Don't Believe What You Read About MSC

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 26

Review summary

MSC Seaside July 2 – 6, 2023 Stateroom 10134 - Fantastica Experience Level MSC Voyager Diamond I will preface this review by providing factual details about our pre-MSC cruising experience. We have sailed on the three largest cruise lines in the United States. Over our ten prior cruises, Carnival has been our most sailed line to date. My Spouse and I are very detail-oriented and critical about our experiences. I am including them here for the sake of transparency and vacation education. I will breakdown our review in a rough chronological order. Status Matching: This was our first MSC Cruise. I had previously learned about the Status Match program. I was able to match my Hilton Diamond status to a Voyager Diamond level. My wife was able to match her Carnival VIFP Gold to Voyager Gold. This was very easy to do and is something that anyone sailing on MSC should pursue if they are able. I will describe the benefits / highlights throughout the review. Initial Booking: The MSC Website is not perfected. This is about general functionality, as well as in comparison to other lines. There were errors in the information listed about the sailings. I had initially booked what was listed online as a four-night sailing, which was a three-night sailing beginning on June 29, 2023. Thankfully, I caught the error and was able to adjust the booking to the next sailing. I had a lot of difficulty getting the booking correct. The Cruise Consultant dropped my call two-thirds of the way through the process and did not call me back. A second call was placed and after an hour, we were rebooked. After I received the documentation via email, I had to place a third call to have my name spelled correctly and to resubmit my Voyagers Number. A fourth call was necessary to ensure my early booking discounts were correct, which they were missing from the booking. I believe the second consultant was relatively new, which could happen. Excursion Purchase: This was completed easily via the website and the pre-sailing discount was appropriately applied. Insurance Program: This was clearly explained, and the Insurance Group provided detailed coverage information. Generali Global was well priced and I would gladly use them again. We always ensure we have travel coverage. In our cruising experience, we have met passengers injured while travelling and the uninsured regretted not buying the coverage. Transfer Purchase: We utilized the MSC Airport Transfer from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Port Canaveral. When we originally purchased the tickets, we were not permitted to buy them since we were not flying into MCO the day of the cruise. We generally fly the day prior and despite being in town for 14 hours prior to the transfer start times, we were not permitted to purchase them. We were forced to provide an alternate incoming flight schedule to allow it to be booked. After this information was applied, we were able to purchase our transfers. This is something that must be changed with the system. The MSC transfer cost was slightly less than most of the larger transfer firms out of MCO. The line is potentially losing revenue because of a system created denial. I regretted having to put a fake incoming flight into the system, but we wanted to use MSC transfers. Post-Booking Actions: The MSC Website worked very well for our remaining payments and for obtaining our booking documentation. The check-in process was easy, and our pre-applied credit card worked without issue. I know that this can be a struggle for some passengers, but it was not our experience. The boarding pass and health screening were simple to prepare. Traveling to Orlando: This is not a commentary for MSC’s benefit but could be helpful for some travelers. We flew from Harrisburg, PA (MDT) to Orlando (MCO). Our travel got off to an amazing start as we managed to receive First Class upgrades on both flights down via Charlotte (CLT). We stayed at the Hampton Inn Gateway near MCO. This is a very nice hotel which I obtained using Hilton Honors points. We did similarly with our flights, which were American Airlines Advantage bookings. If you use points, it’s wise to “day trade” periodically, as we were able to work the point costs down by 7000 points for the hotel and 15,000 for the flights over the length of the bookings. It was just a one-night stay with a late arrival time, so I was not worried about the extra amenities like you would find at an Embassy Suites. This property has a well-run gratis transfer service, which was easy and very professional. Return to MCO on embarkation day: The shuttle dropped us right where the MSC Transfer Desk is in the Baggage Claim / Car Rental section. One comment would be to make the desk more clearly marked. The instructions in the cruise documentation stated, “Near Starbucks”. With that in mind, we walked right past the desk heading toward Starbucks. It was not truly an inconvenience as it was about 