OmegaSeamaster

6 hours ago, Bracarense said:

Thank you for your review.

 

About the Fun Pass, can you tell if I buy 1 for my 12yo, can I use some of the credit to play a round of Bowling with her?

Yes, anyone in the cabin can share the fun pass, so it can be used for anything. However, make sure the fun pass is applied to your 12yo's card otherwise you will need to be with them whenever they wish to use the credit as it will be on your card. You need to do this before boarding, ideally. 

13 hours ago, Steeler Nation At Sea said:

 

Could you please elaborate?  I'm not following how the Fun Pass credit gets applied.

Make sure the fun pass is applied to the person's card that will most likely use the credits. Then, ASAP upon boarding, go to the desk (next to the sportsplex) and register the fun pass. They will add a small sticker to your card and then you will be able to use the pass. If not you'll just rack up additional expenses without actually using the value of the fun pass.  

5 hours ago, Ryan82 said:

Am really enjoying your reviews and hearing about your experiences as we did thr same cruise in May.

 

I appreciate that each cruise is different and everyone's experience is unique to them. Our sailing was at capacity but we didn't experience the type of delays that you experienced and definitely got value from our Premium drinks package.

 

One thing we do have in common is my god the passengers who board Grandiosa DON'T like or use Masters of the Sea -  because that bar resembled the Marie celeste even if the other bars are busy. 

 

I'm not a fan of a cruise buffet at the best of times. But I found the food in the buffet on Grandiosa to be of surprisingly good quality and variety. 

Indeed, very true about the pub. It had a great selection of beers and the food was excellent. Maybe because it was so hot, people don't like to sit inside, in a place with no view to the outside. I would imagine on winter/cold weather cruises, this would be a nice place to spend time. The design on the Meraviglia class ships, with only outdoor venue at the top of the ship, is a missed opportunity in my view. We look forward to sailing on Seaview in October where there is an outdoor promenade on the lower deck. 

I had no issues with the food at the buffet, but it wasn't capable of catering to thousands of guests, so not fit for purpose unfortunately. 

54 minutes ago, carlmm said:

Well, I hate lanyards.  We just had the cards in our pockets.

Yes, very doable, but you haven't met my kids, the cards would be lost in no time 🤣

Entertainment, Shows, and Summary: Fun and Flaws

This is mainly about the pools, slides, hot tubs, and the daily and evening shows, as I've already covered the Fun Pass entertainment in a previous review. Starting with the pools, the atmosphere pools were of decent size and kept at a refreshing temperature. To secure loungers near the pool, we found it necessary to arrive around 8 am, which was manageable. Spending time there, relaxing and swimming on port days, was definitely worth it. However, the pool area became overwhelmingly crowded on sea days, making it less enjoyable for us. The poolside entertainment was frequent, ranging from quizzes and dancing to aerobics lessons and football or mini-golf competitions. Personally, the entertainment didn't quite align with my taste. The compere and music were too loud, resembling what you might find in a budget holiday village. However, that's just my personal opinion. The Horizon bar and pool, located aft of the ship, were much smaller and not an area where we spent much time, except for a quick post-dinner drink as we sailed off into the sunset. The smaller pool wasn't a viable option, except for a quick dip to cool down. Similarly, the Safari, a small indoor pool with a retractable roof, was usually busy and mainly frequented by families with younger children.

Interestingly, our kids were fond of the hot tubs, but they were too warm for my liking and often overcrowded. They also enjoyed the water slides, and the wait times were manageable for them.

Inside the ship, especially in the Galleria, there were some entertaining acts in the evenings. However, the large crowds could make one feel quite claustrophobic, so personally, it was an area I tried to avoid.

Now, let's talk about the shows. I had pre-booked the Sweet show Carousel for Saturday evening, but upon arrival, we were informed that it had been canceled. Unfortunately, we were departing the next day, so there was no opportunity to reschedule. We are currently waiting for a refund on that. As for the free shows, we managed to secure a booking for the Abba show in Theatre La Comedia. A tip for others: you need to book these shows on the day, and they fill up quickly. Try to reserve as early in the morning as possible using the screens throughout the ship. The Abba show, however, was truly amazing, with incredibly talented singers and a fantastic dance performance.

Very briefly on the casino. It was quite smokey, so we only ventured in once, just for the experience. I inserted €20 into a slot machine and won €320. I quickly cashed out and called it a day.

I managed to get plenty of exercise during the cruise by using the stairs instead of the lifts. Although it could be exhausting at times, it was a great way to burn off some calories.

