The first thing that strikes you about any MSC ship is the décor. Glitzy is probably an apt adjectiv

The first thing that strikes you about any MSC ship is the décor. Glitzy is probably an apt adjective to describe it. Magnifica doesn’t have the Swarovski student plane tickets crystals embedded in the stairs like the more modern ships, but there is a fair amount of bling about the place, in addition to a bunch of bright, colourful designs, such as those you ll find in the Tiger Lounge, Amethyst Lounge and Topaz Lounge. The names of each lounge are reflected in the decor.
There are just two speciality restaurants onboard: one Asian, the 54-seat Oriental Plaza; and the other Italian, the 250-seat L’Oasi. The former is a la carte, with dishes ranging from €6.40 for two pieces of sushi to €26 for a large sharing selection. The latter is €24 per head for a three-course student plane tickets meal not including wine. We ate in the Oriental Plaza and it was empty. Not figuratively empty, but literally: not a single other diner came in through the entire evening (and we were there from 8pm-10.30pm). This may well be because of the nationality (the ship is on a round-trip, five-day cruise from Hamburg, and is 99% German), but it may also explain why MSC has not followed the Norwegian Cruise Line/Carnival model of offering a huge choice of for-fee dining options. How this will play with the Brits, who like variety, I’m not sure.
By contrast (with the lack of places to eat), there are more bars than you can shake a stick at on Magnifica, and all of them are a good size. Nine indoor bars and two outdoor ones. The largest is Tiger Bar, which seats 439 people, but is more of a thoroughfare than a destination. L’Ametista Lounge (capacity 330) and Topazio Bar (capacity 220) are more destination spots for pre- or post-dinner drinks. No one will go thirsty onboard!
Smoking onboard is a lot less restrictive compared to a US-owned ship (and I include all the so-called UK brands such as P O and Cunard, who adhere to US-style smoking restrictions), and a whole lot more people smoke. So you’ll find smoking in all of the following places: all of the casino (not just port side), a decent-sized cigar room, Cuba Lounge, which is inviting, seats 32, has a bar and is well ventilated; the whole of the port side of the pool deck, plus the middle section; the whole of the port side of the Promenade student plane tickets Deck. Interestingly, though, smoking is banned on balconies – which is a step ahead of the US lines.
Patchy to say the least, but it’s tailored for the passengers, and they are all German on this cruise. Obviously, what’s hilarious in Germany will not necessarily translate in the UK. Oompah-type bands and the most trite kind of cruise ship quiz/karaoke/humorous show went down a storm last night, but I’m not sure whether the UK audience will take to it. I asked whether the entertainment will be adapted for the UK market and the answer is yes, so don’t be put off! (Plus I haven’t seen the main show yet, which is reportedly pretty impressive).
I’m lucky enough to be in a suite, which is probably the nicest cabin I have been in on a big ship. It doesn’t feel cookie-cutter, like some of the recent new-builds. The balcony is a really decent size, with space to stretch your legs, more of a square shape than the thin rectangle on the newer ships. The décor in the cabins is also very tasteful: purples and magentas, contrasted with black. The wardrobe is generous, and there is a bath in my bathroom – which is always a treat. The only negative: no products – just nasty dispensers, which is allegedly student plane tickets because of the environment. Oh, and clingy shower curtains.
The Aurea Spa is standout. It’s an all-Balinese student plane tickets team, who know exactly what they are doing, and the massage I had (which cured my back ache) was outstanding. The décor is tasteful and soothing; there is a juice/smoothie bar with a menu of delicious drinks. There are two saunas, two steam rooms and three hot tubs with fabulous views. The whole of the gym is glass-fronted so the views from there are wonderful too.
Three years ago, MSC changed the first language onboard all its ships from Italian to English, so there will be no challenges for Brits there. With just a few tweaks here and there (plug sockets; in-cabin tea coffee making facilities), I think the Brit market will embrace this fine ship.
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