They say life is a journey not a destination. The same could just as aptly be said of a cruise across the Mediterranean. Not aboard just any ship, mind you. When you’re talking Rome or Barcelona as destinations, the journey must be something quite special to compete for the same degree of attention.
...that’s why they call it a six-star experience
Now I had only been on one cruise before in my life and that was ages ago, well before the mighty liners of modern times started to grace Grand Harbour as often as they do now. So my memory of the vessel I was on fades compared to the beauty of some of the Greek islands I visited aboard it. I vaguely remember it anchored off Mykonos or some other dot in the sea of a similar name.
But I have no doubt that had I travelled there on the MSC Fantasia, I would never have forgotten the sight. For she is the flagship of MSC Cruises, a beautiful behemoth of a vessel, the largest cruise ship ever built for a European owner, according to the MSC website. My reaction to being up close to the towering marvel was “wow”. And it took my breath away again to be high above the bastions as she slipped silently out of harbour, with just the distant sound of waves wafting from far below.
A journey has to start with the first step and in this case what better way than to tread the bottom stair of the Swarovski-crystal embedded staircase in the reception area after first boarding. Wow indeed. Then it’s through a series of tastefully designed bars, one looking like an Italian piazza, towards the front of the ship, up quite a few decks by lift and past an indoor, glass-covered pool with two Jacuzzis on either side. And then it’s through a glass door that says “Yacht Club. Members Only”.
We (that is, a group of journalists and travel agents) had just stepped into the exclusive area of a luxury cruise ship, heading for our luxury cabins. My butler greeted me cheerfully and assured me he was at my service for the duration of the cruise. Perhaps that’s why they call it a six-star experience. The plush, spacious cabin was at least on par with any five-star hotel room I’d stayed in. The butler made it a six.
Pity I was alone, that is, without my family. My wife would have loved it as much as I did to sit out on the sea-view balcony enjoying the vistas of Italian islands as we glided past. We would have nipped into the bar reserved for Yacht Club members for a free, high-class snack and drink at various times of the day, perhaps after a stint at the gym. We would have lounged in the exclusive pool area or taken a dip in one of several other pools while my son enjoyed the Formula One simulator and other cool games in the kids’ zone of this child and family-friendly ship.
Above all, perhaps, we would have loved dining every night at the five-star Yacht Club restaurant, the fabulous, often exotic menu included in the price of our trip. Not for us the ordinary, although still delicious, fare served a few decks below to the thousands of other passengers… I’m no snob but this experience risked turning me into one.
Booking the Yacht Club option certainly gives you a cruise experience that’s a cut above, an aura of private exclusivity that turns it into something extra special. It will, admittedly, take a sizeable bite out of your pocket or credit card. But here’s an idea: if you book off-peak, it will cost you not too much more than taking a peak-season cabin in another part of the ship. That’s a little secret I was told by the great Norman Hamilton himself, courtesy of whom I enjoyed this trip.
His team is on hand today, tomorrow and Sunday, from morning to evening, at the Magazino Hall of the Valletta Waterfront to explain some of the delights and destinations to be savoured next season from on board the several MSC cruise ships Hamilton Travel represents. Unfortunately, MSC Fantasia won’t be coming to Malta next year. The good news is that she will be replaced for cruises to the Western Mediterranean by her sister ship the MSC Splendida, described as one of the most stunning cruise liners yet. Best of all, she has a Yacht Club aboard too.
To make your journey to Rome, Barcelona and other beautiful cities as fulfilling as the destinations themselves, the first step would be to visit the MSC Cruises Fair this weekend.