Overall, we were happy with the cruise, However we did contract Covid aboard.
1) In your emails and ticketing information, you might want to highlight that the cruise leaves from Brooklyn and not Manhattan. On the way to Manhattan (early, luckily) we realized our error.
2) Your check in process was relatively easy, thank you.
3) The "lifeboat drill" was a joke, I'm sorry to say. We never even SAW a lifejacket, much less assemble by a lifeboat. Had the ship sunk, chances are we all would have drowned.
4) Food was good, plentiful too. However, on the last day our little "highlights of the day" advised us that the 15th Floor Buffet would open for breakfast at 5:30am. It did NOT.
5) Sanitizer dispensers were almost always empty; I'm sure that contributed to our contraction of Covid.
6) The music noise level was atrocious, there was nowhere to go to escape it! Even the adults-only pool blared loud music. I can understand the Reflections area being loud, but not the adults' pool.
7) Please have staff monitoring the lines, most especially at the final disembarkation. People were constantly pulling up the rope and stepping in in front of us, and staff presence was minimal, so they would not stop. This might sound petty, but we stood in line very early to secure an early exit.
8) Most of the staff was VERY nice, no complaints there, they work very hard and smile often.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Relatively quick and easy. We are grateful for being allowed to board earlier even if the cabins weren’t yet available.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The main dining room and staff were fantastic. The only issue we had with the buffet was that they advertised to be open at 5:30am on debarkation day, but they were NOT.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
The pools were fine, except crowded, of course, on days at sea. One huge issue was the music noise level. Even the “Adults Only Pool” blasted music so raucous that we couldn’t even hear ourselves think.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The entertainment was terrific, we saw all the free shows. I personally would have preferred more variety in personnel, although the shows very good.
Children's Programs
We didn’t bring children with us
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Where do I begin? There were so many wonderful staff members that I’d like to mention:
(1) Room Attendant Lyca Santos was fantastic! Sweet smile, always helpful.
(2) Guest Services Agent Rebecca Terasawmy (spelling?) was lovely. I was aggravated and she listened to my concerns and took care of everything.
(3) Wait Staff in the Main Dining Room was unbelievably attentive, pleasant, friendly. Waiter Guarov and Busboy Jonvey Ycot were absolutely wonderful.
(4) Thabile Carol Mbuyisa at the Buffet Dining Area was lovely. Such a beautiful smile, she attended to our every need quickly.
(5) 2 lovely ladies, Michelle Mendoza and Richel Ramalis (Buffet Assistant and Assistant Waitress) were absolutely enchanting.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
Common areas were always well-maintained. The only issues we had were trying to get help with MSC App problems and chasing all over from guest services to the photography department and back again. Too, heavy black smoke from the smokestacks spread over the top deck.
Awful. First: although The MSC Highlights advertised buffet breakfast opening early at 5:30, it did not. Then we joined em the queue very early since we needed to get back to Manhattan to catch a bus. People, LOTS of them, stepped in front of us, lifting the ropes to do so. The understaffed workers tried to intervene but as soon as they walked away, the cutting in continued. Someone needs to monitor constantly.
My husband contracted Covid on this same cruise. The antibacterials were not as prominent as other cruiselines provided when noroviruses were main concern. Thankfully, he is recovering. I was more conscious of risk and also took vit c, zinc. Not proven, but I'm negative and feeling great. I'm taking one more rapid test tomorrow to be safe before I stop quarantined with him. Also, My last vaccine was two months after his. Just sharing for common good.
There's a certain way to activate the sanitizer machines. They have all been working. Sorry to say, if you were eating and walking around INSIDE the ship without a mask or respirator, that's most likely where you got covid. My cabin steward has it or had it because he's still coughing ALL DAY LONG and not permitted to enter my room but to vacuum every 3-4 days at which time I leave when he's done. If he doesn't have a mask or new gloves on he's not entering.
Lots of people on this ship are infected and coughing. The current stats is 1 out of every 52 people in the USA are infected right now, but the surge is dropping and expected to rise again in November.
For others, eat outside and go to outdoor bars to avoid it. And leave your bathroom door open/cracked so the automatic exhaust easily removes stale air.
The air quality in my room is averaging 450-750 with a meter (Aranet 4) that I always use while traveling. That's a good number and in the safe zone.
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