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The ranking was calculated using a mix of user reviews and health ratings. MSC's worldwide cruises come in as the longest trips, with itineraries lasting as many as 127 nights. Meanwhile, the cruise line's shortest options include weekend trips to the Bahamas sailing for just two nights.
Carnival vs. MSC: 11 Major Differences Between the Two Cruise Lines
MSC's food consistently receives less-than-stellar reviews from passengers, particularly regarding the line's complimentary dining experiences. Much of the main dining room fare is indeed so-so — palatable but largely underseasoned and mass-produced, so that it often looks like it's been sitting under a heat lamp when it reaches you. Food in the buffet is varied and tasty, but it can also become repetitive after a week, and the space is frequently crowded and confusing to navigate.
Pros and cons of MSC Cruises
You have to sign out everything from pickleball paddles to basketballs for use on the indoor sports court and volleyballs for the pits on Ocean Cay. However, when I tried to sign out a basketball during posted rental hours, the person working told me no and offered no explanation. When I checked with guest services, they told me that shouldn't have happened. On the other occasion, I saw a couple of adults eyeing the chicken nuggets that were on offer.
MSC Cruises vs. Royal Caribbean: Which big-ship line is right for you?
Additionally, we’ve cruised with companies that no longer exist like Pullmantur. Every cruise line has hits and misses, so it’s important to keep everything in perspective when evaluating a new cruise experience. Royal Caribbean's Freedom-class ships, which carry about 3,900 passengers at double occupancy, and its Voyager-class ships, which accommodate 3,100, offer some of the thrilling activities of its larger ships. Its Vision-class ships, which date to the 1990s and accommodate 2,400 to 2,500 guests, feature notably fewer onboard attractions.
Day 2: Nassau, Bahamas
If you happen to be passing through the promenade area when a flash mob happens, you're likely to see a punk rock-themed song-and-dance routine or, perhaps, one where the cast is dressed up like flowers, insects and birds. If you're looking for a more sauna-like experience, head to the Solarium's covered Bamboo Pool; check out the aft Horizon Pool for better views and more peace and quiet. There's also a small pool on the private Yacht Club sun deck. I made good use of the free Wi-Fi inclusion (for two devices per person).
How to earn Voyager Club points
It’s a cabin + the included dining onboard (buffet and main dining room) as well as the use of all the public spaces and access to the complimentary entertainment. Both MSC and Royal Caribbean are family-friendly cruise lines offering plenty to keep junior cruisers occupied. Their ships have colorful and inviting kids clubs with dedicated staff as well as teen hangouts, gaming areas and organized activities. For solo travelers, all five Meraviglia-class ships offer 129-square-foot Studio Balcony suites, which have the benefit of balcony access without a required single supplement. The five Oasis-class vessels, to be joined by Utopia of the Seas in 2024, are the largest cruise ships in the world. They carry 5,700 guests at double occupancy and just over 7,000 at full capacity.
THE 25 BEST MSC Cruises to the Caribbean (with Prices) 2024 & 2025 on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 25 BEST MSC Cruises to the Caribbean (with Prices) 2024 & 2025 on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 03:43:38 GMT [source]
I took my first solo on MSC Cruises. After 4 nights, here are the pros and cons of cruising alone - Cruise Blog
I took my first solo on MSC Cruises. After 4 nights, here are the pros and cons of cruising alone.
Posted: Thu, 27 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Culinary delights include authentic Italian cuisine, while entertainment ranges from acrobatic shows to live music. Efficient services like destination elevators enhance the experience, although some areas like internet access and buffet management could improve. While both cruise lines attract travelers from around the globe, especially on Mediterranean and Asian itineraries, MSC's passenger base is more international, even on ships cruising to the Caribbean from Miami. MSC cruise ships make important safety and disembarkation announcements in multiple languages (English, Italian, Spanish, French and German), although all staff and crew speak English. MSC offers dining packages, which allow passengers to pre-purchase a set number of meals in alternative restaurants. When those meals are cashed in, cruisers can choose from a preselected list of menu items designated for package holders.
