NMsunset

They are taking market share away from the others. Strategy for customer acquisition and impacting their competitions' bottom line. See what MSC did in the shipping industry and expect a repeat in the cruise industry. MSC is doing to the cruise industry what the amazon did to the book stores. Cheers

Hi Blw- Appreciate your review. Can you share more about your self-guided port activities/suggestions...esp. around transportation/food. Thanks in advance...we board 27JAN in Palma in YC as well. Cheers!

Hello TQ- The internet is based on devices. It does not matter if it is your device or another in your cabin...in fact you could purchase the 2 device package and allow another person in another cabin activate one of their devices on your package. Once activated on a device, you can not switch that activation to another device. So to your question, why would anyone need 4 device package. I get 4 package and I get my phone and tablet activated, my partner gets their phone activated, and finally our oldest gets their phone activated Or I might be tech "heavy", and have a work phone, personal phone, personal tablet, and work laptop...that would be 4 just for me. Many reasons and scenarios... Just be aware, you can not change devices once activated Buying a multiple device package and sharing it amongst others in your cabin or group is lower cost. Cheers, enjoy your cruise!

GF pizza is ship dependent. Note due to being a EU based company, they will not label/list anything gluten free unless prepackaged or made in a GF kitchen...which not all MSC ships have.

Hi, was on Divina twice this year...had browse and stream on both trips. 1st trip was January and only about 600 people...speeds were good to great... 2nd trip was in October with ~ 3,000 people, best speed I got anywhere on the ship and at off hours like 02:00-0500 for the 12 day cruise (digital nomad who works various timezones) was 270kb...basically useless for any meaningful work/productivity. Had to use wifi and cellular in ports to struggle through work. The newer ship have less issue with better/more modern infrastructure... but more people streaming social media and live streaming which consumes uber bandwidth... Good Luck!

Yes, all food in Sports Bar is extra and there is a menu. Prices are reasonable and the food good. On the Rome to NYC, they had peanuts and or potato chips/crisps for free. Of course it was world cup and the bar was packed during the games... Pro-tip, you can always bring food in from buffet if you are desperate for free food. Or bring your drink from sports bar up to the buffet. Having been on Seaside, Seashore and Seascape....the sports bar is the same on all 3. Cheers and enjoy your cruise!

great follow-up Jim....factual 1st hand info. this forum could use more facts without all the bias. appreciate all the others who posted their experience without the drama some on this forum feel the need to promote. was on Seaside Rome to NYC and there were two formal nights both with lobster and filet in MDR gratis. Cheers

Yes there is a trend with the click bait titles on "certain" posts 🤣 Serious though, that is the purpose for this site...clicks/$$$

Hi- Appears high drama for clicks/views...said he still enjoyed 99% of his cruise...really...seems like even he thought it was very minimal. I was shoved more by passengers trying to get the shrimp on Seascape buffet!!!! and also when they have the $10.00 sale on the tables... MSC is not perfect...but tons better than many of the passengers I encounter... pass the popcorn 😃

Hi KC Mom- was on Seascape the Rome to NYC...many people enjoyed those attractions...if you are interested the FunPass is by far the lowest cost. Cheers

Travel friend is Gluten Intolerant/Sensitive. MSC does a great job, as Jagr linked....fill out the form for dietary needs. Some MSC ships have a Gluten Free kitchen. European wheat products do have less issues in general, but it is not GMO related...it is the lack of herbicide/pesticide/ fertilizer/germination sequencing products...which are not allowed in EU, but are widely used in the USA. In the MDR on MSC USA port cruises, the MDR lead for your area will bring you a special GF menu for you to order for the next night's dinner. At MDR for breakfast/lunch just ask for GF menu. The buffet is not always well labeled, plus if not made in a GF kitchen, they will not mark it as GF...but it might still be OK for you. YMMV Note: the pizza crust on MSC Caribbean ships does cause my friend issues...even a couple of bites. FYI- they have no problems eating pizza/bread in Europe...so they know there are differences. Cheers, enjoy your cruise!

Hi- Once onboard, go to your assigned MDR and verify that you have a 4-top just for your family...sure that's already the situation...but if not they will happily rectify. Enjoy Mera...great ship

All MSC buffets have cooked to order "cracked" eggs. Plus on buffet there are over easy eggs and also poached on muffins. Guess you have not seen their automatic egg cracking machine for volume egg dishes like scrambled. Cheers, enjoy your cruise in January!

Itch/Scratch: They will sort it onboard...easy just go to the MDR that you want to use...have all the cruise cards...they will quickly get you assigned a table together.

Stop at store and buy walkie talkies...or buy internet package. Was on Divina in Oct. and had two browse and stream packages and the signal was weak and weaker...best speed test results were 270kb. If your not a techie, that stinks and is mostly not functional.

