The most beautiful ship in the world

MSC FANTASIA

Most probably this is the most beautiful ship in the world which has a unique design with all the facilities of a top-class resort.

Weighing in at 133,500 tons and with space for almost 4,000 passengers and 1,325 crew, MSC Cruises' new MSC Fantasia will be in a class of her own.

Currently under construction at a shipyard in St Nazaire in France, the vessel represents a major milestone in the development of this proud-to-be-Italian cruise line. When she sets sail on her maiden voyage in December, MSC Fantasia will be a vessel that cruisers will choose for its unique design and fantastic on-board experience as much as for the destinations it will be visiting.

"It will offer a unique experience year round in the Mediterranean and have so much to offer on board in addition to our Italian style of cruising," said chief executive Pierfrancesco Vago at February's float-out ceremony - the moment the ship's hull hits water for the first time and the designers can get inside and start creating their interior masterpieces.

So what is it about MSC Fantasia that makes this ship so very different? In a nutshell, it represents the height of indulgence on the high seas.

Indulgence when it comes to the VIP butler-served Yacht Club suites at the top of the ship; indulgence when it comes to dining, with a total of five restaurants including French and a Tex Mex.

Indulgence when it comes to wellbeing, with an Aurea Spa bigger than an Olympic-size swimming pool, to which guests can escape to be pampered; indulgence when it comes to relaxation, with a wine bar, coffee bar, sports bar and jazz bar among the 20 venues.

But that's not all. MSC Fantasia will have 1,637 cabins, 80 per cent with sea views. There will be four swimming pools, one with a retractable roof, and 12 hydro massage tubs. Movie buffs can catch up on their favourite films in the interactive 4D cinema while wannabe Lewis Hamilton's can test their driving skills on the Formula 1 simulator.

Kids haven't been forgotten either, with 400 square metres - that's equivalent to two tennis courts - dedicated to children. There's a two-deck-high water slide that promises scenic views for those with time to look as they whoosh down and an Aqua Park with 150 fountains that will light up at night and dance to the rhythm of the music. Of course, there are also MSC Cruises' usual kids' clubs, offering a busy programme of activities for children aged three to 18.

Naturally, there are also shops, a casino and disco, and everything comes wrapped up in that chic Italian design and "truly Italian" ambience that has become a hallmark of MSC Cruises' ships. Without question, MSC Fantasia will be one of a kind when it is named in Naples on December 18.

But not for long. Sister ship MSC Splendida enters service in June 2009 and will be cruising the Mediterranean from Barcelona next summer, relocating to Genoa in December 2009.

MSC Fantasia has been designed to cruise year-round in the Mediterranean and offers a range of on-board activities to keep everyone occupied on the days the sun refuses to shine. Her maiden voyage is an eight-night Christmas cruise from Genoa, calling at Rhodes and Alexandria in Egypt, spending Christmas Day at sea, then visiting Taormina and Naples in Italy before returning to Genoa, where the ship will be based throughout the summer.

For the ultimate in festive cruising, you can always combine the Christmas cruise with the eight-night New Year's voyage and welcome in 2009 in Lisbon. Before the turn of the year you'll visit Barcelona and in the first few days of 2009 there are calls at Malaga and Civitavecchia, the port for Rome.

In January and February MSC Fantasia will sail to the Canary Islands in then settle down to a summer season of seven-night classic western Mediterranean cruises, calling at Naples and Palermo in Italy, Tunis, Mallorca, Barcelona and Marseilles. As 2008 draws to a close, MSC Fantasia will resume cruising to the Canary Islands, calling at Madeira, Tenerife and Arrecife.

MSC Splendida departs on her maiden voyage in June 2009, setting sail for an eight-night cruise from Barcelona that calls at Genoa, Civitavecchia, Taormina in Italy, Tunis and Marseille, before arriving back in Barcelona.

She will then be sailing a summer season of seven-night cruises calling at Tunis, Valletta in Malta, Taormina, Civitavecchia, Genoa and Marseille. In November and December 2009, MSC Splendida will round off the year with a choice of 11- night cruises to the Greek Islands and Egypt from either Barcelona or Genoa. Book now and start a new decade in style.

Posted in: Recreation And Sports