Tuesday, April 2, 2024

MSC Seashore Cruise Ship: Review, Photos & Departure Ports on Cruise Critic

msc cruise ships reviews

Images are projected onto the ceiling 24 hours a day, along with special shows of changing pictures screened three times a day. MSC Grandiosa has 200 more cabins; 2,421 in total including 60 for passengers with reduced mobility. MSC Magnifica is one of the Musica-class ships, which debuted in 2006 and include sister ships MSC Musica, Orchestra and Poesia, with Magnifica the last to join the quartet in 2010. The Masters of the Sea pub has music every night and serious British pub vibes, so much so that you might feel transported to London or Dublin, depending on the crowd and who’s crooning.

MSC Cruises Reviews

Choosing your cruise ship cabin or stateroom is an essential part of planning a dream cruise vacation. The right accommodation can enhance your cruise experience, providing you with a comfortable retreat after a day of adventure, but some choices may turn out to be an expensive mistake. All three vessels are among the most venue-filled in their respective fleets, with dozens of restaurants, bars, showrooms and over-the-top attractions on the decks. Another thing to note is that cigarette smoking is more prevalent on MSC than other lines, with designated areas on the pool decks and inside the ship (in a section of the casino and in the cigar lounge). While there are themed nights, including elegant and gala nights, there is no mandate to dress up for them. That said, it’s not suggested to shop up in shorts in the evening to the onboard dining rooms.

MSC Seashore Review

Unveiled in January, Icon of the Seas is the world's biggest cruise ship. MSC World Europa makes it easy to work out, with an excellent fitness facility on deck 20 where floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the main pool deck and passing sea–all the better inspiration for finding some motivation to workout. There are free weights, treadmills, step machines and myriad TechnoGym machines as well as onboard fitness classes to help ensure you can stay fit at sea. Exercise classes like stretching, morning yoga, aerobics and Samba Dance Classes on deck 18 at La Plage and at the World Promenade are offered for no additional charge. My go-to was the Brass Anchor Pub, reminiscent of an English local where you can snag a bottle or a pint and some extra-fee pub grub.

Included with your cruise fare:

Her biggest claim to fame is that she rocked the female vocals in Meat Loaf's "I'd Do Anything for Love, But I Won't Do That." Sky Lounge is the place to be for sweeping views through floor-to-ceiling windows. It provides a comfy and often quiet space to read, work or gather with friends. Among the dessert options, the best are the chocolate lava cake, the New York cheesecake and the peanut butter and milk chocolate cookie. It was another 10 minutes until our waiter took our food order, and not once did anyone ask us if we'd like something other than water to drink. When my travel companion finally requested a beer, the waiter's response was, "Be patient, sir." My jaw dropped.

Don't get us wrong, most of the MSC Seaside cruise ship crew are pleasant and generally helpful; just don't expect the over-the-top friendliness you often find on other cruise lines. For entertainment, the longest dry slide at sea, which spirals down 11 decks, is the aerial jewel of an incredible 350-foot-long promenade that feels like a waterfront urban park, lined by restaurants with covered outdoor seating. Add that six swimming pools and hot tubs spread across several decks and you’ve still only scratched the surface of what you can get up to on board. From free live music, theater shows and promenade dance parties to extra-fee Cirque du Soleil-style performances, the options are varied and feature talented singers, dancers, magicians, acrobats and more. A more affordable option than most alternative restaurants is room service.

How To Choose The Best Cruise Ship Cabin For You

Daywear is casual, with beach attire on deck, shorts, T-shirts and jeans at breakfast and lunch, and comfortable clothes for excursions. The daily programme lists three evening dress codes for the restaurants from 6 p.m., but these are suggestions and not strictly adhered to or enforced. For gala nights -- usually two every seven-night cruise -- the recommendation is elegant, which is MSC's less stiff and starchy version of formal. Of the women that did dress up on elegant nights, the tendency was for cocktail dresses, and nobody wore long ball gowns.

msc cruise ships reviews

The MSC Meraviglia Deck Plan Cleverly Keeps Most Cabins Separate from Public Areas

It's not an overwhelmingly huge ship, and is well designed and easy to get around. In common with other vessels in the fleet, cruises are sold as three "experiences" -- Bella, Fantastica and Aurea -- with various levels of inclusions. For example, priority dining times and free room service delivery for Fantastica passengers, and anytime myChoice Dining and bathrobe and slippers for Aurea passengers.

