MSC Poesia takes a fairly traditional approach to onboard activities. Rather than filling the upper decks with large-scale attractions, the ship focuses on outdoor sports, walking, video games and family recreation areas.
Most of these activities are concentrated on Decks 14 and 16. The Sport Center offers basketball, tennis and volleyball, while Deck 14 is home to the Power Walking Track, Video Arcade and children’s outdoor activity area.
For passengers who like spending part of a sea day playing a game, getting some exercise or simply taking a break from the pool, there are several options to choose from.
For an overview of everything available around the ship, see our MSC Poesia Ship Guide.
MSC Poesia Activities at a Glance
| Activity | Deck | What You’ll Find |
|---|---|---|
| Sport Center | 16 | Basketball, tennis and volleyball |
| Power Walking Track | 14 | Outdoor walking route |
| Video Arcade / Virtual Games | 14 | Around 20 gaming positions |
| Children’s Outdoor Pool & Games | 14 | Outdoor games area and mini-pool |
The activity lineup is easy to understand. Head to Deck 16 for outdoor sports, while most of the games and family recreation are one level below on Deck 14.
You can see where each area sits in relation to cabins, pools and other venues in our MSC Poesia Deck Plans Guide.
MSC Poesia Sport Center
The Sport Center is Poesia’s primary outdoor sports area.
Located on Deck 16, the multi-use space covers approximately 474 square meters and can be used for basketball, tennis and volleyball.
Rather than having separate courts for each sport, the area serves multiple purposes depending on how it is configured.
It is a good option when you want something more active than spending another hour around the pool, particularly during a sea day.
As with most outdoor sports facilities at sea, weather and wind can affect availability.
Basketball on MSC Poesia
Basketball is one of the sports available at the Deck 16 Sport Center.
The court is part of the larger multi-use sports area rather than a standalone basketball facility.
Passengers looking for a casual game should check the Sport Center during the day. The area may also be used for tennis, volleyball or scheduled activities at different times.
Check the Daily Program or MSC for Me once onboard to see if any organized sports activities are planned.
Tennis on MSC Poesia
The Sport Center can also be configured for tennis.
Because it is a multi-use sports court, it is better viewed as a recreational tennis option rather than a dedicated tennis facility like you would find on land.
Still, it gives passengers another way to spend some time outside and adds more variety to Poesia’s upper decks.
Equipment availability and scheduled activities can vary, so check once onboard.
Volleyball on MSC Poesia
Volleyball is the third sport available at the Sport Center.
Like basketball and tennis, it uses the shared outdoor court on Deck 16.
For families or groups traveling together, this gives you another easy activity when you want to do something active without heading into the gym.
Power Walking Track
MSC Poesia has a Power Walking Track on Deck 14.
There is one important thing to know before planning your morning workout: this is not a conventional dedicated jogging track.
The route is not marked and can be obstructed.
That makes it much better suited to casual walking than someone trying to maintain a consistent running pace.
If you simply want to get outside, stretch your legs and get some steps while enjoying the open deck, the route can still work well.
Can You Run Outdoors on MSC Poesia?
Poesia does not have a traditional dedicated jogging track.
The Deck 14 Power Walking Track can be used for walking and general exercise, but the route is not marked and can be obstructed by activity around the deck.
If your goal is a casual walk, it should work perfectly well.
If you are trying to maintain a consistent running pace or complete a more structured workout, the treadmills inside the MSC Gym powered by Technogym will probably be the better choice.
The gym is covered in more detail in our MSC Poesia Spa and Gym Guide.
MSC Poesia Video Arcade and Virtual Games
MSC Poesia has a dedicated gaming area on Deck 14.
The area is identified as both Virtual Games and the Video Arcade and covers approximately 700 square feet, with around 20 gaming positions.
This is the ship’s primary destination for video and arcade-style gaming.
It is also conveniently located near the Mini & Juniors Club and Young & Teens Club, making Deck 14 one of the main family activity areas onboard.
The exact selection of games can change, so we would not choose Poesia based on expecting a particular arcade machine or title.
If the arcade is important to you or your kids, stop by early in the cruise to see what is available.
Is the MSC Poesia Arcade Free?
Individual arcade games may carry an additional charge.
Game selection and pricing can change, so check the arcade once onboard for the current options and costs.
This is one area where the onboard information is more useful than relying on an older list of games or prices.
Children’s Outdoor Games
Deck 14 also includes the Children’s Outdoor Pool & Games area.
