COVER STORY MSC CRUISES


Ship Melody


Armonia, Sinfonia Lirica, Opera


Musica, Orchestra, Poesia


Fantasia, Splendida, Divina


Magnifica 4*


CRUISE PLANNER


Rating Type 3*


SR


Classic Resort


4*-Plus Resort 5*


5* 5* Resort Resort Resort Dining Tonnage P / C


33.20 Two 36,500 1150/535 39.90 Two 56,000 1500/550 37.50 Two 60,000 1600/760 35.13 Two 89,600 2550/987


40.87 Two 133,500 3300/1200 37.06 Two 93,330 2518/1027


Owned by one of the world’s biggest shipping families, this traditional Italian outfit boasts a modern, high-tech fleet, with two new series of purpose-built vessels and two ships from the failed Festival Cruises (European Stars and Vision). This gives them a real cutting-edge sophistication alongside older vessel Melody, which is rather weak on entertainment and dining but offers traditional, friendly service. The other ships all feature fabulous onboard choice and a chic European style, with good standard cuisine and imaginative alternative dining. The three mega-ships (with Divina joining sister Fantasia and Splendida in May 2012) took MSC into new territory with the kind of expansive facilities previously seen only on Royal Caribbean, Princess, NCL and Carnival and their MSC Yacht Club ship-within-a- ship concept essentially offers a First Class upgrade to the onboard style on this trio. 2010’s Magnifica refined the Musica-class trio with a slightly larger format and facilities. Service could be better on the bigger ships at times, though. Mediterranean and north Europe- based every summer and in the Caribbean, South Africa and South America in winter, when they are also on sale to local markets. Some good repositioning voyages, too. Gratuities not included. www.msccruises.co.uk


NOMADS OF THE SEAS Ship


Atmosphere


Rating Type 6*


NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE Ship


Norwegian Spirit Norwegian Sky Norwegian Sun


Norwegian Star, Norwegian Dawn


Norwegian Jewel, Pearl, Gem, Jade Pride of America Norwegian Epic


Rating Type 4*-Plus Resort 5* 5* 5*


5* 5*


Resort Resort Resort


Resort Resort 5*-Plus Resort SR Dining Tonnage P / C


38.36 Open 76,583 1996/975 38.51 Open 77,104 2002/750 40.44 Open 78,309 1936/968 41.36 Open 92,000 2224/1100


39.14 Open 93,000 2376/1000


37.74 Open 81,000 2146/1000 36.42 Open 153,000 4,200/1690


With the introduction of Freestyle dining in 2000, NCL brought choice usually reserved only for the luxury customer into mainstream cruising. The fleet upgrade continued with seven new ships in six years and an ever-wider variety of itineraries, including year-round in Hawaii. Norwegian Epic’s debut in 2010 lifted NCL into the mega-ship realm previously only covered by Royal Caribbean, with an astonishing variety of onboard amenities and a breathtaking array of entertainment, including Blue Man Group and Legends In Concert, plus a staggering dining choice. The entertainment options as a whole are sharp and lively, public areas are bright and well planned and cuisine varies from standard to gourmet. Freestyle lets you choose when, where and what to eat, with a choice of different restaurants each night. Operating to all the main cruise destinations, including year-round in the Caribbean and the Med, plus Alaska, Mexico, Bermuda, Canada, New England, northern Europe and South America. Gratuities not included. www.ncl.com/co.uk


OCEANIA CRUISES Ship


SR Dining Tonnage P / C Adventure 25.00 One 700 28/32


See Chilean Patagonia in luxury style on this unique adventurer, with an amazing array of equipment to provide close-up encounters with the scenery and wildlife of this stunning part of the world. The ship includes two helicopters, five jetboats, a high-speed RIB boat and five zodiacs, plus kayaks and canoes for an unequalled range of all-inclusive excursions. The food is a superb ‘new Patagonian’ cuisine, while the friendly service is super-efficient, hard-working and amazingly personable. An open bar includes daily selections of top Chilean wines, while trips ashore are often accompanied by the chefs and their fine dining options. Fly-fishing and heli-skiing are other options, and their tour guides are some of the best anywhere in the world. Facilities are limited to three Jacuzzis, massage treatments, a treadmill and tiny sauna, but they are superbly equipped for all their excursions, which is what a Nomads voyage is really all about. The ship anchors at night in sheltered bays and little- seen coves where the big ships never visit and onboard life centres on the lounge/dining room and bar, with the one-sitting dinner the main social highlight. Cabins are not spacious but ultra-comfy and attention to detail is first class. Gratuities not included. www.nomadsoftheseas.com


Regatta, Nautica, Insignia


Marina, Riviera


Rating Type 5*-Plus Boutique 5*-Plus Boutique


SR


Dining Tonnage P / C 44.10 Open 30,200 684/370 40.44 Open 66,000 1258/800


This stylish brand took over three ships from the former Renaissance Cruises (in 2003) and reintroduced them as more upmarket and intimate cruisers, with a relaxed, informal ambience and top-notch cuisine in four fully open-seating restaurants. Service is equally smooth and cabins feature high-quality fixtures and furnishings, while entertainment varies from the low-key to the glamorous, with a series of enrichment programmes and guest lecturers. New ships Marina and Riviera (2011 and 12) add a distinctive and expansive edge to the Oceania style, pushing a six-star rating, with two more restaurants for their already gourmet-quality selection (giving the ships 6 in all), a Canyon Ranch SpaClub, the Bon Appetit Culinary Center and some lavish accommodations. In the Mediterranean, northern Europe and Alaska in summer, with winter seasons in the Caribbean, South America, Africa and Asia. Gratuities not included. No under 12s allowed. www.oceaniacruises.com


ORION EXPEDITION CRUISES Ship


Rating Type Orion Orion II SR


Dining Tonnage P / C


5*-Plus Adventure 37.73 Open 4,000 5*-Plus Adventure 40.77 Open 4,077


105/65 100/65


A terrific ‘soft’ expedition cruise offering, with an Australian accent, featuring top-notch cuisine, accommodations and facilities, plus excellent itineraries and low-key entertainment. All expeditions include expert onboard lectures and presentations, cruising the ‘hidden’ treasures of Australia (the likes of Tasmania, East Timor and the Northern Territory) as well as Tahiti, Borneo, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and Fiji, the Great Barrier Reef, South-East Asia and down to Antarctica in the austral summer. At once both high-tech and outrageously luxurious, it is small-scale Adventure cruising that


92 WORLD OF CRUISING I Winter 2011-12


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