Supplement to Travel Trade
July 2003

A True Taste of Italy

Aboard MSC’s Lirica

By Patricia J. Collins

With cappuccino flowing and Italian beauty Sophia Loren as her Godmother, the 2,065-passenger Lirica is already playing a starring role in the world of Italian-style cruising. This elegant newbuild, which debuted in April, is currently welcoming admirers during a series of Western Mediterranean cruises. In December, Lirica will bring the joyful energy of Italy to America’s doorstep when she repositions to Ft. Lauderdale for a series of close-to-home Caribbean cruises. Several popular Panama Canal itineraries will also be available.

Owned and operated by MSC Italian Cruises, Lirica is the first in a series of new ships to be introduced to add tonnage and bring new shine to MSC’s older fleet of smaller vessels. Lirica’s sister ship, Opera, will set sail in 2004.

Lirica’s Italian lineage is undeniable. The line is owned by the Aponte family (one of Italy’s prominent shipping families) and all officers and many crewmembers are Italian. Throughout its fleet, MSC pays homage to Italy’s operatic tradition. The line prides itself on its dedication to Italian hospitality, fine cuisine and top service standards.

The only break from its Italian roots is where the ship was built. Because of long backlogs at Italian shipyards, MSC opted to have both Lirica and Opera built in France. The ship, itself, has a clean, elegant Euro-style. Furnishings and interior décor reflect the ship’s Mediterranean homeland with a soothing color scheme of salmon, teal, terra cotta, blues of every shade, sunny yellows and earth tones. There is little decorative clutter. Opportunities for neon, kitschy themes and pretension are set aside in favor of straightforward, inviting spaces and plush furniture.

Two-Story Atrium
Embarkation is on Verdi Deck (5), the place at which her clean and sophisticated ambiance is first introduced. The two-story atrium is bright and welcoming thanks to the warm earth tones of its marble floor and salmon marble walls. Located amidships, this is the operational hub of the Lirica, housing the reception desk, bank, shore excursion desk, duty-free shops and several of the ship’s nine bars.

There is plenty of seating within the reception area for guests who want to meet before or after taking a shore excursion. Teal sofas, banquettes and club chairs are in abundance.

The Beverly Hills Bar, just aft of the main foyer, is the circular bar located in the center of the Rodeo Drive Shopping Arcade and a comfortable place to relax between purchases.

The Coffee Corner on Puccini Deck (6) in the atrium is a pleasant place to enjoy a drink or pass the time. The room spans the width of the ship and has a series of large picture windows on both the port and the starboard sides. There are no fussy window treatments here or anywhere on the ship, just graceful Austrian drapes that shield passengers from the sun. The semi-circular bar in the Coffee Corner serves Italian espresso, cappuccino, ciococcino and other coffees from around the world, as well as several popular tea selections. Also available are the typical assortment of tropical cocktails, as well as champagnes and sparkling Italian wines, brandies, cognacs, whiskies, beer, sherries and grappa. This same beverage menu is featured in bars throughout the entire vessel.

Dining
Much of the joy of Italian-style cruising on the Lirica happens in the dining rooms. Located aft on deck 5 is La Bussola Restaurant, the larger of the ship’s two main restaurants. The smaller one, L’Ippocampo, is located aft on Puccini Deck. Both rooms are smartly turned out in light shades of salmon, blue, rose, taupe and cream. Formal table settings, comfortable upholstered chairs and views of the sea are the opening notes to an impressive gourmet performance.

The well-trained Italian dining staff serves true Italian dishes that are creatively prepared from scratch. Regional specialties — while not marked as such on the menu — are available from foodstuffs purchased fresh locally. The majority of food purchases are from Naples (MSC’s home) with meats from Argentina and New Zealand.

The menu always features healthy and vegetarian selections. Special diets are accommodated, but agents are urged to let the line know what is required prior to sailing.

There are two seatings for dinner, which are set for 6:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Times will be set a bit earlier when the ship is in the Caribbean and carrying predominately American passengers.