Lastly, a quick note on disembarkation. We left our luggage outside our room by midnight on the final night and picked it up when we disembarked around 10am. Paying the bill, I thought was automatic since I had registered my credit card, but alas it's something you have to do manually. Didn't take long to disembark, but maybe luck in our timing. Our car keys were ready and waiting for us near our luggage in departure lounge. The process was simple and hassle-free.

In summary, we thoroughly enjoyed our first cruise aboard the Grandiosa. The ship itself was beautiful, our cabin was great, and the staff were excellent and attentive. There was plenty to keep us busy, and the cities we visited were interesting to explore. While it wasn't perfect, I attribute some of the flaws to sailing during peak season at full capacity. I imagine most cruise lines would face similar crowding issues. There are certainly areas where MSC could improve, but overall, they offer a fantastic cruise experience. For those disembarking in Genoa, if you can it's worth spending one night in or near Portofino, it's a truly beautiful little place to visit (about one hour from Genoa). 

26 minutes ago, carlmm said:

Exciting to read your report. We were on the same cruise, thus I am looking forward to read more.

 

Regarding you had to queue at the photo Service, maybe it was just a bad timing. We went there to inquire about a photo, had no wait time at all, and were proactively offered the wrist bands. Yet we declined as I see no point in spendimg money on a tracking device. 

Interesting view on the wrist bands 🙂 For us it was just much easier to wear around the wrist rather than a card/lanyard around the neck, especially for the kids. 

Ports of Call: One Excursion and Exploring On Our Own

We had only pre-paid for one MSC excursion, which was the Tunis shopping tour: Medina & Sidi Bou Said. Unfortunately, it turned out to be quite a disappointing experience. We boarded a subpar bus with no air conditioning, which immediately set the tone. The bus first took us to the medina, where we endured a sales pitch at a carpet store and a perfumery. Frankly, there was nothing of high quality to buy on this tour, and we were forced to wait for an extended period—squeezed into narrow, smoke-filled indoor lanes that became unbearably crowded when other tours converged at the same spots. I had hoped it would be somewhat similar to the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, but the reality was far from it. Sidi Bou Said was equally underwhelming, resembling nothing more than a large car park with vendors peddling low-quality goods and a scarcity of pleasant spots to sit and enjoy a drink. There are a couple of decent photo opportunities with the white and blue buildings but it definitely fell short of being the "Santorini of Africa" as some had described. The entire tour took about 6 hours, with the majority of the time spent at the medina.

As for the other ports, we decided to venture out and explore on our own. In Barcelona, we hopped in a taxi from the port and headed straight to the Sagrada Familia, where we had pre-booked tickets. We spent a considerable amount of time admiring this remarkable cathedral, which was well worth the visit and the cost of entry. Afterwards, we indulged in some delicious lunch at the La Boqueria Food Market, tucked away just off Las Ramblas, offering a charming bohemian atmosphere.

In Palermo, we took a taxi and made our way to Mondello beach, costing us €35 each way (so worked out cheaper than MSC's shuttle service). The beach was absolutely stunning, with its soft sand and crystal-clear blue waters. We rented loungers and an umbrella for the four of us, which amounted to around €60. It was a worthwhile expense for the serene and picturesque beach experience.

We also disembarked in Naples, but instead of opting for the Sorrento tour due to its early departure time of 7:15 AM, we decided to explore the port area on foot. Unfortunately, it didn't leave a lasting impression on us, but did allow us to do a much needed pharmacy visit. 

Overall, I would rate the Tunis excursion a 3/10. As for the other ports, it really comes down to personal choices and preferences. Each port had its own unique offerings, and we enjoyed the freedom of exploring independently.

Our Dining Experience on the Grandiosa:

Let's discuss the MDR (Main Dining Room) for Aurea guests—Il Campo restaurant. It's located next to the champagne bar on deck 7, and I must say, anytime dining is a delightful perk of the Aurea experience. The restaurant itself exudes elegance, with comfortable seating. Most evenings, we were fortunate to secure a window table, which added to the ambiance. The menu offered a decent selection, although the food was average in terms of taste and quality. Nonetheless, it served its purpose. The only time we encountered a wait was when we dined around 9 PM. We were asked to wait for approximately 20 minutes in the adjoining champagne bar, which allowed us to enjoy a quick game of rummy. Typically, we preferred dining between 7 and 8 PM when the restaurant was only about half to three-quarters full. The service was prompt, and the waiting staff were attentive and friendly, making our dining experience at Il Campo quite enjoyable.

