Seaside Spring Break Cruise - March 30, 2019

[lcookie]

 

Pics along the way - 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 14, 2019 by lcookie

[lcookie]

We hit the terminal at its busiest time.  Lines of people waiting to get transportation ou the port, droves of people trying to get into the terminal, and logistics vehicles everywhere.   Despite the congestion, we were in the terminal and through security and headed upstairs within 15 minutes.  This is where things slowed down.

 

When we got upstairs both sides were backed up to the stairway and were barely moving.  To my surprise, they roped off the stairs behind us and would not let anyone else up.  We waited in line a good 30 minutes before we were at the check-in counter.  Five minutes later we were registered and headed to the waiting area.  

 

We had boarding number 32 and they were calling number 12 when we sat down.  Now to my first gripe - MSC please move the picture station further into the terminal.  With the number of people flooding in they caused a massive bottleneck setting up at the entrance.  Also, please create a bypass line for those that don't want to take pics.  

 

All in all we found this to be the most disorganized embarkation we ever participated in.  Those in my cruise group that got there earlier reported breezing through the terminal and onto the ship.  Those after me found my same plight. Not sure what was going on this day but something felt off in the terminal.

 

 

 

 

[Mattnvick]

9 hours ago, lcookie said:

We hit the terminal at its busiest time.  Lines of people waiting to get transportation ou the port, droves of people trying to get into the terminal, and logistics vehicles everywhere.   Despite the congestion, we were in the terminal and through security and headed upstairs within 15 minutes.  This is where things slowed down.

 

When we got upstairs both sides were backed up to the stairway and were barely moving.  To my surprise, they roped off the stairs behind us and would not let anyone else up.  We waited in line a good 30 minutes before we were at the check-in counter.  Five minutes later we were registered and headed to the waiting area.  

 

We had boarding number 32 and they were calling number 12 when we sat down.  Now to my first gripe - MSC please move the picture station further into the terminal.  With the number of people flooding in they caused a massive bottleneck setting up at the entrance.  Also, please create a bypass line for those that don't want to take pics.  

 

All in all we found this to be the most disorganized embarkation we ever participated in.  Those in my cruise group that got there earlier reported breezing through the terminal and onto the ship.  Those after me found my same plight. Not sure what was going on this day but something felt off in the terminal.

 

 

 

 

 

Really enjoying this review we board her Saturday 😁🚢. Can i ask what time was the "busiest time" that you got to the termimal?

 

 We are cruising with friends (their 1st time) and i want it to be nice and easy for them.

[CruisingWalter]

Excellent review and travelogue.  Please post a link to the VLOG when you have it up and running.  Love your style. Have an awesome cruise!!

[Arzeena]

On 4/11/2019 at 8:28 PM, lcookie said:

Thank you all for following along with me.  I love it when people share our adventure with us!

Thank you!

What a lovely family you have.

I am glad I came across your review.  Following!

[Arzeena]

On 4/11/2019 at 9:51 PM, lcookie said:

Teeny had the lomo saltada chicken

 

 

 

Hey Teeny your's looks the best! 😋
 

[lcookie]

7 hours ago, Mattnvick said:

 

Really enjoying this review we board her Saturday 😁🚢. Can i ask what time was the "busiest time" that you got to the termimal?

 

 We are cruising with friends (their 1st time) and i want it to be nice and easy for them.

 

This is a tricky one as it can change week to week and line to line.  I usually try to get to the terminal between 10 & 10:30. Have had good luck with that.  We got to the terminal at 11:15 this trip.  If you can't get there by 10:30 it could be best to wait until after 1 pm.  The largest crowds hit between 11 & 1 from my past experiences.

 

[lcookie]

Congestion inside port - 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luggage drop off area - 

 

 

 

 

 

Security checkpoint - 

 

 

 

 

Waiting for check-in - 

 

 

 

 

No more people allowed - 

 

 

 

[lcookie]

4 hours ago, creativegenius said:

Excellent review and travelogue.  Please post a link to the VLOG when you have it up and running.  Love your style. Have an awesome cruise!!

 

 

1st VLOG is live - 

 

 

countdown.pl-image=Beach-2&name=lcookie&date=3-30-2019&text=Spring%20Break%202019%20-%207%20Day%20Eastern%20Caribbean&ship=.url

[lcookie]

After our boarding number is called we usher our way through the crowds to enter our "Floating City".

 

 

 

 

Guess what yall??? - WE'RE ONBOARD!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[lcookie]

More Boarding Pics - 

 

 

 

 

So after we get onboard and navigate through the masses in the atrium we head up to Deck 8 for Lunch!!!

 

As we work our way around we marvel at the beauty of the ship.  One thing I will give MSC is they know how to dress up a ship.  Really good architecture with a great mix of decor, glass, and mirrors.

 

When we get to the buffet they have the specialty dining sales table at the entrance.  Perfect location as I needed to confirm my reservations. 

 

Note to all - If you have specialty dining check your bookings as soon as you board.  The MSC website reservation portal sucks.  Only one of my bookings actually took.  We booked the trio package (Butcher's Cut, Ocean Cay, and Roy's Asain Market).  The guys quickly took our request and reset my reservations in the system.  I must say if you want to do the package do it before you board.  They do not offer discounts after you board and the nondiscounted price does not offer much value at all.

 

 

Same applies fo internet packages.  I was on the fence on purchasing it and decided at the last minute to buy it onboard.  Not So Fast Mr. Postman!  The unlimited plan shot up to like $250.00.  Thank you MSC for making the decision easy for me.  I like to stay connected but this is twice the price of other lines.  Disconnected I shall be!

