Malta to Malta cruises are the easiest way to discover the beauty of the Mediterranean. After all, where else can one travel luxuriously to fascinating ports without the hassle of airports, waiting times and concerns about luggage weight. Cruising with MSC offers a unique and truly special experience combined with great value for money.  What a delight for Maltese cruisers to have the MSC Fantasia including Malta again in its West Mediterranean itinerary after an absence of three years. The MSC flagship is sailing from Malta for 30 consecutive weeks between April and November of this year taking its 4,200 passengers to Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Marseilles, Genoa, Naples and Messina.

MCS is a family-owned company, founded in 1970. Sailing, the love of the sea and ships was and still is in the family's blood for generations .Commander Gianluigi Aponte founded the MSC Fleet and it has become the second largest container carrier company in the world with more than 400 cargo vessels and 52,000 employees.  MSC Cruises, having grown by 800 per cent during this last decade, is now a market-leading cruise company in the Mediterranean, South Africa and Brazil. MSC Cruises accommodates millions of passengers while sailing to 59 countries on a fleet of 12 ships. Hamilton Travel (Malta) is the sole agent for MSC Cruises in Malta.

The MSC Fantasia is a smooth 137, 936 ton ship with comfortable cabins, mouth-watering dining options, leisure and entertainment attractions, with specially designed kids and teenager programs and more space for well-being and relaxation. Mediterranean values run deep on the MSC Fantasia; a love of life, good food and an authentic approach to hospitality, on board this ship each moment is savoured and each port is to be explored. 

Entertainment

MSC Fantasia offers hours of entertainment each day and activities for all ages from morning till late at night. Different types of workshops, classes and courses designed to suite everyone's mood and interests. From fitness classes like stretching, yoga, aerobics, to dance classes like cha cha, samba, rock n' roll or language classes, food and wine, astronomy, cards, games and tournaments.

The ship has its Casino which features blackjack, poker and roulette games, plus an array of slot machines. There is a library, an internet cafe, a 4D cinema, a Formula 1 simulator, a video game room and a water slide. There is also a basketball, tennis court, football, volleyball, a 235 meters walking track, shuffleboard and squash court.

On the top floors there is a gym and a Spa. Well-being packages are offered at the MSC Aurea Spa. The Spa offers 20 different kinds of massages, and clients can get a 40% discount by attending massage demos at the Aqua Park.

Wonderful theatre

L'Avanguardia, is the ship's two deck-high main theatre which takes 1,700 guests.  MSC Fantasia takes great care to provide an enjoyable show to the people on board. Artists include singers, dancers and acrobats and provides varied shows, with 25 stage artists, 6 shows a week.

MSC Fantasia provides 10 bars/lounge on the inside and 3 on the outside, all with different and outstanding interior design. These provide entertainment in the form of live music by small musical groups, duets or solo musicians. Prices on the bar list are always very reasonable. Speciality bars are a must and not to be missed. Il Cappuccino is the coffee bar par excellence especially suited for particular coffees. The espresso is exceptionally good. La Cantina Toscana is the speciality bar for wines tasting; Il Transatlantico is a piano bar; The Sports Bar is surrounded by big screens where one can enjoy American style food while watching a game or singing in a karaoke night. Manhattan bar is for jazz lovers while in Piazza San Giorgio, popular and cheerful music is always being played. L'Insolito lounge is equipped with a spacious dance floor and a lively atmosphere. Finally, all the way up on Deck 16 there is an intimate disco area.

Children clubs

The ship is designed to accommodate families with children, and kids and teenagers have their own separate clubs with activity programs. The clubs cover the ages from 3 to 17 years old and offer 14 hours of free activities a day.

Shopping areas

Duty free shopping is offered on board while the ship is at sail. On board the Fantasia one can find a perfumery, boutique and accessories, fine jewellery and watch, logo shop, swim shop, candy shop and a photo shop.

Pool area

The Fantasia has 5 pools, one of which has a retractable roof for the joy of those cruising in spring or autumn. On the ship there is a pool especially for kids and also 12 heated Jacuzzis. The pools are surrounded by spacious deck areas with comfortable sun beds and are the perfect point for relaxation, and magnets for people who like sunbathing while enjoying the nice impact of the wide open space at sea.

Dining

On board the MSC Fantasia food taste heavenly. There are 5 restaurants: Zanzibar and L'Africana are buffet restaurants while Red Velvet is the two-deck-high main restaurant. The ship's cuisine is Mediterranean and the chefs prepare all the pasta fresh on board. Soups are varied from bean, tomato, chicken and beef broths, minestrone and cold soups worthy of trying. Salads are inventive with exotic greens such as radicchio and arugula nicely combined with nuts, raisins and fruits. 

The food options are extensive and varied. Entrees include a pasta course, such as homemade maccheroni, gnocchi, fettuccine, etc, all delicious with authentic Italian sauces. In addition to the great pasta dishes there is a selection freshly baked bread every day, bread sticks, rosette, whole wheat rolls with seeds and the tasty focaccia, all baked to perfection.

Main courses include recipes involving different meat cuts such as spare ribs, veal and fillet steak. Fillet of fish such as sea-bream or sea-bass with a mouth watering sauce is also available. The fish is firm, fresh, light and well-seasoned.

Desserts include Italian ice-cream made on board, crème brûlée, profiteroles, cakes, tarts cream puffs and so on.

Apart from visiting seven main ports of call in one week,  it is worth cruising on the Fantasia just for the sake of tasting the facilities on board the ship itself, purely for enjoyment, rest and relaxation. Once setting foot on this ship, you would want to be back in a heartbeat. The MSC line, the crew and the Fantasia ship will firmly capture your heart. A truly beautiful ship with a wonderful crew. Where else can you book a fantastic summer vacation at such competitive prices and receive comfortable, well-maintained accommodations with twice-daily maid service, three-plus meals a day and a full slate of shipboard activities and nightly entertainment? Not to mention supervised children's programs, teen lounges, no-kids deck retreats, water parks, pools and fitness centres.

Should you be interested to board the MSC Fantasia you can visit www.hamiltontravel.com.mt or phone 21241292 for more information.