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COVER STORY


Cruise guru Steven B Stern


compares the like- for-like qualities of the world’s two


big Italian-styled lines


W


hile many cruise lines attempt to be all things to all people, the two Italian-themed companies of Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises have


maintained a more stylised approach, uniquely offering similar products to attract similar clientele. During the past five years, each has introduced numerous extravagantly designed and decorated vessels, generations beyond the older ships in their respective fleets. In recent years, Costa has sold off most of its older


vessels, renovated others and embarked upon a pro- gramme of new builds ranging from 53,000 to 114,500 tons. Their five most upscale and modern ships – the three Concordia-Class and two Luminosa-Class vessels


– entered service between 2006 and 2010. The first new ship built by MSC, the MSC Lirica joined the fleet in 2003, followed by MSC Opera in 2004. The same year, the 2002-vintage European Vision and European Star were purchased from bankrupt Festi- val Cruises and renamed MSC Armonia and Sinfonia. Thereafter, between 2006 and 2010, MSC intro- duced its larger, more lavish, upscale new-builds, the four Musica-Class and two Fantasia-Class beauties. To evaluate the experience on the two lines, and in order to compare ships with the most similar characteristics, I chose Costa Luminosa v MSC Poesia and Costa Pacifica v MSC Fantasia. I have sailed on Costa ships numerous times


over the years and was curious to see how the MSC vessels compared. Having sailed on MSC Orchestra last year and visited sister Poesia recently, I was able to experience MSC Fantasia and its widely publicised Yacht Club accommoda- tions on a Mediterranean sailing in May.





Autumn 2010 I WORLD OF CRUISING


49


Costa


v MSC Cruises


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