50 feet away, but a review is about candor. The desk staff was cheerful, professional and provided clear instructions. Since I did not see the MSC desk right away, I asked where it was located at the Royal Caribbean transfer desk. After being ignored for about a minute because their chatting and social media were more important, they eventually answered my question, curtly. Having the desk near the Starbucks was great because we boarded the transfer bus nicely refreshed. Embarkation Transfer: The bus service was very clean and well maintained. The driver was polite and professional. We did have to wait about 30 minutes for the next bus, but the returning passengers were just getting back to the airport. To provide context, we arrived at MCO shortly after the transfers started and took one of the earliest buses to Port Canaveral. This was not really any longer than we waited during previous transfers from MCO using GoPort or on a Royal Caribbean transfer. The most bizarre thing occurred on the way to the port. A passenger approached the driver, asked her a question, and the driver departed the Beachline Expressway and stopped the bus. I asked the passenger what was wrong with the response of “Nothing”. The driver parked at a 7 / 11 and spoke to the other family member, who wanted to know how to get a wheelchair at Port Canaveral. Not faulting the driver, as she did not understand the question while driving in traffic and was concerned for the welfare of her passenger. After a ten-minute delay, we were back on the road. The remaining trip was uneventful, and we arrived at the Port. The traffic at Pier 10 was chaotic. The other transfers were leaving their passengers standing in the other parking stations. The porters scrambled to clear a path and we were able to exit the bus. We had a transfer bus breakdown years ago between Fort Lauderdale Airport and Port Miami. That is an unnecessary stressor in my book. The MSC transfer was fine round trip, but I might use a third-party (GoPort does a nice job) in the future to cut out some of the wait times. Embarkation Process: After handing off our luggage to the porter (tip these folks well, they are always hustling), we were up the escalator to the security screening. The lines were not awful, as they are often claimed to be. We were embarking at prime time, but the process through security was simple. We have sailed from Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, Manhattan, Miami, New Orleans, Port Canaveral, and San Juan. This was easily one of the smoothest trips through a terminal. There were a few large groups checking in, so with the exception of a line jumping couple, we had no slowdowns. We went from bus to onboard in about 35 minutes. I love how MSC provides the ship cards immediately. We have had stateroom delivery on previous cruises, but this is so much nicer in my opinion. Once we were on the ship, we immediately sought out lunch. Pre-Sailing Activities: We went up to the Seaside Buffet for lunch. My priority was the acclaimed MSC Pizza. It did not disappoint. The buffet fare was standard cruise food. I had no complaints, but the beverage stations were still configured for breakfast with pineapple juice instead of lemonade. Not a crisis and the self-serve beverage stations aboard were normally spot-on for the whole sailing. Our stateroom was ready at 2:00pm. We accessed our room right away, changed (we carried our swim basics onboard in a backpack) and off to the South Beach pool. Our stateroom steward, Ram, did a fantastic job for the duration of the sailing. We had a few simple requests and he stayed on top of it all. My one initial hangup was the prohibition of drinks in the pools. Carnival and Royal Caribbean are normally fine with it. Norwegian does not enforce it well. MSC was very clear about it. To be fair, the pool depth at the South Beach pool is six feet, five inches, so treading water with a drink in hand is not practicable. In retrospect, it was not an inconvenience, as it prevented spills and reduced the likelihood that swimmers would not be in the pool with full bladders. One important MSC difference - your stateroom beach / pool towels are your starting point. I went to the single towel station on Deck 16 by the Miami Beach (Main) pool to sign out towels. I was told it was exchange only. So, I had to go from Deck 7 (Wet) to Deck 16 to Deck 10 back to Deck 7 to obtain our towels. In all fairness, there was a small print card with the towels that I did not read. I got over my irritation quickly, as I did not follow their etiquette. Lesson learned. The mandatory safety drill was a mixed bag. While it was interesting to watch the video in your stateroom and then go to the muster station to scan your card, it was not that easy. We followed the instructions, made the check-in call and walked down three flights of stairs to have our card scanned. Very crowded is an understatement, but we knocked it out quickly. We later received a letter saying we did not watch the video and then completed the phone call. More