Seasoned cruiser Gilly Pickup experiences eclectic dining and world-class spa facilities on board MSC's latest vessel Euribia – the line's most environmentally advanced ship to date.
Euribia is the 22nd vessel in family-owned MSC Cruises' fleet and the line’s most environmentally conscious ship to date. The 19-deck vessel, which can carry 6,334 passengers and 1,700 crew, is MSC’s second to be powered by LNG (liquified natural gas), currently the ‘cleanest’ marine fuel available.
During her maiden voyage, the ship completed the world’s first net-zero greenhouse gas emissions voyage, sailing from St Nazaire in France to Copenhagen. This is a ship built for the future.
What’s different about this cruise ship?
Besides being powered by natural gas, Euribia, the line’s third Meraviglia-Plus class ship, utilises an underwater radiated noise management system designed to minimise the effect of vibrations on marine life. Special paints were also used to coat the colourful hull, in order to limit barnacle, algae and marine organism growth and reduce drag and fuel consumption.
Cutting-edge onboard systems for waste management and energy efficiency also help to further minimise the ship’s impact on our planet.
What are the cabins like?
The 2,419 cabins on MSC Euribia are divided into a vast array of different categories. These range from inside to ocean view and balcony options, with some holding up to four people, and others specifically designed for single occupancy.
Prefer to splash out on a suite? There are plenty of these in the ship-within-a-ship complex known as the MSC Yacht Club. The club's Royal Suites and Duplex Suites come with spacious verandas, plus a six-seat dining table and a whirlpool bath. The Yacht Club grade also includes 24-hour butler service, a dedicated concierge and a private pool area with solarium.
Euribia also offers 58 accessible cabins; 25 inside, 32 with a balcony and one deluxe suite. These all have wider doors, ramped thresholds, captioned TVs and grab rails, and are located near the lifts. All lifts also have audio and braille deck indicators.
What’s to eat?
You’ll be spoiled for choice on board, with no fewer than 10 restaurants, five of which incur an extra charge. There are also 21 bars, including five that are are outdoors.
The Helios Wine Bar offers an interactive experience, where guests can exercise the grey matter, learning about wine-making regions and grape varieties. Or if you’d prefer to just relax with your drink, opt for a glass of bubbles at the classy Champagne Bar.
British-style pub Masters of the Sea is the perfect place to sink a pint, with lots of booth seating, low lighting and 12 beers on tap. You can also feast on beer-battered fish and chips and bar snacks. Look out for the London tube logo on the wall outside too.
Speciality restaurants include the Kaito Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar, which includes a robatayaki space (for the traditional Japanese barbecue-style method of cooking). Hola! Tacos and Cantina is a convivial street food concept offering a lively selection of Latin American and Mexican-inspired dishes and drinks, while another new-to-MSC venue is elegant Le Grill, whose French menu tempts with moules frites, seafood platters, dry-aged beef and desserts like mille-feuille with mascarpone. It’s the kind of thing you simply can’t say ‘non’ to.
Guests can also enjoy complimentary meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner in dining venues Colorado River, Green Orchid, II Campo, Aurora Boreale and Aurora Borealis, as well as the 1,336-seat Marketplace Buffet, open daily from early to very late. You could eat in the Marketplace every mealtime without getting bored: it has a huge selection of world food and does great late-night pizzas.
What is there to do for active types?
Water babies have five different swimming pools to choose from, as well as Coral Reef Aquapark, one of the largest waterparks at sea and which includes three twisting slides. For sports enthusiasts there is an extensive fitness area with qualified fitness trainers, plus windows serving panoramic views. You’ll find a range of courses and team sports in the Sportsplex area too.
Actually, I prefer to relax...
There’s no need to miss being pampered just because you’re at sea and Euribia’s state-of-the-art, 20-treatment-room Aurea Spa offers the whole caboodle. Its enormous thermal area has two steam rooms, two saunas (one Mediterranean, one Finnish), two relaxation rooms and two aromatherapy rooms. There’s also a salt room, snow grotto, walk-through shower and thalassotherapy pools to boot.
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What’s the entertainment like?
The Carousel Lounge, a mainstay of MSC cruise ships, has a new layout in Euribia. This is the venue for the ship’s resident Big Band at Sea, a nineteen-piece group of musicians and singers who perform here nightly. Passengers can have dinner here too if they wish – it’s a lovely space, with indoor and outdoor areas, two covered terraces and attentive staff. Visiting guest acts join the band to perform one-off concerts from swing, jazz and rock to disco.
The 945-seat Delphi Theatre offers rousing performances from the likes of The Barricade Boys, four talented young men with an impressive list of West End credits to their name, including Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Mamma Mia.
The stylish Attic Club is the coolest place to dance into the small hours or, if you fancy a flutter, the casino offers games galore including blackjack, roulette and three-card poker.
Will the kids get bored?
A resounding no! The ship’s LEGO-themed kids’ club has seven zones, each one targeted at different age groups from toddlers up to those aged 17. Baby Club Chicco Eco features a designated play area for under threes. The space has lots of safe and environmentally friendly toys made from 80% recycled plastic or 67% organic and recycled plastic.
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Teenage guests can chill in fun-filled spaces jam-packed with boredom busters, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch games, plus VR activities, table football and table tennis. The new MSC Foundation Lab is for children and teenagers to engage in sustainability-focused activities, so they can get creative while addressing pressing issues such as climate change and marine conservation at the same time.
What’s the best bit?
MSC Euribia offers a state-of-the-art experience for cruise passengers, while at the same time respecting the seas. This ship offers environmentally friendly cruising, teaming style with sustainability.
Besides a whirlwind of entertainment options including live shows, a casino and stylish nightclub, Euribia has the largest shopping area at sea and offers guests the chance to travel the culinary globe thanks to the variety of speciality restaurants.
In a nutshell, Euribia takes the stresses of everyday life and replaces them with comfort and fun.
Getting there: MSC Euribia sails from Kiel (Germany) and Copenhagen in summer 2023 and to the Norwegian Fjords in summer 2024, while no-fly cruises depart from Southampton in winter, sailing to destinations in northern Europe. Prices for seven nights are from £749pp including port taxes and service charges/gratuities.
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Lead image: Courtesy of MSC Cruises