I would cruise MSC again. They were cheap so I could pay double as a solo in an ocean view rather than an inside room. I could also add on the premium drink package and Internet in my budget. Food was excellent in my opinion.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Fairly quick but had to show cruise document 4 times and didn't get my card until later. Very different from other cruise lines.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
I thought the food in the main dining room (La Bussola) was very good. You have the same waiters every night at the same table so they can get to know your requests. I ordered 1 or 2 appetizers, 1 main course and 1 dessert every night and had plenty. The buffet is chaotic like all cruise ship buffets and I avoided it except for a couple of breakfasts and the day my excursion got back late and I missed my dinner seating. For lunch if I didn't go to the main dining room I picked up a pizza or a hamburger near the pool bar. This is a good way to avoid the chaos of the buffet. Pizza was good but I've had better.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
The evening shows were great, varied and very professional. Daytime entertainment consisted mostly of dance classes, and yoga or other group exercise in the morning. Everything conducted in 5 languages but English speakers were in the definite minority. The MSC planned excursions were great and a decent value. Most were dual language, the guides could speak two languages and just repeated everything twice. Not a problem, I listened when it was in English and when in the other language (German, French or Italian) I wandered away and took pictures. Don't bother getting the Spa Pass because there is no hot tubs in the spa, just steam rooms.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Nightly shows were excellent and not to be missed. Mostly consisted of singing pop and rock songs in English and dance but there was a mime, acrobats, and a magician too.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
My cabin stewards and waiters in La Bussola were great. It was sometimes hard to get a server to come to your table for a drinks order, so I usually went to the bartender to order. I saw other people being served drinks in the buffet and by the pool but this was offered to me only once.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Beautiful, clean and well maintained but an older smaller ship. I like smaller ships and don't use water slides and climbing walls so I don't need them.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Ocean view - I was traveling solo so it was plenty big for me. I like the big ocean view windows on deck 9. They are big enough to sit in. I call it the poor woman's balcony.
Ship tip
If you aren't a smoker stay out of Lord Nelson's Pub. I thought it looked like a nice place to hang out but I couldn't handle the odor of cigarettes which is just as thick in the "non smoking" section. I hung out at the Beverly Hills Bar instead (which is also a good place for a cappucino in the morning).
Venice is always a good idea. I know this phrase is supposed to be for Paris but Venice is always beautiful and wonderful even during November and Acqua Alta.
Knosos was fascinating and I went to the archaelogical museum instead of shopping after the tour. Then I met the shuttle bus back to the port. Knosos and the museum were great.
There were missle attacks in Israel and the border was closed. Not MSCs fault. We went to Istanbul instead for 2 days which was a good substitution. MSC arranged about 5 choices of excursions for us and got us booked all in about 24 hours.
Delos was fascinating, my original windmill tour was cancelled due to not enough English speakers but I really enjoyed going to Delos instead. Mykonos island itself is easily doable on your own. You can walk to the windmills, shop, or eat good Greek food. You will have to tender or take a Mykonos shuttle boat in to Mykonos town. And then you can get on the boat to Delos.
So beautiful, the walk around the city walls is not to be missed. You'll need a shuttle into town but you can easily do this one on your own too. The place to by the ticket to walk the city walls is right by the Pile gate. It's about 27 euro if not on a tour. Expensive but worth it for the views and photos you will take.
I would call it excellent if we didn't have to go to Trieste instead of Venice because of the Acqua Alta. Again not MSC's fault. Also they kicked us out of our rooms at 8:00 am even if you weren't scheduled to get off the ship until 11:30. So everyone and all their hand luggage is hanging out in the bars and the theatre for hours waiting to be called. I really think they could have set an "everybody out of your room" time to 10:00 am.
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