Poesia to Mediterranean

MSC Poesia is a large resort vessel, sold to several different nationalities, and intended to appeal to large,  extended families. With everything from water slides for the kiddies to a vast, glass walled disco overlooking the stern, the ship is brimming with things to do at all hours of the day and night.

All announcements on board are made in at least five different languages, and can seem interminable at times. Similarly, evening shows tend to be loud, splashy affairs that revolve around song and dance numbers, so as to cater to this multi national mix. On the whole, passengers seemed to really enjoy these shows.

MSC Poesia is a lavish, beautifully decorated ship with outstanding, opulent public rooms, all wonderfully proportioned and filled with fine quality artworks and styling.  Cabins range from insides through to sea views, up to expansive balcony cabins and a series of truly opulent suites right at the top pf the ship. Right throughout the ship, the sheer quality of furnishings and fixtures give her a rich, luxurious style that makes just walking around her a real pleasure.

Up top,  a vast, two level pool complex has tables and chairs on the mezzanine, and a sliding glass roof overhead. In the fine summer weather, the roof was open during the day, and the whole area was popular with the numerous families on board. On the one day when the roof was closed, the din here was almost unbearable.

Food on board the Poesia was generally very good, whether in the main restaurants, at the buffet, or in the speciality dining rooms. As on many mega ships, service veered wildly between the impeccable and the infuriating. There were simple, genuine mistakes caused by communications problems but, in general, the staff were charming and attentive.

The Poesia is definitely geared towards families. She is essentially a big, beautiful resort hotel on the ocean, with lots of fun and, almost inevitably, lots of noise. Italian families tend to keep their children up well after midnight, and some might find this annoying as they scamper around the public rooms well into the small hours.