to come when I address the Guest Services experience. South Beach Pool: This is an adults-only area, which was ideal for us. There were plenty of chairs on embarkation day. The wait service was quick and personable. The starboard side was a smoking area, but it was not awful. The bar service was not the fiasco that many make it out to be. Bear in mind, it was very busy, but we had no problem getting drinks. Kudos to MSC, they do not open bottles and cans like the other lines. This has always been irritating as your second beverage is compromised and can make carrying drinks difficult. We were given two or more drinks at a time, nearly every time. It’s a beautiful larger pool. We have sailed where the adults-only pools were tiny, not the case here. We used this pool exclusively during this sailing. The Jungle and Miami Beach Pools were also very nice, but we did not get there to enjoy the water. We had great weather, so we stayed at South Beach. Ship Condition: MSC does it well. Seaside is a gorgeous ship, but you can tell it has been out of the yard for a while. There were reports of toilet issues, but we always saw technicians out and about working diligently. Our bathroom sink leaked a bit, but Ram made sure it did not cause a problem. Overall, we were not inconvenienced with any onboard work. Our last sailing with NCL was not nearly the same, as they were doing balcony maintenance the whole time, which limited our access due to wet paint. The Bridge of Sighs is an experience. We met a couple that got engaged on the Bridge while at sea, which is absolutely romantic. Stateroom: We had a Fantastica Experience Balcony stateroom (10134). On the whole, this was one of the largest staterooms we have ever booked. We sailed on NCL recently and it was significantly smaller and cluttered. The outlay of the room was such that we were not climbing over each other to move about. There is plentiful storage with full-length and half-length hanging rods in the closet. The closet door was off track, but it was not that much of an impediment. The large desk and mirror were fantastic. So much room for us to lay out our items and for charging our GoPro and Phones. The power availability was two 110 receptacles, two 220 receptacles, and two USB ports. Additionally, there was a separate USB port on either side of the bed under the light fixtures. I use a CPAP machine and Ram provided Distilled Water gratis for my use. I had to go to Guest Services and sign out an extension cord. I will comment more on that under Guest Services. There is a lot posted about the stateroom’s bathroom. The sink layout is great and there are ample towel bars. However, face facts, standard cruise showers are small. Unless you upgrade your category, you are bathing in a fishbowl. I am a larger person and I was successful, so I will leave that there. Ship Amenities: Seaside has the standard amenities that any other vessel of that size would have. The public spaces are great. There are quite a few bars and lounges. Again, I did not experience any of the long delays getting drinks. There were slightly longer waits during peak times, but that is to be expected. The video arcade is really something special. While I did not use any of the features, it was located near the South Beach pool access and adjacent to the Deck 7 Atrium seating. The Formula One simulator was really amazing and fun to watch the drivers’ experience their races. The Garage Bar is in between the Creperie and the Video Arcade. It was rarely busy, even when the bowling alleys were in use. It’s an easy place to grab a drink while on the move or a comfortable spot to have your crepe indoors. The Seaside Bar is great location. Many of the gatherings scheduled aboard were held here. The Atrium Bar was another favorite. I have a tendency to wake up very early while traveling. I spent a lot of time there having their amazing Segafredo coffee creations. I have to recognize Jasper, as he was spot on with his barista skills. The WiFi works very well in the Atrium, so my mornings allowed for coffee and phone time while it was quiet aboard. We stopped in the Sports Bar on the sea day and it was very busy, but not terrible. The décor in the Sports Bar was nicely appointed. If you have a group and hangout in one of their enclosed seating areas, it is something special. Elevators: This is a constant gripe on Seaside. However, there are several key points to be made: 1. They will always be busy at peak times. 2. There are two elevator lobbies for most banks. Look at the other side and it might not be busy. 3. The smart elevator system works, but you still have to be patient. 4. The elevators will get hot with lots of warm people (many of whom may have imbibed). 