Yesterday, Cruise Capital and ourselves enjoyed an afternoon on board MSC Splendida. The ship had arrived in Southampton for the first time and Cruise Capital was able to get us a visit arranged.
It was an exciting opportunity for Cruisemarsh as we have never been on board an MSC ship or an Italian ship for that matter.
We initially were supposed to be checking in at Mayflower Cruise Terminal, berth 106 where Spendida was docked at 10am. However, this was put back to 11am due to the Coastguard initiaiting a crew drill. When we arrived at the newly refurbished Mayflower Cruise Terminal, we were then told that we couldn't embark until 12.30 as the drill was going on for longer than expected.
At check in, we were split into groups and we were in Group 2. It was around 1pm that were moved through to security. However, with only 1 person on the x-ray machine, it took around 20-25 minutes to pass security. This had led to a massive build up of visitors like ourselves visiting the ship for the day and passengers returning from their travels ashore. We eventually were on board by 1.30pm.
The programwas then tweaked and we were then escorted to the dining room for our lunch. The lunch itself was satisfactory, nothing to wow but nonetheless enjoyable.
Afterwards, we then were escorted to a lounge for a coffee before we were then taken on the guided tour of the ship.
Although we saw a good amount of areas such as the main atrium, theatre, lounges, XD Theatre and the spa area, we didn't see as much as we had hoped to see and had very little time to explore the outer decks of the ship.
The opportunity to try out the 4D Theatre (XD Theatre) was not to be missed as it was superb!
The visit to the ship then ended around 3.45pm and then were escorted to the gangway where we disembarked the ship.
VERDICT OF SHIP:
MSC Splendida is a very nice and comfortable ship with plenty of airy, light and well decorated spaces. However some of the passing areas for passengers to access were a little narrow and passenger flows not very well laid out. Outer decks there seemed to be good space for swimming pools and outdoor activities and good areas for sunbathers to soak up the sun.
RATING: 7/10
Would Sail, Wouldn't Sail: WOULD SAIL.
It was an exciting opportunity for Cruisemarsh as we have never been on board an MSC ship or an Italian ship for that matter.
We initially were supposed to be checking in at Mayflower Cruise Terminal, berth 106 where Spendida was docked at 10am. However, this was put back to 11am due to the Coastguard initiaiting a crew drill. When we arrived at the newly refurbished Mayflower Cruise Terminal, we were then told that we couldn't embark until 12.30 as the drill was going on for longer than expected.
At check in, we were split into groups and we were in Group 2. It was around 1pm that were moved through to security. However, with only 1 person on the x-ray machine, it took around 20-25 minutes to pass security. This had led to a massive build up of visitors like ourselves visiting the ship for the day and passengers returning from their travels ashore. We eventually were on board by 1.30pm.
The programwas then tweaked and we were then escorted to the dining room for our lunch. The lunch itself was satisfactory, nothing to wow but nonetheless enjoyable.
Afterwards, we then were escorted to a lounge for a coffee before we were then taken on the guided tour of the ship.
Although we saw a good amount of areas such as the main atrium, theatre, lounges, XD Theatre and the spa area, we didn't see as much as we had hoped to see and had very little time to explore the outer decks of the ship.
The opportunity to try out the 4D Theatre (XD Theatre) was not to be missed as it was superb!
The visit to the ship then ended around 3.45pm and then were escorted to the gangway where we disembarked the ship.
VERDICT OF SHIP:
MSC Splendida is a very nice and comfortable ship with plenty of airy, light and well decorated spaces. However some of the passing areas for passengers to access were a little narrow and passenger flows not very well laid out. Outer decks there seemed to be good space for swimming pools and outdoor activities and good areas for sunbathers to soak up the sun.
RATING: 7/10
Would Sail, Wouldn't Sail: WOULD SAIL.