MSC SPLENDIDA SHIP AMENITIES

2023-24 SAILINGS | TECHNICAL | AMENITIES | VIDEOS | CABINS | DECK PLANS

FIRSTLY, CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE WHEN MAKING YOUR BOOKING.
(The higher the category, the more expensive your experience becomes.)

When you choose the Bella Experience, MSC will assign you the best cabin available in your chosen category*, and you can look forward to enjoying the wide range of features and facilities on board. Your cabin number, restaurant, and dinner sitting will be assigned to you prior to cruise departure upon checking in.
Your cruise experience at the most convenient rates plus
• Main restaurants offering a mouth-watering variety of international cuisine**
• Buffet with a wide choice of cuisine open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night snacks
• Broadway-style theatre shows
• Wide offering of entertainment activities for kids and adults
• Kids Club with unique areas designed by LEGO® and Chicco
• Pool Area
• Open-air sports facilities & Techno Gym
• Cruise change for a fee
• Available with Balcony, Ocean View and Interior cabins

MSC SPLENDIDA SHIP AMENITIES - FANTASTICA
The FANTASTICA experience includes ALL BELLA BENEFITS plus:
• Choice of cabin size and location
• 1 free cruise change***
• Free breakfast in the cabin
• Priority choice for dinner sitting (subject to availability)
• 20% discount on a dedicated specialty restaurant prepaid package at the time of the booking
• Available with Balcony, Ocean View, and Interior cabins.

MSC SPLENDIDA SHIP AMENITIES - aurea
The Aurea experience includes all Bella and Fantastica experiences plus:
• 24-hour room service
• Your Choice of dining in a dedicated restaurant or dining area
• Free access to the “Top 18 Exclusive Solarium” (Upon reservation)
• Relaxation amenities in your cabin (including bathrobe and slippers)
• Pillow menu
• Access to the Spa’s Thermal Area
• 10% off all Spa treatments purchased on board
• Priority boarding & luggage drop-off
• 40% discount on a dedicated Spa prepaid package at the time of the booking
• Available with Suites & Balcony cabins in the best locations on board

Now…Read what one of the world’s best cruise critics has to say about this ship!

“Until the debut of MSC Meraviglia in June 2017, the 3,959-passenger Splendida was one of the biggest in the fleet. In common with its siblings, MSC Fantasia, Divina and Preziosa, it offers fun-filled, informal cruising in dazzling surroundings that include Swarovski crystal studded staircases that cost 3,500 euros per step.

Aside from the peaceful haven of the 71-suite Yacht Club — a separate “ship-within-a ship” where passengers pay premium fares for an exclusive experience — the atmosphere on Splendida is lively and exuberant, which also means pretty noisy at times. This is due to the fact that many passengers are from Italy and are naturally more outgoing than Brits and North Americans. That said, Splendida has a really inclusive feel, with a very friendly atmosphere. Reflecting the typical Mediterranean lifestyle, most young children onboard stay up late and will be out and about with their parents — attracting none of the stern glares they might get on more traditional ships.

Basic cruise prices cover the cabin and meals, although there are upgraded packages such as the Aurea Experience that includes priority boarding, anytime dining, drinks, access to the private sun deck and thermal suite and cabin perks such as a bathrobe and slippers. For those who want to cruise without piling on the pounds, Splendida recently debuted the new Wellness Package, which includes a personalised fitness programme, daily gym class, and dietary advice. Passengers can also book — in advance or onboard — a range of drink deals that range from water, beer and coffee packages to wine with meals or an all-inclusive package covering all drinks onboard that is priced at 26 euros per day for adults and 12 euros for children, and has to be booked for the whole cruise.

Splendida has 14 public decks connected by 25 lifts, with a wide range of bars and public areas and it never feels overly crowded (aside from in the main buffet at certain times of the day). There are some gorgeous public spaces, such as La Piazetta, which resembles a quaint Italian square, and the central hub of the soaring atrium, with its sweeping, glittering staircases, crystal-studded piano, water feature and glass-sided lift. Although passenger flow around the vessel is generally very good, some of the layout is rather confusing; particularly the entrances to the two main dining rooms where a section of the two decks on each side are closed to passenger access. Also, when you’re orientating yourself with the ship the penny eventually drops that there is no Deck 17 (this is considered an unlucky number in Italy).

