The life of a queen

Round-the-clock, six-star treatment on-board the MSC Fantasia, including the services of a 24-hour butler who offered to pack and unpack her suitcase, left Simonne Pace feeling like royalty.

The fragrant smell of roastingchestnuts being turned and tossed along Milan’s boulevards reaches my cold nose as I willingly join a stream of enthusiastic shoppers and passers-by.

Danni from Bali flashed me a broad smile and said: ‘I am here to serve you; you just ask for me whenever you need me’- Simonne Pace

The city, which I visited on a school trip years ago, looks pretty much the same – still very chic and glamorous… with a cacophony of sights and sounds on every corner.

As I sit sipping a ‘real’ espresso at a pasticceria with a stylish façade on one of the city’s four important avenues – Corso Vittorio Emanuele – I catch a glimpse of DonatellaVersace in the company of her dog and two men chatting away in a secluded corner.

The tiny, blonde designer takes her time, orders a big bag of pastries, then gets up, about to stumble on her dog’s leash and leaves flustered in sudden haste, a huge black car picking her up in no time and zooming off into the distance.

Two days in Milan rounded off a three-day trip, which started with a cruise on the MSC Fantasia that left Valletta, heading for Messina, Rome’s Civitavecchia port and Genoa, where all passengers disembarked, this being the ship’s last Malta-Malta cruise for the season.

Sister ship to the Fantasia and the Splendida, the MSC Divina, the newest addition to the fleet, will be launched on May 26. The new vessel will call into Grand Harbour on May 30 and berth together with the MSC Splendida.

The Splendida will be doing next season’s Malta-Malta cruises, calling at Messina, Civitavecchia, Genoa, Barcelona and Tunis, with a day spent at sea.

Trying to cope with the usual jittery feeling of leaving my children behind for a couple of days, I was overwhelmed by the sight of the ship docked in port. Praying for good weather, I felt instantly relieved to find out we would be upgraded to the Yacht Club area on board the Fantasia.

Waving goodbye to my children, who seemed like sprinkles on a cake from my cabin, we set off on our journey to Messina, the ship’s first port of call.

Leaving Grand Harbour always fills me with awe – its historical bastions make it one of the most beautiful ports in Europe. This, mingled with a big crowd of passengers making their way to the top decks to experience the ship leaving the port, turns this moment into a big, special event.

My navy blue MSC Yacht Club card was the key to my cabin… and to three days of six-star quality service and total pampering.

Ready-to-please Danni from Bali, my 24-hour personal butler, flashed me a broad smile and, clasping his hands together, said: “I am here to serve you; you just ask for me whenever you need me. Do you want me to unpack your suitcase?”

Taken aback by such treatment, I couldn’t help but flash a smile back and refuse politely. It was too good to be true.

The Yacht Club concept, also available on the Splendida andDivina ships, is a great idea because it offers the right lifestyle experience to passengers who want to enjoy a bit of privacy on their cruise.

One almost forgets the ship and enters a different world – you wake up in the comfort of your cabin, have your favourite newspaper delivered to your suite every day, even at sea; you eat what you like, whenever you like, and your butler serves you traditional English tea in the afternoon. You also have your own concierge desk which is open 24 hours a day.

The private L’Etoile restaurant (L’Olivo and Le Muse on theSplendida and Divina respectively) is exclusive to Yacht Club passengers. In these à la carte restaurants, it’s all about exquisite dining with an open-sitting option.

It is also possible to enjoy the privacy of your suite through the club’s round-the-clock roomservice menu.

Views and quality time spent reading, swimming or simply sipping a colourful cocktail on a sun bed can be enjoyed at The One Pool on the ship’s 16th deck, also exclusive to Yacht Club guests.

The Top Sail Lounge, on the bow of the ship, is an ideal place where to relax.

Whether you want to take in the beauty of the sea or just enjoy staring into the peaceful atmosphere that surrounds you, or even indulge in the goodness of delicious savoury and sweet bites, you are your own master in a place where everything seems possible.

Waking up in the morning to endless breakfast options does start off your day on the right note.

Continental breakfast can be served by your butler in the room or you can make the most of the beauty of the ship’s Top Sail Lounge – my favourite place – where you can indulge in a range of coffees and teas together with fresh fruit, pastries, cakes, cheeses and a host of other delicacies.

Or you can help yourself to the juices, fruit, yoghurts and more coffees at The One Pool, or even to a full hot breakfast in the private restaurant.

There is also a midnight snack every day featuring a specialsurprise by the chef and alcoholic and soft drinks in all Yacht Club venues, private restaurant and suite mini bar are included in the price.

There is only one way to describe the experience of having been an MSC Yacht Club guest – it’s the life of a queen.

Courtesy of Hamilton Travel (www.hamiltontravel.com.mt), exclusive agents for MSC Cruises (www.msccruises.com) in Malta. Hamilton Travel will be launching its 2012 cruise brochure between November 18 and 20 at the Magazino Terminal, Valletta Waterfront. Bookings can also be made during the open weekend. Prices, including port taxes, for standard cruises start from €399 per person. MSC Yacht Club prices start from €1,749.