We were very glad we went on this cruise. The room, food and shore excursions were outstanding. This is a great way to see the Mediterranean coast and take in all the beauty and history. We had never heard of MSC before but the price, dates and stops were just what we were looking for. There were some disappointments but we would do it all over again - perhaps without Palermo and when it was less cold and rainy but those things could not be helped. So, thank you to all the wonderful staff on board ship. You are all amazing.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
No problems - we were relieved to be allowed to walk on with our luggage
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The Botanical Pool area was crowded (due to the colder weather), noisy and the chlorine was hard on the eyes. There seemed to be no quiet place to read and be warm. We've been on another ship with an "adult only" Solarium and it was peaceful. If you don't gamble or enjoy expensive shopping and drinking, it was hard to find a place to relax. This is only our second cruise but it's clear we go for the views, onshore excursions and the wonderful food service.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The onstage shows were fabulous. Loud but to be expected. The emcee who spoke four languages, the dancing and singing were top notch. The Amelia show was pretty weird - the video of "Amelia" was poor animation (my husband is a medical illustrator and felt her face was really distorted and poorly done).
The "shows" in the London courtyard afterwards were kind of lame - the dancers seemed quite untrained and uncertain as to what they were doing - a stark contrast to what we saw in the theater.
Children's Programs
Seniors with no family onboard.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Mavish, our cabin attendant was wonderful in every way. Kadek Pasek Supriadi, our waiter was outstanding. Both very capable, attentive and sweet.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
A bit modern and futuristic, but incredibly clean and easy to navigate. The elevator system was ingenious. Again, having a quiet lounge for those who can't afford the Yacht Club would have been nice.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Great. Other than an occasional thump from above (sounded like suitcases being dropped) it was great. The bed was comfy, the shower was great, the closet storage was helpful and the attendant was awesome.
Ship tip
Be aware that you can join this cruise at any of the six ports. We were confused about the luggage coming and going at each port until we learned this. We still would have boarded at Barcelona, however.
We visited the city on our own before boarding the ship so don't know about ship excursions. We saw a good deal of the Sagrada Familia and city on our own. We loved the Museum of Catalonia and Maritime museums as well.
The aquarium was outstanding. We also loved the old pirate ship next store. The only disappointing thing was missing our "behind the scenes" tour due to the delayed arrival - which could not be helped. The excursion office refunded some of the ticked and we appreciated that.
We bought the "Hop-on-hop-off" ticket on board. We had to wait 20 plus minutes in the rain for the bus then when it arrived, it was old and open to the elements. When we finally pulled away, a large puddle of water from the roof landed on me and I was drenched. Then the bus took a half an hour to turn around and return to our location for the tour - the streets were crazy busy and packed with vehicles. We decided to get off at a Cathedral and waited for the next bus which was full so we ended up waiting 40 minutes total before an available bus. By the time we returned to the port, we had had enough and returned to the ship. We were told that the ship would be stopping at Naples in the future - GREAT IDEA. Palermo is way to crowded!
We loved everything about it and it was a great finale for our trip. The tour guide was OUTSTANDING!!!!! The history was amazing. The harbor was magical and St. John's Cathedral like nothing we had ever seen. LOVED THIS STOP!!!
What a shame about the Palermo stop. We really enjoyed our time there but the weather was nice in November so we were able to visit the outdoor market with a lot of prepared food/tables to enjoy it.
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