Travel Insurance Plans
They offer as many as six different full-scale theatrical productions during a typical voyage, with multiple showtimes for each production and a range of styles. You'll find original Broadway-style musicals, piano concerts and even operas. The line's newest ships have teppanyaki restaurants, too, and passengers on MSC Cruises' Seaside Class ships, as well as MSC Meraviglia and MSC Splendida, can dine at a Mediterranean-style seafood restaurant. Nearly every ship also has at least one — and sometimes quite a few — extra-charge venues. Among the most common across the fleet is the American-style steakhouse Butcher's Cut, which is found on more than half the line's vessels. There also are sushi bars on more than half the line's ships, with varying names like Kaito Sushi and Galaxy Sushi.
MSC Cruises Reviews
They offer a unique blend of innovative facilities, diverse accommodation options, and multinational entertainment. I am booked on the Seaside May 18th for my first MSC cruise. So far I can say that the customer service on other cruise lines is far superior to MSC. Our price kept changing so I had to keep calling to get it adjusted. Also we added and extra guest and it took almost a month for them to add the upgraded beverage package for that person. I had to continue to call and follow up on the ticket because when I did not the ticket dropped off.
Smoking is forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies, and those who violate this rule will face a $250 fee. Passengers can chat with friends and family on board ships even if they don't have an internet package by downloading the MSC for Me app to a smart device. For the very youngest cruisers, there's Baby Club, a program for babies and toddlers up to the age of 3. The line partnered with baby care brand Chicco to develop dedicated Baby Club play areas on every ship with toys, games and music and rhythm activities. You can leave your toddlers at the clubs, which have dedicated staff, or stay and play with them.
We are not dining room folks, so all our meals were in the buffet. We were quite pleased with our meals particularly since we had read so many discouraging reports about their food. We did 3 Royal Caribbean cruises(Anthem 1, Oasis 2) also this year and were much more disappointed in the Windjammer than the MSC buffet. The ships are also at this time (summer 2021) sailing with reduced capacity, in line with U.K. Government guidelines, capped at 50 percent of occupancy, which works out at around 3,600 passengers.
Unlike other cruise lines, MSC Cruises does not let passengers switch their internet plan from one device to another during the cruise, even if they're only using one device at a time. Make sure you sign up for the Wi-Fi plan on the device you intend to use it with. If you'll want access on both your phone and your tablet, you will need a two-device plan. For something more soothing, all MSC Cruises ships include spas. These can be quite big on the larger vessels, with expansive thermal areas and a wide choice of treatments and services. Every vessel has at least one or more main dining rooms and a casual buffet where meals are included in the fare.
During the day, there's no specific dress code, and people dress casually. If it's a sea day in a warm-weather destination and you're bound for the top deck, that means dressing for the beach — T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits (with a cover-up to put on when you go inside) are just fine. On most ships, the line offers programming for five distinct age groups. Every MSC Cruises ship has a casino, and on the line's larger vessels, they are big operations. Le Grand Casino on MSC Grandiosa, for instance, has 164 slot machines, 12 table games (including blackjack, roulette and poker) and its own bar.
The cruise line has been a pioneer in onboard specialty restaurants and some of its ships, especially its newer ones, feature as many as 12 extra-cost specialty dining options. Royal Caribbean also offers terrific complimentary casual dining venues in addition to its main dining room and Windjammer buffet. A plethora of dining options await guests aboard MSC Cruises, ranging from specialty restaurants to main dining facilities, each offering a unique culinary journey.
Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. MSC certainly doesn't shirk its commitment to onboard entertainment. After dark, its ships' theaters and lounges buzz with vibrant musical productions and even fearless acrobatics.
Also, a 15% gratuity is added to bills at bars for cruisers who do not have a drinks package. If you buy a drinks package, the gratuity charges for drinks is folded into the package price when you book it. A 15% service charge is also added to items in minibars, salons and spas. They also draw customers from a wide range of the income spectrum. In North America, MSC Cruises ships have generally sailed out of Miami, but the line recently added Port Canaveral and New York City as home ports, too.
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