Staff Educational: MSC Magnifica
Date Posted: 24/01/2022
MSC Magnifica is the first Musica-class cruise ship, with 5 gourmet restaurants, skylit indoor pool, wide range of bars, beauty treatment facilities, casinos, whirlpools, 4D cinema & more, what's not to love?
Gemma from our Social Media team had the opportunity to embark on MSC Magnifica, visiting Christmas markets around Europe on an educational trip. Read all about her ship visit below...
Southampton, UK
Day 1: "Check in was incredibly fast, within 30 minutes I had completed a LFT, boarded the ship and was in the buffet for lunch! I made my way to my cabin to unpack, where a stunning Deluxe Balcony cabin with breath taking sea views awaited me! After exploring the ship, I ended the day with a delicious 3 course meal at the Quattro Venti restaurant. The menu here changes daily so there was always plenty to try!
Le Harve, France
Day 2: I woke up bright early, welcomed by stunning views of Le Harve from my balcony. After a delicious breakfast in the on board buffet, I jumped on a shuttle bus ready for my first excursion of the trip. Le Harve was incredible! Full of Christmas charm, explored the Christmas. The sweet treats were amazing, I tried a Crepe & Churro which were delicious. I then explored a large shopping centre, where Santa Claus himself was visiting! The shops were amazing & the entire building was decorated in the most stunning festive decorations along with a gigantic tree!
Bruge, Belgium
Day 3: Next on the itinerary was Bruge, Belgium. By far the most Christmasy destination I have ever visited! The markets were fantastic, I had a Belgian Waffle which I washed down with a mulled wine. Once back on board, I attended the turning on of the Christmas tree lights. Spectacular decorations lit up the ship along with wonderful entertainment- very festive!
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Day 4: My next stop was Amsterdam. I wandered through the pretty cobbled streets, admiring the beautiful buildings all around. The city has such charm with bikes, canals & trams everywhere you turn. I jumped on a canal cruise which was a fantastic way seeing the City, I highly recommend this anyone visiting! The food in Amsterdam was amazing too. I had my favourite traditional treat, Frites!
Day at sea
Day 5: My very first sea day of the trip. I took this time to really kick back & relax on board; sitting by the indoor pool with a cocktail in hand was pure bliss! After a day of relaxation, I attended the on board theatre. The Broadway style show was spectacular, all of the acts were incredible! I ended the night by enjoying the delicious buffet food followed by drinks in the Tiger Bar, my personal favourite.
Hamburg, Germany
Day 6: My last excursion of the trip was to the wonderful city of Hamburg. There were multiple Christmas markets to visit, I explored over 10! While in Hamburg, I wanted to try all of the festive food & drink the markets had to offer. I had plenty of Glühwein to stay warm & also tried Bratwurst, Langos & Schmalzkuchen. All of which were absolutely delicious! After a long day of exploring, I headed back to the ship for some cocktails, live evening entertainment & phenomenal food.
Day at sea
Day 7: Sadly this was my final day, so I made sure to take full advantage of the brilliant on board activities. I relaxed in the whirlpool, went bowling with a sea view, played in the arcade, watched a show in the 4D cinema & ended the night off with some cocktails, & live music. I had my final 3 course meal in the Quattro Venti restaurant, the staff went above & beyond to get to know my personal tastes. For my last evening, they served me a meal that wasn't even on the menu as I mentioned it was my favourite dish! I had such a fantastic time on my cruise, I hope to sail on board MSC Magnifica again in the future!"