The MSC Sinfonia is a popular floating resort. The waters are crowded with sea-worthy vessels, so to make planning easier, we've done all the prep work for a cruise vacation. As part of a Huffington Post Travel series on cruise ships, here is a tip sheet offering all the key information one could ever need to know about The MSC Sinfonia.
Destination
The MSC Sinfonia sails to South Africa as well as the Eastern and Western Mediterranean. This cruise ship offers six to 20-night voyages in March and from July to October.
Passenger Ship
The 824-foot MSC Sinfonia exudes the elegance of Italy and was inspired by Europe's classical composers. This family-friendly smallish cruise ship carries 1,554 passengers.
Special Features
The MSC Sinfonia offers two pools, a jogging track, a virtual golf simulator, a teen center with a video game area, salon, gym, casino, shows, music and even a futuristic disco club. This is the first ship of this cruise line to offer the virtual golf simulator, which lets golfers practice their swings onboard.
Accommodations
Accommodations on the MSC Sinfonia include interior staterooms, oceanview staterooms and balcony suites. Interior and oceanview staterooms come with a wardrobe, air conditioning, a safe, a mini bar, interactive TV, telephone, bathroom with shower and, upon request, single beds that can be converted into double beds. The balcony suites boast everything the staterooms do, but come standard with a double bed, a bathroom with tub and, of course, a balcony. They also offer an internet connection for an additional fee.
Cost
The cost of a cruise on
will run from $679 to $2,019. Prices vary depending on type of cabin, time of year and length of voyage.
Excursions
An excursion to
is highly recommended. This area is known for its Gothic inspiration, amazing flamenco dancing and genuine tapas. A stunning site to visit is the
, which is a large Roman Catholic church designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi in the 1880s. It is recommended to take the elevator to the top upon arrival because the elevator lines are very long and the rest of the church can be done at your own leisure.
Dining Experience
The MSC Sinfonia offers four
: II Covo and II Galeone offer elegance while La Terrazza is a buffet and Caffe del Mare is oudoors. Selection of food varies from Mediterranean to international cuisine and ranges from room service to a grill and pizzeria to a seven-course Italian meal. A midnight buffet is available for those who are hungry and up late.
Maiden Voyage
MSC Sinfonia's maiden voyage occurred in 2002.
christened the MSC Sinfonia, the ship ran as Festival Cruises' European Stars.
In The News
In 2009,
developed an outbreak of diarrhea and vomiting while cruising on MSC Sinfonia, which departed from Rio de Janeiro. An inspection indicated there were problems with the level of chlorine in the drinking water and with the handling of perishable food, mostly mayonnaise.
WATCH
Advertisement
A video of the MSC Sinfonia cruising the Mediterranean.
What's your favorite cruise memory?
Check out more CRUISE SHIP GUIDES.