Splendida places an emphasis on being an “eco-ship”, with various energy saving, water recycling and waste management systems in place. MSC was the first company to receive the 7 Golden Pearls environmental award for its Fantasia-class ships from the international Bureau Veritas testing and certification organisation.

Although English is the main on board language, the entertainment has to be geared to appeal to multinational audiences, which means it is mostly visual with dancers, bilingual singers and acrobats rather than comedians and specialist acts dependant on communication with the audience. For the same reason there is no cinema or movies under the stars. Information on ports of call can be found on the in-cabin TVs and daily newsletters, and there are no port talks or lectures.

MSC sails throughout the year in the Mediterranean and offers seasonal itineraries in northern Europe, the Caribbean, Cuba, South America, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

Fellow Passengers

Marking a change from many cruise lines, Brits and North Americans are in the minority and most Splendida passengers are from mainland Europe, particularly Italy, with others from further afield including South America, China and Japan (there were 36 nationalities on our cruise). MSC also attracts couples, families and groups of friends — including students on their college holidays — who are generally younger than cruisers on more traditional ships, which makes for an all-encompassing, and sometimes lively, atmosphere. There are few singles onboard and no special activities for solo travellers.

Notable differences from dedicated English-speaking ships include announcements in multiple languages — the main five being English, Italian, Spanish, German and French — and sometimes Russian, Chinese and Japanese, depending on the passenger mix on a particular cruise. All credit to members of the crew in all departments, the majority of whom switch seamlessly from one language to another. There are also dedicated on board hosts for the above nationalities.

It should be noted that some cultural differences can cause a few minor rubs, particularly with British and American passengers who are used to forming orderly queues and sailing on smoke-free ships. Waiting patiently is not the norm in some countries, so don’t be surprised if someone pushes in front of you at the buffet. Also, cigarette smoking is more prevalent on Splendida than many ships, with a smoking lounge and dedicated smoking areas on the pool decks and in a section of the casino, where the smell tends to linger.

MSC Splendida Dress Code

Although the ship’s surroundings and decor are sparkly and glamorous, Splendida is very laid-back and relaxed. Daywear is casual and the daily programme sets out the three evening dress codes which are (supposedly) applicable in the restaurants from 6 p.m. For gala nights — usually two on every seven-night cruise — the recommendation is a dressy outfit, such as a formal gown or cocktail dress for ladies, and black tie or a dark suit and tie for men. Informal nights mean a dress or trousers for women and jacket and trousers (no jeans) for men. For casual nights more or less anything goes, such as jeans, T-shirts and sportswear, aside from shorts, swimwear and — rather curious that it has to be spelled out to passengers — bare feet in restaurants. That said, many passengers seemed to do their own thing, no matter what is recommended in the evening, and there was no sign of crew members trying to enforce the code. Of the women that did dress up on formal nights, the tendency was for cocktail dresses and nobody wore long ball gowns. There is also an optional theme night on most cruises, such as a white party or 70s and 80s night, where passengers can don anything suitable they might have to hand.”

Cruise Critic Editor Rating

4.5 Very Good Overall

Jeannine Williamson

Cruise Critic Contributor

“You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Christopher Columbus

Activities & Entertainment

**Activities with a * may require an extra charge.**

4D Cinema*
Aqua Park
Arts Classes
Club 33
Comedy Performances
Cyberlibrary*
Dance Classes
Deck Parties
Evening DJ
F1 Simulator*
Game Shows
Hot Baths (12)
I Graffiti – Kids Club
Il Polo Nord – Kids Club
Karaoke
La Piazzetta

Library
Live Music
MSC Arena Sport Centre
MSC Aurea Spa*
Royal Palm Casino*
Shuffleboard
Sports Bar Bowling*
Sports Tournaments
Squash
Teen’s Area – Kids Club
Teens Toboga – Kids Club
The Aft Lounge
The Strand Theatre
Video Games Arcade*
Virtual World*
Waterslides