Fred's favorite color is green Anne's favorite is red Both of them are wrong, everyone knows the best color is purple! Plus most everyone on the cruise agreed with me! Love the comedy of this board!🧐🤪 Cheers, enjoy your cruise!!! or don't and come here to complain...I have plenty of popcorn😃 FYI- we have never been on a perfect/flawless cruise...nor was that the expectation Rule #1 don't sweat the little stuff Rule #2 everything is little stuff Be Happy

Never had an issue with cabin mate getting the 1-hour access with me as Black/Diamond. Same as comp'd Speciality restaurant...cabin mate gets the same free meal when they join you. Cheers, enjoy your cruise

Large group of us getting on in Italy for maiden voyage to NYC were able to login in to MSC for me app Thursday. While Seascape is still not listed, just enter booking # and name and it works.

FYI- It is not required to register a credit card the 1st day nor at all. If you are not purchasing anything onboard... The Guest Services and verbal announcements would make you think it is required, but again only if you want to make additional purchases onboard. The last night just go to Guest Services and you can pay your Service fee with a one time actual charge to your credit card...or pay cash. Best way to control your spending and to avoid any errant charges to your cruise card. Cheers and enjoy your cruise!

Hi JoLoca- As another work-cation person (based in GC Ireland)...but with global responsibilities...brace yourself. Highly suggest that you have a backup plan. What port? Buy a data Sim for mobile or MiFi device...maybe go ashore to hotel or resort that offers WiFi and or a business center. I have been on 5 MSC cruises on 3 ships in last 12 months...always purchasing/using the Browse & Stream. If the ship has >30% capacity...the speeds are very slow to zero. My last cruise was 12 days this Oct. best speed anywhere on the ship was 270kbps. Was never able to host or join a video call/conference, losing even voice only most of the time. Sending or receiving large files, the connection would time out...even at 02:00-05:00 thinking most users were asleep/offline... Go in with an open mind that connectivity and speed will be an issue... any other outcome is a bonus😀 Think about most folks during holidays will be facetime and other heavy bandwidth usage...remember this includes the ~1,000 crew members wanting to communicate with family/friends...plus streaming various media for R&R. Best of Luck Enjoy your cruise!

Hi Danny- was on Seashore in May really enjoyed the layout, standouts for us were Sports Bar and rear 3 level lounge/cabaret shows. 1) yes, more movement feel...everyone has different levels of sensitivity to that and of course the seas/currents are variables 2) don't have, but here is great collection of Seashore pictures by area; https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/pictures.php?ship=MSC-Seaview 3) was on Seaside before, like the changes/improvement with Seashore (on Seascape in Nov. so looking forward to seeing it) 4) Food is very subjective, we were pleased with both MDR, buffet, and Speciality if you only prefer USA type fast food and fast casual...salty/greasy type...MSC food is more global...which we prefer. If you liked the Seaside food offerings, you will be fine on Seashore. 5) Yes, fly into MCO/Orlando. Suggest looking at renting a car at MCO, much cheaper than uber/lift/tips/taxi/shuttles for airport to hotel and then from hotel to Port. Example: our 1 day rental with National (this month) with drop off at Port is $58.00 all in except fuel. Hotels typically on east side of town are lower cost, unless off season and then the amusements/outlets area is a good value. Also consider Melbourne and or Melbourne beach for a pre-cruise hotel Enjoy your cruise Cheers!

Post #23: Daily Planner...Elegant Night...Suggested dress...no Rule Post #4 (put by another person, screen capture and link to MSC website ...dress code "may be enforced"...no Rule I care not what others wear on any cruise at anytime. I am not making up any Rules...nor breaking any Rules. Was trying to make clear from 5 cruises in the Caribbean this year on MSC, that shorts are allowed... Other posters on this thread and other threads are misleading MSC Caribbean newbies about what the cruise line allows in reality. Some even state that they want other cruisers to conform to their taste in wardrobe. Again, I do not care if tux or t-shirt...not everyone wants to play dress up on a Caribbean cruise VACATION...and based on my experience and that of many others who have posted...MSC doesn't either! just WOW! Stop trying to control others and just enjoy your cruise vacation... Note: I own 3 different styles of tuxedo and multiple suits for events globally....yet Caribbean cruises are not one of those events😎 Cheers!

Some on here remind me of the main character on the British comedy serial "Keeping up Appearances"...Mrs. Bucket. How another's wardrobe choice can impact your meal, cruise experience, or life is beyond the pale. If our table mates are in tux/gown or shorts/T's makes no matter...but if they are loud, demanding, judgmental, unkind to the staff, complaining, etc...you know who you are🧐🤣 Reminds of the complainers at the elevators...just hilarious/ridiculous that a few moments waiting on a lift is a world crisis...and their need to share this with all others in the area. Enjoy your cruise(s)! Cheers

The shows and speciality cocktails are separate from any drink package. This was the same on Meraviglia when it was Cirque as well. We were not fans of the speciality drinks...but we also prefer more basic/classic adult beverages vs the newer "mixology" versions. Cheers!

Yes, Seascape is a MSC for Me high technology vessel. We will be on the inaugural run from Italy to NYC as well. Note, the 07DEC event in NYC