5. There are lots of stairs as an alternative. Main Dining Room: With the Fantastica Experience, we were able to select our dining period, but not have flexible dining. It had been a long time since we had a fixed dinner seating, but it did not affect our experience. We ate in the MDR for three of our four nights aboard. This was by design, because we greatly enjoyed the food and the service. Having a set table in the Seaside Dining Room felt like 2009 all over again, but there were benefits. Our waiter, Shariq Ahmad, was wonderful. He made a great experience wonderful. I like how MSC offers you Acqua Panna or San Pellegrino water with dinner. It is a very classy touch. My wife and I like different water with dinner and Shariq kept it flowing. When I try out a new cruise line, I will generally order a steak on the side with the first meal. It is a great (and generally tasty) litmus test on how the food is prepared. MSC did not disappoint as it was cooked well and presented beautifully. There are many, many MSC MDR menus available, so I am not going to give a meal-by-meal description. It’s good cruise food…period. I have pushed away food on Norwegian and Royal, but I made happy plates on MSC. My wife is a very selective eater, and she was mostly happy with the food options. The bread baskets are wonderful. MSC freshly bakes some, if not all, of their bread on board. I have had some very rubbery bread on other lines, to the point I have passed up on the bread baskets. For the sake of research, I sampled a few and was glad I did so. Entertainment: We only attended one comedy act on MSC. It was funny, but it was a “family friendly” show. I will compliment the reservation system on the ship. Between the App and the multitude of Kiosks, locking in a reservation is very easy. MSC is known for having music going all the time. The performers in the Atrium were fantastic and kept us entertained while we were at our hangout. We did not get to attend any events in the Haven Lounge, but there were a lot of performances and shows to keep it hopping. If we were on a longer cruise, I probably would have had more to add here. The reviews from some of our fellow passengers were complimentary of the Peter Punk and StarWalker shows. Shopping: MSC Seaside has the usual assortment of shopping venues. We only purchased Duty Free Liquor while aboard. That was a bargain as I was able to buy one-liter bottles of great brands for incredibly low prices. $16 for a liter of Crown Royal? Shut up and take my money! Glenn expertly boxed up our purchases, which were easily retrieved the last afternoon before disembarkation. This was great, as it allowed us plenty of time to pack it out for flying. The jewelry and watch shops had an amazing staff. They were very friendly and not pushy at all. We did not buy anything, but they were gracious and pleasant. That has not always been my experience onboard other cruise lines. Wi-Fi: We prepaid for the Wi-Fi. Generally, it worked wonderfully. This is only for the standard Wi-Fi, as there was an option for the Streaming Service grade. For what it’s worth, I was so busy aboard, that I did not need streamed entertainment. I have sailed elsewhere where we just waited for something to do. For the most part, I was going from one thing to another and even the aforementioned early morning times had people around to chat and share sea stories. Drink Package: The Easy Plus package was bundled with Wi-Fi. As it’s well listed, this includes drinks up to and including the $10 price range. This included bottled water, specialty coffees, and soft drinks. We wanted for nothing, as the menus are stacked with included options. We made good use of the package, and it was a value-added factor for MSC. There are many menus online showing the amazing assortment of options. The online general menus do not capture all the available options, especially for beer and liquor. Do not waste your time with the Easy Package. For a few dollars more, most of the menu is open to you. We did not do any of the “pay the difference” scenarios commonly asked about, there was simply no need. Champagne Bar: By having the drink package, we anchored our libations at the Champagne Bar. My wife was intrigued by their menu, and I was pleasantly surprised as well. As a good sport, I cooperated. One of my favorite YouTube vloggers likes Aperol Spritzes. This is not my usual poison, but I tried their version and was hooked. The team staffing that bar took extremely good care of us. The Champagne Bar is located on Deck 7 along the Atrium. We had some great drinks while listening to great music. It was quite a treat. We need to recognize Brian, I Kadek, Junita, and Vidishay for their hospitality and service. It made the whole experience unforgettable. In fact, one of the staff members defended me during a “Karen Moment”. I strive to maintain a high degree of Cruise Etiquette. A pair of female cruisers were at the counter for reading the menus and being indecisive. The bartender was waiting for their order, and I asked if he would craft a cocktail when he was mixing them up. Karen chided me for not waiting until they had ordered (He typically made 3 – 4 drinks at a time). The bartender simply stated that I had been at the bar for a while and was just asking for when he could prepare it. Amazingly, Karen apologized. In fact, at least one of