Although just a short 3 night cruise it was great value - especially being a solo traveller.
Great port of call in Copenhagen and then a relaxing but active sea day becore arriving in Southampton
Embarkation
1 out of 5
Honestly the worst that i, & several other seasoned MSC cruisers, have experienced. Kiel port didn't seem to be ready for the volume of passengers. It was blamed on insufficient staff checking the ESTA paperwork for guests going all the way to New York. Luckily it was dry & warm as 2 hrs in rain would not have been good.
Usually it takes about 20 mins from desk to cabin with MSC. Get a grip Kiel!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
As usual the food was to a good standard and plenty of choice, whether you want to eat in the buffet or the main dining rooms. It is, however, with a European take on dining so if burgers & fries is your thing maybe stick to the 'American' cruise lines ... 😉
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Only 2 full days on this cruise and one was a port day. Having said that there was pnenty to kerp me going on the sea day - F1 simulator, dance classes, karoke plus there were several other posdible activities such as origami, arts & crafts, quizes etc
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The Cirque du Soliel at Sea shows are worth paying extra for to see. Whether the dinner & show package is worth it is a matter of opinion but the cocktail package definitely. The main theatre productions are well presented & varied. They also are timed to allow various combinations with other events, dinner sittings, etc. The Galleria party was well organised & the DJ / animation team worked well to create a party atmosphere. Live musicians were varied in style & of a good standard esp the live music before the Cirque du Soliel shows.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
The staff are always willing to help and service onboard is of a generally good standard. Several members of crew remembered me from previous cruises with MSC and were genuinely glad to see me again. Senior staff in the main welcomed constructive feedback to help make the MSC experience when better. Any complaining guest voices i heard seemed to have American accents, Europeans seemed to be happy with the way things get done on MSC ....
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The ship is always kept spitlessly clean, you pass crew vacuuming and dusting all through the day. The design of the ship too makes it easy to find your way around and to locate the venue you are looking for. The interiors are modern & tastefully restrained yet glitzy enough to impress where required.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Cabin was a decent size & layout. Some beds are next to window some nearer bathroom. Decor is modern and tasteful. The balcony on this cabin was bigger than othee higher up but did have a slight obstruction due to location of lifeboats. Bed was comfortable & lighting was nicely adjustable. Bathroom had a big shower with a door screen which was better than the usual curtain found on other cruise lines. Corner mirror in bathroom is a clever touch although toilet is slightly awkward for knee room.
Ship tip
Book the Cirque du Soliel shows before you get onboard tbe ship!
Be prepared for annoucements in 5 languages as MSC cater for its European clients.
Relax and enjoy the experience - even if its different to your previous cruises. 😉
Beautiful city and easy to walk, cycle or segway around.
Plenty to see and varied points of interest available.
The Danish are so welcoming and nearly always speak perfect English!
For everything that went wrong at embarkation they went right at disembarkation. UK border staff came onboard the day before & checked everyone's paperwork. This process was well organised & took seconds to do with each person - take note Kiel 😉 - consequently there was no need for passport control at Southampton. The exit from the ship was painless, simply walked off but then only had carry on luggage, not larger suitcases.
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