Well, I know that I should have written this review earlier, but only now I had the time to pass my thoughts into something readable.
This was my first MSC cruise, my first in a European company, my election cruise line until this experience was NCL.
Just to let you know that MSC as a great dealbreaker, that is that they match the status that you have in any other cruise line, so it’s like you are not a newcomer to them and you can enjoy some perks from the beginning, such as 5% off in cruise final price.
But let’s sail away. This time I’m writing regarding the MSC Bellissima that departed form Barcelona on the 3rd of December 2022.
Check-in
Well, I most say, it was the fastest check-in I ever had. Drop the bags, show the documents, went through security, and zap… I was in the ship, ready to hit the buffet.
Cabin
As always, as I want to make my life in the ship and not in the boat, and save some money, I booked an inside, and the cabin was just the right size, not smaller than any American company, the shower was great, and there was I kind of Alexa digital assistant called Zoe. Our steward was great, and the room was made twice a day, and everything we asked for was provided.
Perks
This as for my on of the cons of the cruise. I was used to be pampered up by NCL, in MSC I didn’t get any complimentary card from the Capitan, no sparkling wine or strawberries dipped in chocolate in the cabin (in my last NCL almost every day I could find a surprise). Around the ship their crew members always trying to sell you something (thermal suite, drinking package, speciality dinner, photographs) it tends to be a bit annoying but at the least with the massages you can bargain a little a get a good price/compromise service.
Nevertheless, some more pampering would be appreciated… at least by me 😉
Drinking package
Another con, or not so much, let’s see…
I bought the easy package (the cheapest) and it as classic cocktails, lower brand spirits, draught beer, bottles of water (both sparkling and still), sodas, wine by the class and juices.
Ok, it’s probably just me, but I miss the American cruise cocktails, can’t leave without my Mud Slide… and for an Italian line Aperol/Campari spritz should be in the pack. Saying this is great that in every bar (except some speciality ones) you can pick a bottle of water, expresso, or cappuccino also. The beer being Heineken is also a good compromise, and the wine, even by the glass is not bad. Cocktails are bad… not because of the bartender, but because of the poor choice of spirits they use.
But for real, with the price, can’t complain that much.
Dinning
Where I have mixed fillings. Because one of the things that I loved must about NCL was the freestyle dinning, meaning that we got to the main dinning room (MDR) whenever you want. In MSC, like in most of the cruise lines, they assemble you a table and a shift (first or second) as soon as you enter the ship.
My fare allowed me to choose, and we choose the second shift, but they gave us the first, after a quick chat with the maitre d’hotel they changed us for the second (they are ready to do this, I think they try to push you to the first, if you don’t complain great, if you do, they fix it).
But let’s go to what is important. FOOD
The buffet was good and with a lot of variety. Fresh made mozzarella which is great. You can get the drinking for your package in several locations of the buffet, and they are fast replacing the food, nevertheless a bit more of understanding English would be appreciated. The buffet as also a vegetarian corner with some vegan options (my wife is vegan).
In the MDR the crew was excellent, our waiter and team were just the best. And again, for me, as a chef, there where some good, some not so good, and other excellent dishes, the desserts not so much unfortunately, the assortment of breads is wonderful (miss that focaccia). But, and a good but this time, the VEGAN options are there, every day they had a vegan main (not vegetarian… vegan), no other cruise line does this. Just excellent, and (the extra mile) our waiter would always in the night before check with us about the appetizer, dessert and even entrée suggestion for the following dinner, that way my wife, as vegan, could have the same experience as wall the guests (something that doesn’t happen normally on other cruise lines nor even in some big five start venues onshore).
Port-of-call
Talking about ports, is more of the same that me and bunch of you already did, so I’ll keep it short.
· Marseille (Provence)
o Cruise excursion to Aix-en-Provence, small town, cosy and nice to take some pics. Everything went well and smooth and for December great weather.
· Genoa
o Easy walk from the port, aquarium just in you right hand side when leaving the port, old city just in front. Do on your own.
· La Spezia (Cinque Terre)
o In December is not worth to go to CT, so we went to Porto Venere, nice fisherman city, cold, very cold, but great views.
· Naples
o Crazy Naples, port in the city, if you want to live the atmosphere of Naples walk, be aware of pickpockets and cars that never stop in cross lanes. Easy train to Pompei if that’s you stuff. I love the city, the movement, the craziness, and for those you visited in the past it is way cleaner.
· Palma de Mallorca
o A typical beach destination… but is December… ok let’s discover the Island. Just pair up with another couple, rented a taxi for half day for 50 euros and discovered hidden parts of Palma. Finished in the cathedral and walk back to the port.
Around the ship
MSC ships are very beautiful, lots of Swarovski everywhere, it’s Italian if you get what I’m writing. They make a good balance between areas for youth and grow ups, with a couple of venues that don’t allow kids… having my whisky and expresso while watching the World Cup was great without kids running around.
Inside whirlpools are also available, which was great in same days.
Easy to move around, with lots of information everywhere.
The con, people, yes… When will people learn how to use an elevator/lift, if you want to go up you press the arrow that shows up, if you want to go down you press the arrow that shows down, it’s even easier than peeling a banana, a still people fail on it… also, there are stairs, if you mobility is ok and it’s a short distance, just walk… it’s more convenient.
Thermal SPA
WOW… ok, the pass was not cheap, even bought a couple days before cruising, both it worth every cent. The area is great, clean, enjoyable, relaxing… just great. Lots of amenities like snow room, Turkish bath, European bath, exotic water, resting areas, dark sauna, Finnish sauna, and so much more.
Entertainment
Well, the main show in theatre is good, good performers, dancing, singing, but not so much Broadway style as NCL. I believe with time they will risk some more.
The entertainment time was ok, not as engaging as some I found in other cruises, but some of them were trying harder than others. Let’s give them a break because it was December.
Around the ship some music, table tennis tournaments, lets say more European, a bit of America or Caribbean vibe was needed.
In a nutshell
To wrap the review up just to say, a great a cruise line, with some space to make some improvements, I’ll do it again (6th October 2023 from Genoa in the Sinfonia), so until now they caught me 😊. Planning already on in the Caribbean for 2024, try to the with Future Cruise (I kind of MSC Cruise Next).
If we compare the prices, nowadays, MSC is considerable cheap than NCL, Carnival or RC and that’s an extra point, sure, you got what you pay for, and to be honest compared to previous experiences (excepted the cabin papering that NCL addicted me into) I believe I got more than what I paid for. And the opening mind and understanding of the VEGAN concept is already a must, and I can’t understand how the other lines don’t capitalize on this.
To finish, be ready to hear the announcements in four or five European languages instead of just English or Spanish, but, well, it’s a cruise, it’s a week on the see… lets Rock n’ Roll.
