Wonderful Ports of Call

MSC Fantasia Cruise Review to Europe - Western Mediterranean

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 7
Helpful Votes: 222

Overall rating:

4.5 out of 5
Verified Review
MSC Fantasia

Mediterranean from Barcelona

Sail date: January 27, 2024

Ship: MSC Fantasia

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 9104

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 9 months ago

Review summary

This cruise was definitely all about the ports. They did not disappoint & in fact, they left me wanting more. There are so many shore excursion options & we didn't have time to do everything at the ports that we would've liked, so we'll definitely be looking forward to returning again! The food on board was lackluster but the customer service made up for it. Onboard entertainment was sparse but again, we were there to enjoy the beauty of the ports & had an overall fantastic experience.

Embarkation

5 out of 5
Embarking in Barcelona was the easiest experience we've ever had & we've been on well over 15 cruises.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5
The food was average. Freshly made pizza in the buffet was fantastic but everything else was average.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5
There were not a lot of onboard activities, especially during at-sea days, which was disappointing. Since the weather wasn't conducive to sunbathing, we were surprised there weren't more activities on board. A cruise entertainment director is definitely needed!!

Entertainment

3 out of 5
The shows were average.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
Our room steward attended to our every need & always kept our room spotless. And our waiter Shetty, in the main dining hall was fantastic. Truly superb customer service!

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5
Our balcony cabin was fantastic. Lots of space, comfy & clean!

Ship tip

Bring a book for at-sea days, since there aren't a lot of onboard activities.

Ports of call

Barcelona, Spain

5 out of 5

Marseille (Provence), France

5 out of 5
Beautiful port! We did the shore excursion walking tour, which was a fantastic way to see the city & learn the history.

GENOA (PORTOFINO), ITALY

5 out of 5
Gorgeous port! We did the shore excursion panoramic walking tour, which was a nice mix of walking & bus tour throughout the beautiful city.

La Spezia (Cinque Terre), Italy

5 out of 5
Lovely port! We didn't do a shore excursion but wandered the town for food & shopping on our own. Locals were friendly & helpful. The sights were beautiful & shopping was terrific! And the food? Stellar!!

NAPLES (POMPEII), ITALY

5 out of 5
Our absolute favorite port. We did the shore excursion e-bike tour & for a couple of 50 year olds, this was our favorite activity. The views were incredible & our tour guide was terrific. Riding bikes through the main streets was sometimes daunting due to the amount of pedestrians but it was exciting & so much fun!

Palma De Mallorca, Balearic Islands

5 out of 5
Stunning port! We did the shore excursing walking tour & this port is beyond beautiful. We were in awe of the architecture & history.

Disembarkation

5 out of 5
Was this review helpful? 28

4 Comments

karlgrgurich     9 months ago

Well yes….the ports sound lovely!!

javawoody     9 months ago

Glad you enjoyed the cruise

Niavlys     9 months ago

Italy, France and Spain.. What more to ask... Tks for sharing with us

AuntPinkie     9 months ago

Awesome itinerary. Appreciate your detailed feedback. Hope you are able to return to these ports soon. Glad you enjoyed your cruise.