Cruising Through Hurricane Milton
MSC Seashore Cruise Review to Caribbean - Bahamas
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 1 cruise (first)
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 3
4 Night Bahamas (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)
Sail date: October 06, 2024
Ship: MSC Seashore
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: 11024
Traveled as: Singles/Friends
Reviewed: 1 month ago
Review summary
Overall, all things considered I would say I enjoyed my time on the seashore. I would definitely say it is a case of getting what you pay for, so I wouldn't expect anything extravagant, but if you are looking for a quick getaway or an entry-level cruise option it is definitely a good place to start...not to mention it's budget friendly. Despite the weather, things went pretty smoothly and we still had a good time. I would travel with MSC again and even re-try the Seashore.Embarkation
Getting on board was fairly easy. We were dropped off at the port, so didn't have to worry about parking or long waits in line. Our onboarding time was around 11:30Am, and we got there a little early. We carried our own bags, so no checking. Lines ran pretty smoothly. We had some travelers with birth certificates and others with passports neither process was super lengthy. The walk to the ship was little long, but is expected in most cases. Once on board the ship was beautiful and modern which was welcoming, but the atmosphere left something to be desired. Nothing extravegant. The rooms weren't ready until around 3P, but we were able to drop our bags and go grab some food/drinks. There was supposed to be an embarkation party, but with Milton a few days out the weather was messy and the party was cancelled.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
The food and drinks left soemthing to be desired. We had the easy plus beverage package, which I do recommend even if you're not a heavy drinker. It covered most drinks under $10, which gave a pretty wide range from sodas to cocktails, shots, champagne and coffees. The food options were rather limited on the inclusive side. The buffet (there's only one) was a decent size and the offerings were ok, but not the flare you make expect from other cruise lines. There is however something you'll probably be able to find and enjoy. The buffet isn't 24 hours and closes periodically, there are also times that it is limited service. The complimentary restaurants are assigned based on your dinner reservations, and pretty much all have the same menu. The main dining hall started out slow, but got progressively better in food and service. Our wait staff for dinner was amazing, but there were a few hiccups with some other tables that I noticed. The bartenders were not very attentive at most bars and many drinks were inconsistent and left something to be desired, but again thankful for the drink package. We did go to one of the specialty restaurants (Hola Taco) which was delicious. All you can eat for
Onboard Activities
The onboard activities were limited on board. There were multiple pools and hot tubs, but with the weather they weren't always accessible. They also closed at certain times of night, so there sometimes low availability. They do have a spa and a decent fitness center. There is a kids club and multiple activities for children, but beyond that not much else.
Entertainment
The shows were short and concise most 45mins or less. There was karaoke, DJs, live music (instrumental and vocal) a comedy show, games, and movies. The shows weren't very theatrical and most of the activities occurred in the evening. One day we were stuck on the ship with not much to do. Not as lively as I would hope, but for the price I wouldn't much complain.
Children's Programs
I saw that there were designated kids spaces and activities, but didn't experience many of them directly.
Service and Staff
The service was very hit or miss. The room attendants were pretty great over all and our room was cleaned twice a day. Anything we needed they brought pretty quickly and we would often pass many of them in the halls.
The bar service left something to be desired. The drinks were inconsistent in quality and taste and many times we would stand at the bar waiting to be acknowledged and served for extended periods. My suggestion is find a bartender you like and stick with them.
The main dining hall staff was hit or miss. At our particular table it was pretty consistent and great overall, but there were some other travelers that had a different experience. Many hiccups resolved as the trip progressed. The staff was more interactive as the cruise progressed. There were even a few nights where they had music and performed during service.
Ship Quality
The ship is beautifully designed inside and out. I think that it is a good mid sized ship, and I would say overall clean. There were a couple of times on the buffet that plates weren't clean, so I would be mindful of that, but other than that everything was pretty standard.
Cabin / Stateroom
The cabin was nice and comfortable for 2 adults. I wouldn't recommend more than 2 unless you ahve to. It would be a tight squeeze for a family of 4, but could work. The couch pulls out and there's a queen sized bed. The balcony was a nice size as well. I would say that the bathroom is rather small and may be a challenge to navigate for larger passengers.
Ports of call
Port Canaveral, Florida Did not visit port
We sailed out from the port, but didn't really explore it. It is pretty straightforward getting in, but i would advise arriving and leaving as early as possible to avoid lines.
Thumbs Up
0
Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas
The reserve is beautifully situated and I love how they have revitalized it. The staff was friendly and amazing. I would recommend anyone to visit if they get a chance. I will be honest and say that my review is based on its potential since we didn't get to explore it in fullness. The first day we barely got to get on the island and had to explore it between bouts of wind and rain. The 2nd day we were able to extend our stay and visit it a little longer, but many of the shops and experiences weren't available. The lighthouse was out of commission since it had been struck by lightening some time recently and I was very disappointed the Caribbean buffet was closed. I would be glad to give it another shot and would recommend the same to anyone else. The staff was very friendly and welcoming despite the issues.
Nassau was a nice, but busy port. Many shops and walkable community to see, but without an excursion it isn't something I'd write home about. We were able to book with a local vendor that did save us some money, but we probably could have gone on our own to be honest. We tried local foods and shopped with local vendors. There was a beach near by but we didn't get to go due to timing. Some of the vendors said it was busier than usual due to the storm causing some re-routing
Disembarkation
Disembarking was a little chaotic to say the least. Many people carried their own luggage off, which caused a hassle. In fareness we weren't 100% sure when we would be able to return due to the coast guard closing the port. We were told multiple times different places to meet, and were ultimately forced to carry our luggage up and down 2 flights of stairs to wrap around into the line. We were in line probably about an hour just trying to get off the ship. Once we got off the ship exiting the port was relatively easy since we had someone waiting to pick us up.