LT53 - MSC Seaside - Cuba

ISSUE 53 APRIL/MAY 2018 ISSUE 53 APRIL/MAY 2018 THE MAGAZINE FOR CORPORATE AND LEISURE TRAVELLERS

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Big is Beautiful in the World of MSC

By Roderick Eime Images courtesy of MSC Cruises

Cruise expert, Roderick Eime, travels to Miami for Let’s Travel to inspect one of the newest and largest cruise ships in the world. And the massive MSC Seaside has certainly set tongues wagging.

The 120m zip-lines are easily the longest aboard any ship at sea

At 323m and more than 150,000 tons, the radicallydesigned, 5,000-passenger MSC Seaside is one of the largest, most-advanced cruise ships afloat

When I started reading some of the frank comments on social media, it was clear MSC’s newest ship, MSC Seaside had split the judges. While some, like Cruise Critic, sang the praises of the revolutionary design, saying emphatically MSC Seaside was “destined to become one of the best Miami-based ships around”, others were less complimentary.

Certainly the design is radical, aiming to emulate the beachside condo with towering glass stern section overlooking a ‘waterfront boardwalk’ that wraps the entire

deck as well as an arsenal of revolutionary features such as glass-floored catwalks, panoramic glass elevators and the pièce de résistance, the so-called ‘Bridge of Sighs’, a 40m high glass walkway set to thrill guests on Deck 16.

MSC Seaside will be based year-round in Miami, hence her descriptive tagline ‘the ship that follows the sun’.

While not everyone likes a ship this big, I was nevertheless intrigued with this eye-popping vessel, particularly as it was the first in a

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brand new class of hi-tech ship from this ebullient European family-owned shipping and cruise line.

MSC Seaside brings to 17, the number of modern (and modernised) cruise ships in the world’s largest privately-owned fleet. She is the first in a new class of vessel and part of MSC Cruises’ rapid expansion plans that include the 5,714-passenger (at full capacity) MSC Meraviglia, which entered service in June last year and the forthcoming 200,000GRT, LNG-powered World Class, due on the water beginning 2022.

MSC Cruises certainly adheres to the motto ‘big is beautiful’ with more and bigger launches planned over the next few years.

Her sister ship, MSC Seaview, is due this year and will embark on Mediterranean cruises.

At 323m long and 72m high MSC Seaside certainly is a big ship. She will carry more than 5,000 guests in luxury, feed them in 11 separate dining venues, relax them in 20 bars and lounges, cool them in 6 pools and entertain them in a 1,000-seat theatre.

But, as if prepared for our scrutiny, MSC is at the forefront when it comes to environmentallyfriendly technology. Power-saving LED lighting is widely used throughout the ship. All waste water is filtered and recycled, resulting in zero effluent discharge to the sea.

Scrubbers are installed to neutralise the most harmful of exhaust gas emissions.

“We build our ships to exceed all the most stringent regulations,” CEO Gianni Onorato told us when our little group cornered him in the exclusive Yacht Club bar, “The sea is our environment and all of us at MSC

Retro-themed and funky…The Garage Club

bring a personal commitment to protecting it.”

It could be argued that despite her size, the environmental impact per guest is less than many of the current (regular sized) cruise ships with older, less sophisticated technology.

The ship’s design also features a wide promenade lined with bars and restaurants on Deck 8, that’s likewise designed to put people closer to the sea. MSC

Seaside will offer the brand’s distinctive entertainment program with innovative, high production value shows as well as a host of new international dining concepts, including the signature Asian Market Kitchen from renowned Pan-Asian chef Roy Yamaguchi.

Other foodie highlights include a fancy seafood restaurant, Ocean Cay, a good ol’ American-style steakhouse, the Butcher’s Cut and a chic French bistro, La Bohème.

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Guests can count on outstanding facilities for families such as the Lego-themed areas for kids up to 12. Teens can enjoy a wide array of electronic and arcade-style games including a full-scale Formula 1 simulator - that they may have to jostle with eager adults to drive.

There’s a twin cable zipline across the top deck that is the longest aboard any ship. Travel agents are now taking bookings for the first of the Meraviglia-Plus vessels, MSC Grandiosa, which will commence sailing from Genoa, Italy in November 2019 on Western Mediterranean

MSC’s exclusive Aurea Spa offers authentic Balinese treatments

itineraries. Her twin sister, MSC Bellissima will come into service in March 2019 in the Mediterranean, moving to the Middle East for winter.

Meraviglia-Plus takes the already staggering features of the prototype MSC Meraviglia and adds 200 extra cabins, raising the maximum capacity to 6,300 guests.

A triumphant announcement for MSC is the famous Cirque du Soleil bringing its special brand of world-class shows exclusively to guests in a purpose-built dining and entertainment venue in the ships’ aft lounge.

Cruising is one of the most popular forms of leisure travel, not just in Australasia, but all over the world. The choice is yours whether big is your bag when it comes to ship choice, but you can be assured that these new wave of mega-liners from MSC Cruises will provide onboard activities and entertainment like never before at prices everyone can afford and with a firm acknowledgement that with such size comes responsibility for the environment.

facts: For full information and itineraries on all MSC Cruise ships and destinations, see your local cruise specialist travel agent or visit www.msccruises.com

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The spectacular atrium features multi-level entertainment zones

W

Destination Beyond, Cuba

Cuba’s New Revolution Words & images by Roderick Eime

The Caribbean island nation of Cuba has been a hotbed of revolution for nearly 500 years. Now with the passing of the controversial hero, Fidel Castro, it is poised for yet another. Roderick Eime settles in with a mojito and a Cohiba to explore the new Cuba.

