44 | THE MARVELLOUS MED BY SEA \us


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A virtuous Sail on the Med


HEIDI McAlpin, husband


BY HEIDI MCALPIN Ray


and


children Scarlett (16) and Freddie (13) embark on a two-week cruise around the Mediterranean Virtuosa.


onboard MSC


A sparkly staircase sweeps down to a grand piano perched atop an equally bling dais. The 80-metre atrium dome is illuminated with an ever-changing screen. And an unending supply of freshly baked pizzas feeds the hoards from early breakfast to late night munchies. Welcome to the wonderful world onboard an MSC cruise. We have been on cruises before, but nothing had prepared us for the magnitude of this magnificent vessel. Everything was bigger, brasher and busier, doubtless aided by lower price points when compared with other cruise ships plying the same routes on a school holiday. Sharing the ship with 6000 fellow


passengers made


our floating home a veritable sea of humanity. Our journey began with a short flight from Belfast City Airport to Gatwick, followed by a two-hour Southern Railway trip from Gatwick right to the heart of Southampton. Direct flights from Belfast to Southampton save cruise ship passengers precious time, but don’t underestimate this straightforward and cost-effective alternative.


A couple of nights in Southampton allowed us to immerse ourselves in a


A two-week cruise with several days at sea meant plenty of time to research our destinations – and check the weather back home, natch. Ahead of us lay Cadiz, Malaga, Alicante, Palma, Toulon, Barcelona and Lisbon, but first it was two days at sea and a chance to explore the ship and its plethora of dining and drinking delights. Whether being served by Rob the robotic bartender at MSC Starship Club or quaffing ale at the traditional Masters of the Sea pub, tipplers are spoilt for choice with a multitude of imbibing outlets. Groups of families and friends are in abundance at most of them, raising the party game of this grand dame. Our two kids quickly ensconced with their new-found shipmates, Ray and I headed to the ‘adults only’ oasis of the Sky Bar. Christening our all-inclusive drinks package with a couple of cocktails, we sank into the cosy sofas, clinked our glasses and gazed down at the already jam-packed pool.


Food options were just as bountiful. The huge Marketplace buffet can get very crowded at peak hours, so we timed our visits to avoid the queues and


acquire


timed our poolside jaunts to avoid the crowds, and managed to win a couple of daily quizzes into the bargain. Shore excursions can be costly so, once


a table


for four. Plenty of fine dining options at extra cost included Asian opulence at Indochine and


paradise


carnivorous Butcher’s


Cut, but the freshly- baked pizzas had us at hello. Try as I might to swerve their tempting aroma and head for the salad bar, the lure of those cheesy,


garlicy,


pepperoni slices was too great to ignore. Pizza for brekkie? Aye go on then.


A short taxi ride, however, soon had us at our designated dock where our home for the next 14 nights loomed large. Patience, and good weather, is a virtue as we joined the slow, snaking line of fellow passengers eager to board this mighty vessel. With over 2,400 staterooms ranging in price and prestige from interior to luxury MSC Yacht Club, this ‘Masterpiece at Sea’ really is an immense ocean experience. Once aboard, the first views that greeted us all was that be- jewelled atrium. Gobs duly smacked, the four of us sought out our balcony suite on deck 14.


We booked early co.uk where a very bagged us an


on a balcony room. And boy were we happy.


Sharing


a room with two teenagers (or two parents,


in their


case) is never ideal, but the addition of a large balcony with restricted views (not that we noticed) made our


en-suite


city proud of its maritime heritage. And, as with Belfast, it exudes a heartfelt desire to ensure its own Titanic legacy lives on (see my other feature on a Southampton City Break). With lots to explore on this seafaring theme, it was strange to me that today’s huge cruise ships aren’t easy to spot from the city.


boudoir more like a two-room suite. There was enough space for all four of us to sit out, but 16-year-old Scarlett annexed it for the fortnight as her own private haven.


Another wise decision was plumping for the Wi-Fi Package.


the ship


excelled with its Savannah Aqua Park splash zone and water slides and Himalayan Bridge


rope


through Cruise. helpful consultant unbeatable deal


Passengers can also opt for a restaurant with table service by very friendly staff at no


extra cost. Yes, the food’s not as gourmet, but it was still delightful and provided sweet escape from the hustle and bustle of the Marketplace. Again, our two children were old and responsible enough to pick and choose when and where they dined, often opting to ditch us oldies and fend for themselves. Children from toddlers to teens could also lose themselves in the age- appropriate kids clubs, allowing parents some precious me-time


knowing


their offspring are in safe hands.


When it came to families reconnecting,


again, our thranness saw us explore each destination independently. We have gone on organised tours in the past but found them too regimental, especially with children in tow. Sightseeing at our own pace meant lazy strolls around the charming, cobbled streets of Spain’s Cadiz, Malaga and Palma, stopping for the occasional gelato or souvenir shop – if only to seek shelter from the oppressive heat. Alicante provided a unique daytrip via elevator to the magnificent Castillo de Santa Barbara perched proudly atop 166-metre- high Mount Benacantil. The spectacular 360-degree views swept down to the port where our mammoth ship had shrunk to the size of a wee grain of sugar. The charming French town of Toulouse


was another unexpected find, made even more memorable by chancing upon an art exhibition spread across several rooms of an historic building. Quirky interior décor juxtaposed with a serene swing in the shady courtyard garden. What a treat! Having visited Barcelona before, we decided to stay on-board while thousands of fellow holidaymakers decamped for Camp Nou, La Sagrada Familia and other must-see attractions in this immense Spanish city. Our reward was a much quieter day and no battles for those poolside loungers. Yet another aspect of cruise life


is the walk.


The large pool and hot tubs were constantly packed, as was the indoor Tropical Pool with retractable roof. Sun lounger- bagging was a daily sport,


with the


captain having to intervene at one point. Again,


we


nightly entertainment… and our two-weeks had it all. Pay extra and you get to see Cirque De Soliel style shows and high production operatic performances. We opted for the inclusive offerings and had a blast at an ABBA tribute night, Twist & Pulse (a fine pair of rapping chaps you may remember from Britain’s Got Talent) and the hugely popular hypnotist show from cruise director Chris Caress. Booking in advance on the handy MSC for Me app ensured our seats as the throngs descended. Our final port of call was Lisbon, Portugal’s hilly capital and the only stop where we booked a private tour. Genial tuk tuk driver Silvio spirited us through its narrow, steep streets on his zippy vehicle, sharing the city’s history and stopping for wonderful views along the way. Our speedy Lisbon sojourn complete, we wended our way back by foot through chi-chi shopping streets and across the vast Praça do Comércio plaza stretching out to the sea. The perfect way to say farewell to our shore time before boarding the ship for the tight squeeze under the iconic the 25th April Bridge and on to our 48-hour sail back to Southampton. As cruises go, this was an action-packed two weeks on the biggest ship we had ever experienced. Many people were booking their next trip, and I can’t blame them as MSC cruises have captured the market in value for money holidays where fun is guaranteed and everyone, no matter their bank balance, can


enjoy this super sparkly seafaring adventure.


November/December 2023


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