Wake up to views like this at sea

MSC Magnifica cruise – Day at sea heading towards Brazil. I woke at 7.45am while Moni continued to enjoy her sleep.

Day 386 – March 23rd, 2015. Cruise Day 2 – MSC Magnifica at Sea

First day breakfast chaos

We made our way to breakfast at 9.30am and as the restaurant finished serving at this time we visited the buffet. Oh boy, I think everyone onboard did the same thing. It was very busy and add to that that nobody really knew where to get what, it was rather chaotic.

Breakfast buffet on MSC Magnifica 2015

Finally finding a table to enjoy our breakfast at the very rear of the ship, which was by far the least busy area, plus you get to see out.

The view from the back of the MSC Magnifica buffet restaurant

This is one really great thing that we’ve noticed so far and that is the amount of floor to ceiling windows which are nearly all around the ship, it adds lots of light and allows uninterrupted views, really wonderful.

Actually right now only the second day not even 24 hours in and I love this ship, early days I know and we will see how this review continues…

We took a cup of tea each and headed out from the buffet area into the covered swimming pool area and sat there for a while.

Covered pool area on MSC Magnifica

A great spot, full of light, looking down to the pool and bar area.

The view down to the pool bar and ice cream parlor with Nutella stand on MSC Magnifica

This bar is where you can find the house made ice creams which they list in a funky ice cream cone-shaped menu. We will try some and report on it later in the review, but for now this is part of the menu…

Ice cream menu on MSC Magnifica 2015

Just around from here you can get out onto the deck and walk to the front on both sides, or you can play table football like we did for a few games, two tables but only one ball. We had some fun and must have made a bit of noise as we attracted a few onlookers.

Table football on MSC Magnifica

We decided to call it quits after the third game and allow a couple who were watching us during the last game to play and we moved on.

Help, where is the cafe?

Trying to find the coffee shop is a challenge, until you know, right. nearly all the bars have proper coffee machines, the only thing is many of them only open at evening time.

The real designated cafe is on deck 5 just off from the reception or guest services area.

The cafe is the Le Gocce Bar which is open from 6.30am till 1am on the right side and from 6.30pm tip 00.30am on the left side.

As for the coffee… If you know us well, you’ll know that we do like a good coffee and have been known to walk 1.5 hours or 13km to get one, yes, that’s how much we appreciate a great cup of coffee.

Coffee & Chocolate Bar list on MSC Magnifica 2015

Well, sadly this doesn’t live up to the 13km walk for a coffee standard and doesn’t qualify for a 3km walk, but it is pretty good and has room for improvement, lets see how this goes over the next few days.

Lunch in L’Edera

Lunch was next and at 1.20pm we made our way to the L’Edera Restaurant on deck 5. We waited to get seated by the waiter, and he explained that he liked to seat the people who speak the same language together if possible and so we ended up on a table with two other couple who spoke English, both Australian couples in fact.

We hit it off and had a great lunch being the last to leave at 3.30pm.

Lunch drinks for me was a couple of beers and Moni had a couple of glasses of white wine. Service was a little slow for, I guess due to the sheer numbers of people all at the same time. What we had for lunch…

Appetizers

Aubergine soufflé – over goat cheese fondue with parsley garlic emulsion (J)

Starters

Cream of mushroom soup – flavoured with tarragon (M)

Rollatina di crespella – crépe roll with prosciutto, Ricotta and smoked Provola cheese, gratinated with Parmesan sauce. (J)

Main course

Spiced seared smooth hound – with garlic and lime flavoured sauce, red beans and pan-fried sweet peppers. (J)

Ossobuco in gremolata Milanese-style – veal shank slowly braised in a rich gravy, with saffron Risotto (M)

Dessert

Créme caramel – with diced fresh fruit (J)

Picture sequence from top left to bottom right.

Lunch in L’Edera on MSC Magnifica 2015

After lunch we stopped by the Library and got out a couple of books. Boy does this take some time having to have the books checked out, like being at school, note that all books must be returned before disembarking or a fee will be charged!!

The Library on MSC Magnifica

What no art?

We hadn’t seen any art onboard as yet, but clearly it used to be hung as the walls were lit and waiting for some masterpieces, we gladly helped fill the spots, if only for a few seconds…

Human art on Moni & John style

Moni took part in a craft class with around 40 laddies in the Toapzio bar. I explored the ship and stepped into a lift only to see a guy running on the spot holding an imitation Olympic torch, he was a crew member and later that day he appeared as he ran or should I say crawled onto the stage all part of the Gold medals show.

Craft class on MSC Magnifica, crazy man in the lift…

Back in the cabin I met Moni with a wonderful box she had made. Apparently it is so simple to make and demonstrated it to me and yes it is, very clever.

Dinner in the Quattro Venti restaurant

Our table and again no one joined us. The tables around us were all empty again, looks like this might be a lonely section… Anyway dinner service was excellent and the food was fine.

Dinner menu MSC Magnifica 2015

Appetizers

Duetto Imperiale – smoked salmon rosettes and shrimp tails in pink sauce. (M)

Aubergine mille-feuille – with fresh tomato, Mozzarella and basil. (J)

Soups

Rock lobster bisque – with a hint of brandy and chives (J&M)

Pasta & Risotto

Ravioli di margo – filled with spinach and Ricotta cheese, served with monkfish sauce with fresh cherry tomatoes and basil. (J)

Risotto alla zucca – pumpkin risotto flavoured with truffle. (M)

Main course

Gilthead bream fillet in lemon sauce – with mashed potatoes and a delicate cream of red sweet peppers. (M)

Fanned out fillet of beef – with Porcini mushroom sauce, accompanied by a triangle of golden puff pastry and almond broccoli florets. (J)

Dessert

Duo of chocolate parfait (J)

Picture sequence from top left to bottom right.

Dinner in Quattro Venti restaurant on MSC Magnifica

Formal night and drinks with the Captain

After dinner we headed towards the theatre to see the first of the shows. It was also the officers and gentlemen evening and a chance to meet the Captain. I dragged Moni along to meet the Captain, have a photo and move on. He was in the Tiger bar area, and there was meant to be champagne, which we did see plenty of as we walked to dinner at 7.30, but at this time it was quite busy and no sign of staff with drinks.

Formal Night with the Captain of MSC Magnifica

The whole thing didn’t seem to organised, which is a shame. That’s often a problem when having an event in such an open area. Anyway with that over with we made it to the theatre.

No drink service in the Royal Theatre

There is no drinks service inside the theatre, and now I know why. The seats are very close to the row in front and each time someone wants to get by you have to stand up and either exit the row or let them squeeze past. With the outside end of the row seats being prime real-estate for ease of escape at the end of the show.

The Royal Theatre MSC Magnifica

Obviously no staff can bring you a drink and plus there are no small table tops to sit them on either, so that explains why there is no drinks service in the theatre.

After the cruise director introduced the senior officers and the Captain had said a few words, the show began.

It was called Gold Medals, and I said to Moni that surely this would be the best show of the cruise, such a shame that it didn’t excite us at all. Good night all & I’ll leave you with the sunset from earlier.

Sunset at sea