MSC Splendida

Yesterday I compared US versus European cruising for my Cruising 101 series.

Today I'm going to show you the beautiful MSC Splendida.

I have a lot of photographs so you can get a feel for the ship.

First things first.  The MSC Splendida is massive.  With 18 decks, it's one of the largest ships that I've cruised on.
13 of the decks accommodate the 3,900 passengers served by a crew in excess of 1,300.
It's a beautiful and elegant ship, like a really nice floating hotel.

On the MSC Splendida, a large portion of the rooms are balcony rooms.  I love having a balcony room.  It's so nice to have that private area to have a coffee or nightcap and watch the ocean go by.  

I was close to the front of the ship so that I had a metal balcony rather than a glass balcony.
I didn't mind as it was pretty high up and it felt more enclosed.
 My room was nice and roomy, comparable to other balcony rooms that I've had in both size and amenities.  
It was clean and well maintained throughout my stay by the room steward.
However, I did notice the couch upholstery was stained and in need of a good steam clean. 

The MSC Splendida is a beautiful ship.
On most cruise ships there are usually 2-3 mid-level decks where you will find the public areas.
On these decks you will find the dining rooms, bars, galleries, shops, specialty restaurants, cigar rooms, libraries, internet cafes, reception, bars, the theatre and more.
On the MSC Splendida, these public areas are found on Decks 5, 6 and 7 and are extensive.
More than enough options for every interest and these decks never felt crowded.

There were several banks of elevators but they were very busy and you had to be quick.
There were many times when we had to run for an open door to have it close before we could get to it.
Because of the sheer size of the ship expect to do a lot of walking during your stay.

I love some bling and these crystal staircases were gorgeous.
The MSC Splendida has a very elegant European style.
It's certainly the prettiest ship I've ever been on.

I was very satisfied with the meals on board.  We ate most of our dinners in the Main Dining room.
I always got room service for breakfast as my wake up call.  Lunch was in the buffet each day.
The buffet is huge, as you would imagine to feed that many people.
They offer a very wide range of foods from burgers to pasta, plenty of fresh fruit and veg and wonderful desserts.
It was usually very crowded, but we were always able to find a table.

The dining room we were assigned, La Reggia, was very nice but a bit dark and closed in with no views.
I believe the other dining room has more views.
The ship is huge but I found it to have a bit of a closed in feel overall.
If you didn't have a balcony room, you wouldn't really even know that you were on a ship.
This is just a personal preference for me.
I want to know that I'm on a ship and I want to see the ocean no matter where I am.

There is a lovely Italian-tiled cafe serving yummy gelato.  There are wine bars and coffee bars.  All of these treats are extra and the expenses can add up if you aren't careful.

When your cruising, the meals in the main dining room and the buffet are included in the price of the cruise.
But most of the larger ships have specialty themed restaurants where you can also eat.  But, be prepared to pay an extra premium for these meals.

I was so excited that the MSC Splendida features a Tex Mex Restaurant.

It is casual dining with a western flair and the margaritas were wonderful.

The theatres on a cruise ship are typically mid level at the front of the ship.
This was the largest theatre that I've seen on a ship. 
I also noticed that they don't allow drinks which is different from other ships I've been on
that have drink service before each show. 

The ship has a large variety of bars and discos that get going late at night.

We were so busy during the day that we didn't have many late nights.

But, one night we did spend some time in a lounge watching the dancing and had a blast.

The staff did a great job of getting everyone up dancing and it was very festive and fun.

Along with the mid level public areas on a cruise ship, the top few decks are also full of fun things to do. 
This is where you will find the pools, sun decks, the buffet, more bars, sports centers and the spa. 
(So, when you cruising don't be overwhelmed with 18 levels. 
You just have to learn the public decks at mid-level and up top.)   

The MSC Splendida also has a pool area with a retractable roof
which means that you can enjoy the water no matter the weather.
I didn't really spend any time enjoying the pools and hot tubs on this cruise
but there were many people that did.

I did, however, spend a good amount of time in The Aurea Spa.  It was ah-ma-zing!
I had a Balinese massage, a body scrub and a facial and it was heavenly.
The MSC Aurea Spa is unique to MSC Cruises with a state-of-the-art gym, spa,and beauty facilities.
You can get a manicure, pedicure, even get your hair styled and enjoy the juice bar.  
 I've always wanted to visit the spa on a cruise ship and now that I have I'm completely spoiled.  

There is so much more on board.  I've only shown you a little bit.
There is a Sports Bar with a bowling alley, Formula 1 Simulator, 4D Cinema, arcade, a gym, running track, basketball court and an extensive children's program.
I've never been on a ship with so much to offer.  
With only three days on board, there was no way to squeeze it all in.

I was invited aboard the MSC Splendida with a small group of bloggers
for just three nights to get a taste of the ship and the cruise line.  
But, the regular itinerary for the Splendida is a seven day Mediterranean cruise
with stops in Italy, France, Spain and Tunisia with prices starting as low as £299 per person (that's not a typo!).
And children cruise for free on MSC.  (Be sure to check the MSC website for Terms & Conditions.)

I had an wonderful time on board the MSC Splendida and met some really great people.


But, cruising isn't just about the ship.
Later this week, I'll share with you the ports we visited.

What is your favorite part of cruising?

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 *I was a guest of MSC Cruises for a three night #MSCBlogCruise for the purposes of review.
All photos, writing and opinions are my own.
As always, I promise to be open, honest and transparent with my readers.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.