Our Feb 10-24 MSC Seaside Cruise resulted in several "bests"

[mianmike]

Another attempt to see if everyone can see the photos. (Below)

 

Our recent experience aboard our 14-day cruise on the Seaside was special enough the cruise was worthy of some awards. Our cruise was Feb 10-24, 2018.

 

This cruise was number 18 for us and our second MSC cruise.

 

There were several categories where we had an unmatched experience. Below are our "Mianmike Awards":

 

1. Fastest embarkation. By far the fastest and most efficient we’ve ever experienced.

 

2. Best Captain. Captain Marco Massa was everywhere. He was personable, approachable and genuinely concerned for his crew and passengers.In talking with some crew members, we learned the captain often ate with the lower echelon crew in the crew mess hall. While eating with the crew he would ask if there was anything he could do anything to improve food or crew conditions. Crewmembers said this is highly unusual as most Captains spend most all their time with high ranking officers. At a public function the Captain asked my wife if everything was good with our cabin. She hesitated in her answer of “yes.” The Captain then “interrogated” her to find out why she hesitated. He learned we had no soap/shampoo dispenser in our cabin shower and the carpet needed vacuuming. He brought the Hotel director over who confirmed they were out of spare soap dispensers. The Captain said we could have his. We protested, but he insisted. Later that evening we returned to our cabin and found a new soap dispenser in our shower. The next day while posing for portrait photos, the Captain saw us and interrupted the photoshoot to make sure everything in our cabin had been fixed. We asked if our new soap dispenser had been his. Yes, it was! We told him no! We don’t need your soap dispenser. He said he just wants his passengers to be happy. The rest of the cruise we constantly ran into the Captain. He always remembered us and greeted us.

 

3. Best Cruise Director. Andre was great. We loved his low-key attitude and his self-deprecating sense of humor. We don’t care for cruise directors who essentially demand crowd enthusiasm by constantly yelling:“oh come-on, you can do better than that!” or “I can’t hear you, make some noise!” In the photo below, I'm thinking Andre must be talking about theviewership of his morning show.

 

4. Best Beverage Service. On deck 7 near the atrium we had a great waitress (Jeny) who took great care of us. Throughout the ship the overall the number of available servers was notable.

 

5. Most humid cabin. Our air conditioner didn’t work particularly well which led to a warmish and very humid cabin. We like to sleep in a cool cabin, but it was too warm to sleep well. The cabin’s humidity was so bad our multivitamins were dissolving. We didn’t realize our poor ac was unique to us until day 13 when we visited our friends’ cabin in the Yacht Club and felt how cool a cabin could be. Too late to get it fixed.

 

6. Best disembarkation (Tied with another cruise). Once ourcolor was called we basically walked right through to customs.

 

7. Best last-minute change of ports. Traded Freeport forGrand Turk. #winning! We really enjoyed Grand Turk, although we ran into acouple of real asses (I think they were probably from the Carnival ship)

 

8. Best chocolate martini (from Venchi chocolate bar) OMGsoooo good.

 

9. Best improv comedy show. We grew tired of NCL’s Second City routine that was less improv and more the same skit comedy. Of course, improv is only as good as the talent of the performers, on this cruise the three performers were outstanding.

 

We had a marvelous and memorable cruise. I am already looking for our next MSC cruise and more award-winning moments!

[seapad]

Nope. It comes up to a kind of looks like a "halt" sign.

[mianmike]

Nope. It comes up to a kind of looks like a "halt" sign.

Dang! Back to the drawing board. I don't know why I can see them but no one else.

[Motegi]

Thanks for the review!

 

We were on the Divina last June with Captain Massa and Cruise Director Andre and had an absolutely wonderful time.

 

We enjoyed that cruise so much that we’ve signed up for the Seaside this September and are considering the Meraviglia as well!

[mianmike]

Thanks for the review!

 

We were on the Divina last June with Captain Massa and Cruise Director Andre and had an absolutely wonderful time.

 

We enjoyed that cruise so much that we’ve signed up for the Seaside this September and are considering the Meraviglia as well!

We just booked the Meraviglia. Looks to be a beautiful ship.