 

 

They were also running a special for the first night.  20% off any restaurant.  Did he fall for the trap???  Well, he did mention that he was a foodie.  Of course we took the bait!  Here was my chance to book the Teppanyaki Grill at a discounted price. Joy-Oh-Joy. (More on this later)

 

 

This cake was having a bad day.  I sure hope this is not an omen of things to come???

[OceansOfTravels]

Very excited for this review! I love MSC and I can't wait to hear about and see more of your experience!

[lcookie]

This cake had a much better fate - 

 

 

After our meal we decided to part ways with our group to get situated in our rooms.  We would link up after dinner to watch the show.   Now I don't know how it happened but somehow we ended up at the chocolate bar.

 

"Let Them Have Gelato" - Says the Queen!

 

 

 

 

 

After all these years she still dances and wiggles when she is enjoying her food.

 

We get to the room but our luggage is not there.  Oh Well - Time to veg out until muster.  We head out early to get a good seat but it was already a  full house when we got there.  Guess everyone got the memo.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time for gripe #2 - This was the most disorganized non-focused drill I ever attended.  If I had 100 dollars for every person that was not paying attention I would be booked for a couple extra cruises now!  I hope all these people were not first timers because they would have no idea what to do "ICE".  

 

One thing I missed from the Divina was we did not have to take our life vest to the drill.  I kinda missed that touch.  I know I am alone in this category but so be it.

 

While we were drilling the Carnival Sensation was headed out to sea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[lcookie]

We headed up to the top deck to watch sail away after the drill.  The ship was so smooth that we did not even notice we were moving at first.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gripe #3 - There is no access to the front of the ship for the 2nd and 3rd class passengers.  I enjoy sitting on the benches at the front of the ships feeling the wind sweep across my face.  This luxury was not afforded to me this time.  

 

After we hit open water we headed down to the room to relax until dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She thinks that they focus better when they are a foot away from her eyes 🙂

[LakeWobegon]

Thanks for a great review so far! And yes, we felt muster was completely disorganized. We had no idea what to do in the case of an emergency afterward. We figured it out on our own because there's always that possibility. But muster drill was no help. Not just because of the way drill was organized but everyone in the casino was talking and playing on their phones the entire time. 

[Mattnvick]

6 minutes ago, LakeWobegon said:

Not just because of the way drill was organized but everyone in the casino was talking and playing on their phones the entire time. 

 

 

I find this so strange. Are we that stupid or that obssessed with our phones these days  that if we are at an extremely important safety drill if no one actually tells us to put our phones away we cant work it out for ourselves?

 

We will do if it someone says but otherwise wont.......what a sad point we habe arrived at with technology.

 

Or was it that they were playing on their phones when the drill was being done in a language they dont understand and they had heard theirs or were waiting for it. 

 

I hope the latter which is fair enough. Re the talking that's wrong regardless and 

MSC need to get on that. 

 

Had a very organised but politely done one on NCL recently and also had one on RCI that was like an army drill and done on the deck which made it very hot with no shade and no seats. 

[LakeWobegon]

Don't want to hijack with another topic so last I will say. In our case, everyone was asked to get off their phones in their own languages from what I could understand. Just no one did. I found with Carnival and NCL and RCI, there are typically crew members walking around scolding you to get off your devices if you're on them.

 

[Mattnvick]

6 minutes ago, LakeWobegon said:

Don't want to hijack with another topic so last I will say. In our case, everyone was asked to get off their phones in their own languages from what I could understand. Just no one did. I found with Carnival and NCL and RCI, there are typically crew members walking around scolding you to get off your devices if you're on them.

 

 

Fair enough then i agree MSC need to be tougher. Will see what its like when i board on Saturday. Maybe if its a shambles it's something to bring up at the meet and greet. 

[LakeWobegon]

Really, though it was one of my few beefs. I'm hoping this review turns out what I found to be true, that 90% of the experience was great. I'll go back to MSC. In fact, looking at Christmas cruises on Meraviglia right now.

[Mattnvick]

1 hour ago, LakeWobegon said:

Really, though it was one of my few beefs. I'm hoping this review turns out what I found to be true, that 90% of the experience was great. I'll go back to MSC. In fact, looking at Christmas cruises on Meraviglia right now.

 

Im guessing the review will be mostly positive. They sound like a laid back cruising family that go with the flow.

 

I really enjoy MSC. This Saturday will be our third with them, 1st on Seaside though and i have to say im really excited to see what she is like. We just booked an aft on Meraviglia for December 2020 cause we really liked the itinerary.

[Epos Man]

I do think that it's much like the airline safety briefing before take off

 

It's the oh I've seen this so many times I don't need to listen to all the info I know what I'm doing

 

I see it all the time on flights and although I have been on the same aircraft on many flights I still listen just in case there is some new info since the last time I flew

 

 

[jessjing]

Love the review!

I will be onboard MSC Seaside on 5.4.

Less than 20 days from now and this will be my first cruise. Very excited!

Following both the review and the vlog😆

[mimmy52]

I'm enjoying your review and love the pictures!

[lcookie]

On ‎4‎/‎15‎/‎2019 at 4:08 PM, jessjing said:

Love the review!

I will be onboard MSC Seaside on 5.4.

Less than 20 days from now and this will be my first cruise. Very excited!

Following both the review and the vlog😆

 

 

More to come very soon.

[lcookie]

21 hours ago, mimmy52 said:

I'm enjoying your review and love the pictures!

 

Thanks!