Msc World Cruise From New York

New York is a wonderful port of call for MSC cruise liners on Grand Voyages cruise itineraries. Hidden gardens next to postmodern skyscrapers; priceless art tucked away in medieval-style cloisters; a revamped waterfront you can stroll along to take in the view.

Wandering through the patchwork of neighbourhoods is as great a thrill as any single sight. Frantic Chinatown edges stylish Soho , which is but a stone’s throw from the quiet, angled lanes of the once-bohemian West Village . A perfect espresso in a shabby-chic Williamsburg café, a rooftop view from Chelsea’s High Line or a ride on the “A” to Far Rockaway is worth much more than an “I Love New York” handbag. Cheaper, too, and the memory will last longer.

New York City officially comprises the central island of Manhattan and four outer boroughs – Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. For many, Manhattan simply is New York; indeed, when your MSC cruise takes you to New York, you’ll probably spend most of your time here. Understanding the intricacies of Manhattan’s layout, especially beyond its grid pattern , and getting a grasp of its transport network should be top priorities during your MSC excursion.
New York is very much a city of neighbourhoods, most compact enough to be explored on foot (at least below 59th Street). On your Grand Voyages cruises to New York, of all America’s symbols, none is more enduring than the Statue of Liberty, looming over the harbour from its pedestal on tiny Liberty Island.
Indeed, there is probably no more immediately recognizable profile in existence than that of Lady Liberty , who stands with torch in hand, clutching a stone tablet. Measuring some 305ft from her pedestal base, she has acted as the figurehead of the American Dream for more than a century.

New York is a wonderful port of call for MSC cruise liners on Grand Voyages cruise itineraries. Hidden gardens next to postmodern skyscrapers; priceless art tucked away in medieval-style cloisters; a revamped waterfront you can stroll along to take in the view.

Wandering through the patchwork of neighbourhoods is as great a thrill as any single sight. Frantic Chinatown edges stylish Soho , which is but a stone’s throw from the quiet, angled lanes of the once-bohemian West Village . A perfect espresso in a shabby-chic Williamsburg café, a rooftop view from Chelsea’s High Line or a ride on the “A” to Far Rockaway is worth much more than an “I Love New York” handbag. Cheaper, too, and the memory will last longer.

New York City officially comprises the central island of Manhattan and four outer boroughs – Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. For many, Manhattan simply is New York; indeed, when your MSC cruise takes you to New York, you’ll probably spend most of your time here. Understanding the intricacies of Manhattan’s layout, especially beyond its grid pattern , and getting a grasp of its transport network should be top priorities during your MSC excursion.
New York is very much a city of neighbourhoods, most compact enough to be explored on foot (at least below 59th Street). On your Grand Voyages cruises to New York, of all America’s symbols, none is more enduring than the Statue of Liberty, looming over the harbour from its pedestal on tiny Liberty Island.
Indeed, there is probably no more immediately recognizable profile in existence than that of Lady Liberty , who stands with torch in hand, clutching a stone tablet. Measuring some 305ft from her pedestal base, she has acted as the figurehead of the American Dream for more than a century.

Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about 30 miles (48 km) south of Providence. Newport has one of the highest concentrations of colonial homes in the nation, in the downtown Newport Historic District, one of three National Historic Landmark Districts in the city. Many of these homes were restored in the late 20th century through grants made by Newport resident Doris Duke, as well as other local efforts such as Operation Clapboard. As a result, Newport’s colonial heritage is well-preserved and documented at the Newport Historical Society. In addition to the colonial architecture, the city is known for its Gilded Age mansions. With coastlines on the west, south and east, Newport is a maritime city. Its harbours teem with commercial fishing boats, power and sail pleasure craft. It is known as the sailing capitol of the United States. Aquidneck Island is home to many beautiful beaches, most public and a few private. In Newport, the largest public beach, Easton’s beach or First Beach, has a view of the famed Cliff Walk. The Newport Cliff Walk is considered one of the most popular attractions in the city. It is a 3.5 mile (5.6 km) public access walkway bordering the shoreline, and has been designated a National Recreation Trail.

Canada is a huge country that offers tourists a large number of wonderful attractions to visit and explore. One of those not to be missed is Halifax, the capital city of Nova Scotia found on the east coast of Canada and one of the places you can visit on an MSC Cruise.

Each city has a symbol that represents it more than anything else: for Halifax, its citadel that dates back to the late 18th century, famous in Canada both for its beauty and for its historical importance, fills that role. Inside the star-shaped citadel, you can explore the history of Halifax on guided tours. The museum staff, dressed as soldiers of the army and navy, will show you the clothes used in the past and other items in maritime activities.