Breakfast and lunch were exclusively served in the Purple Crab MDR, although we found it to be a more bustling and less pleasant environment. Now, let's turn our attention to the Marketplace buffet—it was an absolute frenzy! We did eat there on several occasions. The pizza unsurprisingly stood out, and the selection of ethnic food and salads was decent. However, it was a stressful and overwhelmingly crowded affair, even in the supposedly quieter back section that we had heard about. . We didn't venture to the buffet late at night, but during all other times, it was an absolute madhouse.

Moving on to the main bars outside, such as the Atmosphere Bar on deck 15 by the main pool and the Horizon Bar on deck 18. I must admit, they presented a challenge. However, it wasn't solely due to the crowd or the limited bar service staff. The real issue was the inefficient system implemented by MSC. Ordering a drink involved a tedious process of the server tapping away on their tablet, followed by waiting in line due to the shortage of bartenders. Unlike a typical bar on land, one couldn't simply approach the counter, take a seat, and place an order. Instead, we were required to queue at a designated spot, patiently awaiting the attention of a single server before locating a seat. The same inconvenience applied to the marketplace entrance, where a separate table was set up for canned beverages and bottled water. The process of registering our details from the card or wristband took an unnecessarily long time, roughly 90 seconds per person. MSC ought to address this issue, as it understandably led to growing frustration among guests. I must commend the staff, though, for handling the situation with calmness and apologies. The staff were excellent, but the overall system suffered from significant inefficiency and flaws.

As for specialty dining, we didn't indulge much, except for one dinner at Hola Cantina, which proved to be excellent (especially the chili beef nachos!). The dishes were reasonably priced, but with drinks and service charges, the bill amounted to nearly €100 for the four of us. A word of advice—skip the €17.99 "all you can eat" option, as it's nearly impossible to consume more than €10 worth of food per person.

On one evening, we opted for a meal at the Master of The Seas pub. We ordered fish and chips as well as burgers, and they were truly fantastic. The food came at an incredibly affordable price of just €5 per dish. However, we did experience a one-hour wait, despite the pub being practically empty.

Now, while it may not be a bar, the Top19 solarium exclusively for Aurea guests provided a great retreat during busy times. Nevertheless, obtaining a drink proved to be a lengthy process due to the presence of only one server catering to a considerable number of parched guests. MSC should consider implementing a more efficient solution, such as a pop-up bar.

Let's touch upon the drink packages. The two adults in our group opted for the basic easy drinks package, while the kids had the minors package. The quality of drinks, including wine and cocktails, met our expectations. In instances where the easy package didn't apply, such as the champagne bar, we were able to pay a small additional amount for delightful drinks, such as a strawberry mimosa and a bellini (totaling around €4.60). Upgrading to higher-tier packages proved unnecessary due to the challenges encountered in obtaining drinks. Fortunately, we're not heavy drinkers, but it's worth noting that those with the Premium extra package may not find it particularly valuable unless they spend a significant amount of time at the bar throughout the cruise. We even overheard one passenger expressing frustration at having to repeatedly remind the staff of their entitlement to premium brands included in their package.

Overall, we would rate our dining experience at the bars and restaurants a solid 7/10 (with the Marketplace Buffet scoring a low 1/10).

Our long-awaited first cruise finally became a reality as we embarked on the Grandiosa in Genoa on Sunday, July 2nd. To enhance our journey, we opted for the pre-paid MSC valet parking package, which proved to be remarkably convenient. Although it took a short while to be attended to, the process of handing over the keys and our luggage lasted no more than 20 minutes. From there, we made our way to check-in, a mere 50 meters from the car park. 

As Aurea guests, we were granted priority boarding, scheduled for 12:00 PM. Within 15 minutes, we successfully completed check-in and security, obtained our cards, and stepped foot on the ship promptly at noon. Our embarkation experience was genuinely pleasant, deserving a perfect rating of 10/10.

