MSC EURIBIA image credit Bernard BIGER                                                                                                              

Spanning 19 decks, Euribia can accommodate 6,334 passengers and employs around 1,700 crew. A whopper indeed!  After settling into my balcony cabin, I set off to explore the ship and get my bearings. Glitzy, glam indoor promenade, Galleria Euribia, was my first port of call. This Mediterranean style, two tier shopping, dining and entertainment boulevard is the vessel’s heart and home to nightly parades featuring onboard performers. Its 305 feet LED Dome at Sea is spectacular, the screen which runs along the ceiling features ever changing images, light shows and live views. While on the subject of LED screens, I also loved the contemporary display of life size walking figures by British artist Julian Opie in the 149 seat bar, l’Atelier du Voyageur. A great example of his style, a blend of pop art and minimalism.

When it comes to food, guests can eat the atlas on Euribia. Ten dining venues including five speciality restaurants offer everything from Japanese to Mexican and French - Le Grill bistro is a first for MSC. Something else new to MSC ships is Helios Wine Bar, one of the vessel’s 21 bars and lounges. No ordinary wine bar this though, Helios encourages guests not only to enjoy drinking their wine but discover the story behind it. Touch screens on tables are activated by digital coasters and guests choose options from sections such as wine knowledge, grape varieties, wine making regions, wine knowledge tips, in fact, they can learn everything there is to know about the wine they sip. With around 100 featured wines, there could be a lot to learn. Helios, the name is of course another nod to a Greek deity, will also host Masterclasses for guests to expand their knowledge further so they can return home as fully fledged wine connoisseurs! Guests who prefer to have a relaxing drink without taxing their brains can chill with a glass of bubbles in the soft-hued surroundings of the classy Champagne Bar or tumble into British style pub Masters of the Sea to enjoy a pint, they have 12 on tap. To emphasise the British theme there’s a picture of a roundel, the London tube logo, on the wall outside. For those feeling peckish, the pub sells snacks and beer battered fish and chips.

Elsewhere, not fish and chips but indulgence is on the menu in the Aurea Spa. Besides 20 treatment rooms, it has saunas, aromatherapy rooms, Thalassotherapy hot tubs, solarium, salt room, snow grotto and huge thermal suite. In fact, you could spend your entire holiday at sea just pampering yourself. A daily spa pass costs €40;  €120 for week.

As with all MSC vessels, Euribia’s exclusive ship-within-a-ship Yacht Club offers guests the ultimate in accommodation and dining, 24-hour butler service, dedicated concierge as well as  private pool area with solarium and whirlpool baths. That’s how to splash the cash!

One evening I went along to the reinvented Carousel Lounge to listen to the ship’s resident Big Band at Sea, a nineteen piece group of musicians and singers who perform here nightly. Passengers can have dinner here if they want to, it’s a lovely space, with indoor and outdoor areas, two covered terraces and attentive staff. During the day, guests can relax here or participate in different leisure activities, including table games and ballroom dancing. After dinner that same evening, I visited the  945-seat Delphi Theatre to take in a sensational routine by The Barricade Boys. These four extremely talented young men have an impressive list of West End credits to their name including Phantom of the Opera and The Sound of Music.