To the south-west of the city, your MSC cruise will offer you an excursion to one of the most beautiful and evocative settings on the Atlantic coast, the small village of Peggy’s Cove, famous for its red lighthouse that was built in 1868. In this fishing village, elements of nature and domestic intimacy coexist: it is a land of boulders eroded by glaciers where
the presence of humans can be found only in a handful of colorful houses and fishing shacks over the waters of the marina. The village lighthouse stands on top of a granite outcropping, made slippery by the splashes of the ocean waves.

Less than a kilometer from the public gardens of Halifax can be found another place of great historical-cultural interest that you can visit on your MSC cruise: the Fairview Cemetery, a Canadian cemetery, famous for being the resting place for 121 victims of the shipwreck of the Titanic.

Halifax’s connection with the famous naval tragedy on April 15, 1912 can also be seen at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, which houses an excellent permanent exhibition on the disaster, including photographs, wooden artifacts and the only intact Titanic deckchair in the world.

Sydney, capital of New South Wales and one of Australia’s largest cities, is best known for its harbourfront Sydney Opera House, with a distinctive sail-like design. Massive Darling Harbour and the smaller Circular Quay port are hubs of waterside life, with the arched Harbour Bridge and esteemed Royal Botanic Garden nearby. Sydney Tower’s outdoor platform, the Skywalk, offers 360-degree views of the city and suburbs.

During an MSC Caribbean and Antilles cruise to the U.S. Virgin Islands, experience the spectacular beauty of St. Thomas as you encounter colonial history, panoramic mountaintop views and some of the top-rated beaches in the world.
Disembark in the capital of Charlotte Amalie, where the streets and places still bear Danish names and its history of pirates remains visible to this day.

Experience the charming historic district of the Kongens (King’s) Quarter on an MSC excursion that explores the former centre of Danish colonial enterprise and visit several National Landmark Properties and historical manor homes including Villa Notman, Britannia House, Crown House, Haagensen House and Hotel 1829.
Visit the landmark 99 Steps – perhaps the most famous step street built by the Danish using bricks brought in European ships as ballast. These will lead you to the famous 17th-century Blackbeard’s Castle, where you will get a chance to step back into the age of the Caribbean pirates while admiring stunning views. Edward Teach, a.k.a. Blackbeard, inspected the bays of the island from the castle’s observation tower, the Skytsborg, which is the oldest structure on the Virgin Islands at more than 300 years old.
A Charlotte Amalie cruise lets you explore Drake’s Seat, another scenic overlook from which you can admire all of the Virgin Islands, both the U.S. and the British. On a clear day, you can even see Puerto Rico from Drake’s Seat.

To bring out your inner pirate, hop on a pirate schooner, manned by a friendly motley crew, in search of wildlife, snorkelling and beach fun. An MSC excursion that’s great for the whole family, this pirate adventure includes a personal “pirate” tattoo, a turn at the helm as an honorary captain and an eye-patch for the kids.
Or let us whisk you to away to the beach at idyllic Magens Bay, once named by National Geo-graphic as one of the most beautiful bays in the world. Slightly tucked away from view, this immaculate sandy beach is framed by palm trees, turquoise water and green hills and is the perfect spot to sunbathe and snorkel.

For something special, join an MSC excursion to neighbouring St. John and the charming town of Cruz Bay. After a short scenic sail, board an open-air safari-style bus to explore the ruggedly beautiful St. John with a quick stop or two to enjoy the spectacular views en route to Trunk Bay, Waterlemon Cay and Annaberg Sugar Plantation ruins, followed by a beach and snorkelling experience. Then taste some authentic West Indian fare and experience coal pot cooking on an exclusive Martha Stewart excursion that blends cuisine, culture, and the best sites of St. John all into one tour.

Pretty and well-maintained, Québec City is located on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River and is dominated by majestic ChateauFrontenac, the symbolic hotel of the capital, known for its fairytalearchitecture offering a spectacular view of the surrounding roads and green areas.

The excursions around this Canadian metropolis available on your MSC Cruise are numerous: visiting Quebec City is like taking a trip into the past where the city’s four hundred years of history can be seen everywhere. The entire old city has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to the amazing set of human works of art and architecture and the natural beauty that is found everywhere.

One of the most beautiful tours that you can take while on your MSC cruise will be the one into Old Québec: after a walk around the Upper Town admiring the ancient gray stone religious buildings and views of the great river, the tour passes through the streets and squares of the Lower City, the central core that spurred the development of Québec City. Here you will have the feeling of being in New
France three to four centuries ago, with a Parisian atmosphere and an urban-architectural imprint that is very similar to European cities.

