DESTINATIONS CRUISE FAMILIES
on MSC Preziosa for our football-mad son to practise his goalie skills, he was soon absorbed in activities ranging from arts and crafts to Lego and balloon volleyball. The highlight was a talent contest in the 1,603-seat Platinum theatre, in which girls and boys vied for glory in contests ranging from Lego-building to bouncing balls (girl power won the day, should you be interested), and danced with mascot Doremi in front of proud parents. It’s worth telling clients that the mix
of nationalities on board means kids’ club leaders speak several languages, and the mix of children ranges from French and Italian to German, English and Russian. Our two were quick to point out there weren’t many English children in the club, not that it stopped them from having fun (and gave us time to enjoy a much-needed Balinese massage in the ship’s Aurea Spa – definitely worth a visit). But for Joe and Nina it was the
outdoor water park, the Doremi Castle Aqua Park, that won the day. The area is ideal for young children, with
water slides and ladders plus well- placed water cannons where Joe and Nina took never-ending pleasure in drenching each other, while we looked on from nearby sun-loungers. The Vertigo water slide for older
children – the longest single-rider water slide at sea – soared above their heads, skimming over the side of the ship. There was no children’s pool,
so we swam with Joe and Nina in one of three main pools – not including a fourth pool open to Yacht Club members – although they preferred floating in the warm bubbles of the Jacuzzis.
Other activities included a small indoor play area for toddlers, table tennis, table football, indoor bowling, 4D cinema, F1 simulator and a virtual games arcade. Our all-inclusive drinks package meant food and drink on tap, without worrying about the cost, and it wasn’t long before Joe and Nina got into the swing of cruise life, sipping fruit cocktails and enjoying Italian ice-cream.
◗ AFTER DARK Most evenings, we opted for the 6.30pm sitting in the Golden Lobster restaurant, where the kids struck up a friendly rapport with the waiters, especially on the Italian-themed night, when diners were encouraged to get up and dance round the restaurant. We also tried speciality restaurant Eataly. The kids’ club disco organised one
evening was a hit. Joe and Nina’s only complaint? They wanted a kids’ disco every night. Instead, they formed a clan with like-minded youngsters, and showed off their dance moves to many a bemused cruise passenger. For a first-time reasonably priced
family cruise, this was just the job. It had a distinctly European feel – we didn’t come across many Brits on board – but there was enough to keep young minds entertained and Joe and Nina enjoyed their fill of new experiences. After our holiday it came as no surprise when Joe said: “Can we get a table tennis table like the one on the cruise ship?” And any day now, I’m fully expecting Nina to ask for a Jacuzzi in the back garden.
SAMPLE PRODUCT
A seven-night cruise in October costs £1,536 for a family of four – adults £649 and children £119 – for a
balcony cabin on MSC Preziosa, including flights and transfers. The cruise departs Genoa on October 16, calling at
Civitavecchia,
Palermo, Valletta, Valencia and
Marseille. The all-inclusive drinks package is £20 a day.
msccruises.co.uk
KIDS’ VERDICT
Joe: “I loved the water cannon and table tennis. The kids’ club was awesome, but there weren’t many English children.”
Nina: “I liked the water park and disco, and I loved the children’s show. In the kids’ club, we made Lego masks and I made pizza and ate it. And I loved the Jacuzzi, it was like a nice bath!”
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travelweekly.co.uk 9 June 2016
ABOVE: The kids’ talent show on MSC Preziosa
LEFT: Juliet and
family on deck and at the water park
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