MSC Italian Cruises believes in a traditional dining concept, so forget any thoughts of "freestyle" when-and-with-whom-you-please options. Cuisine mostly focuses on Italian fare (banish thoughts you may have of more Americanized "Olive Garden" style interpretations) with specialties that include risotto-made-tableside, fresh fish, such as cuttlefish, veal stew, and penne al 'arrabiatta (to name a few).

There are four different dining areas onboard: Both La Bussola Restaurant on deck 5 and L'Ippocampo on deck 6 serve sit-down meals, although the latter is used only for overflow. Le Bistrot Cafeteria on deck 11 is the spot for informal buffet breakfasts and lunches. The fourth dining venue, La Pergola Restaurant, is adjacent and offers outdoor dining -- including casual fare, such as pizza, pasta and burgers. Tables are tucked under a large canvas and well protected from the sun, rain and winds.

The meal times are rather short and are designed more according to European tastes than to American. Buffet-style breakfast and lunch are served at the Le Bistrot Cafeteria from 6:30 to 10 a.m. and noon to 2 p.m. respectively. The more formal La Bussola is open for breakfast from 7 - 9:30 a.m.; lunch is served from 12:30 - 2 p.m. There are two seatings at dinner (6:45 and 8:45 p.m.). There is no casual alternative dining during evenings. MSC Italian Cruises, however, seems to be among the last lines to feature the midnight buffet - it varies each night, from a fruit-themed spread to a gala anything-goes repast.

Room service is rather limited. The menu includes only cold sandwiches, and there is in-cabin continental breakfast available. MSC no longer charges for room service on any of its ships.

A hint: If you miss breakfast and don't want to use room service, there are croissants available at the Coffee Corner, which surrounds the atrium on deck 6. But be prepared to pay for your coffee: an espresso costs 1.50 pounds.

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The Italian cuisine onboard is outstanding with pasta and risotto dishes on the menu every night and spaghetti bolognaise among the 'always available' items in the dining room. (In Europe there are two pastas and two risottos each evening .) Dining room food is high quality, well prepared and plentiful. Appetizers, soup, salads, pasta, main courses and garnishes are listed on the menu along with a page of vegetarian and alternative dishes. Cakes, pastries, ice cream and sorbet desserts are listed on a separate menu along with after dinner drinks.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets in the Cafeteria are not as tasty as dining room cuisine. Hotdogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken breasts and pizza are available in the expansive poolside grill areas usually from noon until 9:30p.m. Afternoon tea and cookies are available from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. daily in the Cafeteria.

A coffee and tea station is available at the casual dining area after hours but the best coffee onboard is at The Coffee Bar where a variety of specialty coffees and teas are served. Espresso ($1.50) and cappuccino can also be purchased at the bars onboard.

Room service is available 24 hours a day, with a limited selection of snacks made to order (allow 30 minutes for preparation and delivery.) Continental breakfast of toast, rolls, yogurt and fruit, ordered before retiring, arrived promptly each morning. No cereals or egg dishes are available for breakfast in the stateroom.

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Restaurants

The experience is traditional with first and second seating dining in two dining rooms (5:45 and 8:00 p.m. respectively), and casual alternatives in the lido buffet (6:00-8:00 p.m.) and poolside grills. The grill area on deck 11 seats 402 and is open to 9:30 p.m. It is well protected from wind and much of it is under cover for shade.

La Bussola (618-seat) and L'lppocampo (380-seat) dining rooms are situated on decks 5 and 6 respectively. The Caravella offers the more mid-ship location for those with motion concerns. Tables for 2 are available and couples are also seated alone at larger tables during open seating breakfast and lunch.