To Dover, following a rather splendid invitation from MSC Cruises to attend the christening event of its latest ship, Poesia.

A relatively easy journey down the M20 – not even a hint of Operation Stack that has seen the motorway turned into a lorry park these past few weeks – and the Poesia hoved into view – “you’ll see it miles away” I was told – and that was certainly true.

MSC had decked out the entire embarkation area with its livery and after a short security check, we were onboard and doing exactly what everyone does when they enter a huge ship – get lost.

With 13 decks able to accommodate a maximum of 2,250 guests, the getting lost bit was clearly a common denominator among the hundreds of travel agents and tour operators who had also been invited – and the air was crackling with excitement at a very unusual way to spend a Saturday.

The Poesia is literally brand new – that just launched smell was everywhere – while every bit of brass, silver and gold gleamed from what had clearly been an awful lot of polishing.

Restaurants and bars are scattered throughout the ship, while on a warmer day – it was the colder side of Baltic for the christening – several outdoor cocktail areas by generously-sized pools would make for a very pleasant way to idle away plying the waves.

All the usual cruise ship goodies are on the Poesia – beauty parlour, spa, theatre, disco, mini-golf, tennis court, gym, cinema, library et al – but the way all the amenities are divided never makes it feel like too much is packed in. Proof of the pudding would be when all 2,250 of that maximum are on board at the same time.

Sushi restaurant

A bewildering array of bars and eateries – including a Sushi restaurant replete with staff in Japanese dress – is available including the bizarre Zebra bar. As it names suggests, it is a blur of black and white stripes – not to everyone’s taste – but a real talking point among guests.

Zebra bar

And given its Italian heritage, MSC had invited two truly global superstars to kick proceedings off – Andrea Bocelli and Sophia Loren – with the former slated to perform in the theatre later that evening. Both also attended a somewhat chaotic press conference in the afternoon and had the good grace to answer some stultifyingly inane questions from media drawn from around the world, with great patience.

It’s interesting that MSC chose Dover as its launch event and not Southampton. The company plans cruises to the Baltic and Norway among others from the Kent port (Prince and Princess Michael of Kent were also in attendance), with some very pleased dignitaries from the local Council and Chamber of Commerce providing an official welcome.

Southampton is full to the gunnels with cruise liners – Dover tends to accommodate more workmanlike vessels, so the cachet of having a genuinely ocean-going mega ship is clearly a feather in the cap for the Kent port.

Shipping seems to escaped the ire of the green fundamentalists, but that’s not to say the management aren’t aware that it could become a potential issue, as MSC CEO Pier-Francesco Vago told ABTN: “The secret of cruising in the future is to be eco-friendly – MSC lives by the sea and has great respect for it.” Part of the secret will also lie in offering value-for-money fares, although Vago maintained that this would not mean compromising quality: “I don’t want to become a commodity – we have our own soul.”

And so to the undoubted highlight of the event; Bocelli himself performing in the theatre. The Maestro as he was only referred to may have played La Scala, Royal Covent Garden and Radio City Music Hall New York, but here was this world-renowned performer taking the stage on the MSC Poesia.

Theatre

And he didn’t disappoint. There is only one person in the world with that voice and he delivered a spellbinding set that culminated in his signature Time to Say Goodbye. I first heard that way back in 2000 at the Paris Air Show of all places, where it accompanied the finale to the day’s flying display as a glider swooped and soared in perfect rhythm to its nuance and cadences.

The first thing I did at the airport on the way back was to walk into a music shop and ask who sang that tune – I’ve been a fan ever since.

Sophia Loren – the ‘godmother’ of MSC Cruises joined Bocelli on stage – along with Vago and the ship captain – and who all subsequently cut the ribbon to officially launch the Poesia later at midnight, with the requisite fireworks.

Andrea Bocelli and Sophia Loren

For the younger set, there was KT Tunstall playing in Le Moulin Rouge bar, while the Ronnie Scott orchestra belted out some jazz classics in, er, the Zebra bar.

MSC has real ambitions – it will have a 13-strong fleet by 2010 and is targeting the emerging markets of Europe in addition to mature arenas such as the UK that has long taken cruising to its heart. Fly-cruise is at the heart of its strategy – “we are a multi-port embarkation company” noted Vago, while it intends to remain resolutely in private hands.

And with 80% outside cabins and 60% with a balcony, Poesia aims to give its competition – and Southampton – a genuine run for its money.

Simon Warburton
Editor - ABTN

MSC Poesia Technical Specifications
Length: 293.8m
Width: 32.2m
Tonnage: 89,600 tons
Speed: 23 Knots
Passenger Occ.: 2550 (on double basis)
Crew: 987 people
Passenger Decks: 13 Lifts: 13
Fully Stabilised
Cabins
809 outside with private balcony (3 of which for disabled)
173 outside without balcony (2 of which for disabled)
275 inside (12 of which for disabled)
All cabins have: interactive TV, minibar, room safe, radio

Passenger Amenities
Mini Golf, Tennis Court,
Teen's Club, Discothèque,
Video Games, Children's Playroom, Jogging Track,
Sauna (2), Steam Room (2), Aerobics,
Thalassotherapy, Gymnasium, Yoga,
Beauty Salon, Solarium, Theatre,
Cinema, Casino, Library,
Card Room, Art Gallery, Internet Cafe,
Cigar Room, Shopping Area,
Sushi Bar, Photo Gallery,
Wine Tasting Bar, Medical Centre,
Duty-free Shops, Voltage: 110/220 Volts,
Swimming Pools ( 2 for adults and children), 4 Jacuzzis.