all over the ship. You would hardly have time to enjoy a quiet cocktail. And if all this activity does leave you feeling hungry, the waiters are on hand to welcome you with a smile at the buffet restaurant. On MSC Magnifica, the all-you-can-eat buffet is available 20 hours a day. Everything you can imagine can be scooped onto your plate from the metres-long buffet counter. MSC’s speciality? Undoubtedly the freshly made pastas. MSC is not an Italian shipping company for nothing.
In the evening, the Magnifica operates on a rather fixed schedule. Every day at 7 p.m., you can enjoy a Broadway-style theatre show, staged in a gigantic theatre in the nose of the ship. When the dancers, singers and acrobats have completely enchanted you with their somersaults, salsas and soprano voices, you are usually expected in one of the restaurants. On a cruise ship, you’ll usually have a fixed table at which to dine – if you don’t prefer the buffet or the Thai specialty restaurant, of course. In the regular restaurants, you only have to do one thing: put your legs under the table and enjoy an extensive three-course menu. And whether you like to enjoy a night of dancing in one of the bars after your sumptuous meal, or whether you prefer to stretch out and schedule a restful sauna and massage session, it’s all here.
With a half-drunk Cosmopolitan in my hand, I walk to the exit of the theatre. The dark green seats, the thousands of lights that make the high ceiling look like a starry sky and the shell-like wall decorations that adorn the impressive balcony are still as intriguing as the first time I walked in. As soon as I step into the adjoining bar, I see dozens of people, red carpet-wise, in elegant white dresses and smooth dinner jackets smiling at the lens of a professional camera. For a moment, I remain intrigued. The women shyly but gigglingly shift from one pose to another, while the photographers shout admiring words just a little too loudly. When I enter the restaurant a little later, there are 10 waiters waiting for me in a row, one hand on the back. “Hello miss. Good evening miss. How are you tonight? “
They lead me to my familiar corner table, where I can already see the champagne cooler appearing from afar. After I ordered champagne on the first evening, the cooler has been there every day. When I get the menu for the three-course dinner in my hands, I feel my mouth water.
A huge plus point about cruises is their staff. Never before will you be treated so extremely friendly and correctly. But most of all: never before will you hear such interesting stories. Cruise staff are usually recruited from all over, just about every country on earth is represented by at least one staff member on board a cruise. And rest assured, these people have interesting stories to tell. Whereas in the bar you will be served in the afternoon by a former travel agent from Madagascar, in the restaurant you will be received in the evening by a former lawyer from Guatemala. You even forge friendships. At least, Facebook friendships. They have all visited at least 80 countries and are so adventurous that you won’t just run into them again at home… Unless you want to hop on a cruise ship with them of course!
These people are not only extremely friendly and interesting, they also make sure that the organisation of the ship runs smoothly. You only need to have left your cabin for five minutes, and they have already put new, clean towels in your bathroom. So imperceptibly fast that you’d almost believe there were little gnomes at work.
friends from all over the world
I have to laugh out loud when Randy, the waiter from the Philippines, tells me yet another joke. I have to be careful not to completely spill the Martini he just brought. He tells me about his homeland, that he used to be a travel guide there but had always felt a hunger to go and discover the world. When this opportunity from MSC came his way, he did not hesitate for a second. Now, he says, he has made friends from all over the world, learning new cultures and customs every day. His best friend is from Japan, his wife from Brazil, his English without her. He has already visited 88 countries. As I listen to his stories with fascination, I see in the background about twenty people dancing to the rhythms of the South American music coming from the speakers of the live band. A Portuguese father enthusiastically plays air guitar with his three daughters, an 80-year-old German woman convincingly throws her hips about. A Japanese man has an elaborate dance battle against a young American girl. A couple in love dances a convinced but not so professional tango. The spectators clap their hands enthusiastically and loudly, cannot sit still and sway their shoulders gently back and forth. I feel tears welling up from emotion.
On the ground floor
You would almost forget it when you are so pampered on the Magnifica, but the ship is still a means of transportation and of course stops in different ports. The Northern Pearls tour is just one of the many routes cruises take, but it is one that passes by some real must-sees. From Zeebrugge, to IJmuiden, Hamburg, Southampton and Le Havre. Five countries in seven days. In each port, different excursions are provided, which you are free to book or not. In the Netherlands you can go to Amsterdam for a day, but if you prefer urban bustle for windmills and nature, a visit to the village of Zaanse Schans is also possible. In Hamburg you get a bus tour of the whole city, complete with the cheeky voice of a guide through the speakers, after which you can shop extensively at the Christmas market. Le Havre is also the perfect gateway to both the great city of Paris and the peaceful village of Etretat, where you can admire the famous rock formations. Endless possibilities to discover the real pearls of the North.
A floating parallel universe
Magnifica. When you step onto this medium-sized ship of the Italian shipping company MSC, you step into a floating parallel universe. A universe where comfort, luxury and friendliness are taken for granted. A universe where nothing is too much to ask, and asking nothing creates confusion in the eyes. A universe that stimulates every sense, but at the same time brings complete peace and relaxation. Where there is no white wall, and strolling down the golden, revolving staircases that line the imposing atrium is an everyday occurrence. Accompanied by classical melodies that escape elegantly from the grand piano, they barely announce you as royalty when you stand at the top of the stairs. You will soon be addressed by your first name by about half the crew.
The very highest level of travel comfort can undoubtedly be found on a cruise ship. Every day you have the opportunity to discover a different part of the world, and to be waited on hand and foot with everything your heart desires. In short, a cruise trip is definitely worth a try. And before you know it, you’ll be six cruises deep into your new addiction within a few years.
In their own words, sit back, relax, and enjoy your MSC cruise.
More information about MSC Cruises can be found here:https://www.msccruises.be/nl
More information about the MSC Magnifica:https://www.msccruises.be/ontdek-msc/schepen/msc-magnifica
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