Ancona is the capital of Italy's Marche region. Ancona's main attraction is her tactile museum for the blinds. It's also a great place to take a dip and enjoy great sea views under the sunshine.

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MEKOT - Kotor, Montenegro Photo credit belongs to Chris Thomson.jpg

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MEKOT - Kotor, Montenegro Photo credit belongs to Robin van Holst.jpg

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Backed by imposing mountains, tiny Kotor lies hidden from the open sea, tucked into the deepest channel of the Bokor Kotorska (Kotor Bay), which is Europe's most southerly fjord. To many, this town is more charming than its sister UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dubrovnik, retaining more authenticity, but with fewer tourists and spared the war damage and subsequent rebuilding which has given Dubrovnik something of a Disney feel.Kotor's medieval Stari Grad (Old Town) is enclosed within well-preserved defensive walls built between the 9th and 18th centuries and is presided over by a proud hilltop fortress. Within the walls, a labyrinth of winding cobbled streets leads through a series of splendid paved piazzas, rimmed by centuries-old stone buildings. The squares are now haunted by strains from buskers but although many now house trendy cafés and chic boutiques, directions are still given medieval-style by reference to the town’s landmark churches.In the Middle Ages, as Serbia's chief port, Kotor was an important economic and cultural center with its own highly regarded schools of stonemasonry and iconography. From 1391 to 1420 it was an independent city-republic and later, it spent periods under Venetian, Austrian, and French rule, though it was undoubtedly the Venetians who left the strongest impression on the city's architecture. Since the breakup of Yugoslavia, some 70% of the stone buildings in the romantic Old Town have been snapped up by foreigners, mostly Brits and Russians. Porto Montenegro, a new marina designed to accommodate some of the world’s largest super yachts, opened in nearby Tivat in 2011, and along the bay are other charming seaside villages, all with better views of the bay than the vista from Kotor itself where the waterside is congested with cruise ships and yachts. Try sleepy Muo or the settlement of Prčanj in one direction around the bay, or Perast and the Roman mosaics of Risan in the other direction.

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GRJMK - Mykonos, Greece Photo credit belongs to Hector J.Rivas.jpg

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Although the fishing boats still go out in good weather, Mykonos largely makes its living from tourism these days. The summer crowds have turned one of the poorest islands in Greece into one of the richest. Old Mykonians complain that their young, who have inherited stores where their grandfathers once sold eggs or wine, get so much rent that they have lost ambition, and in summer sit around pool bars at night with their friends, and hang out in Athens in winter when island life is less scintillating. Put firmly on the map by Jackie O in the 1960s, Mykonos town—called Hora by the locals—remains the Saint-Tropez of the Greek islands. The scenery is memorable, with its whitewashed streets, Little Venice, the Kato Myli ridge of windmills, and Kastro, the town's medieval quarter. Its cubical two- or three-story houses and churches, with their red or blue doors and domes and wooden balconies, have been long celebrated as some of the best examples of classic Cycladic architecture. Luckily, the Greek Archaeological Service decided to preserve the town, even when the Mykonians would have preferred to rebuild, and so the Old Town has been impressively preserved. Pink oleander, scarlet hibiscus, and trailing green pepper trees form a contrast amid the dazzling whiteness, whose frequent renewal with whitewash is required by law. Any visitor who has the pleasure of getting lost in its narrow streets (made all the narrower by the many outdoor stone staircases, which maximize housing space in the crowded village) will appreciate how its confusing layout was designed to foil pirates—if it was designed at all. After Mykonos fell under Turkish rule in 1537, the Ottomans allowed the islanders to arm their vessels against pirates, which had a contradictory effect: many of them found that raiding other islands was more profitable than tilling arid land. At the height of Aegean piracy, Mykonos was the principal headquarters of the corsair fleets—the place where pirates met their fellows, found willing women, and filled out their crews. Eventually the illicit activity evolved into a legitimate and thriving trade network. Morning on Mykonos town's main quay is busy with deliveries, visitors for the Delos boats, lazy breakfasters, and street cleaners dealing with the previous night's mess. In late morning the cruise-boat people arrive, and the shops are all open. In early afternoon, shaded outdoor tavernas are full of diners eating salads (Mykonos's produce is mostly imported); music is absent or kept low. In mid- and late afternoon, the town feels sleepy, since so many people are at the beach, on excursions, or sleeping in their air-conditioned rooms; even some tourist shops close for siesta. By sunset, people have come back from the beach, having taken their showers and rested. At night, the atmosphere in Mykonos ramps up. The cruise-boat people are mostly gone, coughing three-wheelers make no deliveries in the narrow streets, and everyone is dressed sexy for summer and starting to shimmy with the scene. Many shops stay open past midnight, the restaurants fill up, and the bars and discos make ice cubes as fast as they can. Ready to dive in? Begin your tour of Mykonos town (Hora) by starting out at its heart: Mando Mavrogenous Square.