As expected, the ship exuded beauty and opulence, with an immaculate environment evident throughout (one could scarcely go far without encountering a crew member engaged in cleaning or vacuuming). After strolling through the Galleria, despite the stores being closed, we made our way to our rooms. Our accommodations consisted of a mid-ship Aurea balcony cabin on deck 13. The prompt arrival of our luggage allowed us to unpack swiftly. Alongside one large suitcase and two cabin-sized bags, we also brought four backpack-sized bags for our party of four, including two adults and two teenagers. It's worth noting that all cabins designed for four guests follow a specific configuration, with the main bed situated near the entrance and the bunk beds positioned by the balcony side of the room. For those staying in a cabin for three, the bed is closer to the balcony, while the sofa bed occupies the area near the entrance. We were surprised at the room's storage capacity , we were able to fully unpack our clothes, utilising the wardrobe and drawers (although we did request an additional six hangers). Additionally, we conveniently stored our luggage under the bed. We brought five magnet hooks with us, which proved useful in hanging wet swimming costumes, hats, and lightweight bags in the bathroom and cabin. Our room steward was great, always around when we needed him and kindly removed the mini-bar contents when we arrived so we could use it for our own drinks. Our Aurea welcome gifts were awaiting us, a chilled bottle of prosecco and some chocolate. 
Our overall rating for the ship and stateroom experience: 10/10.
 

Our initial task involved visiting the services desk to inquire about the fun passes we had purchased. As these had been assigned to the adults' cards, we sought clarification on how the children could enjoy their own activities and remain entertained. Unfortunately, we encountered a problem. The staff informed us that transferring the fun passes to the children's cards was not possible and should have been done during the booking process. Despite their initial assertion, it took a full 24 hours before they successfully accomplished what they had deemed impossible. Our subsequent endeavour involved purchasing wristbands as a practical alternative to prevent potential loss of the cards. However, this transaction required a considerable wait in the queue at the Photo Services desk, and we had to wait overnight to receive the wristbands. Thanks to a family discount, we paid €20 instead of €40, but we were mistakenly charged twice: once during the initial order and again upon pick-up, unbeknownst to us. We discovered this error by checking the MSC for Me app for billing discrepancies, prompting us to queue once more to obtain a refund. Moreover, contrary to what we were told, it is advisable to keep your room cards on you at all times, as they are often required even when you are aboard the ship, contrary to the staff's information. It is crucial to highlight a couple of points regarding the fun passes. First, registration of the cards at the entertainment deck is necessary. Any activities you engage in using your cards will be billed to your account and not deducted from the fun passes. Additionally, please note that certain games in the entertainment deck corridor are not included in the fun pass activities, so exercise caution. Regrettably, there seems to be an insufficient number of staff members available to manage the desk in the fun/sportsplex deck, making it challenging to engage in activities requiring their assistance, such as booking F1, bowling, or the 4D cinema. Therefore, it is advisable to allocate sufficient time and maintain patience.  Bowling reservations can be made a maximum of two days in advance and tend to fill up quickly, so we recommend arriving at 10 AM when the desk opens to secure a slot. Following this guidance, we patiently waited for two days to secure our bowling slot, only to encounter an attempt to reschedule us for another day upon our arrival. The staff explained that technicians had experienced an issue that required some time to resolve, but rather than push everyone’s time back, they opted to reschedule us. However, we stood our ground and endured an additional 40-minute delay. Unfortunately, we encountered several glitches with the bowling. When paying €54 for a family of four to partake, experiencing multiple breakdowns during the activity becomes unacceptable. If it was free then you take the good with the bad, but that’s not the case. 
I’d also add that, unfortunately, half of the arcade games were also out of order. Consequently, during our upcoming cruise with MSC in October, we have decided not to purchase the fun passes. If we wish to engage in any fun activities, we will opt to pay for those activities individually. Nonetheless, we did thoroughly enjoy the 4D cinema experience.  Regrettably, we did not have an opportunity to try F1 or the VR Maze.
Considering the aforementioned aspects, our rating for the Fun Passes/Sportsplex: 4/10.
 

On 6/9/2023 at 6:37 PM, Stockjock said:

Other than the snazzy hull design, a couple of new restaurants, and the fact it's powered by liquid natural gas, is anything different about this ship?  

All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us? 
 

sorry, couldn’t resist 😂

I understand the frustration especially given you've paid (probably double) the cost to be YC.

I think, and you said it yourself, and it's true for everything in life, it's not as much about the experience  as it is about your expectations. If the reality is above your expectations - you'll be happy, if the reality is below your expectations - you'll be disappointed. 

The other thing I would say, is not let the small issues spoil your experience. I get it, they add up, but only if you let them, it's all in the mind. Try to let things slide, especially if they're not huge issues.  Relax a little and block out the negative things that are going on. You've paid a lot of money for this well deserved vacation, please make sure you don't let things outside of your control spoil it in any way. 