Cabins on middle floors offer the best combination of access to facilities and less movement in the event of rough seas. MSC World America will also have six pools and 14 hot tubs, making it one of the most pool-covered ships at sea. • Exclusive key-card access only MSC Yacht Club with lounge, restaurant and sundeck. • High-tech including RFID wristband technology to open cabin doors and pay for drinks; in-cabin AI digital personal assistant, Zoe; MSC for Me app. The extended 111-metre-long indoor promenade is covered by a 93-metre "digital sky" LED screen; again the largest anywhere at sea.

10 of 4,743 MSC Caribbean Cruise Reviews

The average age is around the early 40s for adults, though with the strong emphasis on family expect literally hundreds of kids during school vacations, all of which are extremely well catered for. The only thing that some might find jarring is the fact that there are no adult-only areas on the ship. On the other hand, if you plan to spend most of your time exploring ports and partaking in onboard activities, the type and location of cabin might be of less importance. You could also save money by booking a saver fare offered by some cruise lines. Both ships have been designed around a central interior promenade with entertainment, shops and bars. The matchup between MSC World America and Icon of the Seas is particularly notable as it marks the first time vessels measuring more than 200,000 tons from two different cruise brands have competed on sailings out of a North American port.

Expert Review of MSC Seaside Cruise Ship - Cruise Critic

Expert Review of MSC Seaside Cruise Ship.

Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:06:34 GMT [source]

You have to sign out everything from pickleball paddles to basketballs for use on the indoor sports court and volleyballs for the pits on Ocean Cay. However, when I tried to sign out a basketball during posted rental hours, the person working told me no and offered no explanation. When I checked with guest services, they told me that shouldn't have happened. The nearby chocolateria, Jean-Philippe Chocolate & Cafe, is an excellent place to grab a cuppa, and the adjacent Meraviglia Bar & Lounge is home to trivia, live music and more. Mix in a shore excursion desk; shops that sell high-end jewelry and purses; a counter serving for-fee gelato, crepes and smoothies; and Hola!

On the final night on board, she held an intimate performance for Yacht Club passengers in the suite area's private lounge. The Polar Aquapark on Deck 19 aft offers plenty of wet fun for kids and adults. Attractions include three slides — a bowl slide, where riders awkwardly end in the bowl and then exit via a flight of steps, and two twisty slides that require rafts — and a splash area with sprayers and dump buckets. There's no fee to use the space, but you'll need to sign a waiver and obtain a wristband before riding the waterslides. One deck above it is the Champagne Bar, which sometimes also serves seafood. One deck below is the Infinity Bar, so named because it's found at the base of the Infinity Atrium.

Drinks are not included in packages, however, so you’ll want to have an idea for how much you want to, er, party to pick the best beverage deal for your needs. To feel like you’re in a big city lounge with delicious craft cocktails–including many of the smoking kind–don’t miss Elixir–Mixology bar, a new offering just on MSC World Europa, with its edgy handcrafted concoctions and an outdoor terrace for sipping with sea views. Cabins on higher decks will provide better views from balconies and suites, and good access to many of the ship’s amenities, but passengers may feel the ship's movement more. MSC offers dining packages, which allow passengers to pre-purchase a set number of meals in alternative restaurants. When those meals are cashed in, cruisers can choose from a preselected list of menu items designated for package holders.

I also spent some time at the Casino Imperiale bar, which was open on my sailing longer than any of the other onboard watering holes. If you're a coffee lover who's heading ashore at MSC's private island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, you won't want to miss the extra-fee Coco-Nilla Latte, found at The Smiling Fish. A combination of espresso, vanilla syrup and coconut milk, either hot or iced, it's far and away my favorite coffee drink anywhere, ever. Appetizers include burrata and beet salad, Caesar and house salads, hearts of palm, a goat cheese tart, shrimp, crabcakes and oysters Rockefeller. Or, if you're feeling extra-spendy, try one of the featured starters, such as caviar, a shellfish platter, bone marrow, Kobe sliders and foie deviled eggs. I ordered the Samurai, and the salmon and sirloin were absolutely delicious.

I tried the cheapest Caribbean cruise I could find - here's what it was really like - Cruise Blog

I tried the cheapest Caribbean cruise I could find - here's what it was really like.

Posted: Wed, 16 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

A la carte pricing and delivery fees will apply to other cabin types, depending on the experience package you book. I'm not a huge seafood fan, so I avoided Ocean Cay, but I heard rave reviews from other passengers. This intimate restaurant, found on Seaside-class ships and MSC Meraviglia, offers a menu of fresh fish and seafood dishes, as well as a selection of wines for appropriate pairing. One of the most fun and flashy locations on MSC Meraviglia cruises is the Galleria Meraviglia, a central indoor walkway similar to the Royal Promenade on Royal Caribbean ships.

