At times, it felt like we had the ship all to ourselves! We were told there were only around 600 passengers on board, so we never had to wait for anything!
The itinerary was great, and the weather (although a little cold starting out) was perfect.
Despite its faults, we thoroughly enjoyed this cruise!
Embarkation
4 out of 5
MSC requires the negative covid tests within 2 days and an additional negative test which they administer (at no cost) at the port. As soon as we arrived, we were swabbed, so the tests could start processing. After going through security and some other documentation checks, we were led to a seating area where we waited less than 10 minutes before our results were ready and we were able to advance and receive our cruise cards and board the ship. All in all, given the additional testing requirement, the process went pretty smooth and fast. Our room was ready as soon as we boarded.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
The ongoing problem with MSC is their food. It is nothing to write home about, and in our experience falls short of other cruise lines. We certainly didn't starve, but there wasn't much that we wanted more of. Hot items are often served too cold, meats are overcooked or tough, and overall the food isn't as interesting as we are used to from other companies. Exceptions are their soups, cakes, and pizza, which are all done really well.
Service was generally very good and we enjoyed eating most nights in the MDR. Only a few of the buffet stations were in operation, which was perfectly fine to serve such a reduced number of passengers.
We did eat dinner in the Galaxy sushi restaurant and the food was good, but certainly not the best sushi we've ever had.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
We had no trouble finding a hot tub to enjoy by ourselves, but sometimes it was hard to find one that wasn't either too hot or not hot enough.
We did enjoy some of the trivia contests, but they don't award any prizes. It would be nice if they awarded some small trinket or something like other cruise lines do.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
The shows were not on the level we were expecting from our prior experience with MSC. There were some guest vocalists on board who were good, and there was a tribute show to Queen, which didn't interest us.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Service was generally excellent and very responsive.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The ship itself is gorgeous and the cleanest that we have sailed on, even in the crew-only areas that we saw brief glimpses of. The styling has a really elegant and luxurious feel.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Though we were booked at Fantastica level, our cabin was a category SP2 Aurea suite. It did not have a balcony but it did have a floor to ceiling full window overlooking the bow of the ship, so the view was amazing. The cabin was much more spacious than a standard oceanview or balcony and we really enjoyed having a full bath tub and walk-in closet. The room also included robes and slippers. Being at the front of the ship, it was a long walk at times, but it was worth it.
Ship tip
Bring a light jacket or sweater. We found some of the public areas on board to be a little cold.
The port facility itself is beautiful and offers a lot to see and do, but we also enjoyed taking a cab into town where we enjoyed the best meal of our entire cruise at a small beachfront restaurant.
We did an excursion through MSC to see Mayan ruins, and it was very good.
Parking in Miami can be a challenge, but we were able to get to the ship with no issues. After disembarking, we had a long wait for our shuttle due to a marathon in downtown Miami blocking several of the streets by our parking garage.
It is a beautiful port to sail from.
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