Hi everyone! At the end of May 2024, we tried the cruise line MSC for the first time. They always have such good deals, and the ships look lovely. So, we deviated from our norm to give it a whirl. There are definitely pros and cons to this line.
First, the Pros………
The FOOD was amazing! If this is a huge factor for you when you cruise, then definitely book something and try it. From the dining room to the lido buffet, everything was fresh and flavorful.
The ENTERTAINMENT was top notch!! It reminded us so much of cruising past…. the prettier costumes and backdrops. They also had more variety – not just singing but great dancers, acrobats, comedians and magicians.
The AFT INFINITY POOL was so nice. We love sitting at the aft of any ship and watching the wake of the engines as we glide along. The aft pool was an infinity pool, so you got right up against the glass at the back and could look down over the water. It also was out beyond the higher decks above it, so there were two glass elevators that went up and down here. While on the pool deck you could look all the way up the back of the ship. The interior pool area was quite small, as most cruise ship pools are, but they had lounge beds that could be put on the different tiers in the water which was a nice treat. Problem is there are only a couple, so honestly for the few people that can enjoy it, it’s a waste of space where people could be sitting in the water. The deck lounge chair space was limited here, as well, which was a bummer. Not much shade to be found either. And the smoking area was right around the corner. So, we stayed on one side of the ship only. But overall, we liked this area very much.
The SHIP was lovely! The sparkling Swarovski crystals on the stairs, very comfortable furniture throughout the lounges and common areas, updated cabins and bathrooms, always clean and definitely a little more upscale. However, I will say the ship we were on (Seashore) was dark…….the color scheme throughout was gray, brown and black. Ceilings were dark gray which left you feeling closed in. There was nowhere I went on this ship where I felt it was ‘roomy’ or bright. The dark decor made it feel very claustrophobic, even in areas with large windows.
They have a STATUS MATCH PROGRAM which allows you to apply for and join their Voyager’s Club. An example is we are Platinum on Carnival. We status matched to Gold in their Voyager’s program. This immediately got us perks that we would not have had as first time cruisers. So definitely do this, if you are a certain level on another line. Your status remains and increases from that point on as you cruise with MSC.
OCEAN CAY MARINE RESERVE is MSC’s private island in the Bahamas. I’m so grateful we were able to dock there!! What a treasure!! There are 8 beach areas (1 is private for Yacht Club), one large common food court, food trucks and bars all around and a few shops. Food and drink here are just as if you were on the ship – food trucks with burgers/dogs and the food court with food and non-alcoholic beverages were included. If you have the drink package, then it can be used on island as well. If you didn’t, you had to pay for your alcoholic drinks and sodas purchased at the bars via your sail and sign card. There is a small tram service that you can take around the island, if you cannot walk long distances. The lighthouse beach and lagoon beaches have catch nets keeping large predatory marine life out, but there are two nurse sharks that frequent the lagoon which are completely harmless. It also makes it a haven for small marine life, because it’s a safe area for them. So snorkeling is great on these beaches! Snorkeling is also good on Bimini Beach because there is a rock jetty at one end of the beach. But we saw LOADS of fish and stingrays just swimming in the water. The water here is incredibly clear! We were told there are also lots of turtles, but we did not see any the day that we were there. There are many water activities available and easy to book as an excursion prior to the cruise. You also reserve umbrellas and float mats for the beach prior to the cruise, but you can get them when you get there. Lighthouse Beach had terrible seating – adirondack style chairs, bean bags and upright plastic chairs. I don’t know what they’re thinking here. All other beaches have typical lounge chairs. There are chairs, tables and umbrellas located at every food truck so you can sit and eat comfortably, and of course there’s plenty of seating at the food court. We stayed overnight at the island, which is quite a treat! They have light shows and dance parties on island in the evening. On the down side we’ve often heard that if the sea is rough, ships will not dock, so you COULD miss your day here on your itinerary. Safety first!!
Now, the Cons…….
COMMUNICATION between the ship and its passengers was very poor. Even when they did communicate it wasn’t accurate. For instance, the disembarkation talk said if you have money left on your account before getting off the ship, not to worry, your credit card will be credited. Well, I went to get off the ship and when they scanned my card they said, “Sorry, ma’am but you have a balance on your account and need to cash out before getting off the ship.” This, after waiting an hour in line to get off. Thankfully, there was a kiosk right at the gangway that I could use, but I still had to get out of line, go cash out and then was allowed off the ship. Our friends had to do the same.
Another aspect of the communication issue was how they got information out about shows and venues and schedules. We had a tough time finding anything anywhere. Until we found out THEY DO HAVE printed copies of the daily activities. Ask your cabin steward for one and emphasize that you want it daily. Of course, I’m not one that likes to use my phone on a ship. I totally unplug. But if you do, you can find some information on their App, MSC for Me. It’s not the most user friendly, however.
Simply put, their website and their app are not the easiest to navigate and understand. They really have a lot of work to do here.
