Tuesday, April 2, 2024

The ultimate guide to MSC Cruises ships and itineraries

is msc a good cruise line

While some cruise lines have created wild island that almost look like a cartoon with all the attractions, Ocean Cay is more subdued, with more space, and fewer visitors each day. MSC doesn’t have a lock on cruise deals, but it does offer a lot of affordable choices. Rates are even less expensive if sailing outside of summer or holidays.

Carnival Cruises

You're spoiled for choice, in terms of room types on MSC Seashore. The cabins have a smart layout, making it easy for more than one passenger to move around the room. In-room sofas easily convert into extra beds -- a boon for families. MSC Seashore has also paid attention to accessibility issues, and there are 66 dedicated rooms that have many thoughtful touches for those in wheelchairs. As you might expect, pricing for ships will generally be lower during offseason periods such as September, October and parts of November.

MSC Cruises vs. Royal Caribbean: Which big-ship line is right for you?

Several of the line's newest vessels, including MSC Grandiosa and MSC Bellissima, also have the French cuisine-serving L'Atelier Bistrot. Whether you’re looking for a laid back getaway to the Caribbean or an exotic voyage to South Africa, you’ll find it on MSC Cruises. These rooms have 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms plus a large balcony. There are 2 bathrooms, 2 walk-in closets, and a large balcony with a private whirlpool tub.

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These can be quite big on the larger vessels, with expansive thermal areas and a wide choice of treatments and services. While a few of MSC Cruises' smallest ships have relatively limited dining venues, many of the line's vessels offer a wide range of choices. The bigger MSC Cruises ships offer vacationers a ton of options for dining (some vessels have more than a dozen distinct places to eat dinner or at least grab a quick bite) or entertainment. MSC Cruises might not be the most well-known brand in the industry, but it is still one of the biggest cruise lines, with plans to expand even more.

What this means, of course, is that kids of all ages are welcome and the traditional family mix you would expect on an MSC cruise is maintained. And for cruisers who are perhaps put off by all that commotion and want more of a sophisticated experience at sea, then Virtuosa could also be the ship for you. Note that if you book the Bella experience, you cannot select a specific cabin.

Each small room has a single bed that can be converted into a sofa during the day. This package is for children ages 3-11 and includes everything available in the Non-Alcoholic Package for Adults. You’ll want to leave some room in your suitcase to bring outfits for your ship’s theme parties. Bring your 60s and 70s floral gear for the Flower Glory Party, white clothing for the White Party, and red, white, and green to celebrate MSC’s Little Italy. You can grab lunch at Seakers Foodcourt or one of the many food trucks located around the island. MSC Virtuosa will debut in November 2020 and MSC Seashore will debut in 2021.

Differences Between MSC and Other Major Cruise Lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Etc.)

Regarding the included sit-down meals (main dining room), I would rate MSC last when comparing all major cruise lines, although they were not inedible by any means. I am content with the included main dining room meals because, for me, if I’m not cooking, I’m happy. Price – when comparing cruise lines, MSC is usually less expensive for nearly identical itineraries. But remember to take into account the paid extras like entertainment and most dining outside of the main dining room and buffet.

Ocean Cay, MSC Cruises Private Island

The space is now a sophisticated home for Big Band at Sea, a 19-piece orchestra with a genre-spanning playlist (although mid-20th-century crooner classics best match the room). The two-level Ultimate Family Suite — a more playful and colorful option for families with younger kids and a very generous budget — is available on Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas. Figuring out which vibe appeals most to you — more North Americans (Royal Caribbean) or a predominantly international crowd (MSC Cruises) — can help you choose between these two megaship cruise brands. We'll keep you informed, and we'll never sell your information to anyone.

MSC Cruises Overview

Although it was an excellent ship, several years have passed since its launch, and it’s starting to show signs of aging compared to newer ships. Being a 2006 ship, the years are showing, although it still appears well-maintained overall. MSC Preziosa, launched in 2013, is the sister ship of the Divina I mentioned earlier. Being very similar ships, the customer ratings were almost identical.

The cabin stewards are more like what you’d expect in a traditional hotel rather than a cruise ship. They’re efficient and good, but they aren’t chatty and visible at all times. This likely comes down to the fact that on most traditional cruise lines, Americans tip extra, sometimes quite a bit extra to the room stewards and cabin attendants, so they are happy to be known and visible. On the contrary, tipping cabin attendants on an MSC cruise is not as typical (again, with European roots). But if you are a typical American cruiser who’s used to the big names in cruises, you’ll probably be frustrated to some extent (more on that later). In Europe, MSC is regarded as a “higher-end” cruise experience when compared to brands like P&O, Costa, and the now-defunct Pullmantur.

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It features multiple massive beaches, giving plenty of room for everyone to have their own space. In addition, the water is an electric blue that’s some of the most beautiful we’ve ever seen. Comparable trips during that time run more than $900 aboard Carnival Celebration sailing from Miami.

is msc a good cruise line

I think what’s clear from the reviews is that, if you go on an MSC cruise and you know what to expect from a cheap cruise line, you’ll enjoy it. But if you go with expectations that are higher than the cruise line maybe warrants, you’ll definitely be disappointed. Cruising with MSC definitely isn’t for everyone, but the cruise line is determined in its goal to become the biggest cruise company in the world. So expect them to keep building shiny new ships, and doing everything they can to make their current ships as popular as possible. The biggest MSC cruise ship is MSC World Europa, which launched in 2022. Part of the new World Class of ships for MSC, it has a maximum guest capacity of 6,762 and an internal volume of 215,863 gross tons.

It always depends on what you want from your cruise ship, which is why it’s important to research your options before you book. While you won't go hungry if you stick to the complimentary food options on MSC Seashore -- the buffet and main dining room -- you will be missing out. The service has improved in the main dining rooms, in terms of wait times and overall attentiveness. And the buffets have also expanded to include more dishes aimed at American palates.

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. If you find yourself not loving the food, you can always upgrade to specialty dining. Overall for the price I paid (much lower compared to other lines) I was happy with the food. I always found something to eat and did end up having a few amazing items over my week long cruise. This was the first time we saw quesadillas in the buffet for late night snacks and they were a hit. I wasn’t particularly in the mood for anything I saw in the buffet this night.

These trips are popular with both families and couples, but they can be just as rewarding and enjoyable for solo travellers, giving you as much flexibility as you want along with opportunities to meet ... Overall, MSC Cruises can indeed be a good cruise line for those seeking a cost-effective, European-style cruising experience. However, others had a good time, especially when traveling with family or friends.

Some passengers were not impressed, citing disorganized shore excursions, a lack of amenities, and poor customer service. Some Trustpilot reviewers mentioned issues with children’s behavior on the ship. Several reviewers on Trustpilot mentioned high noise levels on the ship, making it difficult to relax or hold a conversation.

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