WE will definitely go with MSC again. And for folks who shied away because every announcement had to be made in four or five languages (which meant incessant noise), only English was used.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
With all that is needed to prove you are Covid freee, I imagine that there are few embarkations that are truly 5 star right now. But, givn the complexities involved, we thought MSC did a very good jopb of expediting things and making passangers comfortable.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Big improvement over the last MSC cruise we took about10 years ago. Rated "food and drink" 2-star after that cruise. Not quite up to the food we have had on some NCL and HAL ships, but coming much closer than in previous years. Some have said that selections were limited, but that was not any problem for us on a 4 night cruise. Wait staff were excellent and food was brought as ordered and promptly. True, the ship was not nearly full and one would hope that service would be as good even with more passengers.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We didn't take part in onboard activities to any extent, but there seemed much to do. If we had come with children, my guess is that we may have well rated on-board activities at 5 stars.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The magician and two stage performances were quite good. Other passengers with whom we spoke lauded the entertainment in several of the bars or other venues.
Children's Programs
5 out of 5
Okay, so we didn't come with kiddos. But, as past travel writers for a children's magazine, we had to briefly speak with the director of the children's program. My wife and I were impressed with the cleanliness, variety of activities, and Covid precautions. We both agreed that we would be happy to bring our grand kids and thought they would be thoroughly entertained and enriched in this environment.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
As good as the service on any cruise that we have had, and we have had 20+. We were afraid that with staff shortages caused by the pandemic, service might be poor and new staff inadequately trained. No problem there. Kudos!
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Loved the ship. The ship is well laid out, and the design is truly eye catching. From the crystal stairways, to the ever changing dome, to the big out door screen --just a lot of fun to see and do. We really appreciated that, unlike the vast majority of ships we have traveled, it is not necessary to constantly walk through the Casino to get to your destination. That was always a drag. Everything was spacious and clean, and crew were constantly cleaning.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Our balcony cabin seemed a little small, but I did not compare square footage with other ships and my guess is that any perceived differences were a function of cabin layout. Storage was an area that could have been improved as we bring pretty much the same things onboard for all warm weather cruises and we had a more difficult time storing them.
Port is somewhat in a state of disarray, but will be much bigger and better in a few years. That will enable more cruise lines with more exciting itineraries to sail from Port Canaveral. But, that being said, I would much prefer to sail from Port Canaveral today than from Miami or Fort Lauderdale. And forget about California!
Nassau is pretty much an overpriced pit, but it is close to the coast and everybody knows Atlantis. Bay Street used to be attractive, but appears rather run down with stores that you can find in any major and mid-sized city. It was all but deserted, and the shop owners seemed depressed. The walk from the ship to anything of interest is interminable, and why they don't have a shuttle system is beyond understandable. They claim to be "under construction" everywhere, but that has been the line for the last 10 years. Bottom line, nothing pretty about Nassau.
Best of the private islands we have been on. Of course, since the ship was only partially full, it was really very private. But there seemed to be plenty of room for a lot more people without it ever feeling crowded. Lunch on the island was very standard, but efficient and with a good bit of shade in which to eat. Appreciated was the fact that tenders were not needed to transport people to the island. Walk off the ship and in 25 feet you are walking among several shops, an information kiosk, and on your way to sand and crystal clear water. Nice laser light show at 9 PM, visible from the ship or island.
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