SHOWS – You need to reserve a spot at the shows. The size of the theater is very small compared to most cruise ships. It has only one level. You do not HAVE to reserve, but they let everyone who has reserved a spot into the venue first. So it could be a problem finding a seat if you don’t reserve. You can reserve via the app or at various monitor stations throughout the ship, mostly near elevators.
BAR SERVICE, when you could get it, was very good. Drinks were strong, which for your money was a good thing. However, the days I was out on the back deck by the pool, I think I might have seen ONE bar server walk by the whole day. People were getting up and getting drinks themselves at the bar by the pool. This was the same for a lot of common areas and even bars. You’d get much faster service getting it yourself. I don’t know if this is their usual way of doing things, or if they were just shorthanded, but it was a negative for me. They also DO NOT have tables, nor do they serve beverages before/during any shows in the theater. If you want a drink while you are watching the show, you need to get one at a bar and bring it in with you.
We did not go to any SPECIALTY RESTAURANTS. That was mainly because I did my homework prior to the cruise. They have an extremely limited menu for anyone who book their specialty restaurant packages prior to the cruise, or even on ship. You get many more options on the menu if you just reserve and go to the restaurant you want without a package. I will say they are much more pricey than other cruise lines. So it wasn’t worth it to us, since the dining room food was wonderful.
The NEW State of the Art Smart ELEVATORS that everyone seem so ga-ga over…. they stink, because they are not used properly. They are only as “smart” as those that use them! People are not educated enough prior to getting on a ship about these elevators. If used correctly, they may work very well. But again, communication here is key. There is a keypad on the OUTSIDE of the elevator – you use this in lieu of the standard up and down buttons. You press the number of the deck you want to go to. It sends the car that is going there the fastest. The PROBLEM is people will just push the deck number once. The SOLUTION is you have to push the deck number the total number of times of the number of people in your party! The elevator system counts the number of people in each car. And if you are using a scooter, you really should account for 3 people, minimally 2 people, when punching this information in. Too many times an elevator would come for us and end up full when it got to us. This is because if you press the button once, but 5 people get on, the elevator doesn’t know that. There should be prior education (perhaps in your welcome aboard packet), and it would be simple to post instructions at each elevator station. Of course, this also means if you are the type to generally get on any elevator, whether it’s going up or down, so you can get somewhere…. this will NOT work for you. You will be stranded on that elevator until someone on the outside presses the number of the deck you want to go to!
The HVAC system was mediocre at best!! I cannot even explain what it was like, but I’ll try. You could be walking through an area that was pleasantly cool and bam, hit a wall of heat and humidity. Not even in an area that had any open space. It was very strange. There is one end of the lido buffet which opens to the Jungle Pool which made this area warm and humid. I’d say the worst thing was our cabin! It was cool enough, but the humidity was still present. Even our sheets felt damp…it honestly was gross. Water bottles and anything cold wept all over the place. I’ve never experienced this before. Some people commented it’s because it’s a European cruise line and their air conditioning needs are very different than what Americans expect. Perhaps. But if you’re going to cruise with a boat load of Americans, you need to fix this issue.
CABIN BATHROOMS were different than other lines we have been on in layout. There was a lot more usable storage space, but outside of that I felt like the bathroom was very closed in. The toilet was stuffed between the counter and the shower. I’m not small, and it was tight. I couldn’t imagine how any very large individual could use the toilet comfortably. This was the same with the shower. Instead of being small and square, it was small and rectangular. This made the depth fine, but the width was narrower than most cruise line showers. I banged my elbows repeatedly. The only benefit was a solid door in lieu of a shower curtain which contained the water. Otherwise, it would have been all over the place. The ceiling seemed low over the shower as well, which made it very dark. I could not read the writing on the handles. I did not like the shower AT ALL.
The CABIN layout was backwards. On all other cruise lines we’ve been on, when you walked in the bathroom is on one side and the closets on the other, creating a small hall to the interior. Once past that, you would have your sitting area and desk area. And beyond that was the bed(s) and then your back wall which was your window or balcony. On this ship the different bathroom layout makes it the only thing on one side as you enter. So, the small hall is to the side, not down the middle. As you get past the bathroom you immediately come into the bed area. The closet is tucked at the end of the bathroom, adjacent to the bed. This literally left less than a foot of space between the bed and closet for access. Again, I’m not small, so this was an issue. Not a great design or use of space. This left the sitting and desk areas adjacent to the back wall. If the bed and sitting area were swapped, everything would have been fine. The balcony we had was comparable to all other standard balconies we have had.
You cannot bring your own BEVERAGES on board at initial embarkation like you can on most other lines. No way around it. No 12 packs of soda, juice or water and no bottle of wine/champagne per adult.
Overall opinion of MSC………………..
I really loved the food and entertainment. The decor was lovely but a little gloomy. My favorite part was Ocean Cay Marine Reserve! I’m definitely not rushing to ever book with them again. If I were to give them another try, I would have to foot the bill for a Yacht Club cabin with all the perks. And that comes at a steeper price, just as if you were to get specialty suites on other lines. But I’m glad I tried it, because I would still be wondering if I didn’t. And it was not a total bust!
Just Cruisin' 