Must admit, I checked the date when I saw this story that MSC Cruises' has made MSC Splendida into the world's first "fully-fragranced, sensory-branded" ship.
"It's no April Fool," I was assured by the UK office. So I dug back in my memory and remembered that at one time travel agents introduced "holiday" smells into their stores to get people in the vacation (and buying) mood.
This isn't quite the same because you've already bought the cruise by the time you're onboard and sniffing MSC Splendida.
MSC says they want the scent to "enhance the customer experience during the cruise and stay with passengers forever as a sensory trigger to fond MSC Cruises memories". And get them to buy another cruise, I assume.
The scent, called MED by MSC, has been specially created for the cruise line and is described as "an effervescent fruity green fig accord with delicate floral notes blended with gentle musk".
Unfortunately they didn't send a sample so I've no idea how that actually translates into a smell.
All I can say is that as it's everywhere - in the air conditioning in the stairwells, corridors, lounges and spas (but not the cabins), and also in the toiletries, cleaning products and laundry softener - I just hope it's nice.
Jane Archer