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Undoubtedly the most extraordinary island in the Aegean, crescent-shape Santorini remains a mandatory stop on the Cycladic tourist route—even if it's necessary to enjoy the sensational sunsets from Ia, the fascinating excavations, and the dazzling white towns with a million other travelers. Called Kállisti (the "Loveliest") when first settled, the island has now reverted to its subsequent name of Thira, after the 9th-century-BC Dorian colonizer Thiras. The place is better known, however, these days as Santorini, a name derived from its patroness, St. Irene of Thessaloniki, the Byzantine empress who restored icons to Orthodoxy and died in 802. You can fly conveniently to Santorini, but to enjoy a true Santorini rite of passage, opt instead for the boat trip here, which provides a spectacular introduction. After the boat sails between Sikinos and Ios, your deck-side perch approaches two close islands with a passage between them. The bigger one on the left is Santorini, and the smaller on the right is Thirassia. Passing between them, you see the village of Ia adorning Santorini's northernmost cliff like a white geometric beehive. You are in the caldera (volcanic crater), one of the world's truly breathtaking sights: a demilune of cliffs rising 1,100 feet, with the white clusters of the towns of Fira and Ia perched along the top. The bay, once the high center of the island, is 1,300 feet in some places, so deep that when boats dock in Santorini's shabby little port of Athinios, they do not drop anchor. The encircling cliffs are the ancient rim of a still-active volcano, and you are sailing east across its flooded caldera. On your right are the Burnt isles, the White isle, and other volcanic remnants, all lined up as if some outsize display in a geology museum. Hephaestus's subterranean fires smolder still—the volcano erupted in 198 BC, about 735, and there was an earthquake in 1956. Indeed, Santorini and its four neighboring islets are the fragmentary remains of a larger landmass that exploded about 1600 BC: the volcano's core blew sky high, and the sea rushed into the abyss to create the great bay, which measures 10 km by 7 km (6 mi by 4½ mi) and is 1,292 feet deep. The other pieces of the rim, which broke off in later eruptions, are Thirassia, where a few hundred people live, and deserted little Aspronissi ("White isle"). In the center of the bay, black and uninhabited, two cones, the Burnt Isles of Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni, appeared between 1573 and 1925. There has been too much speculation about the identification of Santorini with the mythical Atlantis, mentioned in Egyptian papyri and by Plato (who says it's in the Atlantic), but myths are hard to pin down. This is not true of old arguments about whether tidal waves from Santorini's cataclysmic explosion destroyed Minoan civilization on Crete, 113 km (70 mi) away. The latest carbon-dating evidence, which points to a few years before 1600 BC for the eruption, clearly indicates that the Minoans outlasted the eruption by a couple of hundred years, but most probably in a weakened state. In fact, the island still endures hardships: since antiquity, Santorini has depended on rain collected in cisterns for drinking and irrigating—the well water is often brackish—and the serious shortage is alleviated by the importation of water. However, the volcanic soil also yields riches: small, intense tomatoes with tough skins used for tomato paste (good restaurants here serve them); the famous Santorini fava beans, which have a light, fresh taste; barley; wheat; and white-skin eggplants.

