MSC Magnifica 23 day transatlantic smooth as glass Nov 2023 review

[JColtonMason]

23 days boarding in Valencia, Spain visiting Tarragona, Toulon, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Malaga, Tenerife, Funchal, 6 days at sea, St. Maarten, Tortola, and Puerto Rico, ending in Miami.  Skipped Palma de Mallorca due to winds and added overnight in Malaga instead.  Switched Funchal and Tenerife dates due to pilot boat strikes in Funchal.  

 

Pretty fascinating watching the ship and service shift from catering to Europeans to catering to Americans.  Buffet got worse(rear half was closed after Europe) but MDR food got better(steak and large shrimp started showing up) but added on a $5 surcharge for any additional entrees in the MDR(didn't apply to our sailing).  Dining times were also pushed earlier.

 

Good:

-Atlantic ocean was sunny and hot and smooth as glass during our entire 6 day southernly crossing

-Amazing warm sunny weather overall except for a bit of rain in France and on a sea day after Puerto Rico and overcast in Rome

-Ship is clean and well maintained for its age so long as you ignore the minute details

-Dirt cheap fare, reasonable hotel service charge gratuities($276 per person iirc)

-We had an interior room, MSC randomly upgraded us to a balcony room in Malaga right before the crossing.  I did not put in a request, only found a message asking us to call the front desk

-Lots of seafood that you would never get on other cruise lines.  Sea bass labeled as grilled fish for breakfast, big-headed shrimp, squid and octopus, kilos of fresh mussels 

-Room still serviced twice a day

-Easy embarkation and disembarkation.  We did have to disembark in puerto rico for passport checks and couldn't get back on the ship until all passengers cleared but that meant we walked straight off in Miami without any passport checks.  In Miami they even let us off 15 minutes earlier than posted for express walk off at 7:15am and we managed to catch an earlier flight at MIA departing at 8:43am(TSA was a long mess though)

 

 

Bad:

-In European ports MSC always charges you additional for transport from port to city center(e.g. Tarragona spain, Toulon france, and Malaga).  Do your homework

-Entertainment was terrible, often one man acts during most evenings with only 3 production shows entire cruise which were great(Elvis, the circus one)

-Every announcement was done in 5 languages which was really long and annoying 

-2 of the days our hallway smelled like strong gasoline

-Food is fine for the price, but not that good.  Some are too salty and steak skewers too tough to chew

-No lobster, no escargot, no shrimp cocktail, no french onion soup entire cruise.  Their signature royal cake only showed up once

-Most of MSC's beef, steaks, and veal leave a bloody iron aftertaste 

-Pizza wasn't as good as I had remembered

-Communication.  I know some were peeved about Funchal and Tenerife switching dates, we received 0 notice.  When we switched cabins(very grateful) our new steward was not notified.  Their letter about puerto rico's passport check was so badly worded that some of us didn't realize we couldn't get back on the ship until the entire ship has been cleared

-The gym could use more treadmills and one more bench and heavier dumbells and a cable machine

 

 

 

Random observations:

-First cruise I've experienced where at every single port, passengers were embarking and disembarking which made for a weird experience.  I'd make friends my age only for them to disappear rest of cruise.  When we boarded the ship was full at 3000+, at times it dipped to 900, ultimately with approx. 1500 people doing the crossing which made the ship feel very empty

-During the European leg, the ship demographic consisted mostly of Italians, French, and spanish-speaking passengers.  As the cruise went on, more Americans started showing up.  I'd say ultimately for the crossing the passengers were mostly American, spanish-speaking, or a surprisingly large amount of Italians.  

-Europeans can be perceived as rude as they don't say "sorry" or "excuse me", cut in lines, and gestures at you.  Doesn't bother me at all.  You can spot a polite American easily

-No free soft serve or gelato; the only way you can get free ice cream is at dine in for lunch or dinner

-3 of the ports we docked next to the Viking Sea ship, even across the atlantic.  Guess they were doing the transatlantic as well.  

 

Overall had a great experience given the price paid and would recommend, although the food, service, and entertainment was below what I've experienced on the Divina and Meraviglia.  Keep in mind this is the ship that MSC uses for its world cruises.  I've also come to realize that cruising isn't for me any more.  The demographic is too old and the pace is too slow.  Thanks for reading!

[tewkewl74]

The food on your cruising looks quite a bit better than american msc cruises!

[Heisler123]

We are doing this cruise next November from Miami to Rome. Love transatlantic cruises. Also love the smaller ships..

[JT1962]

I’m glad you enjoyed most of it. Your experience sounds very similar to my transatlantic cruise on the Seashore recently. The food and entertainment were definitely below the MSC cruises I have taken from the US. It seems they minimize a lot of things on the TA cruises to prepare for the differences between the US cruises compared to the European itineraries. 

Edited December 11, 2023 by JT1962

[Nikodemos]

I believe the demographic issue was just due to the TransAtlantic crossing.  When we were on the World Europa this summer in the western Med, the demographics were the most equally age diverse among all the cruises I've been on.  Granted, our previous HAL cruises skewed older and the Disney cruises were family focused. 

