Overall, the cruise exceeded my expectations. To be honest, I was a little worried since it had been 5 years since my last MSC Cruise and I watched way too much YouTube cruise videos, but honestly I did not experience anything bad. I had a great time, yes it was crowded but nothing awful except I the buffet. I already booked another cruise with MSC. I loved it and will continue to sail with them.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Had no issues. Smooth and easy. Was able to get right on, luggage arrived to stateroom quickly.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
I went on a MSC Cruise in 2018. As before, the food is good. I don't go on a cruise for a burger (even though it was good), I go to try foods I normally wouldn't try. They had a diverse selection with a different menu. I only went to main buffet once. Large selection of food. No issues except layout was off in the buffet which caused back ups and made the area feel confined with large amounts of passengers. Compared to the Divina I sailed on, the buffet layout seemed less efficient. Food on a whole, was fantastic for a cruise. Best meal was the teppanyaki specialty restaurant, highly worth it. Also tried Butchers Cut Chef's Table, very good. So much food! The only bad part of the meal was the baked potato, it was over done, but honestly it didn't matter. From the bread bag, seafood platter, bone marrow, dry aged ribeye, and chocolate lava cake were all fantastic. The staff at the main dining and specialty restaurants were all amazing! The chefs did great jobs.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Plenty of activities, enjoyed what they had going on. Lots of options.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
It's MSC. Go in with that mindset. It was fun and entertaining, but don't expect Broadway. Since the passenger population is very diverse, their production shows are more generic focusing on music. The talent is fantastic, the shows are just fun chaos. Such as this underwater show about a sailed being rescued by a mermaid (I think)? Then they had an underwater fashion show which I thought was a bold choice. Like I said, fun chaos, wouldn't be a MSC Cruise without it. I noticed they are trying to americanize the entertainment by adding more traditional elements. The comedic was actually pretty good. They did have a variety show as well in a venue in the back of the ship. That was excellent too, except the magician which I thought was the weak link of it all. Overall, I enjoyed it!
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Staff made the cruise. Absolutely wonderful. We had a maitre d remember us from 2018 when we were ok the Divina. We had severs Sarah and Domminic who were amazing. I cannot say it enough, every staff member we encounter was amazing! Butchers cut staff was all amazing as well. We had the same staff in From butchers cut in Hola tacos on a port day lunch. They were again, amazing.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
I really liked the flow and layout of this ship. I felt it was very efficient, most areas, besides the buffet did not feel over crowded. I liked how many outside areas there were, perfect for a Caribbean cruise. It was very clean and just very nice. I loved it, will sail on this ship again.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Fantastic cabin, had a balcony which was great.
Ship tip
I really enjoy MSC. It has become my favorite line. It's an international line and is therefore much different than your standard American lines. As An American, I enjoy being a minority. On the sailing I was on, passengers came from 12 different countries. It is going to be different than the American lines. There are pros and cons with each line and MSC has shown to be the best value with the best experience. There is always room for improvement including hoping they improve their telephone customer experience, but they have been able to change and adapt very well in my opinion. I think them being privately held makes for a better experience and more willing for change then a company with shareholders. It's a cruise, enjoy the time away!
It's miami...airport is awful, traffic is awful (and I live in the northeast). Does have good food options such as Yard Bird. Stayed at the Holiday Inn (340 Biscayne) that is across from the port, I don't recommend that hotel at all, awful amenities and the tiniest rooms I have ever stayed in. Also I booked this room myself directly with the IHG brand not through MSC. There are things to do, like the Miami Zoo, but I am not making a special trip for this city alone.
Been to this port many times. Stayed on the ship, but it had a nice port area with dining and shops. They did expand it recently and it looks nice. I remember going on my first cruise back in early 2000s and hated this port but, since then they have really improved it. Definetly focused solely on tourism.
@willwork4cruz Yup we ate in main dinning room frequently, we enjoyed it. Never had issues. Some dishes were hit and miss but there was always something we enjoyed. We did not have any problem with seasoning, we thought it was great since I know that was a problem in the past. Pizza of course is the best at sea. There are going to be items you don't like and items you love, food is very subjective and with such an international audience, I can't begin to imagine the challenges of trying to have something for everyone. I did appreciate them having markings as to what was gluten free, vegetarian and vegan. I am none of those but it's not to see that. Be mindful it's still banquet food, but it's very well done. Overall, no complaints.
Thank you for the details. Sounds like the specialty restaurants were great. Did you try the MDR? Glad that you have been able to work within the MSC system and enjoy it. They certainly are cheap so I envy you.
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