Immaculate 1950s-era us vehicles used as taxis

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ith the world tumbling headlong into a multi-national homogeneity quicker than you can say “would you like fries with that?”, it’s refreshing to see Cuba retain a staunch individuality that goes against the tide of global blandness.

But for how much longer?

Let’s remember that in recent history Cuba came to a virtual standstill in 1960 after Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries overthrew a corrupt, US mob-backed government, confiscating and nationalising hotels, government services, housing and civil infrastructure.

As a consequence, the new republic immediately fell victim to a long-standing US trade embargo that continues more-or-less to this day.

A glimmer of hope was raised with some relaxation of sanctions by the Obama administration, but much of that new freedom was reversed by a protectionist Trump. Right now, Cuba is in a sort-of renaissance twilight zone, ready to move forward, but hampered by an unpredictable fog on the road ahead.

Combined with Castro’s curious brand of Latino socialism which all but eliminated private enterprise, the freehold property market and capitalism generally, Cuba found itself in a real-life time capsule. The populace had security of shelter, education, medical and food, but little or no incentive, nor progressive mechanism beyond that.

Historic Havana “We have a wonderful heritage in our architecture and culture,” says Pedro Vazquez, a noted Cuban architect and urban designer, “but the lack of ownership means little or nothing has been done to maintain it.”

Vazquez is referring to the urban sprawl of civic and residential structures all over Havana that portray a confusing mixture of proud colonial revival and sad neglect.

Most buildings in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ‘old town’ are preserved and maintained by the state and host many thousands of tourists on a regular basis, but not far away are signs of a frail, teetering metropolis.

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Spotless Chevrolet taxi in Cienfuegos

Demolition may be forbidden, but without attention, many ageing structures fall victim to the salt air and elements and simply collapse of their own accord.

As an unabashed car nerd, my attention is immediately drawn to the mobile motor museum continuously on the move around the streets of Havana. I’m told tens of thousands of pre-1960 US-made cars still rattle and belch around the roads, kept alive by hybrid engine transplants and lashings of body filler. Chevrolet, Ford, Buick, Dodge, De Soto, Lincoln and even extinct brands like Studebaker, Edsel and Turner can be spotted by the astute car buff.

One excursion on my itinerary is a ride to ‘Finca Vigia’, Ernest Hemingway’s former residence in a pair of well-maintained Chevrolet Impalas operated by local auto-entrepreneur Nostalgicar.

Keeping these old girls in such neat trim is a non-stop labour of love as well as a healthy budget few Cubans can afford. Most of these thousands of old cars operate as ad hoc taxis, supplementing the shortage of reliable public transport and expensive (for locals) official cabs.

The ancient valley of Tobacco

The author meets local celebrity and tobacco farmer Benito Camejo Nodarse

Antique, US-built steam locomotive in Old Havana

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To west of Havana is the province of Pinar del Río, famous for its tobacco production. Here we meet Benito whose family have been here in the Vinales Valley for five generations producing the valuable crop first cultivated here by the Spanish in the 16th century. Modern tobacco is derived from the wild ‘cohibo’ weed used by the long gone Arawak indian ‘belique’ (shamans) during ceremonies. From that rough leafy plant sprung a most valuable primary product that has become a major contributor to the Cuban economy alongside coffee and sugar.

We’re shown the art of hand rolling the cigar into its familiar, leafy tube. Leaves from the mature plant are selected at different times and for different purposes and ‘cured’ in a thatched barn identical to those used by the early Spaniards. Leaves are hung on horizontal wooden poles for weeks to dry and ‘cure’.

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For instance, the top leaves are called ‘volado’ (hot) are harvested first and used as a binder for the cigar’s contents. Next, a week or so later, the ‘ligero’ (light) leaves are plucked and used as the wrapper.

Finally, the lower leaves or ‘seco’ (dry) ones are gathered and used for the filler. These will dictate the final flavour and aroma of the cigar.

Like so many small private farms in the valley, 90% of Benito’s crop is selected for agreed government production under controlled conditions while any remainder is left for him to sell as he wishes. This is typically as ‘cleanskin’ cigars which come without any certified branding but smoke as well as any Cohiba or Monte Cristo for a fraction of the price. Yes, I bought a clutch of 10 for not much more than a buck each.

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Musicians in Old Havana

UNESCO time capsule: Trinidad de Cuba Along the southern shore of the island is the UNESCO World Heritage city of Trinidad de Cuba where the entire central portion of the city has been set aside for preservation.

One of the most visited destinations in Cuba outside of Havana, the narrow cobblestoned streets are usually filled with camera-toting tourists snapping

Migdalia - a local ‘costumbrista’

the 500-year-old houses, painted in colourful tones. Many are still occupied by residents, while others are boutiques, restaurants, bars and curio shops.

Most of the souvenirs you find throughout Cuba are mass-produced by state factories. The magnets, postcards, carvings and baubles get a bit tiresome after a while, but Trinidad does nurture a small population of original artists like Lazaro Niebla, whose wood relief carvings feature the elders of Cuba in stunning 3D on recycled cedar window shutters.

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