[Travel Mom]

Thanks so much for this review.  We are trying to decide to book for Nov 2024 Miami to Genoa.  How were the 6 sea days?  Was there enough to do?  We also don't like a sleepy cruise.  We are mid 50s and recently retired.  I just love the price.  We did sail on Divina before.  We like comedy, listening to music and finding friends for games.  Were there laundry facilities?  23 days is a long time. I appreciate any feed back.  I tried to find info on their website and not able to.

Edited February 14 by Travel Mom

[Travel Mom]

On 11/25/2023 at 8:57 AM, JColtonMason said:

23 days boarding in Valencia, Spain visiting Tarragona, Toulon, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Malaga, Tenerife, Funchal, 6 days at sea, St. Maarten, Tortola, and Puerto Rico, ending in Miami.  Skipped Palma de Mallorca due to winds and added overnight in Malaga instead.  Switched Funchal and Tenerife dates due to pilot boat strikes in Funchal.  

 

Pretty fascinating watching the ship and service shift from catering to Europeans to catering to Americans.  Buffet got worse(rear half was closed after Europe) but MDR food got better(steak and large shrimp started showing up) but added on a $5 surcharge for any additional entrees in the MDR(didn't apply to our sailing).  Dining times were also pushed earlier.

 

Good:

-Atlantic ocean was sunny and hot and smooth as glass during our entire 6 day southernly crossing

-Amazing warm sunny weather overall except for a bit of rain in France and on a sea day after Puerto Rico and overcast in Rome

-Ship is clean and well maintained for its age so long as you ignore the minute details

-Dirt cheap fare, reasonable hotel service charge gratuities($276 per person iirc)

-We had an interior room, MSC randomly upgraded us to a balcony room in Malaga right before the crossing.  I did not put in a request, only found a message asking us to call the front desk

-Lots of seafood that you would never get on other cruise lines.  Sea bass labeled as grilled fish for breakfast, big-headed shrimp, squid and octopus, kilos of fresh mussels 

-Room still serviced twice a day

-Easy embarkation and disembarkation.  We did have to disembark in puerto rico for passport checks and couldn't get back on the ship until all passengers cleared but that meant we walked straight off in Miami without any passport checks.  In Miami they even let us off 15 minutes earlier than posted for express walk off at 7:15am and we managed to catch an earlier flight at MIA departing at 8:43am(TSA was a long mess though)

 

 

Bad:

-In European ports MSC always charges you additional for transport from port to city center(e.g. Tarragona spain, Toulon france, and Malaga).  Do your homework

-Entertainment was terrible, often one man acts during most evenings with only 3 production shows entire cruise which were great(Elvis, the circus one)

-Every announcement was done in 5 languages which was really long and annoying 

-2 of the days our hallway smelled like strong gasoline

-Food is fine for the price, but not that good.  Some are too salty and steak skewers too tough to chew

-No lobster, no escargot, no shrimp cocktail, no french onion soup entire cruise.  Their signature royal cake only showed up once

-Most of MSC's beef, steaks, and veal leave a bloody iron aftertaste 

-Pizza wasn't as good as I had remembered

-Communication.  I know some were peeved about Funchal and Tenerife switching dates, we received 0 notice.  When we switched cabins(very grateful) our new steward was not notified.  Their letter about puerto rico's passport check was so badly worded that some of us didn't realize we couldn't get back on the ship until the entire ship has been cleared

-The gym could use more treadmills and one more bench and heavier dumbells and a cable machine

 

 

 

Random observations:

-First cruise I've experienced where at every single port, passengers were embarking and disembarking which made for a weird experience.  I'd make friends my age only for them to disappear rest of cruise.  When we boarded the ship was full at 3000+, at times it dipped to 900, ultimately with approx. 1500 people doing the crossing which made the ship feel very empty

-During the European leg, the ship demographic consisted mostly of Italians, French, and spanish-speaking passengers.  As the cruise went on, more Americans started showing up.  I'd say ultimately for the crossing the passengers were mostly American, spanish-speaking, or a surprisingly large amount of Italians.  

-Europeans can be perceived as rude as they don't say "sorry" or "excuse me", cut in lines, and gestures at you.  Doesn't bother me at all.  You can spot a polite American easily

-No free soft serve or gelato; the only way you can get free ice cream is at dine in for lunch or dinner

-3 of the ports we docked next to the Viking Sea ship, even across the atlantic.  Guess they were doing the transatlantic as well.  

 

Overall had a great experience given the price paid and would recommend, although the food, service, and entertainment was below what I've experienced on the Divina and Meraviglia.  Keep in mind this is the ship that MSC uses for its world cruises.  I've also come to realize that cruising isn't for me any more.  The demographic is too old and the pace is too slow.  Thanks for reading!

Where is that picture with the people in the water???

[alserrod]

 

 

 

On 11/25/2023 at 5:57 PM, JColtonMason said:

-During the European leg, the ship demographic consisted mostly of Italians, French, and spanish-speaking passengers.  As the cruise went on, more Americans started showing up.  I'd say ultimately for the crossing the passengers were mostly American, spanish-speaking, or a surprisingly large amount of Italians.  

 

So... Are you saying that on a cruise that made five stops in Spain (Valencia, Tarragona, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga and Santa Cruz de Tenerife) and new people boarded in all the ports, there were many Spanish speakers?