“Truly Italian” is the slogan of MSC Cruises and la dolce vita (the sweet life) sums up the ambience on board the ships of this privately-owned company which revels in its Italian roots. It is the country’s largest privately-owned cruise line with a fleet of nine ships, and claims to be part of the world’s second-largest shipping group. In recent years, MSC cruise holidays have taken on a new dimension with a string of new and larger ships that have given the line one of the most modern fleets afloat offering a range of up-to-the-minute facilities. The newest is MSC Poesia, launched in April 2008, at Dover, which takes more than 3,000 passengers and also has MSC Cruises’ highest-ever number of balcony cabins. It will be followed in December by another, even larger, ship MSC Fantasia and yet another, MSC Splendida in 2009.

The cosmopolitan mix of MSC cruise holidays ensures that they attract a wide range of passengers of different European nationalities – and more North Americans on their Caribbean voyages. With free places for youngsters under 18 on sailings, MSC holidays are also popular with families who can book inter-connecting cabins and enjoy family-friendly activities. MSC Cruises’ main strength is in its home ground of the Mediterranean where it offers voyages all year round and calls at more unusual destinations such as Libya. It recently expanded to the Caribbean and also sails to South America and South Africa. More MSC holidays are offered in northern Europe and the Baltic with an increased number of departures from the UK.

There is no shortage of facilities or activities on an MSC cruise and one of the highlights is dining with an emphasis, naturally, on Italian gastronomic cuisine at a wide choice of venues. Passengers wanting to eat well can choose between a la carte restaurants, gala dinners, midnight buffets and freshly-prepared traditional Neapolitan pizzas. When it comes to relaxing, MSC holidays offer plenty of opportunity for pampering in the on-board spas. Inspiration is taken from Bali for spa treatments, one of which is the wonderful-sounding Special Bali Massage which involves two masseuses and four hands “working in perfect harmony to rejuvenate your body”. Then there is the Q Frequency treatment, which penetrates the skin through radio frequencies to increase skin tone; crystal body decorations; and even temporary tooth piercing!