them ordered what I wanted as well, so the normally efficient bar staff was even quicker. Nassau: We have been to Nassau several times on other lines. It is not our favorite port, but it’s normally a good time. The improvements to the Cruise Port have turned it into a bit of a destination and, when it’s fully opened, will be a model for other locations. The excursion process worked fairly well. We gathered in the Showroom to leave the ship via group number, which is a standard procedure for some lines. The weather turned a bit, so they provided disposable ponchos, which was a first for us. The trip to the gangway was a bit convoluted and a major traffic jam occurred. The griping started immediately, but it was not really that bad. Some of the wristband wearers were turned around because they assumed they did not need their cruise card and identification. This was despite multiple notifications stating the going ashore requirements (announcements, daily planner, and information in the App). The improvements to Nassau’s piers included additional, larger pavilions to keep out of the rain. We booked an excursion to Blue Lagoon via the excursion online application mentioned above. Overall, the site is clean and well-maintained, but it was a one-timer for us. If you have small children, they will love their shallow water. It was not easy for adults to stay submerged as the water is pretty much shin deep. The day pass includes lunch, which was ok not great. The bar prices were obscene ($11 for a can of Sands Light / $42 for a bucket of five), so we passed. They are 100% credit card only on their small island, so prepare for it. The ferry ride over was slow (nearly an hour, when they said 35 minutes). The return was much faster. It was not a terrible excursion, but the next time in Nassau, we will likely head out on our own. With the changes to the port layout, the walk to the public beaches seems shorter. Ocean Cay: This private island was the singularly biggest enticement to try MSC. We watched a lot of videos about the amenities and the tips for a successful visit. I will break down the day separately: - Going ashore…effortless. - We walked to Lighthouse Bay to snorkel and then hang out. There were plenty of chairs and free umbrellas. The bathrooms were large and well kept. The bar is on the dock side of the beach, but not terribly far. The food trucks were adjacent to that bar location. The beach is beautiful. It was decent snorkeling, akin to the free beach at Grand Turk. We snorkeled out to the net and rock breakwater. They have a good thing going there. Allegedly, a small barracuda was inside of the net area, but that is nothing to panic over. The beach is bliss and we had very little wave action on July 4th. - The Seakers Buffet…very good cruise food ashore. We have been to Half Moon Cay and Labadee. This was the best food of the three private locations. There were plenty of tables and the line was not incredibly long. We were there during prime hours as well. My wife went through the line for both of us since we had two snorkel equipment bags and our wet bag along. The bar service was easy as well, with several stations under cover. The staff did a great job of keeping the tables clean and chasing the seagulls away. I loved the decorations with the hanging sea life sculptures, it made a nice location better. - South Beach was busier than North Beach for obvious accessibility reasons. It was not overcrowded, but the large number of people clouded the water up a bit. I did feel some pinching from either polyps or sand fleas, but it was not bad. - North Beach was very nice. The water drops off quickly. We did not get a lot of time there because there was a passing thunderstorm. Adjacent to the beach are bathrooms, a bar and food trucks. They share them with the crowd at Bimini Beach. - Bimini Beach had very clear water due to the open ocean facing. I enjoyed this water quite a bit. July in the Bahamas makes for warm water. There were many open chairs at Bimini, with a large turtle nest cordoned off for egg safety. - The bar service on Ocean Cay was mixed. The Lighthouse Bay bar was good. The North Beach bar ran out of mixers so they gave my wife a cup of rum with a shot of pina colada mix…she grimaced. The Lighthouse Bar was a bit of a let down condition wise, but their service was great. I asked if they could turn on the fans in the afternoon heats, I was told they did not know where the switch was located. Springer’s was great and they had a wider selection of beers than the others. This is one of the few locations that served Kalik Bahamian Beer (Lighthouse Bar does as well). - The transportation was effective and really busy. It saved a lot of walking to Bimini / North Beach. Unfortunately, when the rain started, we had to walk back to the ship. - Shopping ashore was not great, unless you had to have OC Logo gear which was (not surprisingly) overpriced. They also sold much of the same local items you can get in Nassau but at a premium price. - Lighthouse Show and Beach Party. We were