Dear Traveler, We can’t wait to share our recent experience aboard MSC Euribia with you! This three-day cruise along the scenic coastlines was undoubtedly a journey that fulfilled our longing for adventure.
In cooperation with the Mediterranean Shipping Company, or MSC for short, we got to spend three days and two nights on the newest ship in the cruise fleet. The MSC Euribia was put into service in June 2023 and is the second ship in the fleet to run purely on LNG, i.e. liquefied natural gas. We look forward to sharing our experiences with you!
Categorization of the trip
5 
Art & Cukture
4 Nature & Outdoor
4 Families
1 Beach Lover
5 Gourmet Specialist
Route*
*Example route. Everything can be customized according to your wishes
The journey
An unforgettable start
Our journey to MSC Euribia began with a touch of excitement and anticipation at Frankfurt Airport. From there, we flew on a Lufthansa plane to Hamburg, where our adventure on the high seas awaited us. Once we arrived in Hamburg, we took the S-Bahn to Hamburg Central Station, where MSC had provided an exclusive shuttle service for passengers.
As we left the station building, our eyes were immediately drawn to the striking white marquee with the iconic dark blue “MSC Cruises” sign. Here, after showing our booking documents, we were able to easily purchase shuttle tickets, which enabled us to transfer to the cruise terminal in comfort. The bus was already waiting at the nearby ZOP bus station, and after a short journey of around 10 minutes we reached the majestic cruise ship, which had moored at the Steinwerder terminal.
The terminal, an imposing building of glass and steel, gave us a taste of the days of luxury and adventure to come. Once on board the MSC Euribia, a world of unforgettable experiences and countless possibilities awaited us, which we could hardly wait to discover.
Our Tip for You
Plan your journey carefully to avoid stress and arrive at the terminal on time and, despite all the new things, don’t forget to capture moments and create memories that will last a lifetime.
The Cruise Terminal Steinwerder
A first look at our home at sea
After our suitcases had been unloaded from the bus, we made our way to the first of several checkpoints outside the terminal. Here our booking documents were thoroughly checked. We then had the opportunity to drop off our luggage to be transported onto the ship.
Next, we entered the actual terminal. Compared to the icy conditions outside, it was pleasantly warm here. While the queue slowly moved forward, we had the opportunity to get something to eat and even got something to drink. When it was our turn after a short wait, our booking documents were checked again. A photo was taken of us and our passport details were recorded. This is for extra security, even if we had already checked in online.
Finally, we received our credit card-sized boarding pass, which not only had our name on it, but also a lot of important information: our cabin number, the emergency muster point, meal times and the table number for the a la carte restaurant and its name. The last step was the obligatory security check, which was similar to the usual procedure at airports. Our suitcases were screened and we went through a body scanner before we were finally ready to board.
The team on board Euribia is extremely diverse and international. In addition to many crew members from the Philippines, there are also plenty of representatives of other nationalities. For example, the hotel manager was from Brazil, the head doctor from Argentina, while both the chef and the captain were from Italy. But despite their different backgrounds, they all had something in common: their exceptional politeness.
The MSC Euribia
A world full of wonders
The time had finally come when we boarded the imposing ship that towered before us. Via the covered gangway, we reached deck 6, which proved to be the main passageway of the Euribia and thus the heart of the ship. Not only were the ship’s specialty restaurants located here, but also numerous stores, an ice cream parlor, an art studio and the impressive Swarovski staircase. Access to the Delphi Theater in the bow of the Euribia, which has space for 1,000 guests, as well as to the casino in the aft section and the Carousel Lounge in the stern were located on decks 6 and 7.
Above all of this there was a gigantic LED screen that served as the ceiling of the promenade. Various motifs were played here, which enchanted us anew every time we visited the heart of the ship. When we boarded the ship, the ceiling presented itself in a moving glass mosaic, on which mosaic-like sea creatures also swam. At night, galaxies and stars shone down on the guests, and it was never noticed that there were 10 more decks above.
