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Arrive | Depart | ||||||
22nd22 | JanJan | 202222 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, embark on the MSC Poesia | 18:00 | |||
Welcome to the Cidade Maravilhosa, or the Marvelous City, as Rio is known in Brazil. Synonymous with the girl from Ipanema, the dramatic views from Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado mountain, and fabulously flamboyant Carnival celebrations, Rio is a city of stunning architecture, abundant museums, and marvelous food. Rio is also home to 23 beaches, an almost continuous 73-km (45-mile) ribbon of sand.As you leave the airport and head to Rio's beautiful Zona Sul (the touristic South Zone), you'll drive for about 40 minutes on a highway from where you'll begin to get a sense of the dramatic contrast between beautiful landscape and devastating poverty. In this teeming metropolis of 12 million people (6.2 million of whom live in Rio proper), the very rich and the very poor live in uneasy proximity. You'll drive past seemingly endless cinder-block favela, but by the time you reach Copacabana's breezy, sunny Avenida Atlântica—flanked on one side by white beach and azure sea and on the other by condominiums and hotels—your heart will leap with expectation as you begin to recognize the postcard-famous sights. Now you're truly in Rio, where cariocas (Rio residents) and tourists live life to its fullest.Enthusiasm is contagious in Rio. Prepare to have your senses engaged and your inhibitions untied. Rio seduces with a host of images: the joyous bustle of vendors at Sunday's Feira Hippie (Hippie Fair); the tipsy babble at sidewalk cafés as patrons sip their last glass of icy beer under the stars; the blanket of lights beneath the Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain); the bikers, joggers, strollers, and power walkers who parade along the beach each morning. Borrow the carioca spirit for your stay; you may find yourself reluctant to give it back. | |||||||
23rd23 | JanJan | 202222 | At Sea | ||||
24th24 | JanJan | 202222 | At Sea | ||||
25th25 | JanJan | 202222 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | 08:00 | 23:59 | ||
Glamorous and gritty, Buenos Aires is two cities in one. What makes Argentina's capital so fascinating is its dual heritage—part European, part Latin American. Plaza de Mayo resembles a grand square in Madrid, and the ornate Teatro Colón would not be out of place in Vienna. But you’ll know you’re in South America by the leather shoes for sale on cobbled streets and impromptu parades of triumphant soccer fans. Limited-production wines, juicy steaks, and ice cream in countless flavors are among the old-world imports the city has perfected. | |||||||
26th26 | JanJan | 202222 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | 18:00 | |||
Glamorous and gritty, Buenos Aires is two cities in one. What makes Argentina's capital so fascinating is its dual heritage—part European, part Latin American. Plaza de Mayo resembles a grand square in Madrid, and the ornate Teatro Colón would not be out of place in Vienna. But you’ll know you’re in South America by the leather shoes for sale on cobbled streets and impromptu parades of triumphant soccer fans. Limited-production wines, juicy steaks, and ice cream in countless flavors are among the old-world imports the city has perfected. | |||||||
27th27 | JanJan | 202222 | Montevideo, Uruguay | 08:00 | 17:00 | ||
Uruguay’s capital city hugs the eastern bank of the Río de la Plata. A massive coastal promenade (malecón) that passes fine beaches, restaurants, and numerous parks recalls the sunny sophistications of the Mediterranean and is always dotted with Montevideans strolling, exercising, and lounging along the water. Montevideo has its share of glitzy shopping avenues and modern office buildings, balanced with its historic old city and sumptuous colonial architecture, as well as numerous leafy plazas and parks. It is hard not to draw comparisons to its sister city Buenos Aires across the river, and indeed Montevideo strikes many as a calmer, more manageable incarnation of Argentina's capital.When the weather's good, La Rambla, a 22-km (14-mile) waterfront avenue that links the Old City with the eastern suburbs and changes names about a dozen times, gets packed with fishermen, ice-cream vendors, and joggers. Around sunset, volleyball and soccer games wind down as couples begin to appear for evening strolls. Polls consistently rate Montevideo as having the highest quality of life of any city in Latin America. After one visit here, especially on a lovely summer evening, you probably will agree. | |||||||
