Time to start planning that winter getaway
Being that we haven’t entered summer, it might sound strange to start thinking about winter vacations. But this is exactly the time to start planning for that cold-weather getaway. Not only does booking early give you prime choice over itinerary and stateroom selections, but it also gives you more time to pay for that one-of-a-kind cruise.
This is also the time of year when cruise lines start really ramping up their fall offerings. That’s the case this week with MSC Cruises (cruise.center/msc), which is introducing an expanded Caribbean season, more winter Mediterranean departures, and special sailings that explore the Middle East.
It’s no surprise that MSC is maintaining a high-profile presence in the Caribbean this year: Its newest ship, the innovative MSC Seaside, will make its debut December in Miami. Following her christening, she will offer a variety of Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages.
But make no mistake about it: This is a voyage you’ll want to take just for the ship itself. The buzz in the industry is this is the ship to watch this year, with its wraparound promenade, resortstyle architecture and sweeping banks of glass windows and panoramic elevators at every turn.
But this year, MSC Fantasia will also be sailing in the Caribbean. She’ll operate seven- or 14-night voyages that depart from either Martinique or Guadeloupe, and will call on some of the Caribbean’s more interesting islands, such as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
In addition to these Caribbean sailings, Canadian guests are also able to book MSC’s Cuba cruises. Currently only available to international guests, the more intimately sized MSC Opera and MSC Armonia will continue to offer itineraries this season, which include two or three days in the historic port of Havana, Cuba, allowing guests time to fully enjoy everything the vibrant city and its surroundings have to offer. For those willing to extend their stay, it will be possible to combine two itineraries into a 14-night cruise. Additional ports of call on these itineraries include Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Mexico, Belize and Honduras.
MSC also has a very decent winter program in the Med. Why would you want to cruise the Med in the winter months? Because even though the temperatures are cooler, the tourists have largely left — and that turns cities like Rome, Venice and Athens into an explorer’s paradise.
My pick this winter: MSC’s new 10, 11 and 12-night itineraries operated aboard the pretty MSC Orchestra. You can hop on at any one of four embarkation ports (Genoa, Italy; Marseille, France; Barcelona, Spain; and Civitavecchia, the port for Rome), and sail to either Greece or Italy. And, because MSC is a European cruise line, expect plenty of European influence when it comes to cuisine and onboard atmosphere. It all makes for an immersive, authentic cruise experience.
If I’m sailing to Italy, I want to have good, Italian coffee — and MSC has that, and more.
But if you’re looking for something truly exotic, I really like MSC’s unique cruises that depart from the United Arab Emirates. MSC Splendida offers voyages that embark from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi and sail to the amazing city of Muscat, Oman; the beach town of Khor al Fakkan, and Doha, Qatar, and Bahrain. Guests onboard MSC Splendid will also be able to have their very own beach day at Sir Bani Yas Island, a massive beachside paradise that is exclusively for the use of MSC guests for the day.
This is a truly fascinating part of the world, and in many ways, a cruise is the best way to explore it in comfort. My own visit to Muscat, Oman, a few years ago, for example, was notable for its contrasts: roads and infrastructure are new and spotless, but attitudes are more conservative and traditionally rooted. You may not agree with everything, but there’s no doubting the friendliness of the people you’ll meet.
So, whether you’re looking for something close to home or a destination few have been to, MSC has plenty of different departures this fall to choose from.
Happy cruising.