MSC Seashore Review from A Newbie with Glows, Grows and Tips

[Georgia_Peaches]

DH and I just finished a 7 night cruise in the Yacht Club on Seashore (August 27 – Sept 3).  We are seasoned cruisers but this was our first MSC experience and to say that other reviews had me a little nervous would be an understatement.  I’m going to separate this review into glows and grows and I’ll finish with some tips for the newbies.

 

But first the TLDR version:

Awesome cruise experience!  Yacht Club was head and shoulders above the Haven on NCL and the Suite Life on Celebrity.  We have found our new go-to for amazing service coupled with a good value.  Food was good and sometimes great!  Entertainment was hit and miss.  Service in other areas of the ship did not disappoint.  Great international clientele kept things interesting as well as educational.  We will be back!

 

The numbers:

We booked a YC Balcony Suite on deck 16 for $2348 pp.  We had an OBC in the amount of $240 from MSC and another $850 OBC from our TA.  We flew from ATL to MIA on Delta using Skymiles the night before embarkation and stayed at the Hilton Inn and Suites in Brickell.  Room rate was $205 and included breakfast.  Room itself was basic, clean, and had awesome A/C.  Elevators were ridiculously slow.

Brickell was a really nice part of Miami and had lots of great little places for dining.  The hotel is only a few blocks from the water and there is a wonderful walkway along the water front where you can see the ships in port. 

 

Embarkation/Debarkation:

We located the white tent for luggage drop off and were quickly ushered to the YC check in location inside the building.  Once in the room I was astounded by the number of people who were waiting to be escorted on the ship.  Our check in time was 10 AM and we arrived at 10:45.  At the time of our arrival, no passengers were boarding the ship.  We checked in and had a seat and waited until noon before all 200 of us were finally allowed to board.  The check in room was standing room only.  I don’t think this is quite the norm so I inquired as to why it was taking so long to board.  I was told that they had difficulty getting to zero count and had to actually have police board the ship to locate the stragglers.  At any rate, by noon we were on board and fifteen minutes later we had a drink in hand and a table with a beautiful view in the YC restaurant. 

Debarkation was smooth.  We were escorted by our butler to the exit point of the ship and then made our way to the luggage warehouse and customs line within 15 minutes.  It took longer to hail a taxi than it did to exit the ship and clear customs.  I think there was some confusion among ground transportation because Seashore arrived at terminal C, which was not expected.

 

Glows:

The Seashore is a beautiful ship!  Everything sparkled and was impeccably clean.  I was awe struck by the opulence and beauty.  The countless youtube video tours do not do this ship justice.  DH and I especially love the way the ship is laid out so that even at full capacity, we never felt crowded. 

 

Drink and bar service was always quick.  I had read otherwise so was prepared.  You can order at the counter but they prefer to have waitstaff take your order because it gets printed to a ticket after reading your card and actually streamlines the process.  I liked the efficiency of the process and I believe this helped the bartenders stay focused on preparing drinks instead of worrying about who was next in line.

 

Elevators…another area of concern preboarding but this was definitely a glow for us.  Wait times were at a minimum most of the time and I found that there were several banks of elevators to choose from if there was a little back up.  We learned this from our Butler who escorted us around a corner to a more secluded set of elevators on one of our shore days.  Both sets were open for anyone to use but the second set around the corner just didn’t seem as busy because they were of the beaten path.

 

Service in the Yacht Club…the best suite level service we’ve ever experienced!  We were waited on hand and foot.  It was very impressive how quickly everyone learned our names and our drink preferences.  Our butler, Ana Lisa was like a genie!  She was everywhere all at once and worked tirelessly to ensure we had everything we needed.  One evening she literally chased after us just so she could escort us to dinner.  We didn’t need an escort but she insisted.

 

YC public areas were excellent.  We enjoyed the two hot tubs on the sun deck as well as the plunge pool near the bar and grill.  The pool design had a ledge so you could get wet without getting in the pool completely.  The seating was plentiful as were the towels, drinks and lunch and snacks.

 

The YC grill as our favorite place for breakfast and lunch.  It’s a much condensed version of the Market Café but had everything we could want on any given day.  On the second sea day they provided a seafood extravaganza and it was delicious.  Cook to order shrimp, scallops, and calamari were just a few of the offerings.  There was always a carving station plus the requisite burgers and dogs for the Americans.  We didn’t try either but they looked very good.

Our YC stateroom was very nicely appointed and offered plenty of space for two.  Our room attendant was efficient and kept us supplied with fresh towels and ice…we never had to ask.  One thing that I really loved about the room was the darkening drapes….they were awesome at keeping out the light and the heat of the day.

 

Private island….in a word, stunning!  Once again, so well laid out that it never felt crowded.  The YC area was a little rocky in the sand and requires water shoes if you want to walk in the water. 