28th28 | JanJan | 202222 | At Sea | ||||
29th29 | JanJan | 202222 | Puerto Madryn, Argentina | 09:00 | 19:00 | ||
Approaching from Ruta 3, it's hard to believe that the horizon line of buildings perched just beyond the windswept dunes and badlands is the most successful of all coastal Patagonia settlements. But once you get past the outskirts of town and onto the wide coastal road known as the Rambla, the picture begins to change. Ranged along the clear and tranquil Golfo Nuevo are restaurants, cafés, dive shops, and hotels, all busy—but not yet overcrowded—with tourists from around the world.Puerto Madryn is more a base for visiting nearby wildlife-watching sites like Península Valdés and Punta Tombo than a destination in its own right. The town's architecture is unremarkable, and beyond a walk along the coast there isn't much to do. Indeed, even the few museums serve mainly to introduce you to the fauna you'll see elsewhere. The exception is the beginning of whale season (May through July), when the huge animals cavort right in the bay before heading north—you can even walk out alongside them on the pier. During these months it's worth the extra expense for a room with a sea view.The many tour agencies and rental-car companies here make excursion planning easy. Aim to spend most of your time here on one- or two-day trips exploring the surroundings. Note that competition is fierce between tourism operators in destinations such as Puerto Madryn and Puerto Pirámides on Península Valdés. Take information that tour operators and even the tourism office give you about these with a grain of salt: they often exaggerate Madryn's virtues and other areas' flaws. | |||||||
30th30 | JanJan | 202222 | At Sea | ||||
31st31 | JanJan | 202222 | At Sea | ||||
1st01 | FebFeb | 202222 | Ushuaia, Argentina | 08:00 | 23:59 | ||
At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and tourism base for Tierra del Fuego, the island at the southernmost tip of Argentina.Although its stark physical beauty is striking, Tierra del Fuego's historical allure is based more on its mythical past than on rugged reality. The island was inhabited for 6,000 years by Yámana, Haush, Selk'nam, and Alakaluf Indians. But in 1902 Argentina, eager to populate Patagonia to bolster its territorial claims, moved to initiate an Ushuaian penal colony, establishing the permanent settlement of its most southern territories and, by implication, everything in between.When the prison closed in 1947, Ushuaia had a population of about 3,000, made up mainly of former inmates and prison staff. Today the Indians of Darwin's "missing link" theory are long gone—wiped out by diseases brought by settlers and by indifference to their plight—and the 60,000 residents of Ushuaia are hitching their star to tourism.The city rightly (if perhaps too loudly) promotes itself as the southernmost city in the world (Puerto Williams, a few miles south on the Chilean side of the Beagle Channel, is a small town). You can make your way to the tourism office to get your clichéd, but oh-so-necessary, "Southernmost City in the World" passport stamp. Ushuaia feels like a frontier boomtown, at heart still a rugged, weather-beaten fishing village, but exhibiting the frayed edges of a city that quadrupled in size in the '70s and '80s and just keeps growing. Unpaved portions of Ruta 3, the last stretch of the Pan-American Highway, which connects Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, are finally being paved. The summer months (December through March) draw more than 120,000 visitors, and dozens of cruise ships. The city is trying to extend those visits with events like March's Marathon at the End of the World and by increasing the gamut of winter activities buoyed by the excellent snow conditions.A terrific trail winds through the town up to the Martial Glacier, where a ski lift can help cut down a steep kilometer of your journey. The chaotic and contradictory urban landscape includes a handful of luxury hotels amid the concrete of public housing projects. Scores of "sled houses" (wooden shacks) sit precariously on upright piers, ready for speedy displacement to a different site. But there are also many small, picturesque homes with tiny, carefully tended gardens. Many of the newer homes are built in a Swiss-chalet style, reinforcing the idea that this is a