By Fred Felton | Nov. 27, 2023
Last
week I was invited to spend a night on the MSC
Splendida and see all it has to offer. This followed the opening of the
state-of-the-art Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal which was opened by President
Cyril Ramaphosa and Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises.
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| MSC Splendida | Photo: Supplied |
MSC Splendida started her first
cruise for the season on 24 November 2023. The ship itself is a splendid affair
and you will be blown away by the sheer size of it. There is so much to do on the
ship that you might run out of time trying to see everything before your cruise
ends.
The
ship will be sailing for six months from South Africa and will offer guests 35
sailings to wonderful destinations that include Portuguese Island (Mozambique),
Pomene (Mozambique), Walvis Bay (Namibia) and Port Louis (Mauritius).
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| Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal | Photo: Supplied |
‘’We’re
delighted to be welcoming MSC Splendida to our shores. It’s one of our largest
and most luxurious vessels and will offer South Africa’s growing population of
cruisers a completely new experience this summer. This season, we will also
give our South African customers a chance to experience the improved service
offered by the terminal – a fitting start and end to what is sure to be a
wonderful experience,’’ said Ross Volk, Managing Director, MSC Cruises, South Africa.
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| Your room has all you need. | Photo: Fred Felton |
The
rooms you stay in are very comfortable and you have plenty of space for all your
needs. An interesting note is that soaps and shampoo have been replaced with
dispensing containers for your needs. The shower is quite comfortable and the
room also included a TV if you need to unwind and catch a movie. The ship is
also an eco-ship which is nice to see.
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| Interactive displays. | Photo: Fred Felton |
The
ship is easy to navigate and you will find plenty of digital screen displays
which show you where you are and where you need to go if you are looking for a
certain lounge or restaurant or pool deck. Look for the arrow pointing to where
you need to go.
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| You might stay awhile. | Photo: Fred Felton |
There
are six dining venues on board MSC
Splendida. This includes two restaurants that cater to international
cuisine lovers. I was very impressed with the Bora Bora Buffet which provides a
wide variety of foods and caters for any of your needs. For breakfast you can
choose from a wide variety of yogurts, granola, seeds and fruits to the
standard fare of eggs, bacon, sausages, potato treats, fried tomatoes and even
waffles and crumpets. You can even indulge in cake for breakfast if you so
choose and even muffins and pastries.
Drinks
include fresh juices, a wide variety of teas and of course coffee for those
that partied a bit too much the previous night.
This
restaurant is huge and you can even find yourself getting lost in it. There is
plenty of room for friends, family and even singles. The restaurant also caters to the health
conscious and provides plenty of options for vegans as well. Bora Bora Buffet
is located on Deck 14 Aft.
Lunch
at this restaurant includes pizza, hamburgers, hotdogs, pasta dishes, salads
and a variety of rolls and sweet treats to keep you going all through the day.
There is also a wide variety of drinks available at lunch time.
For
those that love a good steak you can also try out the Butcher’s Cut Steakhouse
which is located on Deck 7 Aft.
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| La Reggia Restaurant. | Photo: Fred Felton |
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| Pistachio-Crusted Rack of Lamb at La Reggia Restaurant. | Photo: Fred Felton |
Now
if you are one of those that likes to dress up for dinner then head to La
Reggia Restaurant which features beautiful designs and classic dining. The
restaurant can be found on Deck 6 Midship.
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| Strand Theatre. | Photo: Fred Felton |
Those
that love a good theatre show can enjoy the 1 603 seat Strand Theatre
where you can enjoy a wonderful show. The Theatre is enormous and covers two
floors of the ship so you can sit upstairs or downstairs. There is a wide variety
of seating options available. You can access the theatre on Deck 6 Fwd.
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| One of the many pools on the ship. | Photo: Fred Felton |
For
fitness fanatics the ship has a wide variety of offerings just for you. The
ship offers swimming pools, a jogging track, a squash court and a modern gym
for you.
If
you need to relax after your workout you can indulge in a relaxing massage and
treatments at the luxurious MSC Aurea Spa. The Spa and Gym can be found on Deck
14 Fwd.
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| L'Espresso for coffee lovers. | Photo: Fred Felton |
For
those coffee lovers take yourself off to L’Espresso where you can indulge in a
cappuccino while you listen to the musicians in the lounge below you.
You
can even have an ice cream on Deck 14. I recommend the chocolate and pistachio
option if you are looking to treat yourself to something decadent.
If
you are feeling lucky you can also head to the Royal Palm Casino which has a
wide variety of games and even bingo. You can also dance the night away at Club
33 Disco which is on Deck 16 Midship.
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| That staircase. | Photo: Fred Felton |
MSC Splendida also offers a first for
South African cruisers, the MSC Yacht Club which is MSC Cruises’
ship-within-a-ship concept. You can expect personalised luxury in a private
71-suite enclave located on the foredecks of the ship. MSC Yacht Club offers
guests their own private restaurant which features Mediterranean cuisine along
with other favourites.
Those
that take the MSC Yacht Club option can also look forward to butlers, a
concierge, priority check-in, unlimited drinks throughout the ship, and
complimentary access to the Thermal Suite in the MSC Aurea Spa, free Wi-Fi
package and much more.
‘’South
Africa’s cruisers have a real treat in store for them – MSC Splendida takes
luxury cruising to a whole new level. If you haven’t tried cruising yet, the
arrival of this vessel is a heaven-sent opportunity to do so,’’ noted Volk.
Guests
on the ship, which included trade and other partners, were entertained by some
of the biggest names in South African entertainment which included Dr Victor
& the Rasta Rebels, Mafikizolo, Pascal & Pearce, and many other
musicians that entertained guests in the many lounges of the ship.
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| Pascal & Pearce entertaining guests. | Photo: Fred Felton |
You
know you are having a good time when a fellow Pascal & Pearce fan gives you
a high five while they are standing in their clothes in the pool. Yeah, it’s
that kind of party ship.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
To
book your next holiday on MSC Splendida with
MSC Cruises visit: www.msccruises.co.za