7 NIGHT Mediterranean - Eastern CRUISE

Verdi Deck

Puccini Deck

Scarlatti Deck

Paganini Deck

Albinoni Deck

Bellini Deck

Vivaldi Deck

Rossini Deck

Sun Deck

<ul><li>Surface 23 sqm, balcony 5 sqm, deck 10</li><li>Sitting area with sofa</li><li>Spacious Wardrobe</li><li>Bathroom with bathtub, vanity area with hairdryer</li><li>Comfortable double or single beds (on request)</li><li>TV, telephone, Wifi connection available (for a fee), safe and minibar</li></ul>The image is representative only; the size, layout and furniture may vary (within the same cabin category).

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Suite 1

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Suite 0

Deluxe Suite Aurea

<ul><li>Surface 13 sqm, balcony 3 sqm, deck 9-10</li><li>Sitting area with sofa</li><li>Bathroom with shower, vanity area with hairdryer</li><li>Comfortable double or single beds (on request)</li><li>TV, telephone, Wifi connection available (for a fee), safe and minibar</li></ul>The image is representative only; the size, layout and furniture may vary (within the same cabin category).

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Junior Balcony 1

Junior Balcony

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Balcony

Balcony Bella

Bingo Balcony

<ul><li>Surface 22 sqm, deck 9.</li><li>Window with sea view</li><li>Relaxing armchair</li><li>Comfortable double or single beds (on request)</li><li>Bathroom with shower, vanity area with hairdryer</li><li>TV, telephone, Wifi connection available (for a fee), safe and minibar</li></ul>The image is representative only; the size, layout and furniture may vary (within the same cabin category).

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Ocean View

Premium Ocean View

<ul><li>Surface 13 sqm, deck 7-8.</li><li>Window with sea view</li><li>Relaxing armchair</li><li>Comfortable double or single beds (on request)</li><li>Bathroom with shower, vanity area with hairdryer</li><li>TV, telephone, Wifi connection available (for a fee), safe and minibar </li></ul>The image is representative only; the size, layout and furniture may vary (within the same cabin category).

Junior Ocean View

<ul><li>Surface 13 sqm, deck 7</li><li>Window with sea view</li><li>Relaxing armchair</li><li>Comfortable double or single beds (on request)</li><li>Bathroom with shower, vanity area with hairdryer</li><li>TV, telephone, Wifi connection available (for a fee), safe and minibar </li></ul>The image is representative only; the size, layout and furniture may vary (within the same cabin category).

Junior Ocean View with Obstructed View

Ocean View Bella

Bingo Outside

<ul><li>Surface 13 sqm, deck 7-8</li><li>Relaxing armchair</li><li>Bathroom with shower, vanity area and hairdryer</li><li>Comfortable double or single beds (on request*)</li><li>TV, telephone, Wifi connection available (for a fee), safe and minibar</li></ul>* Cabins for guests with disabilities or reduced mobility have single beds only.The image is representative only; the size, layout and furniture may vary (within the same cabin category).

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Inside

Junior Interior

Inside Bella

Bingo Inside

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A cafeteria style, self-service buffet.

MSC Lirica Class La Vele

Buffet Restaurant

Alfresco restaurant, serving pizza and fast-food styled dishes.

MSC Lirica Class Pizza il Patio

Patio Pizzeria

MSC Cruises is proud to bring the very best in artisanal gelato to our travellers. Venchi has been making superlative desserts since 1878 and owes much of its success to the use of 100% natural ingredients and exclusive recipes, from its intense extra dark chocolate to luscious gianduja and refreshing fruit sorbets.

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MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Gelateria Italana 0

The Italian Ice Cream Bar

Bar with vitamin drinks made from fresh fruits and juice such as Orange Delight and Carrot Fantasy.

MSC Lirica Class Vitamin Bar

Vitamin Bar

Tradition and modernity go hand in hand in this stylish sushi restaurant. This charming venue offers deliciously authentic Asian cuisine prepared on the spot with only the freshest, highest quality ingredients.