Monday, April 1, 2024

MSC Caribbean Cruise Reviews 2024 UPDATED: Ratings of MSC Cruises to Caribbean

msc cruise ships reviews

On the other occasion, I saw a couple of adults eyeing the chicken nuggets that were on offer. Children aren't the only ones who enjoy chicken nuggets, nor are they the ones who pay the cruise fares. Adults, whether they have kids on board or not, should be allowed to eat whatever they wish from the buffet that they paid for — even if it comes from the children's menu. Specialty coffee from the onboard chocolate shop also isn't included with the packages, nor are coffees on private island Ocean Cay, which leads me to my next head-scratcher. I had the single best coffee drink of my life when we called on Ocean Cay. The Coco-Nilla Latte is espresso, vanilla flavoring and coconut milk, and I loved it so much that I tried to have it replicated on board.

MSC Fantasia Cruise: Expert Review (2023) - Cruise Critic

MSC Fantasia Cruise: Expert Review ( .

Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:06:34 GMT [source]

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Among the standout features planned for MSC World America will be an Aquapark with multiple waterslides that integrate virtual reality technology. MSC Cruises also announced last week that the ship would have what's billed as the only overwater swing ride at sea; the attraction is called Cliffhanger, and it's suspended 160 feet above the water. MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean are currently the only cruise brands in the world with ships measuring more than 200,000 tons.

Carry-on drinks policy

Generally, if you're planning to eat at more than two or three specialty restaurants, booking a package will save you money. However, passenger flow is an issue, with many public spaces so crowded they're uncomfortable, and service is painfully slow in some bars and restaurants. You'll likely end up paying a lot more than you originally planned because some of the most enticing things to do come with added fees. And, as my travel companion so succinctly put it, I've never been told "no" so many times on a cruise. MSC Seaside deck plans are well designed, with separate levels for public spaces and staterooms.

Galleria Meraviglia

Gratuities, room service and premium alcohol and Wi-Fi packages are included in all Yacht Club fares. You do not need to purchase add-ons or pay added fees like you would in cabins outside the Yacht Club. Finally, MSC Meraviglia's sports equipment is kept under actual lock and key.

All four dining rooms offer set seating, except Panorama, which also accommodates passengers with Aurea bookings who have anytime dining. Waves, Panorama, L'Olive DorĂ©e and L'Olivo D'Oro are MSC Meraviglia's four main dining rooms, where passengers can eat dinner for free. (Specific restaurants will also be open on certain days for breakfast and lunch, depending on the day's schedule.) Menus, which change daily, are the same across all four. One of the biggest contributing factors was the ship's layout and flow. Some areas lead to dead ends, while others force you to enter busy areas — like the massive Marketplace Buffet — to find stairs to go up or down a deck. In several bars and lounges in the main atrium, tables and chairs are scattered so close to the main staircase that it's difficult for two-way passenger traffic to move through the space.

Thank you for visiting MSC Cruises

And for cruisers who are perhaps put off by all that commotion and want more of a sophisticated experience at sea, then Virtuosa could also be the ship for you. MSC Cruises’ Seaside is a popular pick among guests hailing from Europe and the American Southeast. To cater to the ship's largely 40-something English- and Spanish-speaking passengers – many of whom live within driving distance of the ship’s home port of Port Canaveral – most announcements on Seaside are only made in English and Spanish. Explore South America, the magic of the Emirates and North America, the mysteries of the Nordics and Greenland, the exotic Caribbean and the private island Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, our cruises to Asia, South Africa, and our exclusive destination.

msc cruise ships reviews

Another free entertainment option worth mentioning is daytime street theater that includes contortionists, roving musicians, magic workshops and flash mob-style performances by the onboard singers and dancers. If you happen to be passing through the promenade area when a flash mob happens, you're likely to see a punk rock-themed song-and-dance routine or, perhaps, one where the cast is dressed up like flowers, insects and birds. While the Marketplace Buffet has an "ethnic" section typically serving Asian and Indian fare, the largest variety and the highest quality come from the specialty restaurants. They include seafood, steak, Mexican, sushi and teppanyaki, and all cost extra. MSC bookings can be confusing for first-timers because, in addition to selecting a cabin type (inside, outside, balcony or suite), passengers must also choose from one of three experience packages.