 

Grows:

Our stateroom was often very warm…even after taking the issue to the YC director.  They made every effort to keep the room cool but we learned that a neighbor was sleeping with their balcony door open which was throwing off the A/C for an entire group of suites.  My guess is that the neighbors weren’t aware of the impact of the open door.  To this, I would suggest a small plaque on the door explaining the importance of keeping the door closed.  Of course, it would have to be in several languages.  Another option would be to put this information in the notes of the daily planner.  IDK but there has to be a way to inform passengers of this phenomena.

 

Theater entertainment…we enjoyed most of the shows and found MSC did a nice job of catering to a variety of audiences.  The problem here was that MSC ushers did not prevent late comers from entering the theater after a show had started.  This meant that late arrivals were a constant stream and were passing in front of those already seated in order to get an empty seat.  Many, many times our viewing was interrupted by having to get up to allow others to pass.  If the ushers won’t stop people from entering after the start of the show, they should at least make space for them to remain near the top of the stairs in a holding area to prevent such disruptions.  After three nights of this, we opted for other entertainment venues in lieu of the theater shows.

 

The APP…we didn’t use it because I didn’t want to carry my phone everywhere.  Therefore, it would be nice if menus were posted so that we could see them without asking for a paper version…this is something we did every day in the YC…ask to see a paper menu.

 

Casino…though not big gamblers, we do enjoy spending a little time in the casino after dinner.  The casino was small (for such a big ship) and the slot games were unrecognizable.  Perhaps because they cater to the European market but I didn’t really enjoy the casino.

 

Aurea thermal area…we only went once which is so a-typical.  We found the thermal area to be too dark and cavernous for our liking.  We did enjoy the therapy pool but that was about it.  I’m glad it was included in the YC price and not something for which we paid extra.

 

Lighting in general…though there isn’t much that can be done now, it is of note that much of the lighting in the cabin and in public areas is done by intense little puck lights that are very bright and very hot.  Sitting under one of them in the casino put off a tremendous amount of heat that I had to move.  The same was true in our cabin.  For this reason, we kept the lights off most of the time.

 

Hints for newbies…

1.        We found the WiFi to be quite adequate for our needs and I’ve read lots of reviews to the contrary.  On the cruise card you are given a wifi code and a web address to register that code and set up an account.  If you don’t take those steps you won’t have wifi access even if the wifi icon is on your home screen.  After day 2 of seeing the icon but not having the service, I finally went to www.mscwifi.com to set up my account.  Once I did that, things worked perfectly.  I could even stream one of my podcasts and get a little music from youtube.

2.       The credit card activation card kiosks are located on decks 5 and 6.  They were quick and easy to use.  I was concerned about this but that was unnecessary.

3.       There is a wine cellar next to the specialty restaurants.  It is a very under utilized space but has some great wines available to try and you can self-serve with the swipe of your card.  There is only one wine sommelier on the ship.  He was extremely knowledgeable and recommended some great wines. 

 

Over all…we absolutely loved the ship and the MSC product.  We enjoyed the food, though it has been heavily criticized.  We had a great meal in the Butcher’s Cut!  We went the ala carte route and it was a little pricey but so delicious.  The YC restaurant food was good and sometimes great.  We certainly didn’t go hungry. 

We met some great people on this trip and I have to say, the international vibe was right up our alley!  I’m not sure when our next cruise will be, but I know it will be with MSC.

[mafig]

Enjoyed your review. 

A few questions......I've seen various youtubes, and don't notice any champagne chilling in  your stateroom upon arrival.  Was there any?   Also, quite a bit of OBC.  Did you use it all?  How?  Was the OBC from your TA refundable?  

 

Thanks for the threads about the A/C.  Hope we don't have that problem.  I don't know if I would be able to control myself and not say something to those people with the door open.

 

Thanks again.😀

[Georgia_Peaches]

31 minutes ago, mafig said:

Enjoyed your review. 

A few questions......I've seen various youtubes, and don't notice any champagne chilling in  your stateroom upon arrival.  Was there any?   Also, quite a bit of OBC.  Did you use it all?  How?  Was the OBC from your TA refundable?  

 

Thanks for the threads about the A/C.  Hope we don't have that problem.  I don't know if I would be able to control myself and not say something to those people with the door open.

 

Thanks again.😀

Yes, we had champagne chilling in our stateroom on embarkation day and a second bottle was delivered mid week. 😊. 
 

the OBC from our TA was refundable but the MSC obc was not. We used it on a few nice bottles of wine and also in the butchers cut. The non refundable obc basically covered the gratuities. 

[mafig]

25 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Yes, we had champagne chilling in our stateroom on embarkation day and a second bottle was delivered mid week. 😊. 
 

the OBC from our TA was refundable but the MSC obc was not. We used it on a few nice bottles of wine and also in the butchers cut. The non refundable obc basically covered the gratuities. 

Then you didn't have any left over.  I was wondering if there was a reluctance on MSC's part to give it back to y ou in cash (like Celebrity does) or put it back on your credit card.  I know some people go the casino route.

