One of the highlights of the ship has to be the Magic Carpet – the world’s first cantilevered, floating platform that reaches heights of 13 storeys above sea level. Sounding straight out of the Aladdin movie, it’s a relatively big, but intimate moveable open-air deck, kitted out with comfy couches and armchairs around a bar.
It can be positioned on decks five and 14, or 16 on special occasions. And of course, the ship has turned tendering into a far more pleasant experience from the Magic Carpet where you no longer have to board a small boat to get to a port. This is the place you actually want to head to for a bite to eat, have a drink or just to watch the world go by.
But you don’t have to sit outside to enjoy the surroundings. The three-storey Eden situated at the aft is draped over three floors and includes a lounge, restaurant and bar. With floor-to-ceiling windows, plenty of greenery and hammocks dotted around, you can enjoy the comfort of being warm inside on chilly days, but still get the feeling of being outdoors. And you don’t have to head to any of the four theatres for entertainment – performance artists wander around the lounge encouraging people to join in the show. But if live bands are more your thing, the Rooftop Garden on the top deck has a stage for performers and metallic trees for them to perch in.
Talking of which, the Rooftop Garden can be best described as a living urban playscape inspired by children’s playgrounds to allow vacationers to release their inner child. Think oversized board games such as chess. Brought to life with the help of architect Tom Wright, it’s a lively, spacious environment where it’s easy to wind down reading a good book from the comfort of a cosy chair or simply do nothing and drift away to the rhythm of live musical performances.
The Rooftop Garden Grill can satisfy most cravings with gourmet burgers, brisket and an all-important barbeque. This space can also be used for hosting events with up to 270 guests. From here, it felt hard to believe that I was on a cruise ship at all.
In my humble opinion, it’s best to head to The Grand Plaza located at the heart of the ship when darkness falls. When I first entered, the sheer size of it totally amazed me – I had truly walked into a ‘grandeur’ place. Three decks open up to create an airy space and the three-storey chandelier gives the illusion you are in an Italian extravagant ballroom. Inspired by the piazzas of Italy, the Grand Plaza is home to speciality restaurants, Café al Bacio and the new Grand Plaza Café.
The Martini Bar draws in crowds in their hundreds eager to begin and end their evening here pre and post-dinner. Designed by Jouin Manku, the lighting changes from warm to dramatic as the night goes on, while the kiosks make it look and feel incredibly chic. It’s a place to see and be seen in. You can even throw in a few shapes on the dance floor if it takes your fancy.
Seriously, how do you decide where to eat when there are 29 restaurants to choose from? With great difficulty, that’s how. So my mum and I were pleased that on the days we sailed, our restaurants were chosen for us. The cuisine here is created by Cornelius Gallagher (who has a Michelin star), from the speciality eateries, right down to the main dining venues.