MSC Grandiosa showcases a number of firsts for the line including the160-cover Il Campo restaurant for "Aurea Experience" passengers and the largest shopping area on a cruise ship. New outlets include the MSC Foundation shop where profits from items sold go towards the marine protection organisation. Passengers are not required to undergo a Covid test or show proof of vaccination status to travel aboard MSC Cruises. All public areas of the ship have Braille signage and all MSC Cruise ships have an onboard medical center staffed by the ship’s doctor and other medical personnel.

Dubbed Bella, Fantastica and Aurea, they all come with different perks and inclusions, as noted below. Speaking of the theater, no drinks are allowed in there, which is odd, given that all other cruise lines allow passengers to order drinks during shows or at least carry them in with them to enjoy while they watch. We saw several surprised cruisers being told they had to dump their beverages or drink them before they'd be allowed inside. Crew members were friendly, my cabin was comfortable, and the daily activity options were plentiful, varied and fun. At night, most shows fell into the "excellent" category, and the food in every extra-fee restaurant and the Yacht Club was phenomenal.

MSC Bellissima Cruise: Expert Review (2023) - Cruise Critic

MSC Bellissima Cruise: Expert Review ( .

Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:24:16 GMT [source]

Although there are 19 decks, the majority of MSC Meragivlia’s cabins are spread over seven of them; the rest take up small sections on decks shared with public areas. This means that, unlike on other ships, there are hundreds of staterooms that are not directly above or below busy, loud restaurants, theaters or dance clubs, making them quieter. If you have more flexibility in your budget, consider what’s important to you in accommodation. If you plan to spend a lot of time in your cabin, you might value a balcony or a spacious room more. Families might look for cabins with connecting doors or extra bed options. Cabins located at the very front and very back of the ship will experience significantly more movement in the event of rough seas, so choose a cabin towards the middle of the ship if you’re facing multiple sea days or sailing off-season.

msc cruise ships reviews

Dating to November 2022, Carnival Celebration is the world's 14th biggest cruise ship. Fast-growing MSC Cruises on Thursday officially announced its North America schedule for the summer of 2025, including a Miami deployment that will set the stage for an epic matchup between three of the world's biggest cruise vessels. So while that will be a minus for some, it's a plus for passengers who enjoy a more traditional style of cruising with less all-singing all-dancing amenities.

"No, those are for children only," a crew member behind the counter told a parent who was trying to grab dessert for his son, who was outside by the pool. The feeling of overcrowding was exacerbated by service inconveniences like long waits for drinks, meals and elevators. When I arrived, lines snaked outside the terminal and down the sidewalk in front of the building. I had multiple passengers throughout my voyage tell me that they waited between two and three hours in line to board the vessel.

For the summer of 2025, both MSC World America and Icon of the Seas will sail from Miami on Saturdays on seven-night trips to the Caribbean. Carnival Celebration will sail out of Miami on Sundays on six- to eight-night trips to the Caribbean. MSC Grandiosa -- the first of the line's new Meraviglia Plus class -- was christened in Hamburg on November 9, 2019, by Godmother to all the line's ships, Sophia Loren. Through at least September 2024, MSC Meraviglia is sailing seven- and eight-night voyages to Nassau and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve in the Bahamas from Brooklyn. Speaking of limited-time performances, on the second-to-last night of the voyage, I sat in the theater unsure of what to expect from the headliner, Lorraine Crosby. "You might be thinking, 'She sounds like the lady who sings that Meat Loaf song.' Well, that's because I am the lady who sings that Meat Loaf song," Crosby joked.

The ship's TV Studio & Bar is where you can find the cruise director filming the ship's daily morning show the night before. It's also the site of trivia competitions, several of which were standing-room-only. I ate there on one night of my sailing and decided to go big by adding jumbo lump crab to my filet mignon.

If everyone is going to the same place at the same time, why not do the muster drill in person? On the flip side, if you're going to make people watch a video instead of doing a live demonstration, why make everyone go to their stations simultaneously? The process creates a chaotic environment where, in my case, people were required to walk into the theater, do a lap around it (for reasons nobody ever actually explained) and immediately exit again. When MSC first announced that MSC Meraviglia would be sailing from New York, the ship's homeport was Manhattan. I groaned when I heard its docking spot had changed to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Brooklyn's Red Hook neighborhood. MSC offers passengers three tiers of inclusions (or “experiences”), each with its own perks and price.

MSC World America and Icon of the Seas, in particular, have several similarities, including public area venues segmented into "districts," as MSC Cruises calls them. • Large kids club featuring LEGO, a science lab and a small performance area. • Family group cluster cabins where up to three rooms can be joined so larger groups can stay together. Waiting patiently is not the norm in some countries, so there can be queue jumping at the buffet and people flooding out of the theatre in no particular order at the end of a show.

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