 

[JT1962]

Glad you enjoyed it. I enjoyed my first MSC cruise in January and am booked on 3 more from October to May. I’m not sure why they get so many bad reviews. Maybe expecting a carbon copy of Carnival / Royal Caribbean?

[publicpersona]

1 hour ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Elevators…another area of concern preboarding but this was definitely a glow for us. 

 

I still haven't figured out whether I like choosing the destination floor before boarding. It didn't seem to expedite the process much, and the chime for a car that means not that it has arrived, but that someone just selected a deck it was going to, was annoying.

 

On the plus side, it was delightful to go a whole cruise without experiencing that idiot that gets on an elevator not going in his direction while chuckling, "Well, it has to go up/down eventually!" Or in other words, "I just figured out how to make the elevators extra crowded without servicing anyone's needs."

[shipgeeks]

OP, When we sailed in a balcony cabin on MSC, there was indeed a small (aka tiny) plaque on the door frame, re keeping the door closed.  However, I am disappointed that your issue was not resolved to your satisfaction, if it was too hot due to a neighbor's practice.  In YC, especially, it is management's job to fix things for all guests; the offender should have been tactfully approached and made to follow the rule.

[iwtobek]

2 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

the offender should have been tactfully approached and made to follow the rule.

Basically it looks like to me the ship is broken, not the “offending” fellow cruiser.

As a guest I don't give a fork what other people do in their room. I do care if my room isn't working as advertised.

Edited September 4, 2022 by iwtobek

[shipgeeks]

No, it has been stated a number of times here, re any cruise line, that if a passenger keeps a balcony door open for any length of time, it creates problems for the cabins around it.

[mafig]

I've read a few reviews where the poster asked to dine in the regular dining room on "italian night."  Stating it was more fun.   

Did you do this?  If not, how was "italian night" in the YC restaurant?

[Georgia_Peaches]

41 minutes ago, mafig said:

I've read a few reviews where the poster asked to dine in the regular dining room on "italian night."  Stating it was more fun.   

Did you do this?  If not, how was "italian night" in the YC restaurant?

Perhaps one of the downsides of not using the app was that we missed any indication of an Italian Night.  There was a white night themed party but I don't recall anything specific to Italian night.  Maybe it was when we ate in the Butcher's cut?  There were Italian dishes available on the YC menu every night, though...mostly in the form of a risotto.  We had a wonderful duck ragout one evening! 

[Georgia_Peaches]

4 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

OP, When we sailed in a balcony cabin on MSC, there was indeed a small (aka tiny) plaque on the door frame, re keeping the door closed.  However, I am disappointed that your issue was not resolved to your satisfaction, if it was too hot due to a neighbor's practice.  In YC, especially, it is management's job to fix things for all guests; the offender should have been tactfully approached and made to follow the rule.

Yes, I do recall a small sign that stated the A/C would turn off when the balcony door was open but I don't think that sign explained how the prolonged open door impacts other rooms.  I could be wrong on that...wish I had taken a picture.  Additionally, if the sign wasn't in multiple languages, it could go unnoticed or misunderstood.  DH and I discussed the point you make regarding steps management should have taken under the circumstances and we agree, they should have spoken to the guests.  That said, the warm room did not ruin our vacation or taint my overall favor of the cruise or MSC...

Edited September 4, 2022 by Georgia_Peaches

[shipgeeks]

There is a new post in the "Ask A Cruise Question" section of CC, re Leaving Balcony Doors Open. Maybe it will refresh the topic.

[Morgsmom]

@Georgia_Peaches  I'm sure that I'm not the only one with mouth agape at the $850 OBC... wow.

[Georgia_Peaches]

45 minutes ago, Morgsmom said:

@Georgia_Peaches  I'm sure that I'm not the only one with mouth agape at the $850 OBC... wow.

CC won't let me mention the name of the TA I use but if you send me a personal message, I'd be happy to share.  pipercatandjane at g mail dot com .  This amount is pretty typical of the one I use.  

Edited September 5, 2022 by Georgia_Peaches

[Morgsmom]

38 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

CC won't let me mention the name of the TA I use but if you send me a personal message, I'd be happy to share.  pipercatandjane at g mail dot com .  This amount is pretty typical of the one I use.  

Sent an email 🙂 

Donna

 

[frank808]

Me too.

[Cap'n Ron]

Me three 🙂 

[Georgia_Peaches]

1 hour ago, Cap'n Ron said:

Me three 🙂 

Currently locked out of my email account. Will try to log in tomorrow with info!

[Missymssy]

On 9/5/2022 at 3:40 PM, Georgia_Peaches said:

CC won't let me mention the name of the TA I use but if you send me a personal message, I'd be happy to share.  pipercatandjane at g mail dot com .  This amount is pretty typical of the one I use.  

I would like to know also. Is it OK to email as well?

[Georgia_Peaches]

1 hour ago, Missymssy said:

I would like to know also. Is it OK to email as well?

Absolutely!  Will hopefully have email unlocked by the morning.