THE MSC SPLENDIDA

SWIMMING POOLS & JACUZZIS

The main pools are on Deck 14, where the covered L’Equatore pool leads to the Aqua Park — the main outdoor hub. The covered pool, which has three hot tubs, is the quieter of the two. It is surrounded by tables and chairs, with loungers on the mezzanine deck overlooking the pool. On sunny days the Aqua Park is the main gathering spot and is a very lively area with piped music playing throughout the day and night, along with live music events such as themed pool parties, including a fun Snow Party complete with a snow cannon. The main pool, which is 5ft 10in deep, is surrounded by decking, smaller splash pools, spraying fountains, water jets and two whirlpools. (Two more whirlpools are situated immediately above on Deck 15). The area nearest to the pool is surrounded by plenty of loungers, and tables and chairs are situated under a covered area at both sides of the ship. There is a smoking area in the Aqua Park.

A children’s pool, for youngsters who are out of nappies, is located on Deck 15. Adults in search of peace and quiet can head to Playa del Sol, a lovely area overlooking the stern of the ship on Deck 15 that few passengers seem to discover. The mosaic-tiled pool area, which has a hot tub is surrounded by loungers, tables and chairs.

Yacht Club passengers have their own private pool and hot tub situated in a prime spot at the front of the ship on the uppermost Deck 18.

The L’Equatore pool is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the Aqua Park, and other outdoor pools, are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Whirlpools are open from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Tobago waterslide, with a minimum age of eight for users, is located on Deck 15.

THE MSC SPLENDIDA
THEATRE SHOWS & MUSIC

The Strand Theatre is an impressive split-level venue located at the front of the ship on Deck 6 and 7. The theatre can seat 1,200 passengers in the lower auditorium and 400 upstairs, with all seats providing an unobstructed view of the stage (the first in the MSC fleet to feature LED screens). Due to the broad mix of international passengers, the shows are mostly variations of song and dance routines, with singers often embracing several languages during each song, along with acrobats and magicians. The shows might not be that varied, but they are all slick and colourful, in particular a Spanish-themed performance featuring guest flamenco artistes and the vibrant Nature show with some exciting acrobatics.

Shows generally last 45 minutes and are performed twice a day, usually at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., to accommodate passengers on both dinner sittings.

There is no bar service in the theatre, but passengers are welcome to take drinks through and the closest bar is La Prua piano bar located next to the entrance to the theatre on Deck 7. This upper level of the theatre also has a raised area at the back of the auditorium with eight tables, each with four seats, that can be swivelled to face the stage. This is a good spot for people who want to enjoy a drink while they watch the show.

The theatre is also used for bingo, children’s shows and as the meeting point for excursions.

Palm Beach Casino
L'Ibiscus Restaurant
Pool Area Deck 13
The Shaker Lounge
Covent Garden Theatre

THE MSC SPLENDIDA

THE AMENITIES

Dining
6 restaurants – La Reggia dining room, Villa Verda dining room, Pago Pago buffet restaurant, Bora Bora pizzeria/buffet, Santa Fe Tex-Mex restaurant, L’Olivio a la carte French restaurant
13 bars/cafes including L’Espresso coffee bar, Splendida bar, Blue Note jazz bar, La Prua pub, Riviera de Chiaia piano bar, l’Aperitivo bar, L’Enoteca wine bar, Sports bar with bowling, Cigar lounge and bar, Bar Del Riccio acqua park bar, Tartaruga pool bar, Movida pool bar

Health and Fitness
5 pools – Acqua park pool, L’Equatore pool, Playaa del Sol pool, The One pool, Children’s waterpark and pool
14 jacuzzis Gym Spa Beauty salon Sauna Sports court Minigolf Shuffleboard Jogging track

Entertainment
Strand theater Royal Palm casino Club 33 disco Aft Lounge with dance floor 4D cinema Outdoor cinema Cyber Library Internet cafe Card Room Top Sail MSC Yacht club lounge Adventure of the Nile chilren’s play area I Graffiti teen disco Virtual World video arcade Virtual simulator

Additionally
Shops Art Gallery Meeting/conference room

"I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and sky, and all I ask is for a tall ship and a star to steer her by." - John Macefield