First cruise back. Cheap, short cruise to test the waters. Masks suck, having few people on board is great.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Pre Embarkation:
There’s no doubt that COVID testing is a hassle, just another stress inducing detail to accomplish,
I ordered the at home covid test kits specified by MSC $175 for 6 kits
We flew to Florida and took the tests there, it was easy with an iPhone. Takes about 20 minutes and they quickly send results to your phone/ email
We did it the day before the cruise.
Yes, everybody passed
Embarkation:
The terminal is easy to find , we parked on site in covered garage $20 a day
We showed up at our specified time and went right in. Staff was new and happy.
Traveling on passports and birth certificates
Everything in order , walked aboard
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Black Crab main dining room
First seating
Excellent wait staff, ready to please
The food was certainly better and more interesting than we eat at home.
Entrees were forgettable
Menu on QR code or sheet of paper
It’s just nice to sit down together with family and be served in a relaxed atmosphere.
Steak only served at xtra cost.
We did not eat at specialty restaurants, but they looked tempting.
Note to Gold card holders- the free picture /gift you will receive is taken in the main dining room, a pleasant souvenir, have many taken with all together.
Buffet supplies morning coffee exclusively.
Good food served cafeteria style
Black Crab Restaurant
5 out of 5
The venue is beautiful, quieter than most main dining rooms Some seating in quieter alcoves. Smallish windows concave distortion seemingly magnifying ocean view.Walk in with mask, sit down, remove mask
Calumet Buffet
4 out of 5
Plentiful seating, Most of the charm is lost with covid protocols Nice scenic views through tinted windows throughout.Interesting photography on display.Doorways and access limited by COVID protocols. You may take food outside and eat on deck as you please
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
We did not participate in managed activities.
We saw some in passing
They had trivia, crafts, karaoke
The gym looked nice, I didn’t work out, it was a short cruise
I did not take advantage of some of the gold membership perks like an hour in the sauna.
There was one water slide, it was fun and did not injure this 55 year old man.
A very light passenger load meant plenty of room in the pools and hot tubs, this was nice.
One indoor pool and two outdoor pools, more hot tubs than I could count.
Lots of space, the availability of loungers, tables, seating, space in activities, almost makes it worth wearing a mask around!
Definitely a reason to cruise now!
MSC Arena Sport Center
3 out of 5
Small
Casino Veneziano
5 out of 5
Plenty of room I didn’t leave too much money here
Aqua Park
5 out of 5
Clean, spacious, old fashioned- nice I liked it
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The stage shows were great, excellent choreography and energetic
My wife said the best show at sea.
So there you go.
Other musicians I couldn’t really comment on, no one performance was compelling enough to stop and enjoy
A note: on deck performances seemed to miss the mark.
Art Gallery
1 out of 5
I did not see any art for sale
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Ship personnel were eager and friendly
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Of course the ship was very clean
Very clean
Mirrors were spotless, glass was spotless
The ships layout was intriguing. It felt new for the four days we were on.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
Ok disclaimer
We had 4 adult people in our cabin
A small balcony cabin felt crowded, but I knew this going in.
The main bed was separated into twins for the boys.
Mom and dad slept on the pull out couch
The couch was surprisingly comfortable
The cabin was clean
A missing shower door gasket insured a wet bathroom floor after bathing, but that’s where you throw your towels anyway. I didn’t complain so it was not repaired, I perceive it never will be until a customer makes an issue of it.
Never found washcloths- never asked
Pool towels supplied in cabin and accounted for. Balcony furniture didn’t seem especially clean
Our cabin stewardess would have corrected any deficiencies had I bothered to ask
Ship tip
Don’t discount this ship , it’s nice, give them a chance to get Americanized and organized. A value and maybe a throwback to a more relaxed and conservative cruise
You have to be vaccinated to debark here.
All tore up, construction in port area
The best place for ship watching
These big babies come sailing in like cows returning to the barn. Disney won the horn contest.
Nassau will be nice someday, I’ve been saying this for 20 years, but it can be what you make of it.
We taxied to paradise island and said “Hi “ to Atlantis, the Aquarium there is worth the price.
Won money in the casino and ran away,
Pick up some foreign coins here to give your friends back home.
Sweet,
Old school beach day
Relax, go play in the sand
Food trucks are a nice touch , however they should have drinks available at them .
If you have the beverage package then there will be a bar close by.
The plants and trees are taking hold.
We did not do any excursions here.
Overnight was cool with fires on the beach.
Embarkation port , fast and easy
Wish I lived near here.
We didn’t do any excursions from this ship however we spent some time at cocoa Beach the day we left before our flight home.
Nice beach, clean, accessible, with plenty of rental opportunities.
If you want to learn to surf , take the Cocoa Beach excursion and rent a surfboard there.
This is the Prize of Florida…
Kennedy Space Center
There is no place like it in the world.
A must see, bucket list experience .
Don’t miss it, you will return.
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