town into which tourism has breathed new life. At the same time, the weather-worn pastel colors that dominate the town's landscape remind you that Ushuaia was once just a tiny fishing village, snuggled at the end of the Earth.As you stand on the banks of the Canal Beagle (Beagle Channel) near Ushuaia, the spirit of the farthest corner of the world takes hold. What stands out is the light: at sundown the landscape is cast in a subdued, sensual tone; everything feels closer, softer, and more human in dimension despite the vastness of the setting. The snowcapped mountains reflect the setting sun back onto a stream rolling into the channel, as nearby peaks echo their image—on a windless day—in the still waters.Above the city rise the last mountains of the Andean Cordillera, and just south and west of Ushuaia they finally vanish into the often-stormy sea. Snow whitens the peaks well into summer. Nature is the principal attraction here, with trekking, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife spotting, and sailing among the most rewarding activities, especially in the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego (Tierra del Fuego National Park). | |||||||
2nd02 | FebFeb | 202222 | Ushuaia, Argentina | 18:00 | |||
At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and tourism base for Tierra del Fuego, the island at the southernmost tip of Argentina.Although its stark physical beauty is striking, Tierra del Fuego's historical allure is based more on its mythical past than on rugged reality. The island was inhabited for 6,000 years by Yámana, Haush, Selk'nam, and Alakaluf Indians. But in 1902 Argentina, eager to populate Patagonia to bolster its territorial claims, moved to initiate an Ushuaian penal colony, establishing the permanent settlement of its most southern territories and, by implication, everything in between.When the prison closed in 1947, Ushuaia had a population of about 3,000, made up mainly of former inmates and prison staff. Today the Indians of Darwin's "missing link" theory are long gone—wiped out by diseases brought by settlers and by indifference to their plight—and the 60,000 residents of Ushuaia are hitching their star to tourism.The city rightly (if perhaps too loudly) promotes itself as the southernmost city in the world (Puerto Williams, a few miles south on the Chilean side of the Beagle Channel, is a small town). You can make your way to the tourism office to get your clichéd, but oh-so-necessary, "Southernmost City in the World" passport stamp. Ushuaia feels like a frontier boomtown, at heart still a rugged, weather-beaten fishing village, but exhibiting the frayed edges of a city that quadrupled in size in the '70s and '80s and just keeps growing. Unpaved portions of Ruta 3, the last stretch of the Pan-American Highway, which connects Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, are finally being paved. The summer months (December through March) draw more than 120,000 visitors, and dozens of cruise ships. The city is trying to extend those visits with events like March's Marathon at the End of the World and by increasing the gamut of winter activities buoyed by the excellent snow conditions.A terrific trail winds through the town up to the Martial Glacier, where a ski lift can help cut down a steep kilometer of your journey. The chaotic and contradictory urban landscape includes a handful of luxury hotels amid the concrete of public housing projects. Scores of "sled houses" (wooden shacks) sit precariously on upright piers, ready for speedy displacement to a different site. But there are also many small, picturesque homes with tiny, carefully tended gardens. Many of the newer homes are built in a Swiss-chalet style, reinforcing the idea that this is a town into which tourism has breathed new life. At the same time, the weather-worn pastel colors that dominate the town's landscape remind you that Ushuaia was once just a tiny fishing village, snuggled at the end of the Earth.As you stand on the banks of the Canal Beagle (Beagle Channel) near Ushuaia, the spirit of the farthest corner of the world takes hold. What stands out is the light: at sundown the landscape is cast in a subdued, sensual tone; everything feels closer, softer, and more human in dimension despite the vastness of the setting. The snowcapped mountains reflect the setting sun back onto a stream rolling into the channel, as nearby peaks echo their image—on a windless day—in the still waters.Above the city rise the last mountains of the Andean Cordillera, and just south and west of Ushuaia they finally vanish into the often-stormy sea. Snow whitens the peaks well into summer. Nature is the principal attraction here, with trekking, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife spotting, and sailing among the most rewarding activities, especially in the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego (Tierra del Fuego National Park). | |||||||