MSC probably have the data to suggest otherwise, but I'm sure there are plenty of solo travellers that spend more on-onboard, on things like a spa or excursions, than couples or families sharing a cabin. It's short sighted of MSC to treat Solos like this. Solos also keep the capacity down which can only benefit/please the collective, which in turn may increase repeat bookings. 

9 hours ago, Joiseymom said:

Day 3

 

Happy to say, today was a much better day 

 

 

 

Good to hear. Are you enjoying yourselves? Hopefully things continue to get better. Relax and have fun. 

1 hour ago, Joiseymom said:

Day One Sunday May 21

 

This my honest review. Some might not like my honesty.

 

Drove to the Brooklyn terminal from Central NJ. Hit some traffic by the port. They had police directing traffic, which worked better than if they weren’t there. We got there and we’re dropped off around 10:15ish.

 

We knew to look for the Yacht Club tent. Passed numerous people walking through the pier to get to whomever was picking them up. Many people waiting outside the terminal wait for pickups. Staff directing traffic in the port area. Entitled people dropping off in from if the terminal, where you were not allowed to stop. Made a left past the terminal entrance and saw the YC tent. Pulled over, unloaded the car hugged our son who was driving us. We were directed across the street to the YC staff who would escort us into the terminal. Best fast pass ever! Took about 10 minutes to get through security and check in and the lounge. We got seats and waited. We boarded about two hours later. There were issues with the gangway and people couldn’t get off as quickly as they liked. I was also told they had to search for guests. Not sure which or both? The lounge was running out of seats. The regular areas was a cluster with lines at a stand still. It took hours. I heard ppl who finally got in grabbed food at the buffet but before they finished they were told to leave to get ready for the lifeboat drill.

 

Where they boarded us were stairs, and an escalator in the wrong direct. An ekevattwas around the corner. We got in the ship and we’re escorted to the Top Sail lounge. We got some nibbles and drinks. Our room was ready and our butler escorted us to our room.

He went over bunches of items. Asked what newspaper we wanted.Dudnt discuss pillow menu or which bottle of spirits we wanted. I asked about the distilled water and he had that and an extension cord on his list. They were in the room later. Plus the diet cokes we requested.

 

We went to deck 19 for lunch at the grill. I was thrilled, grilled shrimp lamb chops. Slightly diasppointed, they ran out of shrimp, scratching my head over that one. Lamb chops were very good. Had a salad and tried some green veggies and sirloin. Lunch was good.

 

Went back to the room and unpacked. Didn’t think there would be enough hangers, nit it was good. Was very happy to hear we got 4 free pressed items.

 

The drill was interesting. You watched the video that was running in a loop on your tv, them entered a code on the phone when they told you too. Then you went down to your station to have your card scanned. We needed the elevator. Bad knees.. couldn’t do 8 flights down. Took awhile to get an elevator down and then eventually up. Our station was the Broadway theater on deck 6 forward. What was incredibly stupid was after they scanned your card they made you walk into the theater, walk down the steps with no railings, then around and the up the stairs, again without railings, and leave the theater. They could have accomplished this with the stairs. Made no logical sense.

 

This was done after four, as we were late and  sailaway started. I sent up to deck 19 to watch us sail under the Verazzano Bridge. I’ve done  it bey, but not in such a big ship. It was cool.

 

We eventually changed and went to the YC dining room for dinner. Was very underwhelmed. The dumpling appetizer was just ok. My husband got the duck and chicken not realizing it was pate. I had the veal for dinner, he had the tuna. The veal was ok..very bland, no flavor in the breadcrumbs at all. Husband said the Tina was ok, but also no seasonings. I had the tiramisu for dessert and the serving was huge, I didn’t finish it. He had grandma’s cake and said it was just ok. Expected more from the YC based on everything I’ve heard.

 

We went to deck six, as husband wanted to go to the mini mall to check out the tastings. The done she was going on and it was a cluster, with very rude people. Show was cool as were the performers. Went to the MSC store and the largest t-shirt was a 2x. Got to the Tiny duty free store with lots of people and a group of fourish buying over 20 cartons of cigarettes with their two very rude kids running and screams and they did nothing to stop them. I raised 4 kids, have 2 grands, just not acceptable.

 

We went to see Cool in the Broadway theater and just wow, not in a good way. This is not my first cruise, but is with MSC. I’m platieuth DCL, and I didn’t expect DCL quality, but man, they were not good. The male lead singer didn’t  sing well. The 2 female leads were better, but still just ok. The entire group singing together was not good either. Add to that how warm the theater was, and big fail. We are not going to see their other 2 shows. I’ve also been on NCL Encore and loved Choir of Nan and Kinky Boots.

