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TRAVEL

THE JOYS

OF CRUISING

COMPILEDBY BEV HERMANSON

t the beginning of November 6 334 guests in her 2 421 cabins. Each a VR Maze, XD Cinema, F1 Simulator and
last year, in Hamburg Germany, cabin is equipped with its own virtual Bowling alley; the Sportplex where they
I had the privilege of attending personal cruise assistant, Zoe, which can play basketball, tennis, volleyball and
Athe Christening of the MSC is programmed to help with any cruise- five-a-side football; and the Kids’ Club that
Grandiosa, MSC Cruises’ newest flagship, related enquiry. Similar to Amazon’s has dedicated play areas for infants (under
with Madame Sophia Loren, the ship’s Alexa Voice Service, the Google Mini supervision), children, tweens and teens.
godmother, performing the honour of cutting and the “OK Google” facility available For the adults, there’s the MSC Aurea
the ribbon to release the traditional bottle on most smartphones, Zoe responds to Spa with a Thermal area; the MSC Gym
of champagne. The fifth next-generation voice activation and is programmed to powered by Technogym®; a variety of retail
cruise ship to be launched in 30 months by communicate in seven languages, which stores stocked with jewellery, designer
the privately-owned MSC Cruises, the MSC can be changed by the guest at any time. clothing, perfumes and cosmetics; the
Grandiosa boasts cutting edge technology The device is able to activate the smart TV Casino and the Theatre where a series of
on a number of levels, not only enhancing in the cabin, provide weather forecasts, as Broadway shows can be enjoyed.
the guest experience, but also incorporating well as updated billing details, and answer
the latest environmental advancements a host of questions or make suggestions If you love travelling internationally, you’ll be
designed to significantly reduce carbon as to who to ask if the information is not able to cruise the western Mediterranean on
emissions. available to it. the MSC Grandiosa for the next 10 months,
before it makes its way to South America
Weighing 181 000 tonnes (gross), at a On board the MSC Grandiosa, the kids’ for winter 2020.
length of over 331 metres, with entertainment includes the Wild Forest
19 passenger decks, the MSC Grandiosa is Aquapark and Himalayan Bridge; the Virtual LOCAL CRUISES
able to accommodate a maximum of Games Arcade; the Amusement Park with However, with the exchange rate being a
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DPL