MSC Musica in the Eastern Mediterranean
Cruising on one of the floating hotels has become not just a great way to spend your annual vacation, but is slowly evolving into a lifestyle. Once you fall in love with the joys of cruising, you’re unlikely to give up that pleasure easily. With the range of circular journeys currently offered on the market, from super-luxury yachts and exclusive sailing ships to giant megaships with a variety of entertainment options and attractions, everyone can find something that suits them.
The maritime tourism industry has adapted to demand.
Cruising offers quality with an excellent balance of price and service. By booking a package, you get everything: accommodation, entertainment, relaxation, recreation, animation, and food. A cruise provides a huge selection of excursions and activities tailored to everyone—rest and romance for parents and fun for children. Plus, all decisions about excursions and activities are made in advance, so all that’s left for you to do is relax and enjoy.
Cruising on a megacruiser offers not only comfortable entertainment and relaxation but also the opportunity to wake up every day in a different port. Interestingly, today you may be in Dubrovnik, tomorrow in Venice, the next day in Bari, and by the next morning, you can watch one of the famous Greek destinations from your cabin’s balcony.
Cruising the Mediterranean is one of the more luxurious journeys, taking you through history, beauty, and inspiration for life.
MSC Musica is one of the megacruisers of the Italian company Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which includes departures from Dubrovnik in its itinerary. MSC Musica is a megacruiser built in 2006, with the legendary Sophia Loren as its godmother. The choice of Sophia Loren, a famous actress from Naples, seems to be a perfect match, as she embodies the company’s advertising slogan…beautiful, passionate, Italian.
The ship is an imposing sight, measuring 293.80 meters in length, 32.20 meters in width, and weighing 89,600 tons. It has 13 passenger decks, 1,275 cabins, and all the necessary amenities for a comfortable and entertaining stay on board—restaurants, bars, pools, shops, theaters, a sushi bar, a kids’ area, and everything that makes a modern megacruiser a destination in itself. MSC Musica can accommodate a maximum of 3,013 passengers and has a total of 987 crew members. While the officers are mostly Italian, the rest of the crew come from all corners of the globe.
A seven-day cruise in the Eastern Mediterranean, covering 1,947 nautical miles and departing from Dubrovnik, includes visits to the following ports: Bari, Venice, Katakolon, Santorini, Mykonos, Piraeus (Athens), and Corfu.
VENICE
A monument in itself. The enchanting beauty of history and art, but also incredible maritime traffic congestion. Cruisers, ferries, water taxis, and gondolas all squeeze into the canals, creating their own spectacle.
Excursions offered in Venice include visits to the islands of Murano and Burano. Murano is famous for its glass-blowing factories, while Burano is known for lace production. There are many opportunities to buy unique souvenirs. Whether you decide to explore Venice on your own or join a group excursion organized on board, all roads will lead you to St. Mark’s Square, the central piazza, a favorite meeting place for tourists and a hub of cosmopolitan spirit. A pleasant walk through the streets of Venice or a gondola ride will surely leave a lasting impression. Since the ship stays in Venice until the late afternoon, there’s more than enough time for sightseeing.
BARI
A city and port in the southern part of Italy, the capital of the Puglia region. Bari is an industrial center, a major port, and a university city. The ship docks not far from the city center, so you can explore the old town independently of any organized excursions. One of the landmarks is certainly the Basilica of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of the city. Around Bari, there are several unique locations within about an hour’s drive from the port, making a group excursion more advisable than independent exploration.
One of the most interesting excursions is a visit to the town of Alberobello, known for its unique buildings made without mortar. The site has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996. Another intriguing excursion takes you to the town of Matera, famous for its ancient district known as Sassi di Matera, or the Stones of Matera. Houses, palaces, churches, and other landmarks are built directly into the rock, making this town a UNESCO World Heritage site and drawing the attention of the Hollywood film industry to this part of southern Italy.
KATAKOLON
A coastal town on the Ionian Sea, located south of Patras and just a short distance from Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympic Games. Excursions include visits to the archaeological ruins of ancient buildings, which were excavated by the Germans in the 19th century. The Olympic flame is ignited by the reflection of sunlight in a parabolic mirror at the restored stadium, and then transferred to the city hosting the Games.
Katakolon is also known for its beaches, which are about a 30-minute drive from the port.
SANTORINI
The most beautiful Greek island of volcanic origin and the most romantic island in the Mediterranean. According to some theories, it is the remains of the legendary Atlantis. Although tourism developed quite late, today it is a destination visited by about a million tourists annually. The island is famous for its tomatoes, the Vinsanto wine, and most of all, its 352 churches. Because the inhabitants were involved in maritime activities, they often vowed to build a church if they returned safely from their travels. All the churches are built in a combination of blue and white, as white symbolizes the spirit and blue symbolizes the sea and sky.
The capital city and most important place on the island is Fira, which is built on the edge of an impressive cliff, 250 meters above the sea. The town is filled with interesting restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops, some of which offer beautiful volcanic jewelry. On Santorini, there is also the village of Oia, 11 km from Fira, a typical Greek village known for its narrow streets and white churches with blue domes. This village, renowned for its location, offers the best view of the Santorini caldera. It is also considered the most beautiful village in the world, according to the World Tourism Organization.
The cruise ship anchors near the port, so visiting Santorini requires a little patience and organization. Since it is one of the most popular Mediterranean destinations, a large number of cruisers arrive daily, creating significant crowds at the port. Visitors can reach the island’s main town using a cable car, which takes a few minutes, or by riding donkeys up a steep path, which can take a lot of time and patience. Donkey rides and photography on the donkeys are one of the tourist attractions. The Greeks should consider a more efficient way to transport tourists to the island’s center more quickly, as instead of enjoying this fairy-tale island and supporting the local economy by spending on souvenirs and dining, many tourists spend a large part of their visit waiting in line for the cable car ride up and down.
A Greek island and top tourist destination, known for its cosmopolitan spirit and vibrant nightlife. Part of the Cyclades island group, Mykonos is made of granite rocks and has no freshwater sources, so the island relies on desalination plants to meet its water needs.
Reaching Mykonos from the cruise ship can only be done by tender boats, which take about 10 minutes to reach the beautiful town of Mykonos with its white-washed houses. Narrow, winding streets lead you through a maze of small shops, trendy boutiques, souvenir stores, galleries, jewelry shops, restaurants, and taverns. Mykonos is famous for its beaches, nightlife, and gastronomic offerings. Although prices are higher than elsewhere, the quality-service ratio is satisfactory. In addition to the inevitable seafood offerings, there is also a variety of local specialties. The most popular dishes include tzatziki (yogurt with garlic and cucumber), horiatiki (Greek salad with cucumber, pepper, tomato, red onion, olives, and feta cheese), gyros (grilled meat)… and of course, local wine.
However, strolling through Mykonos remains the best souvenir.
PIRAEUS
One of the largest ports in the Mediterranean and one of the busiest in the world. Piraeus is certainly the most interesting part of mainland Greece, given its proximity to the capital, Athens. The city is a vibrant traffic hub with a cosmopolitan atmosphere, and the flow of people and ships is a spectacle in itself. Piraeus consists of three smaller bays: the largest, which serves as a commercial port; the middle one, which is a marina; and the smallest, which is home to small fishing boats.
Due to the proximity of Piraeus to Athens, most of the excursions offered on board focus on visiting Athens and the Acropolis, taking you back to ancient Greece and the birthplace of civilization. But if you happen to be in Greece during a strike by public sector workers or municipal transport employees, it is best to organize your own excursion or walk around Piraeus, which may include a stroll through the city center, a visit to the Maritime Museum, shopping.