 

We left the theater and we grabbed drinks at the edge bar. We then headed up to deck 7 to the Carousel theater for Houdini. I liked my free drink, red rooster?? The 2 main leads, singers had great voices, the music was very good as were the acrobatics.

 

We then went up to deck 15 to check out the buffet and pool areas.Buffet had their nightly offerings: pizza, at least 4 types plain, pepperoni, white and veggie. They had salads, desserts, little sandwiches, cheese burgers fries, other hot dishes I couldn’t recognize. I tried a cheeseburger, white and plain slice, a few fries and some side with rice and veggies. Cheese burger was well done but mine was not dry, where DHs was. Pizza, better than DCL, but not even close to NY pizza.

 

Wristbands matter, DH went to the bar to get diets cokes and an Angry orchard. Bartender saw the wristband and sent directly to him first.

 

Didn’t have fresh fruit or snacks from concierge in our room. Never offered the pillow menu. We were provided with an extension cord, which would have only worked due to the long cord on DHs CPAP machine. I did purchase an extension cord with USBs, and he used both. They brought a small water bottle that said distilled water. I think they take the gallon container and move it into smaller containers, which makes sense, as not to waste.

 

Will post pics and menus if requested!

 

 

 

 

It doesn't sound like day 1 was too smooth for you. Probably quite stressful when expectations aren't met initially, but I hope you start to relax and enjoy yourselves more as the cruise goes on. 

1 hour ago, GoldenZoo said:

 





 My family (husband and adult son and daughter) and I sailed MSC Seaside May 14-21.  It was our first cruise with MSC but about our 20th cruise.  We did the Fantastica level and had connecting balconies on deck 9.  My review may be helpful to future cruisers on this ship.

 

This was our first departure from Port Canaveral.  We always arrive the day before departure even though we live in Florida and drive.  On the 13th 3 of us drove from Tampa to the Orlando airport to pick up the 4th family member and then went onto Cocoa Beach to overnight.  We stayed at Best Western on the beach, and there was an Ale House next door - which gives a discount to Best Western guests - and a mini golf course a few minutes away.  There was a Publix a minute away with additional restaurants in that mini mall.  We thought the location was great, and the drive there and then to the port was easy.

 

For some reason my son and daughter had an 11 AM arrival and my husband and I had 12 Noon, but that did not seem to matter when arriving.  It might have had a role in the boarding group number your cabin gets when you check in, but our agent told us to just board with our son and daughter.  We were Group 9.  We were on board around noon.  An issue:  the announcements were not sufficiently loud enough to be heard.  With so many people talking you couldn’t hear what the announcer was saying.  One of the staff finally walked around shouting out the group number being called.  And they did strictly enforce boarding by group number.

 

The ship is beautiful!  Our cabins were nice with adequate storage space, but there was space that was not utilized for storage that some Royal Caribbean ships did provide.  Halfway through the week they did open the space between our balconies…I don’t know if they would have done so earlier if we had asked.  You do need your actual cruise card to keep the electricity on, and they do have a lighted system for Do Not Disturb and Make Up Room.  The shower had shampoo and body wash in dispensers. Our cabin steward was amazing.

 

The smart elevators worked well.  They were not smart enough to know the car was full and to bypass the stop but that didn’t happen too often.

 

On day 1 the Biscayne Buffet was not open, just the Marketplace.  But on day 2 we went there for breakfast and liked it better so that was our place for breakfast every morning.  Biscayne closes at noon and reopens for lunch at 12:30 but only on sea days.  When we were in port lunch was only in Marketplace.

 

MSC IT department lived up to its negative reputation.  We prepaid our gratuities but were charged for them on day 1.  Guest Services did resolve the issue but I feel it should never have been an issue.  Guest Services had long lines the first day or two so I am confident it was a wide spread problem.

 

And speaking of Guest Services, whoever thought it would be a good idea to position Guest Services in the Atrium with a bar and music never had to visit Guest Services.  The noise level made it hard to hear and guests trying to resolve an issue were only aggravated further.  I felt bad for the staff there as it was not their fault.

 

Bar service could definitely be improved.  Even with no crowds the service could be slow.  The best service was at the Wine Bar on deck 16.

