Built in 1982, this cruise liner was originally part of now-defunct Home Lines' Atlantic, and later sailed as the
Star Ship Atlantic of Premier Cruise Lines, both for the North American market. She was acquired in 1997 by Mediterranean Shipping Company, a container-ship firm with a growing fleet of cruise ships. Panamanian-registered, she measures 35,143 tons. She takes 1,062 passengers and an international crew of 535 at 19 knots.
MSC Cruises is a subsidiary of the parent firm Mediterranean Shipping Company, based in Geneva, Switzerland, and operating one of the world's largest container ships fleets. The company's cruising business began in the late 1980s when MSC bought out Star Lauro and then took on second-hand ships, including two fairly new ships, from bankrupt Festival Cruises. After a slow start at the lower end of the cruise market, the line has continually expanded and updated its fleet that now numbers 10 with more on order. The MSC Melody is now the second-oldest ship in the fleet.
For the Mediterranean itineraries, most passengers are Italian and Spanish with some German and French. Few Americans are aboard these cruises. When the ship moves to South Africa for the winter (summer there) the clientele will hail from southern Africa. The primary competitors during the Mediterranean season are Costa and Pullmantur. The onboard currency is the euro.
In October 2008, MSC Melody repositions via Suez to Durban for a cruise program from South Africa to the Indian Ocean. For 2009, the ship will be based in Genoa for 7-night western Mediterranean cruises.
Her spacious public rooms with higher than normal ceilings consist of two lounges, four bars (one with a piano), Seven Seas casino, Starlight Disco, game room, library, small cinema, conference facilities, beauty salon with masseuse, duty-free boutiques, and a medical center.
On a lower deck, the Galaxy dining room offers good Italian and Continental-style meals and decent service in two sittings. Open sittings prevail for breakfast and lunch. Sunrise Terrace and Satellite Cafe offer breakfast and lunch buffets, with nearby Goombay Bar a convenient watering hole. The Calypso Bar and Blue Riband Pub are also popular gathering places.
Club Universe, with one level, offers Las Vegas-style entertainment, bingo, and the captain's cocktail party. The Junkanoo Club is popular with the late-day crowd. Two pools (including one with a retractable roof for cool-weather swimming), two whirlpools, a gym with fitness classes, and a jogging track take care of daytime diversions. Children have their own pool and playroom. The 24-hour room service provides a limited menu except in the suites. The 532 cabins include six large one-room suites (462 sq ft), 72 one-room minisuites (200 sq ft) and 303 outside cabins (161 sq ft). All provide radios, TVs, phones, showers and ample stowage. Many cabins have upper berths for children, and four cabins have wheelchair access.
MSC Melody offers a good value, standard Mediterranean itineraries, and a lively atmosphere with the Italian flavor coming through.