3rd03 | FebFeb | 202222 | At Sea | ||||
4th04 | FebFeb | 202222 | Puntarenas, Costa Rica | 08:00 | 18:00 | ||
This town is not on the Nicoya Peninsula, but rather on Costa Rica's mainland. It is best known as a cruise-ship port and launching pad for ferries heading southeast to the coast of the Nicoya Peninsula and for cruises sailing out on the Gulf of Nicoya. Puntarenas is also a major fishing port with a lively fish market. The town’s reputation suffers from the unimpressive parts you see from your car as you roll through town on the way to the ferry dock. But the town has a lot of character off the main drag, thanks to its illustrious past as an affluent port town and principal vacation spot for San José's wealthy, who arrived by train in the last century. Once the port was moved and roads opened to other beaches, Puntarenas's economy crashed, but it's making a comeback. Sitting on a narrow spit of sand—punta de arenas literally means "point of sand"—that protrudes into the Gulf of Nicoya, the town boasts a beautifully groomed, wide Blue Flag beach with views of the Nicoya Peninsula and spectacular sunsets, along with a public swimming pool, the San Lucas Beach Club, and a marine-life museum. Ticos arrive by bus and car to enjoy the beach and stroll the Paseo de los Turistas, a beachfront promenade lined with tree-shaded concrete benches and seafood restaurants. Crowds of locals, called porteños, cruise by on bicycles, the town’s most popular form of transport. | |||||||
5th05 | FebFeb | 202222 | At Sea | ||||
6th06 | FebFeb | 202222 | At Sea | ||||
7th07 | FebFeb | 202222 | Puerto Montt, Chile | 08:00 | 18:00 | ||
For most of its history, windy Puerto Montt was the end of the line for just about everyone traveling in the Lake District. Now the Carretera Austral carries on southward, but for all intents and purposes Puerto Montt remains the region's last significant outpost, a provincial city that is the hub of local fishing, textile, and tourist activity.Today the city center is full of malls, condos, and office towers—it's the fastest-growing city in Chile—but away from downtown, Puerto Montt consists mainly of low clapboard houses perched above its bay, the Seno de Reloncaví. If it's a sunny day, head east to Playa Pelluco or one of the city's other beaches. If you're more interested in exploring the countryside, drive along the shore for a good view of the surrounding hills. | |||||||
8th08 | FebFeb | 202222 | At Sea | ||||
9th09 | FebFeb | 202222 | Valparaiso, Chile | 08:00 | 23:59 | ||
Valparaíso's dramatic topography—45 cerros, or hills, overlooking the ocean—requires the use of winding pathways and wooden ascensores (funiculars) to get up many of the grades. The slopes are covered by candy-color houses—there are almost no apartments in the city—most of which have exteriors of corrugated metal peeled from shipping containers decades ago. Valparaíso has served as Santiago's port for centuries. Before the Panama Canal opened, Valparaíso was the busiest port in South America. Harsh realities—changing trade routes, industrial decline—have diminished its importance, but it remains Chile's principal port. Most shops, banks, restaurants, bars, and other businesses cluster along the handful of streets called El Plan (the flat area) that are closest to the shoreline. Porteños (which means "the residents of the port") live in the surrounding hills in an undulating array of colorful abodes. At the top of any of the dozens of stairways, the paseos (promenades) have spectacular views; many are named after prominent Yugoslavian, Basque, and German immigrants. Neighborhoods are named for the hills they cover. With the jumble of power lines overhead and the hundreds of buses that slow down—but never completely stop—to pick up agile riders, it's hard to forget you're in a city. Still, walking is the best way to experience Valparaíso. Be careful where you step, though—locals aren't very conscientious about curbing their dogs. | |||||||
10th10 | FebFeb | 202222 | Valparaiso, Chile, disembark the MSC Poesia | ||||