We were particularly impressed by the multilingual crew, who spoke fluent English as well as French, Spanish and German in many cases. The announcements were always made in English, Italian, Spanish, French and German, as well as in the language of the next port of destination, in our case Dutch.
Our cabins were ready for occupancy starting at 2 pm. The balcony cabin on deck 9 was easy to find thanks to the many information boards, and when we arrived, our suitcase was already waiting for us. The room was extremely clean, the bed neatly made and spotless. We found the boarding program and some additional information. A mandatory safety drill was announced. We watched a short movie on the TV in the cabin. We then had to go to the assigned checkpoint to scan our boarding pass, and that was the end of the exercise.
ON BOARD
Service, highlights and minor shortcomings
When we met crew members in the long corridors, they always made room for us politely and greeted us in a friendly manner (in English). We would rate the standards of the rooms and the ship as a whole as between 4 and 5 stars. Although tastes naturally differ, I was personally quite satisfied with the food on board. With a maximum capacity of 6,327 passengers, of which there were around 4,200 during our trip, the kitchen naturally has to make a few concessions. Nevertheless, the choice of dishes was enormous. From Continental Breakfast and English Breakfast to hot and cold dishes, Bircher muesli, pancakes and a variety of fruit, breakfast tempted even the most tired guests out of their cabins.
Lunch and dinner were just as varied and changed daily as breakfast. However, should a passenger not feel like eating, there were still plenty of drinks to choose from. If necessary, help was available at the reception desk or in the medical center.
Of course, not everything was perfect on this trip either. Our biggest criticism was the cleanliness of the public facilities on the sea days. Although the crew always made an effort to keep clean behind the passengers, unfortunately some guests behaved very carelessly, pushing plates of leftover food onto the floor to make room for more, and some public toilets were at a woefully low level of cleanliness.
Nevertheless, at no point did I feel that this was due to a lack of commitment on the part of the crew.
My personal highlight on this unfortunately short trip was the visit to the Delphi Theater on the evening of the second day. Here the officers in charge were introduced, with Captain Pietro Sinisi giving a short speech – in 4 languages! This was followed by a performance in the theater, which was thematically based on a circus from the 1920s. A magician astounded the audience, clowns and acrobats provided excitement, and the “strongest man in the world” showed off his feats of strength. It was an extremely entertaining performance, which takes place three times a day and for which you have to reserve your place in advance, although there is no extra charge.
The journey home
A farewell full of memories
When we docked in Rotterdam on the morning of the third day, we realized that our time on the Euribia had come to an end. Cabins had to be vacated by 8 a.m. and we finally left the ship at 10 a.m. after a short breakfast. In the meantime, we were able to leave our luggage on deck 6 under supervision, where it was waiting for us. From the cruise terminal, we made our way to the train station, from where we took the train home.
The first part of this journey was on board a Eurostar express train to Brussels. The train was immaculate, well maintained and surprisingly quiet. In addition to a cigarette lighter, there were even two USB ports, which was extremely handy. Overall, we were extremely satisfied with this train journey. The onward journey from Brussels to Cologne was then by ICE, and from there we continued to Mannheim. Unfortunately, Deutsche Bahn confirmed its reputation here with train cancellations, delays and a missing train driver, which cast a frustrating shadow over what was otherwise a very nice trip.
Conclusion
An invitation to adventure
A cruise with MSC is undoubtedly an experience that we are happy to recommend. However, it is important to be aware of what you are getting yourself into. If you have no problems with being surrounded by lots of people, you will certainly feel comfortable on board.
Although we are relatively unaffected by seasickness ourselves, it is advisable to be aware of this in order to be able to enjoy the trip to the fullest even on stormier days. The crew did everything they could to make our stay on board as pleasant as possible, and although we were unable to explore every corner of the sea giant Euribia – there simply wasn’t enough time – we were thoroughly impressed. MSC is an excellent choice for cruise newbies like us and offers an attractive alternative to Tui’s Mein Schiff or AIDA. With destinations worldwide and a fleet of modern ships, MSC Cruises has something for everyone.
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