Of the tours that venture outside the city, at just 10 kilometers from the center, MontmorencyFalls is not to be missed. At 85 meters high, they are among the ten highest waterfalls in Canada. Paths and stairs lead to the top: you can climb up on foot or go by cablecar and enjoy an exceptional view overlooking the river and modern bridge that leads to Ile de Orléans, the lush green island in front of the city.

Another excursion you can take while on your MSC cruise is to Sainte-Anne de Beaupré sanctuary, one of the great pilgrimage destinations in North America.
Québec City, Canada’s fortifiedcitadel, is without a doubt a delightful, stimulating jewel in this large country which can be visited on foot and where it is easy to meet people, go to events and visit art galleries.

Pretty and well-maintained, Québec City is located on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River and is dominated by majestic ChateauFrontenac, the symbolic hotel of the capital, known for its fairytalearchitecture offering a spectacular view of the surrounding roads and green areas.

The excursions around this Canadian metropolis available on your MSC Cruise are numerous: visiting Quebec City is like taking a trip into the past where the city’s four hundred years of history can be seen everywhere. The entire old city has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to the amazing set of human works of art and architecture and the natural beauty that is found everywhere.

One of the most beautiful tours that you can take while on your MSC cruise will be the one into Old Québec: after a walk around the Upper Town admiring the ancient gray stone religious buildings and views of the great river, the tour passes through the streets and squares of the Lower City, the central core that spurred the development of Québec City. Here you will have the feeling of being in New
France three to four centuries ago, with a Parisian atmosphere and an urban-architectural imprint that is very similar to European cities.

Of the tours that venture outside the city, at just 10 kilometers from the center, MontmorencyFalls is not to be missed. At 85 meters high, they are among the ten highest waterfalls in Canada. Paths and stairs lead to the top: you can climb up on foot or go by cablecar and enjoy an exceptional view overlooking the river and modern bridge that leads to Ile de Orléans, the lush green island in front of the city.

Another excursion you can take while on your MSC cruise is to Sainte-Anne de Beaupré sanctuary, one of the great pilgrimage destinations in North America.
Québec City, Canada’s fortifiedcitadel, is without a doubt a delightful, stimulating jewel in this large country which can be visited on foot and where it is easy to meet people, go to events and visit art galleries.

Pretty and well-maintained, Québec City is located on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River and is dominated by majestic ChateauFrontenac, the symbolic hotel of the capital, known for its fairytalearchitecture offering a spectacular view of the surrounding roads and green areas.

The excursions around this Canadian metropolis available on your MSC Cruise are numerous: visiting Quebec City is like taking a trip into the past where the city’s four hundred years of history can be seen everywhere. The entire old city has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to the amazing set of human works of art and architecture and the natural beauty that is found everywhere.

One of the most beautiful tours that you can take while on your MSC cruise will be the one into Old Québec: after a walk around the Upper Town admiring the ancient gray stone religious buildings and views of the great river, the tour passes through the streets and squares of the Lower City, the central core that spurred the development of Québec City. Here you will have the feeling of being in New
France three to four centuries ago, with a Parisian atmosphere and an urban-architectural imprint that is very similar to European cities.

Of the tours that venture outside the city, at just 10 kilometers from the center, MontmorencyFalls is not to be missed. At 85 meters high, they are among the ten highest waterfalls in Canada. Paths and stairs lead to the top: you can climb up on foot or go by cablecar and enjoy an exceptional view overlooking the river and modern bridge that leads to Ile de Orléans, the lush green island in front of the city.

Another excursion you can take while on your MSC cruise is to Sainte-Anne de Beaupré sanctuary, one of the great pilgrimage destinations in North America.
Québec City, Canada’s fortifiedcitadel, is without a doubt a delightful, stimulating jewel in this large country which can be visited on foot and where it is easy to meet people, go to events and visit art galleries.

Nuuk, on the southwestern coast of Greenland, is the world’s most northerly capital and a genuine arctic jewel. This MSC Northern Europe Cruises destination is known for its colourful houses, unspoiled mountain backdrop, waterfalls, and icebergs.

Nuuk, on the southwestern coast of Greenland, is the world’s most northerly capital and a genuine arctic jewel. This MSC Northern Europe Cruises destination is known for its colourful houses, unspoiled mountain backdrop, waterfalls, and icebergs.

