We used to cruise Royal Caribbean quite a bit some years ago. It was our favorite. Since we have started cruising again we have found the Royal Caribbean to be a bit pricey. We've done 4 cruises since 2023 (1 NCL, 1 Holland America, and 2 MSC cruises. We also have two more planned for this year; a 20 day Princess Mediterranean and another 8 day MSC Caribbean). MSC has become our favorite go-to cruise line. The price is right, the staff are phenomenal, the entertainment is plentiful and their ships are beautiful.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
For Aurea Class and above. Fast and Easy.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Food wasn't gourmet, but it was edible. The Market Place (Buffett area) on the MSC Seaside was much larger than on this ship and had a wider variety of selections. But I loved the more intimate main dining areas on the MSC Seashore. It was like walking into a restaurant rather than a large event dining.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Lot's of activities going on around the ship, particularly when not in port.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
A different show every night in the main theatre, from big singing and dance production with onboard entertainers to special guest singers, comedic magicians and more.) Additionally, there are several other venues for entertainment, music and dancing around the ship.
Children's Programs
There were many children's programs and activities, but as we had no children I can't not rate it.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Service was outstanding and our cabin steward was phenomenal.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The ship is gorgeous. Love the layout...easy to find your way around. Love the many smaller more intimate dining areas...not just the specialty restaurants, but the main dining areas.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
My favorite cabins on the ship are the aft cabins (either port or starboard side). You have an L shaped balcony that extends to the back of the ship for views of the ships wake and beautiful sunsets. This particular Aurea class room has an entry hallway and larger living area. A plus is the abundance of shelves, drawers and hanging closet space. Additionally, for the ladies, there are two drawers at the mirrors desk area (one for make-up another for brushes, flat irons, etc. There is also storage BEHIND the mirror.
Ship tip
Use your shipboard app to book the shows in the main theatre early in the morning each day. They fill up fast. (While we didn't always do this and by the time I remembered all seats were filled, we still had no trouble getting in as some people book then never show up.) But better to be safe if you really want to see a show in the Madison Theatre. The Tepanyaki Specialty restaurant was a lot of fun and the food was great..
If you arrive a day early and love seafood. Try dining at Fishlips or Rusty's at the Port. My favorite places to dine. Excellent food whether you like your seafood fried or otherwise. They do both great. If you've never been to Cape Kennedy....you should try to spend a day there. Worth the visit.
MSC's private island is in a beautiful location. The water is gorgeous and the Island fairly large with several beachy areas for swimming or just sunning. Additionally there are plenty of activities to choose from (for a fee of course) such as kayaking, jet skies, paddleboarding, etc. on your own or guided groups.
Due to Weather Conditions, we skipped this port on our cruise. The plus side is we arrived in Cozumel at 7:00p the night BEFORE our scheduled morning arrival.
Skipping a port due to weather conditions and arriving in Cozumel in the evening (instead of morning) was a real treat. The evening view coming into the port of Cozumel, with all the City Lights, was beautiful. Additionally, we were afforded an evening experience in Cozumel for those who wished to disembark that evening....an experience not usually available to cruisers since ships are typically only in port during the daytime hours. I love Cozumel. There are many shops right there by the port with a variety of leather goods, pottery, clothing and wooden toys for the kiddies.
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