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Kaito Sushi Bar

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica La Pergola Pizza & Pasta 0

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica La Pergola Pizza & Pasta 1

La Pergola Pizza & Pasta

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica La Pergola Hamburgers Paradise 2

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica La Pergola Hamburgers Paradise 1

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica La Pergola Hamburgers Paradise 0

La Pergola 

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica La Bussola 0

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica La Bussola 1

La Bussola 

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Le Bistrot

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L'Ippocampo

Your cruise experience is at the centre of everything we do. To help make your holiday with us truly memorable, we give you the chance to tailor your experience to your needs and desires. For example, you can either leave the choice of cabin to us and benefit from the best rates available, or choose your own ideal cabin and location, while enjoying extra flexibility and additional benefits to make your cruise even more special.<ul><li>Bella Experience</li><li>Fantastica Experience</li><li>Aurea Experience</li><li>MSC Yacht Club Experience</li></ul>

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Unique Feature

One of the best ways to explore a city is from the seat of a bicycle. Hit the road on your next MSC Cruise on a MSC BIKE ADVENTOURS experience.See, hear, smell and feel the destination like never before. You’re guaranteed to leave with a deeper connection.

MSC Cruises Bike Tours

Bike Tours

What are ProtectoursWe are committed to preserving a beautiful world for future generations to enjoy. By focusing on environmental sustainability, PROTECTOURS contribute to that vital goal. 70% of the tours involve activities with zero environmental impact – like walking, cycling, or kayaking – while others make a direct contribution to the environment, for example, tree planting or beach cleaning. So, you can enjoy original insights into the natural world while preserving its beauty and helping to ensure a greener future!A world of amazing experiencesPROTECTOURS offer you unforgettable experiences in close contact with nature and communities in a variety of environments around the world. Local guides, with an expertise in wildlife or traditions, will help you save baby sea turtles in the Caribbean, clean the desert in Abu Dhabi, explore Iceland by horseback, or immerse yourself in Corfu’s beautiful countryside and the magical world of bees.MSC Cruises and the environmentOur love and respect for the marine environment are reflected in our certified eco-ships, with their innovative systems for energy saving, waste treatment and recycling. Naturally, our commitment to the environments extends to our onshore activities too. PROTECTOURS is not only a way to offer our guests a variety of eco-friendly shore excursions, but also a means of encouraging our onshore partners to develop tours that pay ever more attention to environmental sustainability. Just one example is that no single-use plastic or other items are accepted on these tours.

MSC Cruises Excursions Protectours

Sustainable Shore Excursions: MSC Protectours

MSC Family Explorer ClubExplore the destination together on a fun filled family adventure, inspired by history and designed to cover all the highlights.Family friendly programmingTours typically start later in the morning, are shorter in duration and are accompanied by expert guides and story tellersTours that the whole family can enjoyEach experience is developed to keep both children entertained while also providing an enriching and educational experience for adultsFamily-Friendly Prices 50% offChildren tickets are always half-pricePeace of MindWhen you choose an MSC Family Explorer Club you can relax in the knowledge that all our tours are operated by carefully selected partners who can easily make contact with your ship throughout the day.

MSC Cruises Family Explorer Club Excursions

MSC Family Explorer Club

Explore each destination at your own paceOur Easy &amp; Accessible Tours make exploring comfortable for everyone!These tours allow slow walkers, wheelchair, scooter users and any guests that like to leisurely explore, to visit the best each destination has to offer on easy tours created just for them. Through specifically selected itineraries and specially designed tours, guests will be able to enjoy step free routes at their own pace, experiencing the wonders of our destinations in total comfort. Special needs vehicles will be available to accommodate small groups, and tours itineraries will always include access to special needs restrooms.Please note that vehicles and their wheelchair &amp; scooter requirements (width, height, weight) vary from tour to tour so make sure to carefully check the specific requirements within each tour description.

msc world europa accessible excursions

Easy & Accessible Excursions

You’d normally have to travel to New York to see top-end shows, but thanks to our Broadway-style theatres you can enjoy superlative entertainment with an international line-up of artists without having to leave the ship. Take your pick from a fabulous programme, there’s sure to be a show you love.

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MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Theatre 0

Teatro Dell'Opera

Our casinos are elegantly designed, featuring games for all types of players. You’ll be able to try your hand at Roulette or Blackjack, challenge yourself at one of our Poker tables, or choose among a variety of slot machines.

