MSC Splendida

[BRITBEAR]

I have never cruised with MSC before but the cruise to Japan next March has caught my eye, has anyone booked or is thinking of booking this cruise & what is this company really like?

Thank you.

[Beamafar]

That is an incredible itinerary and Splendida is a beautiful ship. However, the experience onboard is loved by some and hated by others, so "what is the company like?" is a subjective matter. I've done 15 cruises with MSC - 3 onboard Splendida - so you know which camp I'm in!

[ElvisB]

Hi Beamafar, I'm trying to find out different information than I'm seeing in the posts. I'd like to know if there is self serve laundry facilities, since we'll be on the ship for 30 days. I would also like to know if the outside smoking areas are on the port side (left) or starboard side (right) of the ship. Someone mentioned that there are certain smoking areas (like the casino) but I'd like to know which side of the ship so we can book our cabin on the opposite side. Thank you.

[Beamafar]

No self-service laundry, but there is a laundry service and package.  I don't know what the current price is. It was 20 items for €30 - you can send as many or as few items at a time over the course of the cruise 'til you reach the total number of items allowed. There is also a set price for a greater number of items but I can't remember what as I don't use the facility. Smoking is usually permitted on the port side, so choose a starboard (even numbered) cabin. Having said that, I nearly always end up with a port side cabin and have never experienced the smell from smokers - even on deck 13, which is 1 deck below the smoking area. I would be reluctant to do such a long cruise with an untried cruise company, though the itinerary is fantastic and I'm hoping to do the same one the following year, although it doesn't go to Japan then. I just can't fit it in for next year. MSC is not everybody's cup of tea and it could be a slow boat to China for you if it's not a good fit.

[Skier52]

Hi Beamafar, I'm trying to find out different information than I'm seeing in the posts. I'd like to know if there is self serve laundry facilities, since we'll be on the ship for 30 days. I would also like to know if the outside smoking areas are on the port side (left) or starboard side (right) of the ship. Someone mentioned that there are certain smoking areas (like the casino) but I'd like to know which side of the ship so we can book our cabin on the opposite side. Thank you.

Given that the route is west to east in the northern hemisphere I would have a cabin on the starboard side so as to benefit from the sun being on your balcony on most days.

I too have been on Splendida three times out of my 15 cruises with MSC, and am a non-smoke who really objects to other peoples' smoke, and never had a problem with smelling smoke on our balcony

 

The port side will have very little direct sunshine.

 

 

 

Pete

[blordos]

I am going to book the 30 days itinerary to Japan in march next year. The Splendida is a wonderful ship. We had been on this ship last year on Iceland trip and it suits all my expectations. I had been on the Celebrity Equinox the year before. We like the food on the MSC but the food on the Celebrity is a tad better. Pizza on the MSC is a big plus while Celebrity serves lobsters. Just once in the MDR during the cruise without upcost. Also I miss the egg benedict at the breakfast on the MSC. :)

However the entertainment on the MSC is much better. The people are younger than the Celebrity where people are older on the average. So the MSC show, nightlife and disco are much more vivid. We went every night in the dancing lounge and had much fun.

 

Also we like the spa, yakuzi and the swimming pools in the MSC.

Overall I chose MSC over Celebrity. I have only experiences in these two companies.

 

tip: book a spa package at the terminal where you get your boardingpass. Here the saving is 30% while on the ship they give you only 20%. Also the spa package grants you free access of all spa perks during the whole cruise.

This is a much better deal than the Aurea cabin on the ship.

Edited April 17, 2017 by blordos