We thoroughly enjoyed it!
MSC Seaside Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western
Contributor Level:
Second Mate
Cruises: 7+ cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 33
7 Night Western Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)
Sail date: April 20, 2019
Ship: MSC Seaside
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: 13019
Traveled as: Large Group
Reviewed: 5 years ago
Review summary
Embarkation
Great! Easy. Fast.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
We did not utilize the specialty restaurants, we didn’t feel the need to.
Onboard Activities
We enjoyed playing trivia with our group of friends. We won 3 time at the 3:30 afternoon time slot.
Entertainment
The stage shows were top notch! Best I’ve ever seen on a vessel!
Service and Staff
I loved the staff. We encountered one rude bar server in the Market Place Buffet Bar, other than that, across the board, exceptional. My group loved the bartenders at the Seaview Bar. Top Notch! Our dinner server, Rita, was great, and my personal waiter, Organ, was amazing. I have a gluten and dairy allergy, so he would bring me my own special menu every night and serve each course of my meal to me.
Ship Quality
Almost walked into a mirror or two. 🤦🏻♀️ Very clean and well maintained.
Cabin / Stateroom
The bathroom is VERY small. ESPECIALLY the shower. It’s very cramped for my 6’2” husband. I was a bit disappointed by this. I wish there had been a couple more cabinets/drawers for personals items where the desk/mirror/bench is located. You’re pretty limited with storage space. We had the Aurea Experience and there was supposed to be special perks in our room. We had to ask our room steward about the robes and slippers. We never received that scented room thing? There was nothing special or distinguishing about our room that screamed “hey you spent an extra $1300 for the Aurea Experience.” I would like to know why?🤷🏻♀️We liked our room steward. He was always working hard!
Ship tip
Make sure that you sign up for massages, specialty restaurants, evening shows the day you arrive on the ship.
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
It’s ok. We were asked over and over and over and over the ENTIRE time we walked around if we wanted to purchase marijuana and brownies. Even after we said NO. Numerous times.
We loved this port. I’ve been here several times my husband has not. We used the bus for $2.50/person (US $, the bus runs every 3-5 mins all day!) and took it to the furthest point and went to the Turtle Sanctuary. On our own. The cost is $18/person to walk through. Then we got on the bus again for $2.50/person and I took my husband to Hell! I’ve been there before, he has not. We spoke with the owner, sent ourselves a postcard so it’s postmarked from “Hell”, we bought some T-shirts, then caught the bus back to the ship for $2.50/person. It’s about an hour ride back. So you’ll see the island.
We went to a restaurant that the locals eat at and enjoyed our meal! La Choza Cozumel. Yum! Did some negotiating in a couple stores and back to the port.
We walked off the ship and it was VERY WINDY! We walked around a bit and came back to the ship. We did not do an excursion.
Disembarkation
Easy! This was my 16th cruise. My 1st MSC cruise. It was easy peasy. We booked another MSC cruise on our last sea sea. The MSC Miravaglia sailing March 15, 2020. Lots of perks from MAC and from BJ’s Travel as well.
4 Comments
Thefacialdiva 5 years ago
I wanted to add a couple other things that I have forgotten to mention regarding the Aurea Experience package on MSC Seaside.
When I signed us up with BJ’s Travel I was told that our “Cabin” would receive two 50 minute massages. Either one of us could use them. I recently had surgery end of January 2019, and knew that I couldn’t use the massage, Tamara, my Travel said since they come with the room, My husband would be able to use both. The first sea day we are on board we talk down to the spa and my husband is assigned his massage first. Then the desk assistant wants to schedule mine and I tell her I’m not going to use it, I’m giving it to my husband. She immediately said we can’t do that. It’s mine and I can not give it to him! I was ready to jump over the counter and tell her that we paid an additional $1300 on top of the cruise price for the Aurea Experience and if I want to give my husband my massage, what difference does it make WHO USES IT? Besides, my Travel said our room comes with two massages! Not one per person! So that’s when I informed her that I had major surgery in January and can’t have a massage! Plus we were told this was doable! She looked at me/us and I was not backing down! She scheduled my husband for “my massage” 🙄and said she will have to talk to her manager about this. I said please do that. I thought spas are supposed to be relaxing? This one was very stressful.
Second spa episode!
On our last day at sea, 4/26/19, I signed up for a cruise on the new Miravaglia. The gentleman reminded me that when you buy the “Aurea Experience” you get 50% off spa services and fitness classes/personal training sessions. I remembered Tamara telling me this when I booked with her over the phone! So I grabbed my husband and we went to the spa to see if they had any openings for massages. This was at 10:30am Friday, last sea day. The Spa Manager was not very receptive or friendly, instantly told us no. Then ten seconds later said they just had a cancellation at 11:00 and 12:00. We said great! We have an Aurea room and want to utilize the 50% off! He looked at us and said you do not get 50% off. Besides, your husband would have had to pre-schedule after his massage from yesterday and it’s only 15%! Not 50%! So you have to pay full price! We said forgettaboutit! How ridiculous! He would rather have no business than take my husband at the discount price?
So we went back down to speak with the gentleman at the future cruise desk since I needed to bring him my credit card anyhow. We told him about this and he was in shock that we were told 15% when he has been telling cruisers 50% for years! He also mentioned that the Spa Manager turned business away vs making something at that moment!
Our impression of the front desk staff at the spa is not very welcoming or nice.
When I spoke with Tamara this past week regarding our upcoming cruise in March 2020, I informed her of our spa experience. As I was talking she checked back on her notes and told me she saw exactly where the date/time it was reflected that she told me our discount as Aurea Experience cruisers would be 50% off spa services INCLUDING MASSAGES! She is waiting to hear back from their customer service regarding this matter.