Valparaíso's dramatic topography—45 cerros, or hills, overlooking the ocean—requires the use of winding pathways and wooden ascensores (funiculars) to get up many of the grades. The slopes are covered by candy-color houses—there are almost no apartments in the city—most of which have exteriors of corrugated metal peeled from shipping containers decades ago. Valparaíso has served as Santiago's port for centuries. Before the Panama Canal opened, Valparaíso was the busiest port in South America. Harsh realities—changing trade routes, industrial decline—have diminished its importance, but it remains Chile's principal port. Most shops, banks, restaurants, bars, and other businesses cluster along the handful of streets called El Plan (the flat area) that are closest to the shoreline. Porteños (which means "the residents of the port") live in the surrounding hills in an undulating array of colorful abodes. At the top of any of the dozens of stairways, the paseos (promenades) have spectacular views; many are named after prominent Yugoslavian, Basque, and German immigrants. Neighborhoods are named for the hills they cover. With the jumble of power lines overhead and the hundreds of buses that slow down—but never completely stop—to pick up agile riders, it's hard to forget you're in a city. Still, walking is the best way to experience Valparaíso. Be careful where you step, though—locals aren't very conscientious about curbing their dogs. |
The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.
Features a window with sea view, comfortable double or single beds (on request), relaxing armchair, interactive TV, telephone, Wifi connection available (for a fee), safe and minibar, bathroom with shower, vanity area with hairdryer
Features a balcony, sitting area with sofa, spacious wardrobe, comfortable double or single beds (on request), interactive TV, telephone, Wifi connection available∘ (for a fee), safe and minibar, bathroom with bathtub, vanity area with hairdryer
Combination of 2 connected balcony cabins
Can accommodate up to 4 people
The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.
If you're looking for something a little different that's fresh as the sea and oh so healthy then the Kaito Sushi Bar is the place to go. A unique concept where food is all prepared by hand by our experienced master Sushi chefs in an authentic Japanese minimalist restaurant setting, providing a genuine taste of Japanese cold and hot dishes, including sushi, sashimi, tempura etc.
L’Obelisco is Poesia’s à la carte restaurant situated aft of deck 13 offering panoramic sea views with seating for 250 guests.
Open for dinner only from 6pm to 11pm and with reservations recommended, examples of dishes served are Tuna tartare, swordfish carpaccio and steamed king crab to start, with Tagliolini pasta with lobster sauce, Vermicelli pasta with carpet-shell clams and cherry tomatoes, Risotto with shrimp tails and zucchini, Grilled T-bone steak and Roast rack of lamb with pistachio crust for main course.
Situated on deck 13, The gelato comes in a wide variety of around 16 different flavours from vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, pineapple and coffee to pistachio, kiwi and lemon.
Located on deck 5, serving a wide variety of dishes, prepared by hand with the freshest ingredients, there's a great variety of choice to be had in the restaurants . One of two main dining rooms onboard, guests will find everything from freshly baked bread, to Italian and Mediterranean styled food here.
Villa Pompeina is the ship's buffet and pizzeria, located on deck 13 with seats for 472 guests.
Open from 6.30 to 7.00am for an early birds coffee, the breakfast buffet with a range of stations from eggs to fresh fruit, cereals and yogurts to cold meats, cheeses and breads is served from 7.00am to 10.00am.
The lunch time buffet opens from 12.00 to 2.30pm with food on offer ranging from salads, pastas, carved meats and fish to cheeses, breads, burgers, hot dogs, fries, sandwiches, pizza and desserts. The grill section and pizzeria remain open until 4.00pm when an afternoon tea is served until 5.00pm (with self service sandwiches, filled rolls, pastries, cookies and desserts) and from 6.45pm to 8.45pm a dinner buffet is served with a scaled down selection remaining on offer until 3.30am.
The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.
The Pigalle Lounge is located on deck 7 of the Poesia and has its own bar and dance floor along with seating for 330 guests.
