Booked the cruise for the ports of calls only. Our time was NOT respected through the processes. MSC needs to work on their logistics, and improve onboard food and entertainment.
Embarkation
1 out of 5
This itinerary began in Venice and the ship was scheduled to leave port at 8pm on April 24. We had booked hotel and flights months ahead, with plans to do some exploration on the day before as well as the day of the cruise; based on my past cruise experiences (7 cruises on American cruise lines including Royal Carribean, Carnival and Norwegian), passengers were typically expected to arrive at port 2-3 hours before departure time. However, MSC only noticed us less than a week before the cruise that we need to arrive at the port a whopping NINE hours before cruise time, which squashed our plan for the day. Once checked in at the port, we sat around for 2 hours before anyone was able to begin to be shuttled on the tender boat, and took another 45 minutes to get on the tender boat. Once the tender boat arrived near the ship after an half-hour ride, we sat around on the tender boat for another 45 minutes before we were able to get on the ship. Unlike the American cruise lines, there was no process to set up onboard payment at the check in process. Once onboard, we had to flag down staff to ask how to set up onboard payment. The entire boarding process took FIVE hours, which is unheard of, even with tender. I wish MSC would’ve notified passengers more in advance so that we knew that our embarkation would be a waste, so we would’ve planned to arrive in Venice another day in advance to allot time for some exploration.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Food was mediocre, and everything was incredibly salty. For Captain’s night at the dining room, there was no complimentary lobster and steak, that even the budget American cruises (like Carnival) offers. Buffet was small in size and variety. Free drinks is limited to Fountain water, coffee and tea, while American cruise lines also offer complimentary iced tea. There was only ONE specialty dining room, which was a sushi restaurant. Very limited snack options while the buffet and dining room was closed.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
The only activities are gym (think hotel-sized gym with 4 treadmills), basic pools (no water slides), mini golf, ping pong tables, foosball table; all except for mini golf are always busy.
Entertainment
2 out of 5
Only one stage show per day, with Karaoke-quality singing.
Children's Programs
Did not use
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
The staff at our evening dining table, buffet, and room stewards were always courteous. However, staff during breakfast and lunch in the feee-seating dining room are a hit or miss.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
Ship was very clean
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
Junior balcony. Room only has space for bed, and dresser, no sitting area. Bathroom is clean, however, water leaked whenever we took a shower no matter how carefully we close the shower door. Even the room steward acknowledged that was an issue with the bathroom and bathroom but was able to provide extra towels to put on the floor as a solution.
Ship tip
Plan port activities accordingly because you will likely waste a lot of time debarking and embarking
This is an industrial port on the side of island that does not have lots to see. Wish ship was docked in Kotor port which was near many many sites for tourism. Was not able to find excursions on our own that pick up from Bar. The ship offered 3 different types of excursion in different languages but none was available in English when we tried to book
Port is not ideal for cruise ship passengers. Most great beaches require a boat ride to get to, which adds to the time of the excursion. However, ship anchors at sea here and everyone had to endure the incredibly inefficient tender process by MSC again. Burned 2 and an half hours just for the tender process btwn morning and afternoon, while the ship only in port 8 hours.
Beautiful city, not enough time. Ship only in port for 6 hours. Getting off the ship took long because there were passengers who were disembarking at this port
The ship was docked at shore, however, only those who paid for MSC transportation or tours were allowed to disembark directly on the land side. Others who were getting off the ship on their own, had to take the horrid tender back to the original port. Was told to leave room at 8am with all belongings, and had to wait until pass 1pm before being allowed to disembark, just to endure the inefficient tender process again.
American citizens, embarking on cruises in other countries, typically understand it's logical to always book accommodations the day before the cruise. It's never wise to arrive the day of, unless you are a citizen who lives near the embarking port.
Boarding regulation is different for every country. Always abide my local laws. Due diligence would have perceived this ahead of time and you would not have wanted time booking time before boarding. Also, one should board when you are told to, not when you feel like it. That was a nice cruise.
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