When your MSC cruise to northern Europe takes you to the north western point of Iceland, you will cast anchor at Isafjordur, a small town of ancient origins.

In Isafjordur you will find the oldest standing Icelandic house, built in 1743. In the periphery of Bolungarvík, the northernmost location in the western fjords, one can instead visit Ósvör, once a fisherman’s village and now an open air museum.
The past re-emerges also in the old town of Nedstikaupstadur, where Icelandic and Norwegian merchants first, and then British and German ones, would meet in the mid-15th century in the bay of Isafiord. Here, in the second half of the 18th century, Krambud (the shop) was built, that was converted in the 20th century into a private home; as well as Faktorshus (the farmers house); Tjoruhus (the tar house) and Turnhus (the tower house) used as warehouses and fish processing centres.
While on your MSC cruise to Northern Europe, if you want to get an idea of how Icelanders used to live in the past, try an excursion to Vigur, literally the “spear-shaped island”. Its waters host a great deal of sea lions who feed on marine birds such as the puffin, the black guillemot, the aggressive arctic tern (who can attack people if it feels threatened) and the common eider.
Another spectacle of nature is the Naustahvilft, the “troll’s seat”, a large depression shaped like a half moon in the flat mountains that surround the Isafjordur fjord. Legend has it that it was created by a troll caught by the sunlight sitting on the mountain with its feet in the water.
Whether you believe in the legend or more likely in a valley dug out by the ice during the last ice age, try this brief but intense excursion, it is certainly worth it.

Reykjavík is mirrored in the waters of its bay, as you can see when your cruise ship sets anchor in the port. The quays along the seafront host a variety of shops, live music clubs and cafés.

Take a stroll down Frakkastigur up to Lækjartorg, to admire the Sólfar, also known as the Sun Voyager, a large modern steelsculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason, that represents a Viking vessel, with the bow pointing towards the north.
Go back in history as you reach the historic centre, in the districts of Aðalstræti and Suðurgata, where you can still see the remains of some primitive Icelandic dwellings. Also the church of Hallgrímur, probably the most important architectural monument in Reykjavik, is worth a visit. As you will discover during your MSC cruise of Northern Europe, geothermal energy positively conditions the life of the entire country and there is an abundance of spas.
Don’t miss an excursion to the Þingvellir national park, in the south west region of the island, a UNESCO world heritage site since 2004. On the northern shores of the Þingvallavatn, the largest Icelandic lake, the Öxará river forms the Öxaráfoss waterfall in the vicinity of Almannagjá, the largest cleft in this land.
If you like waterfalls, you should not miss a visit to Gullfoss, in the south east of the island: the river Hvítá here drops down 11 and then 21 metres forming the queen of all Icelandic waterfalls and then continues along a narrow gorge in the plateau. In this area we also find the Strokkur, the only geyser that regularly erupts every 4-8 minutes. Then proceed to Geysir, in the Haukadalur valley, the oldest known geyser, from which the term originates.
Its eruptions spray boiling water up to 60 metres into the air, but often reach higher than 100 metres: it is the tallest of the active geysers.

Reykjavík is mirrored in the waters of its bay, as you can see when your cruise ship sets anchor in the port. The quays along the seafront host a variety of shops, live music clubs and cafés.

Take a stroll down Frakkastigur up to Lækjartorg, to admire the Sólfar, also known as the Sun Voyager, a large modern steelsculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason, that represents a Viking vessel, with the bow pointing towards the north.
Go back in history as you reach the historic centre, in the districts of Aðalstræti and Suðurgata, where you can still see the remains of some primitive Icelandic dwellings. Also the church of Hallgrímur, probably the most important architectural monument in Reykjavik, is worth a visit. As you will discover during your MSC cruise of Northern Europe, geothermal energy positively conditions the life of the entire country and there is an abundance of spas.
Don’t miss an excursion to the Þingvellir national park, in the south west region of the island, a UNESCO world heritage site since 2004. On the northern shores of the Þingvallavatn, the largest Icelandic lake, the Öxará river forms the Öxaráfoss waterfall in the vicinity of Almannagjá, the largest cleft in this land.
If you like waterfalls, you should not miss a visit to Gullfoss, in the south east of the island: the river Hvítá here drops down 11 and then 21 metres forming the queen of all Icelandic waterfalls and then continues along a narrow gorge in the plateau. In this area we also find the Strokkur, the only geyser that regularly erupts every 4-8 minutes. Then proceed to Geysir, in the Haukadalur valley, the oldest known geyser, from which the term originates.
Its eruptions spray boiling water up to 60 metres into the air, but often reach higher than 100 metres: it is the tallest of the active geysers.

