The Yacht Club is a must if you can afford it. The white glove treatment is much appreciated and really turns the cruise into a luxury cruise. There were a few issues here and there, but nothing that would keep me from sailing with MSC again. I was sad that we could not land at Ocean Cay as I was really looking forward to that, but I understand the reasons. The boat was surprisingly rocky the whole trip (we did have some rough windy weather), but we managed ok.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Embarkation was smooth and painless. Since we booked the Yacht Club, we were escorted through and very quickly.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
We only ate in the Yacht Club restaurants, so I can't comment on buffet or specialty venues. The food was outstanding, though something on the last day caused me some GI distress. Possibly the octopus salad. The wait staff are very good, though some mistakes were made in our orders. Wine options were good, and the wine steward even found a bottle of chablis for me that was not one of the options offered. I was a bit disappointed in the cocktail options. Although there are many bars on the ship, they all have exactly the same menu, which is adequate but just not interesting. Don't expect to find craft cocktails here. If you ask for anything less mundane, be prepared to provide the recipe. I had a hard time getting a French 75, was served a Paloma without all the ingredients, and was given the most bizarre gimlet I have ever seen. Gin and cherry water??? I provided the recipe and received something drinkable, but not great. I personally did not care for the coffee, but my travel mate loved it. I guess Italians have different drinking habits than I do.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
I walked around the ship a lot, but we did not engage in many activities. We played Bingo, but unlike experiences we have had on other ships, it consisted of only one game. My travel mate stayed in the room a lot and knitted. It was too cold and windy for outdoor pools or the Himalayan Bridge. My favorite was the thermal suite, and I spent a couple of hours there relaxing.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
I expected more options, but there were only two shows: a magic show, and a concert highlighting famous entertainers. The magic show was a bit of fun, though rather cheesy, and we did not go to the concert.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Since we booked in the Yacht Club, we had excellent service from our 2 butlers. I had a hard time getting helpful information from the dedicated Concierge though when I inquired about entertainment, bowling, and dining options.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Everything was sparkling clean. The multi story central corridor was spotless, and I loved the overhead display.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
So there was issue right from the start since we were booked into room 14025, but ended up in 14021. Nobody could really explain why this happened, but several people tried to tell me this was an upgrade. It wasn't, since it was just 2 doors down from our assigned and confirmed room. Our luggage was not delivered to our room, but to 14025, and the room was not ready for us. Beds had to be separated, there was no coffee maker in the room, the mini bar was not appropriately stocked (according to descriptions on their website), we had to request an extra bathrobe. There is only one usable outlet in the room, so we had to get an extension cord for my travel mate's CPAP machine, which was an ugly orange cord that traversed the entire room. I thought the room would be bigger, but it was adequate for our needs. We received a welcome bottle of champagne, and a nice basket of fruit. And pillow chocolates every night.
Ship tip
If you are looking for interesting craft cocktails, be prepared to bring the recipe.
We did not do an excursion, but since we were there a day early, we visited the Observation Tower and Manatee Park. And had a delicious meal at Atlantic Seafood. We also drove around a bit and found some great bargains at a local Bealls store.
It was warm, but very windy the day we visited. I did not book an excursion, but rather made my own arrangements for a Factory Tour and chocolate making at Greycliffe Chocolatier. This is a short walk from the ship, and a really fun experience. Plus we each came home with three boxes of chocolates that we made. From there we walked to the Queen's Staircase, a 3/4 mile walk on uneven surfaces, and busy roads with no sidewalk, which nearly did in my travel mate who has a bad knee. However, once at the Staircase, it was all downhill and an easy walk back to the ship.
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