A Travel Seller’s Report: MSC Poesia: It Wouldn’t Be Italian Without Food

(continued from: MSC Poesia – Now that’s Italian!)

Italians are fond of their food, so it’s no surprise that the Poesia offers five dining areas, including two formal dining rooms: Le Fontane on deck 5 and Il Palladio on deck 6. The buffet on deck 13 is the Villa Pompeiana Cafeteria. For alternative dining there is the Kaito Sushi Bar and Restaurant L’Obelisco. Make your clients’ specialty dining reservations early. Unlike most ships’ alternative restaurants, Kaito and L’Obelisco do not have fixed per person surcharges, but are instead a la carte. Kaito is priced nearly the same as a land-based sushi bar, at about $20 per person without alcohol. L’Obelisco, a fine dining Continental restaurant, will cost somewhere in the area of $20 to $30 per person, without drinks.

I have to comment on the appetizer I had at L’Obelisco: Tuna Tartare, Swordfish Carpaccio and steamed King Crab leg on a bed of Arugula with citrus sauce. It was positively awesome. The King Crab legs were steamed exactly right and the tuna tartare was incredible. Possibly the best appetizer I have had on either land or sea.  Reminiscent of a Michel Roux creation from Celebrity.

At Kaito’s, the sushi was excellent, the fried rice was not at all greasy and the dumplings were superb.

Breakfast in the Le Fontane Restaurant is a very civilized way to begin the day, and the dinner menu offers six entrees, including a vegetarian selection. The Chef’s Suggested Menu offers yet another three “America-style” entrees. As on any cruise ship, beef can be hit or miss; my prime rib was done exactly as I requested, my tablemate’s was too rare and he sent it back. When it returned, it was almost medium well. My tip: don’t order rare unless you are prepared for a possibly under-done cut of beef.  Medium-rare seemed to be right on target every time.

Dining times are different on the Poesia than on typical American cruise ships. A formal a la carte breakfast is offered in the Le Fontane Restaurant from 6:30-9am, buffet-style in the Villa Pompeiana Cafeteria from 6:30-11am. A continental breakfast from Room Service is available from 7:30–10am. Buffet lunch is from 12:30–3pm. Luncheon in the dining room is available on sea days from noon–2pm. Snacks begin at 4pm. My advice is to read the Daily Program and note the dining times as they will vary.

MSC does not have a Dine-When-You-Want policy. At Le Fontane and Il Palladio there are two dinner seatings: 5:30pm and 8:00pm. At 11:30pm in Villa Pompeianan there are freshly prepared crepes, sandwiches and a variety of snacks. Don’t miss the fabulous midnight gala buffet which is reminiscent of the midnight buffets from many years ago. Room Service is available 24 hours and has mainly salads and sandwiches.

The Poesia boasts fourteen bars and lounges including the wine tasting bar, Il Grappolo d’Oro on deck 7 and the Aurea Spa Bar located within the spa itself.  Il Grappolo d’Oro features only Italian wines and gives guests the opportunity to taste a huge variety of wines from all regions of Italy. The wine sommelier is extremely friendly and loves to share his knowledge and passion for wine. 

The Spa Bar is very different and features a variety of cold, colorful blender drinks mixed with fruit, yoghurt and/or berries.

Sherry Laskin, ACC is the owner of Florida-based Vacation Shoppe. She is a member of the CLIA Advisory Board and has been quoted in Travel and Leisure, Frommers.com and msnbc.today.com.

Read the next two pieces of Sherry Laskin’s review:

MSC Poesia – Now that’s Italian — Entertainment

MSC Poesia – Benvenuto Rick Sasso

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