The approximately 130-square-meter space includes a mini-pool along with an outdoor games area and sits close to the children’s clubs.
That gives younger passengers an outdoor recreation area of their own rather than relying entirely on the Sport Center used by older kids and adults.
For more information about the pool areas around the ship, see our MSC Poesia Pools and Hot Tubs Guide.
The Baby Club, Mini & Juniors Club and teen facilities will also be covered separately in our MSC Poesia Kids and Teens Guide.
Where Are the Outdoor Activities on MSC Poesia?
Most of the activities covered in this guide are concentrated toward the top of the ship.
Deck 14 includes the Power Walking Track, Video Arcade, Children’s Outdoor Pool & Games area, kids and teen clubs and MSC Gym.
Deck 16 is home to the Sport Center.
That creates a fairly distinct recreation zone away from most of Poesia’s restaurants, bars and evening entertainment venues on the lower decks.
If you expect to spend a lot of time around the pools, gym, sports court or kids areas, an upper-deck cabin can make those facilities easier to reach.
Our MSC Poesia Deck Plans Guide can help you compare where cabins sit in relation to the activities you expect to use most.
What Kind of Activities Does MSC Poesia Offer?
Poesia’s activity lineup focuses primarily on familiar cruise-ship recreation:
- Basketball
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Outdoor walking
- Video and arcade games
- Children’s outdoor recreation
- Pools and hot tubs
The ship is less about moving from one major attraction to another and more about having familiar activities available throughout the day.
That can work particularly well if your ideal sea day includes spending some time around the pool, playing a game of basketball or volleyball, walking outside and perhaps visiting the arcade.
The rest of the day can then shift toward indoor entertainment, live music and nightlife. Our MSC Poesia Shows, Entertainment and Nightlife Guide covers those options in more detail.
Best Activity for Outdoor Sports
The Sport Center is the clear choice.
Basketball, tennis and volleyball all share the Deck 16 facility, so this is where to go when you want something active outdoors.
What is available at any particular time may depend on how the court is being used.
Best Activity for Walking
Use the Power Walking Track on Deck 14 if your goal is simply getting some steps outdoors.
Just keep expectations realistic.
It is not marked and can be obstructed, so this is a walking route rather than a purpose-built running track.
For a more structured workout, the MSC Gym is likely to be the better option.
Best Place for Video Games
The Video Arcade / Virtual Games area on Deck 14 is Poesia’s dedicated gaming venue.
With around 20 gaming positions, it gives kids, teens and adults another entertainment option when they want a break from the outdoor decks.
Its location close to the kids and teen clubs also makes it easy to incorporate into a family sea day.
Best Activities for Younger Kids
The Children’s Outdoor Pool & Games area is designed specifically for younger passengers.
Its mini-pool and outdoor games area sit close to the ship’s children’s clubs, keeping much of the family activity concentrated in the same part of Deck 14.
Families can also head down one deck to the main pools on Deck 13 or visit the Video Arcade without traveling to another part of the ship.
Tips for Outdoor Activities and Games
Check MSC for Me or the Daily Program each day to see whether organized activities are using the Sport Center.
Weather can have a bigger effect on Deck 16 than it does on indoor venues, particularly when the ship is moving and winds are stronger.
If the sports court looks busy during the middle of a sea day, try again later. Usage can change considerably throughout the day.
For walking, remember that the Deck 14 route is not a dedicated running track. Passengers may be using the surrounding deck space for other purposes.
The arcade is worth checking early in the cruise if gaming is important to your family. That gives you a chance to see the current selection and pricing rather than discovering it halfway through the sailing.
Our Take on MSC Poesia’s Outdoor Activities, Games and Arcade
MSC Poesia keeps its activity lineup relatively simple.
The Deck 16 Sport Center is the highlight for active passengers, providing space for basketball, tennis and volleyball. One deck below, the Power Walking Track provides an outdoor route for getting some steps in, while the Video Arcade gives passengers an indoor gaming option.
Families also have a dedicated outdoor games and mini-pool area close to the children’s clubs on Deck 14.
The Power Walking Track is probably the one area where expectations matter most. It is not marked and can be obstructed, so runners should plan on using the gym if they want a consistent workout.
Overall, Poesia’s activities fit the character of the ship. There is enough to give you something different to do during a sea day without making large attractions the centerpiece of the cruise.
If your ideal day includes some time around the pool, a basketball or volleyball game, a walk outside and maybe a trip to the arcade, MSC Poesia covers those basics well.