 

The entertainment in the theatre was good but not varied - the variety needs to be improved.  And the theatre does not allow drinks…no bar service and therefore nowhere to place a drink.  And no hand rails either;  for some this is not an issue but we older folks like a bit of security when going up and down steps.

 

Drinks are not allowed poolside.  If you try to sit on the side with your feet in the water and a drink in your hand, the lifeguards are quick to blow their whistle and tell you No.

 

Of the 3 pools, we liked Jungle Pool and South Beach Pool better than the Miami Pool because there was absolutely no shade at Miami.  We enjoy the sun but need to get out of it from time to time.  And the only towel service is at the Miami pool.  Apparently they want you to have your stateroom attendant give you pool towels and only use the towel service to exchange wet for dry.  None of the pools are meant for 5 foot 5 inch non-swimmers like me.  Their depth is 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 feet, depending on the pool.  So the only way for me to enjoy the pool was to climb down the ladder and swing to the side to hang on.  

 

Deck games and trivia games were standard and offered frequently.  Our family did the ropes course and used the water slides.  We also did bowling, the Formula Racer, billiards, and the virtual reality.  MSC made out with me on the FunPass as I pre-purchased more than I really needed because I did not fully understand how it worked.

 

We had a set dining time in Seashore Restaurant which was the second seating at 7:30.  The first seating was 5:15 and the third was at 9:15.  Our waiter, Ace, was terrific, but it seemed the staff were really hustling.  We had no complaints with the food.

 

The ship had designated smoking areas, but they really were not separated.  I do not smoke and am not really bothered by it, but if you are bothered by it you need to move to the farthest point in that area.  

 

The casino had no place to simply sit.  If you weren’t at the bar or the tables and slots you were standing.  It was nice on other ships to have a lounge area in the casino.

 

The 2 days at Ocean Cay was great!  The night show on the lighthouse is pretty and ran twice - 9pm and 11pm.  For all the cruise lines with their own private island, I put MSC at the top because of the overnight stay.  We stayed at Lighthouse Bay both days but did take a walk around.  Deck 16 gives you a great view of how the island is laid out.

 

It appears that tipping, other than the gratuities charged by the ship, is not expected. We always tip our room steward and waiter a little extra - we have always had great service - but they seemed surprised.  The ship also does not provide envelopes for this.  I have heard tipping is not big in Europe so it seems reasonable as MSC is a European company.

 

Other than Ocean Cay we did not get off the ship at Cozumel or Costa Maya.

 

MSC provided disembarkation luggage tags and information after 2 pm on Saturday…later than I am used to receiving them.  The tags also include an additional sticker with your group number to be put on the back of your cruise card and another sticker to be put on your clothes.  I assume it is their way of strictly controlling who is leaving.

 

Overall we had a great cruise.  None of the little things were ever at the level of a problem.  Although I would cruise MSC again, they would not be the first cruise line I look at when planning a cruise.  We are Diamond level on Royal Caribbean with reciprocal status on Celebrity so they are my go-to.  I would add MSC to NCL and Princess as cruise lines I would cruise again if they had a perfect itinerary and a great price.

Great review, thank you for taking the time and effort. 

Very good review, well done and thank you. 

On 5/16/2023 at 5:55 PM, Ottawa_Cruiser said:

 

Overall Rating

MSC is a solid 8/10. For the cost, you really can't go wrong. My husband and I paid just over $1,000 CAD each for 8 nights and this included the easy plus beverage package and wifi. 

 

Great to see another positive review, thanks for taking the time to do that! We will be on our first MSC cruise in July and so I'm always considering the positive views more than the negative ones. Of course it's good to know where the MSC service falls a bit short, but nothing in this world is perfect, but good to manage expectations in that sense. 

I was surprised by the cost you got this cruise for $1000 CAD (approx 700 Euros)  each for 7 nights and for Easy Plus package!! That's brilliant. Can I ask if that was for an interior cabin or OV or balcony even? In Europe, we don't get such good deals. 

19 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

Oh my gosh…I feel your frustration.  I just tried to log nto the MSC website for the US where we live and it says it’s not the right website for my country…lol.  

a hack that I did on address because it couldn’t find my address by zip code verification was use my neighbors address. Once it verified their address I went back and put in my correct address.  Do you use any type of zip code identification that you can enter street and zip to see if it changes France yo Switzerland?

 

re voyager number. Are you the primary or secondary guest.  I’m secondary, and once I put my info in the account support tab (wouldn’t take my voyager number) on the website, I relogged into the app using the Booking Number, my first/last name. It brought up my profile where I could see that had my Voyager number on my profile. Def quite a wonky MSC web/app.

