Not my favorite Cruise

Embarkation was extremely pleasant. Everyone was friendly and the process was quick. We arrived an hour and a half before our appointment time and they accommodated us very well.

The food in the main restaurant and the buffet was of good quality but lacked variety and wasn't very inclusive to all different wants of others. The complimentary water in the buffet area was very salty as well as the ice(The first I've ever experienced on the 9 cruises I've been on). Being limited to only one entree in the main dining restaurant was quite disappointing as id like to have tried 2 different dishes. The drinks ordered from the bars varied between different bars. for example we got a Pina colada from the poolside bar that was milky and more of a consistency of a smoothie whereas the one ordered from the bar in the purple lounge was more icy and had a consistency of a slushy, which is what we preferred. Some drinks ordered at one bar could not be ordered at another because the bartender didn't know what it was. this was very displeasing.

There really wasn't much offered onboard to entertain that didn't involve drinking and gambling which we do neither of. Nevertheless we were able to relax since some of the activities didn't appeal to us. My biggest complaint though would be that as I'm 5ft2 it was not comfortable to get in the pool to relax without wading due to the pools being 5ft7 and deeper.

There really wasn't much offered onboard to entertain that didn't involve drinking and gambling which we do neither of. Although we did love karaoke and the circus show. due to nighttime activities being the focus we usually had to miss a show in order to experience dinner or karaoke. we would have liked a show in the afternoon before early dinning. Nevertheless we were able to relax since some of the activities didn't appeal to us.

Service and staff is where I am mostly displeased. Embarkation and port staff was excellent but don't let that be a prelude to my cruise experience. As the waiters in the dinning room were quite nice there were times they seemed agitated with my request for no sauce in the shrimp cocktail and ordering 2 starters and desserts and especially when I would order sodas and juices rather than alcoholic beverages, and the service was never consistent. At almost ever bar on ship, when I would order a beverage of any kind the facial expressions I received was of annoyance when I ordered non alcoholic beverages, and the wait times to place a beverage order and the wait for the ordered to be processed was much longer that preferred and kept me away from my family and activities longer than it should have. The bars did seem understaffed so I didn't raise confrontation but I was quite irritated. Now, our room steward. I could not tell you what their name was or what they looked like. I never saw them and they never came to check on us or see that we needed anything. My biggest complaint with MSC cruise line is that you must request washcloths as they are not provided. When I requested more linens, which was only twice throughout my 3 night cruise, and at non-peak times, it took them more than an hour to deliver them to my room. As I had no major complaints to guest services the only time I went to the desk was to get gratuities removed as we like to do them ourselves, the desk staff was pleasant.

I did enjoy the layout of the ship. it was easy to navigate and understand as opposed to the never ships that are very cut up. They all seemed quite clean other than the hallways by our room turned our feet black when we walked across the hall to our friends room and the mirror in our room had a very large smudge of what looked like body oils from the last cruise that we noticed upon arrival and was never cleaned throughout our stay.

I loved the size of our room and balcony, it was very spacious and comfortable. I would have preferred a larger more comfortable chair or small loveseat as opposed to the small chair that was in our room. I would have liked more outlets for devices and hair tools in addition to keeping our fan plugged in. the room was quite warmer than I prefer but was bearable with the fan, otherwise it would not have been. I loved the spacious closet and bathroom. the shower was very small and as much as I do not like a curtain it was pleasant to have so I didn't feel claustrophobic and even left the curtain open while showering to allow elbow room. Having a vanity that wasn't in the walkway was also a plus.

As far as packing up and heading to breakfast and then walking off the ship it was a very pleasant experience. Although, the announcements urging you to vacate your cabin and exit the ship were quite displeasing. yes I know the disembarkation process and I know it is necessary for the crew to do their job but there was no reminder that the buffet and dinning rooms were open for breakfast (luckily I'm no newbie and knew that to be an option). Upon arriving at the main dining restaurant at 7:45 am we were told we could not be seated until our entire party has arrived and again told that we could not wait for them at the tables even though a waitress has told us we could sit at the empty tables in the back of the restaurant where the luggage was being held. While waiting there a waiter with a coat came to us at 7:56 and told us we couldn't wait there and then told us that the restaurant closes at 8:30. I told his we know that and we have time, we are just waiting for the rest of our party ho are making their way down and should arrive in the next 5-10 minutes. He then told me again that the restaurant closes at 8:30. I rhetorically asked him that they close the doors to seating at 8:30 to those arriving at the restaurant but they will not be pushing those already at the tables to get out at 8:30. He said that is correct. I said so then we still have time. And oh look there's the rest of our party. I got the feeling that he didn't want to seat us because we were a large group and we wold take too long. Moving along. we finished our breakfast which was actually tasteful too. my surprise, and exited at 8:45. There was a small line line to exit the ship and took no time at all. Upon arriving to the customer part of the port, there was no line and not crowded at all, but the staff were very rude in their tone and demeanor when telling us which was to go as if we were holding them up. twice I was told harshly to keep moving and step to the left. there was no-one near me and I was waiting for my husband who was in the birth certificate line as I was in the passport line. It seemed to be very contradictory to the way we boarded just 3 days prior. The speed of embarkation and disembarkation were extremely pleasing but the way were treated leaving was so disappointing and caused me not to want to return.