Waiting to be enjoyed on an MSC Northern Europe cruise excursion, Belfast has a pace and bustle you’ll find nowhere else in Northern Ireland.

In appearance Belfast closely resembles Liverpool, Glasgow or any other industrial port across the water, and, similarly, its largely defunct docklands – in which, famously, the Titanic was built – are undergoing massive redevelopment.
Though the city centre is still characterized by numerous elegant Victorian buildings, there’s been an enormous transformation here, too, not least in the greater prosperity of the shopping streets leading northwards from the hub of Belfast life, Donegall Square. In the city centre, you can concentrate on the glories resulting from the Industrial Revolution – grandiose architecture and magnificent Victorian pubs – and the rejuvenated area from Ann Street to Donegall Street now known as the Cathedral quarter.
To the south lies Queen’s University and the extensive collections of the Ulster Museum, set in the grounds of the Botanic Gardens. Ever since 1693, when the Royal Society first publicized it as one of the great wonders of the natural world, the Giant’s Causeway has been a major tourist attraction and it’s just waiting for you to visit it too on an MSC Northern Europe excursion.
Made up of an estimated 37,000 black basalt columns, each a polygon, it’s the result of a massive subterranean explosion, some sixty million years ago, that stretched from the Causeway to Rathlin and beyond to Islay, Staffa and Mull in Scotland.
A huge mass of molten basalt was spewed out onto the surface, which, on cooling, solidified into what are, essentially, crystals. Though the process was simple, it’s difficult, when confronted with the impressive regular geometry of the columns, to believe that their production was entirely natural.

An MSC Northern Europe cruise to England is the perfect opportunity to discover the dynamic, exciting port of Liverpool: it’s a vibrant city with a Tate Gallery of its own, a series of innovative museums and a fascinating social history.

And of course it also makes great play of its musical heritage – as well it should, considering that this is the place that gave the world The Beatles. The main sights are scattered throughout the centre of town, but you can easily walk between most of them.
If you want a cathedral, they’ve “got one to spare” as the song goes; plus there’s a fine showing of British art in the celebrated Walker Art Gallery and Tate Liverpool, and a multitude of exhibits in the terrific World MuseumLiverpool. When you step ashore from your MSC cruise, you can’t miss St George’s Hall, one of Britain’s finest Greek Revival buildings and a testament to the wealth generated from transatlantic trade.
Now primarily an exhibition venue, but once Liverpool’s premier concert hall and crown court, its vaulted Great Hall features a floor paved with thirty thousand precious Minton tiles (usually covered over), while the Willis organ is the third largest in Europe. Huge and flashy, in a show-stopping Danish-designed building, the Museum of Liverpool opened in 2011. Spread over three floors, the galleries play on Liverpool’s historic status as the “second city of Empire”, exploring the complex political and life histories that have unfolded in a community whose wealth and social fabric were built on international trade.
Dominating the waterfront are the so-called Three Graces – namely the Port of Liverpool Building (1907), Cunard Building (1913) and, most prominently, the 322ft-high Royal Liver Building (1910), topped by the “Liver Birds”, a couple of cormorants that have become the symbol of the city.

Despite its pummelling by the Luftwaffe and some disastrous postwar urban sprawl, the thousand-year-old city of Southampton has retained some of its medieval charm in parts and reinvented itself as a twenty-first century shopping centre in others, with the giant glass-and-steel West Quay as its focus.

Core of the modern town is the Civic Centre, a short walk east of the train station and home to the excellent Southampton City Art Gallery that’s particularly strong on contemporary British artists. The Western Esplanade runs alongside the best remaining bits of the old city walls.
Rebuilt after a French attack in 1338, they incorporate God’s House Tower, at the southern end of the old town in Winkle Street, which currently houses the Museum of Archaeology. Best preserved of the city’s seven gates is Bargate, at the opposite end of the old town, at the head of the High Street; it’s an elaborate structure, cluttered with lions, classical figures and defensive apertures. A shore excursion on your MSC Northern Europe cruise from Southampton can be the opportunity to discover the capital of England, London.
For the visitor, London is a thrilling place. Monuments from the capital’s glorious past are everywhere, from medieval banqueting halls and the great churches of Christopher Wren to the eclectic Victorian architecture of the triumphalist British Empire. You can relax in the city’s quiet Georgian squares, explore the narrow alleyways of the City of London, wander along the riverside walks, and uncover the quirks of what is still identifiably a collection of villages.
The capital’s great historical landmarks – Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and so on – draw in millions of tourists every year.