in port for 16 hours, the beach parties were thinned out due to passenger fatigue. We opted to watch the Light Show from our Starboard side balcony (I chose that side for the probability of it facing Ocean Cay) and remained aboard for the duration of the port visit. Guest Services: I had to visit Guest Services five times over the sailing. I went five for five on successful outcomes. My Safety Drill Naughty List issue was fixed immediately. Both times I had questions, they were successfully answered. Despite maintaining two separate desks, during the disembarkation scramble, I only saw one side open. Despite my desire to maximize cruise etiquette, I side stepped in to drop my extension cord off. It was bundled neatly and had my cabin information on it. They looked at it and gave me a thumbs-up without a problem. I felt slightly guilty, but I saved a long line during a busy time. Specialty Dining: As part of my Voyager Diamond status, we were given one Dining Experience credit in the Chef’s Court area. We chose the Butcher’s Cut, as it had the most preferable menu for us. Onboard Seaside, they have Butcher’s Cut as well as the Ocean Cay Seafood Restaurant, Teppanyaki, and the separate Teppanyaki Sushi Bar. There were so many pre-purchased Dining Packages, we were only able to book a lunch. The Diamond benefit only allows for booking onboard instead of in advance online. Butcher’s Cut was very good with excellent wait service. While dinner would have been preferred, it was a nice Sea Day treat. Aurea and Yacht Club Commentary: As mentioned, we chose the Fantastica Experience. Bella is a gamble, as you do not get to pick your stateroom location. We understand you can end up with a pleasant surprise or an undesirable location aboard. Spend the little bit extra and lock in your preference. Aurea provides unlimited spa access and stateroom amenities, which may be ideal for you, but it was something we did not need. They are also provided with my time dining, which is a nice option, but it did not affect us that much. I spoke with several people who were in the Yacht Club. I have also conducted a lot of research on the service level. They raved about the degree of service, but at this point, we were perfectly satisfied not being on the Yacht Club level. Voyager Diamond Difference: As previously mentioned, I status matched to Diamond. MSC Diamond is not Carnival VIFP Diamond. The perks are very nice. The restaurant benefit was enjoyable. It’s important to note that the benefits will give you much of what Aurea provides. We received a bottle of prosecco, a plate of macarons, robe, slippers, and small gifts. Additionally, we were provided early embarkation / disembarkation, which were not needed. A Diamond Party was held with a Top Staff meet and greet, but we were otherwise engaged. We were provided with a one-hour Thermal Suite pass. It was nice to do, but I would not pay for the Day Pass otherwise. If you can increase your initial status, it’s worth putting in the work. Disembarkation: This was very uneventful. The MSC transfer got us one group ahead of the Diamond Early Disembarkation. We got off the ship quickly and into the Customs Clearance Lines. Having a passport is a very valuable thing at Port Canaveral. Our line was way shorter than the Birth Certificate and ID queue. Additionally, there was no benefit to express self-disembarking. We walked right down and grabbed our bags. We were quickly through the line to have our passports scanned and declaration questions asked. I cannot stress the value of having passports. The ride back to MCO was very quick. We were able to make a 1:50 pm flight with over two and a half hours to spare at the airport. We also had First Class complimentary upgrades on the return, so we lucked out. Conclusions: MSC is a little bit different, but different does not mean bad. I had spoken to a cruise consultant during a “we saw you were looking at” call. He said it best, MSC is good for experienced cruisers. If you want a beautiful ship with a good atmosphere and good food, you will enjoy it. MSC is working on expanding their ports of call in the Caribbean, but they are doing well. The Ocean Cay review probably did not do it justice, it’s a special place. The island will be closed for about seven weeks in Spring 2024, they have already started to work on the additional upgrades. I can’t wait to see the improvements. We paid $1540 for a four-night cruise - balcony stateroom with some upgrades, the gratuities, insurance, and taxes. It was money well-spent, and we have already booked another domestic sailing with MSC. I would be comfortable sailing them in Europe as well, it will be a joy to do that research.

Embarkation

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

Onboard Activities

Entertainment

Children's Programs

Service and Staff

Ship Quality

Cabin / Stateroom

Ports of call

Port Canaveral, Florida

Nassau, Bahamas

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas

Disembarkation

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