MSC Shuttle/Ferry between Med ports

[Fogfog]

So we are looking at MSC (the web site is a pita)

 

I noted that the ship basically picks up people from each port in the med til it heads across the atl.

 

Friends in the UK sailed MSC and hated it --one of the reasons they mentioned was this embarkation/debarkation of people (like a ferry service) They also didn't feel meals were good etc. I dont think they sailed in YC

 

Thoughts on this ferry/embarkation/debarkation in the med?

 

How does it impact the cruise?

 

TYIA

[hamrag]

It doesn't impact the cruise in any way!

[pukekolive]

We join a cruise in Copenhagen that technically 'starts' in Kiel Germany. This means our first full day onboard is a sea day before Stockholm. Preziosa has been doing a 14 day loop continuously through the Baltics and Fjords for a few months.

 

She then goes to Genoa via Southampton and Gibraltar, we disembark at Barcelona.

 

I am sure there are pax embarking/ disembarking at other ports so we may sometimes see luggage in the halls!

 

Someone else said it was a bit odd for there to be a sort of farewell concert a couple of days before they got off.

 

Sent from my SM-A320Y using Tapatalk

[CruiseIreland]

Hi. We've sailed 4 times in the Mediterranean with MSC. We've never really noticed any impact of multiple embarkation/disembarkation ports, except cases outside staterooms almost every night but we just smile sympathetically and weave our way around them. We're usually ashore when each day's new arrivals board. It does keep the room stewards very busy though. Food is, as they say, subjective but on MSC it seems to fail to live up to its florid description on the menu. Portions are modest but you can order more of any course. If you like a drink, the Drinks Packages are great value. Entertainment is competent but repetitive in the theatre and there are no comedy shows due to the multilingual nature of passengers. Best value cruise line in my opinion. Apparently, the Yacht Club offers an exclusive, luxury experience to rival or better NCL's Haven or Celebrity's Aqua Class. We have 2 further cruises booked with MSC. Ken

[kerryincork]

I didn't like it. In the Med at every port we had several hundred people getting off and another few hundred getting on.

People with luggage in all the public lounges all morning and most of the afternoon noon.

 

Each day you had a large number of people who didn't know where to go to dinner, how the shows worked so would block entrances and corridors. It felt like being on a bus.

 

Also you couldn't get near guest services. As passengers were either settling their accounts or sorting out first day issues.

 

When we did the Baltic cruise there was only one other pick up and this was much smoother. The Med was every day bar the sea day.

 

Sent from my VTR-L09 using Forums mobile app

[Fogfog]

I didn't like it. In the Med at every port we had several hundred people getting off and another few hundred getting on.

People with luggage in all the public lounges all morning and most of the afternoon noon.

 

Each day you had a large number of people who didn't know where to go to dinner, how the shows worked so would block entrances and corridors. It felt like being on a bus.

 

Also you couldn't get near guest services. As passengers were either settling their accounts or sorting out first day issues.

 

When we did the Baltic cruise there was only one other pick up and this was much smoother. The Med was every day bar the sea day.

 

Sent from my VTR-L09 using Forums mobile app

 

 

This is helpful... this makes sense with our friends from the UK who mentioned it...

Perhaps the public spaces were congested all of the time... and certainly the settling up of bills/embarkation issues etc make for challenges.

 

With the changeover daily of 100s of rooms-- I suspect the cabin stewards are heavily worked? yes?

[Fogfog]

Hi. We've sailed 4 times in the Mediterranean with MSC. We've never really noticed any impact of multiple embarkation/disembarkation ports, except cases outside staterooms almost every night but we just smile sympathetically and weave our way around them. We're usually ashore when each day's new arrivals board. It does keep the room stewards very busy though. Food is, as they say, subjective but on MSC it seems to fail to live up to its florid description on the menu. Portions are modest but you can order more of any course. If you like a drink, the Drinks Packages are great value. Entertainment is competent but repetitive in the theatre and there are no comedy shows due to the multilingual nature of passengers. Best value cruise line in my opinion. Apparently, the Yacht Club offers an exclusive, luxury experience to rival or better NCL's Haven or Celebrity's Aqua Class. We have 2 further cruises booked with MSC. Ken

 

Thanks

We are looking at YC

I would guess that it would only impact us with getting off/on at each port then? Or if we are going to a show?

[kerryincork]

Thanks

We are looking at YC

I would guess that it would only impact us with getting off/on at each port then? Or if we are going to a show?

Actually one of the positives, it was never a bother getting on and off at the ports. The Staff were very practiced at getting everybody off and on. Guests who had boarded at different ports used different entrance and exit so this wasn't a bother.

 

If you are the sort who does an excursion at everyport you won't have a problem with passengers being in the public spaces with bags as you won't be on the ship.

 

On the whole I like MSC and plan to sail with them again. I would think about it though if the ship where picking up passengers at every single port.

 

Sent from my VTR-L09 using Forums mobile app

[glittergal1]

So we are looking at MSC (the web site is a pita)

 

I noted that the ship basically picks up people from each port in the med til it heads across the atl.

 

Friends in the UK sailed MSC and hated it --one of the reasons they mentioned was this embarkation/debarkation of people (like a ferry service) They also didn't feel meals were good etc. I dont think they sailed in YC

 

Thoughts on this ferry/embarkation/debarkation in the med?

 

How does it impact the cruise?

 

TYIA

 

 

I love MSC If I was you I would read ALL the reviews Good and Bad and decide if any of the negatives would severely bother you, Also read what is or isnt included as many people moan about MSC without actually doing enough of their own research

 

I too have friends who didnt like MSC but as I say I love them

[CruiseIreland]

Thanks

We are looking at YC

I would guess that it would only impact us with getting off/on at each port then? Or if we are going to a show?

If you are booking YC then you will be prioritised for going ashore at each port and you will be escorted to the best seats at the shows. You will have access to the private restaurant and pool also. You'll hardly notice the daily embarkations. Ken

[Fogfog]

I love MSC If I was you I would read ALL the reviews Good and Bad and decide if any of the negatives would severely bother you, Also read what is or isnt included as many people moan about MSC without actually doing enough of their own research

 

I too have friends who didnt like MSC but as I say I love them

 

I agree. Reading reviews often reveals whether people did the research... I was surprised that there was this ferry-like option and one could book a 2 day cruise. Worth keeping in mind if we did a B2B --it could be a "B2B2B" hahah so to speak if we used MSC between major ports if on another line.

[perakcruiser]

On the other hand if all Meraviglia pax would embark in Genova, I would definitely not want to be in that number. Sure it has disadvantages (I noticed only one), but it also has advantages, the lines for embarking are nowhere really long.