 

hope this helps some.

No, unfortunately I have to enter the postcode for the site to 'find address', then I can only use a dropdown to choose my actual street address/town, and obviously it won't accept my Swiss postcode. 

I could actually add my Voyagers number, I was thinking about another MSC form that wouldn't let me add that, probably a link sent to me by my TA. Anyway, I'm sure the TA will eventually sort it out, as he wouldn't have booked me through MSC France knowing I live in Switzerland, if it was going to be a problem....or at least I hope so. 

5 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

Also to note.  I could only get to the page with Booking Detail and Account Services by logging in with my email/password.  Logging in with Booking Number did not take to a page where I could do anything.

I know, it took me a while to figure that out, LOL. Even so, I cannot seem to add my Voyagers number or add my address. The reason for this is that the travel agent I used has booked us through MSC France, while I live in Switzerland. Therefore, I cannot add my address because, the country of residence (France) is already pre-filled and cannot be changed. I've asked my TA several times now and he doesn't seem to either understand or willing to help. I've no idea what to do now. 

12 minutes ago, perakcruiser said:

I think it is much easier that your friend books the cruise from Kusadasi and then just disembarks early in Genoa. And the real important thing is if your friend has a Schengen passport. Or at least a Schengen residence permit. If not, then things will not go in the way you hope 😉 

No Schengen passport or residency permit, she lives in Turkey, although will have a Schengen visa. Why would that be a problem? 

2 minutes ago, emmas gran said:

This is something you have to ask MSC , get your travel agent to ask or ring the Head Office in Geneva

Thank you for replying. I will do that. 

We are looking at booking an Easter Mediterranean cruise starting in Genoa. However, we have a family member that would only be able to join us at the first stop, in Kusadasi, and will disembark with the rest of the family when the ship returns to Genoa. Is that something MSC can accommodate? 

We're booked on a Mediterranean cruise in July (Grandiosa, 7 nights from Genoa to Genoa depating July 2nd). We were going through the list of excursions to select and book pre-boarding as it's cheaper, and I have to add that we're expats living in Switzerland so our booking is through MSC Cruises.ch, but we are only able to see a very limited selection of between 4-6 excurions offered per port. However, when I go to MSC Cruises.co.uk - I see there are 30-40 excursion choices per port (albeit, I don't have a booking number for UK so perhaps they are not all available in July or already booked up (but I think that's unlikely). MSC Customer services are of no help since they don't have any visibility of MSC UK site and state they are different market. In fact, I've given up calling MSC if I have any questions as they are less than useless. (This is our first cruise and I'm still excited and staying very positive but so far MSC are doing their best to make the process a frustrating one). 

Does anyone know if more choices will appear nearer to the time, or that we are being somehow limited because of our market booking? 

We're going on our first cruise this summer. We're very casual, we don't dress up ever unless at weddings (and even that was a good few years ago), because there's really not the opportunity to do so these days. However, my wife has a few nice dresses that she never has the chance to wear, so we'll make an effort for the two elegant evenings. I won't wear a tux or even a suit, I don't feel comfortable wearing them, but I'll maybe go buy a nice pair of slacks, some colourful suede yacht loafers and nice shirt, maybe even a fun bow tie. My wife will enjoy dressing up and having the kids look smart for once and you know what they say - happy wife...

2 hours ago, heatherb1958 said:

Hi there,  

2) The pub on Grandiosa is called Masters of the sea , it is on deck 7 on the mezzanine level of the Galleria.  It was our go to place to watch the parties/ goings on on the level below . We would always sit near to the bridge as that is where the band plays . 

There wasn't a pool table in there  but they did have food on offer , burgers and hotdogs , plus a  singer guitarist at night . 

 

4) you can go outside onto the deck where the lifeboats are, deck 7 I think it is.     There isn't any seating but if you wanted fresh air quickly you can do it . One end of the ship has it roped off saying crew only but I think that is because it  is used for the crew for smoking !! I walked end to end on that deck on another ship in the same  class, outside the Carousel lounge there was some seating used by smokers . 

 

Sorry, cannot answer  Q1. 

 

Actually it was on Grandiosa where I went outside beneath the lifeboats.  Could have sworn it was Meraviglia or Bellisima.  This was December 2019 . We were on her Jan this year 2023.

 

Thank you Heatherb, this is super helpful, you're a star! My main worry was about getting outside on lower decks, so great to know that's possible.