2nd sailing on this beautiful ship. She does not disappoint. Since I live very close to Port Canaveral, when I want to do a relaxing holiday, I always consider MSC.
Embarkation
2 out of 5
Embarkation was very slow. The fault seems to be with terminal 10 at Port Canaveral rather than anything within MSC's command.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Dined in the main dining room, Waves, each night. The menu always had a varied selection. On one occasion the entree was not cooked as I had ordered but it was replaced within minutes with one done perfectly! Our wait staff was attentive and knew our drink preferences after the first night. I chose early dining and first showing in the theater each night. I told my waiter, Robert, and he made sure my dinner was served and allowed me ample time enjoy my meal and to walk the length of the ship and be seated in the theater before the show started.
I usually ate breakfast and lunch at the buffet. I'm not a big breakfast eater but I did enjoy the selection of fruit and breakfast potatoes. There were so many wonderful choices for lunch including the freshly carved roast of the day. The one area of disappointment was in the bakery department. I found the breads to be less than fresh and the cake offerings to be a little dry. Not a big loss as I am not a big dessert eater.
I did not go to any specialty restaurants on this cruise.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
On this cruise I used my onboard credit to go to the Aurea spa, specifically the thermal area. Never did that before and thoroughly enjoyed both whirlpools, the heated stone chairs, and the salt room. A friend of mine introduced me to this experience and it did wonders to relieve some of the creaks and groans from this very elderly body. Lots of other activities that I may have enjoyed 50 years ago!
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Some of the best production shows I've seen on a cruise ship. There was different show each night. The energy and talent of the cast was amazing. There were some unexpected "dance" moves that were more acrobatic, including a phenomenal duet skating routine!
Children's Programs
I didn't have any children with me or know anyone who did have kids on this cruise.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Generally all ships personnel with whom I interacted were polite, friendly and anxious to provide the best possible service. Quite a feat as the ship was not fully staffed. The only area that showed the strain of understaffing was the Guest Relations desk.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The ship is big with lots of directional signs. The MSC for Me app is a major assistance in finding all the ship has to offer. And, if anyone is not sure where to go or how to get there, any ship's employee will willingly point you in the right direction or even lead you there.
Everywhere I went I saw people cleaning and wiping down surfaces. Buffet tables were cleared of plates and glasses when they were empty. A table was wiped down almost as soon as it was vacated.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
I had originally booked an aft balcony but was switched to this one for some reason. Don't know why and didn't bother to ask as this was probably a better choice for me. It was mid-ship and convenient to both the aft elevators, the mid ship elevators and, my personal favorite, the panoramic lift! So, location was excellent.
Cabin was kept very clean and was very comfortable As a solo traveler, there was plenty of storage. And, if I didn't spread out so much, there would have been enough for a 2nd occupant. The one minor irritation was the sliding closet doors. Could have used a little WD40 if I had thought to ask.
The balcony was just big enough for two upright chairs and a footstool. Wouldn't have a dance party out there but was perfect for enjoying the ocean air, watching the world go by, or just reading (one of my favoite things to do on sea days.)
Ship tip
I would recommend studying the deck plans and getting familiar with all the venues that are on the "must do" list. Then, find them as soon as you can.
Did a 6 hour excursion to see some temples. Was more exhaustive than I expected and would not have booked it if I realized the physical energy it would take. However, I am very glad I did it. There were 3 of us who couldn't keep up with the group but one of the guides stayed back with us "physically challenged" guests and let us go at a pace we could do. Thank heaven this tour was booked through MSC because our group was late getting back to the ship. No worries about that. The ship waited for us. When I heard people talking about the ship being delayed because of a group of passengers on an excursion, I would own up to it and we would all laugh. Love cruisers!
Didn't spend time in the port as I had been there before. Did do a private excursion. Got back to the port a full hour before departure and it took every minute of that hour to get through customs and security! A second big Royal Caribbean ship was at the same pier. This time the ship departure was delayed because so many passengers were still stuck in the port.
Disembarkation was halted for over an hour due to difficulties again in terminal 10. Not the fault of MSC. Once it resumed, it was very easy to get off the ship, claim luggage, and exit.
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