The following are but a few of the selections on the evening’s seven-course dinner menu:
• Pasta e Fagioli (pasta and bean soup Neapolitan-style)
• Grilled spiny lobster (with Italian sauce)
• “Saltimbocca alla Romana” (veal escallops with ham and sage)
• Risotto with mushrooms of Castagnetto Navelli and saffron
• Ice Cream Cup Balilla (Giandula ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate flakes, pistachios and grenadine)

In addition to the two main dining rooms, dining venues include the Pergola, which serves lunch and beverage service by the pool, and the Bistro, the Lido-style self-service casual dining room that offers breakfast and lunch. Pasta and pizza are ubiquitous. Room service is available 24-hours a day, but there is a small charge for food. Dinners are not served en suite.

Entertainment
The evening’s main entertainment is held in the Broadway Theater on Deck 6. Stadium seating, the absence of columns that would obstruct sightlines and cushy rust-colored seats make this an inviting place to watch the show. The entertainment typically features energetic dancers, a magician and juggler.

Gaming is available in The Las Vegas Casino, which offers slots, two roulette tables and four blackjack tables. There is plenty of elbowroom and the noise level is surprisingly low.

In the evening, entertainment is offered throughout the ship. It’s simply a matter of deciding what to do. One of the most comfortable bars is the Lord Nelson Pub, located forward on Deck 5. Semicircular banquettes, tables for four with upholstered club chairs and several sit-up bars make this a great place for those who want the feel of a private club. The pub’s green-and-red plaid carpeting and wood wall panels enhance the clubby atmosphere.

While there are a number of places to dance or enjoy a drink, one of the most whimsical is The Lirica Lounge, which breaks from the more conservative color palette found in other public rooms for an all-out show of purple, plum and rose. There is a white marble dance floor and a side bar. It is the only public room on Scarlatti Deck (7).

High atop Lirica on Russini Deck 12 is the disco. Called The Blue Club, its décor is in rich teal and dark blue with an abundance of blue polka dots. On a recent European excursion on board Lirica, the Blue Club was the meeting place for younger cruisers who met to dance away the nights. Immediately forward of the disco is a cubby that houses virtual reality games.

Health & Beauty
Keeping in shape or relaxing in peace is easy on Lirica. The health and beauty center on Deck 12 has a full gym with treadmills, stationary bikes, free weights and other strength and endurance equipment. There are also private spa treatment rooms and even a separate meditation room that has chaise lounge chairs that face the sea. The beauty salon offers a full lineup of services, including manicures and pedicures. The area is operated by the Jean Klebert Spa in Italy.

Who to Prospect
Lirica is a good choice for clients who are age 45 and older. They may well be veteran cruisers who are “graduating” to something a bit different. Lirica is a great choice for European-bound clients who enjoy traveling with Europeans, experiencing the extraordinary Italian cuisine and being pampered by the line’s largely Italian staff (60%). It’s also an excellent choice for those seeking a heritage cruise or groups bound for Europe to soak up the art and culture. In the Caribbean, North Americans are expected to comprise 75% of the passenger total. Those who want a taste of Italy without traveling to Europe are candidates for Lirica’s Caribbean Cruises.

Suites

The number of suites with a veranda is limited at 132 — there will be more on the Opera — but there are still a number of options. Very much oriented toward family vacations, Lirica features a large number of cabins that sleep up to four people. Cabins size range from 138-square feet to 270-square feet. There are two family cabins, which have two rooms and can sleep up to six. Outside suites have twin beds that can be converted to queen. Each have a shower (tubs are available in balcony suites), in-room safe, mini-bar, bathroom amenities, hairdryer, television, radio, vanity with mirror and bathrobes. Like the public rooms, suites are tastefully decorated in soothing colors of the sea and sky.

Lirica is now sailing 7-day Europe cruise and will sail a 12-day trans-Atlantic repositioning cruise on Dec. 27. The ship will offer 7- and 12-day Eastern and Caribbean cruises during the winter season. For more information or reservations, call (800) 666-9333 or visit www.msccruises.com.