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Palm Beach Casino

Late-night bar and nightclub with a 450 square foot dance floor.

MSC Lirica Class Bybios Disco

MSC Lirica Class Byblos Disco

Byblos Discoteca

The ship's card room is located on deck 7 and seats 28 guests.

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MSC Lirica Class The card room

The Card Room

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Vitamin Bar

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Vitamin Bar 1

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica The Coffee Corner 3

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica The Coffee Corner 2

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica The Coffee Corner 1

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The Coffee Corner

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica The Beverly Hills 2

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica The Beverly Hills 1

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica The Beverly Hills 0

The Beverly Hills Bar

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Le Cabaret 2

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Le Cabaret 1

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Le Cabaret 0

Le Cabaret

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica La Pergola Outside Bar 1

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica La Pergola Outside Bar 0

Pergola Outside Cafeteria

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica La Canzone 0

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica La Canzone 1

La Canzone del Mare Bar

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica L'Atmosphere Piano Bar 2

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica L'Atmosphere Piano Bar 1

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica L'Atmosphere Piano Bar 0

L'Atmosphere Piano Bar

If a bit of poolside therapy sounds like your idea of heaven, look no further than one of our numerous swimming pools to get your fill of sun and relaxation, while our pool attendants can cater to your every need.

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Swimming Pools & Pool Deck 2

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Swimming Pools & Pool Deck 1

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Swimming Pools

While away a few enjoyable hours of game play at the Arcade on board the ship. Pit your wits and skill against those of your friends in any number of typical arcade options, including video games, pinball and more. Great fun guaranteed.

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Arcade

Arcade

It’s all white for a night with dazzling décor and costumes to suit the theme, plus a special performance starring our theatre cast.

MSC Cruises White Party

White Party

A start-of-the-cruise event celebrating the ship's departure, led by the Entertainment Team and Dancers in a spectacular Costume Parade.

MSC Cruises Sailaway Party

Sailaway Party

Fun-packed festive celebrations with a Bavarian flair - decorations, costumes, games, music and of course beer. There’s even a Master of Beer competition and a 6-metre-tall inflatable beer mug.

MSC Cruises Beer Festival

Beer Festival

Think you’ve got what it takes to be a star in our on-board talent competition, The MSC Factor? Then come and showcase what you can do in the most exciting talent show at sea. Whatever your specific talent may be, don’t be shy – come and show the world what it’s been missing.

MSC Cruises MSC Factor

MSC Factor

The world's best-loved food show awaits you on the MSC Cruises fleet! Experience the adrenaline-fuelled creativity of an extraordinary on-board cooking competition for adults and junior guests.

MSC Cruises Master Chef

Master Chef

The Lord Nelson Pub can be found on Deck 5.

MSC Cruises LIRICA Lord Nelson Pub

Lord Nelson Pub

MSC Aurea Spa boasts an exotic interior of natural stone, precious woods and rich mosaics, and is equipped with specific and massage treatment suites. Being pampered by a traditional Balinese Massage is a truly unique experience. Thanks to a blend of scented essences and aromatic oils, your body is enveloped in an endlessly peaceful and relaxing aura.

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MSC Aurea Spa

Fitted with authentic TechnoGym® equipment and featuring panoramic ocean views, the on-board Gym is the place to be for all those who take their fitness regime seriously. Hone your physique with a full set of TechnoGym® apparatus every day of your cruise to look better than ever before.

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Gym Fitness 3

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Gym Fitness 2

MSC Cruises MSC Lirica Gym Fitness 1

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Gym by TechnoGym®

Enjoying time off on your cruise doesn’t need to mean letting your fitness routine slide, so gear up and rendezvous with the power walking and jogging track on deck to get your daily exercise fix while also savouring outstanding ocean views.

7 NIGHT Mediterranean - Eastern CRUISE

Itinerary

Itinerary

Day

About this cruise

Available dates

Buffet Restaurant

Deck Plans

Ship Specifications