It is a large cabaret style lounge with live shows and bands for guests' entertainment.
The Zebra Bar is the ship's second show lounge served by its own bar and dance floor.
It is situated on deck 6 with seating for 477 guests.
Entertainment and activities range from bingo, seminars, Italian lessons and salsa dance classes to audience participation game shows, karaoke and international dance music.
The ship's card room is located on deck 7 and seats 28 guests.
The Cyber Cafe located on deck 7 is the ship's computer room with 17 workstations and a printer (Charges apply).
Costs are around €3.33 Euros for 10 minutes in the Cyber Cafe or if guests want to spend more time on the internet a number of packages are available as follows (subject to change)
The Art Gallery can be found on deck 7 of the ship. Guests can view a range of artwork from fine prints, lithographs, water colours and oils which can be purchased during the ship's champagne art auctions.
The ship's small library and reading room are located on deck 7, with seats for 15 guests. It has a small selection of books in a variety of languages for guests to borrow. It also contains a number of board games for guests' use.
The Ships cocktail bars are the ideal location for guests to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail with live musical entertainment.
They are located on deck 6 with seating for up to 45 guests in each bar.
The ship's smoking room and whiskey bar is situated on deck 7 and seats 32 guests.
The Cigar Lounge offers elegant surroundings with leather settees and armchairs for guests to relax on and enjoy a cigar accompanied by a drink selected from the range of fine spirits on offer.
The Coffee Bar is an additional charge bar, situated on deck 6 seating 220 guests and with complimentary snacks ranging from pastries to cookies and potato chips served with all drinks purchased.
Coffee packages are available and drinks on offer range from chilled liquor based coffees such as Espresso Martini, American Style Coffee, Cappuccino and Hot Chocolate.
Entertainment on offer here ranges from live music to trivia quizzes, art and craft demonstrations and cookery demonstration
The Lounge and Wine Tasting Bar with tapas and live music and can be found on deck 7 of the ship with seating for 135 guests.
Each day special wine tastings are accompanied by different bites of food, such as fried polenta with cream cheese, bruschetta and other specialties as guests are guided through the wine selection by experienced sommeliers.
The 142 seat Piano Bar on deck 5 is the ship's reception bar, featuring live piano music and accompanying orchestra.
With a live DJ and open from 11.00pm until late, the ship's disco located on deck 14 and served by its own bar. It has seating for 172 guests.
The ship's 630 square meter casino, situated on deck 7 accommodating 222 guests. It is served by its own bar and features games from roulette and blackjack to poker and slot machines. The Casino is open to over 18’s only.
State of the art theatre, and the main show lounge onboard, with seating for 1,240 people, it is home to MSC Poesia’s shows ranging from singers and jugglers to shadow puppeteers and acrobatic gymnastics. It is split over two levels of seating on Deck 6 & 7.
The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.
An onboard arcade, with a variety of video games and digital options. Open to all children onboard.
The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.
19 nights aboard the MSC Poesia | |||
Drinks packages available. | |||
Evening entertainment & Broadway style shows | |||
Speciality Restaurants (charges may apply) | |||
Award winning MSC Aurea Spa (charges apply) | |||
Gratuities Included | |||
Port Taxes and Fees | |||
ABTA and ATOL Protection* |
Date 22nd Jan 2022 |
Nts 19 |
Please Call for Availability |
Date 22nd Jan 2022 |
Nts 19 |
Please Call for Availability |
Fusion Cruises when selling travel arrangements is a trading name of The Midcounties Co-operative Ltd. Fusion Cruises is an Accredited Body Member of Midcounties Co-operative Travel Consortium. (ABTA:P6652, ATOL:6053).
Book with Confidence. We are a Member of ABTA which means you have the benefit of ABTA’s assistance and Code of Conduct.
Some of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme but ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services offered on this website. This website will provide you with information on the protection that applies in the case of each holiday and travel service offered before you make your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information, or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.caa.co.uk