My thoughts of Seashore 4-16 to 4-23

[NCTribeFan]

I booked this using an FCC.  I only booked it because I was going to be in Miami on Celebrity Summit for 5 nights and I hate to spend the money for flights for a short cruise.  So I booked Seashore knowing it was Easter week and I probably wouldn't be crazy about such a large ship.  I sailed 3 consecutive cruises on MSC - Divina Dec 2018, Armonia May 2019 and Armonia again Sept 2019.  Divina was beautiful but I actually preferred Armonia.  I like the experience on a smaller ship.  Everything just feels so much more personal.

 

So, my Summit sailing was excellent (my first on X).  Good food, great service, beautiful ship, only 900 pax.  I disembarked Saturday morning at about 8:25; got my bag, and dragged it next door.  Standing in line outside (at least it was in the shade) until about 9:30 when they opened the doors to the terminal.  Easy, quick check in at that hour.  Directed to the waiting area.  Sat and watched the hoards coming down the escalator.  Still disembarking at 10:45.  I looked around and saw people holding numbered cards.  I hadn't been given one.  I went over to the MSC person and said I was one of the first people to check in but wasn't given a boarding number.  He told me boarding would go quickly and I could just wait until general boarding.  Uh, no!  Not my fault the check-in person didn't give me a number.  He didn't care.  Finally, a young woman stood at the bottom of the escalator and starting talking.  Unless you were within a 3-ft radius of her, you couldn't hear what she was saying.  Near stampede of people bolting to board.  It was insanity.  Finally pushed my way forward trying to hear and someone said, "oh she called Gold members at the beginning."  So, no idea what she was really calling. By loyalty status?  Boarding card #?  I just pushed by and went on up.  I've never seen anything like it.  This was after many of the people had shoved their way past.  It was not a good start.

[NCTribeFan]

Not even sure, but I think I dropped my carry-on in my cabin (10130).  I don't typically book balcony cabins because, as a solo cruiser, I need to keep my costs down.  Since between this past November and this upcoming November I have 10 cruisers, my budget is already stretched.  But since I had the FCC, and knew there would be more people than I'd encountered in the 4 sailings I've been on since the restart, I opted for somewhere more relaxing to which to retreat when I started feeling overwhelmed by the crowd and the kids.

 

Nice cabin, but it was smaller than I expected.  Not much closet space at all.  Small bathroom and tiny shower.  I'm not a jumbo and even I felt the shower was just barely big enough.

 

Buffet for lunch.  Huge area but I'd say only about 1/2 the stations were open, and they appears to just repeated every time you turned a corner.  So many people, so many screeching kids, so little mask-wearing, despite all the signs stating they were required.

 

Muster drill - had to watch on the tv, but then we all had to swarm to our muster stations.  By that time, only about 1/2 the people were wearing masks.  That evening, as I was exploring the ship before dinner, I asked a woman standing near the excursion desk if masks were required or not.  After all, all the paperwork, all the signage, the boarding docs, the masks in the cabin all said it was required unless eating or drinking.  She said that yes, it was required but, no, they couldn't tell passengers to put on a mask.  She said that since so many of the pax came from places that had lifted the requirement, they couldn't enforce it.  What?  OF COURSE you could enforce it!  Everything you had on the website and in your documentation said it was required.  YOUR SHIP, YOUR RULES!  Oh, but we wouldn't want to upset a passenger by asking them to put on a mask in a crowded elevator, would we?  By the next day, I rarely saw anyone wearing a mask.  The only time I put mine on was when I was in a crowded space.

[NCTribeFan]

I was not happy that first day.  I think I was just tired and a bit overwhelmed.  I liked the ship more as the week went on.

 

I went to the show the 2nd night.  It was the first gala/chic/elegant/whatever night.  Show was supposed to start at 7:30.  It was about 7:50 by the time all the departments heads were introduced and the captain gave his speech in 4 or 5 languages!  And - again - SO MANY KIDS.  I'm just not used to there being that many small kids out and about in the evening.  When my DD was a toddler, she would've been in bed by 8:00! 😁 I had late dining (8:15 in Central Park) and left the show at about 8:05 since I needed to make a pit stop and it was a long walk from the front of the ship all the way aft.  And I was just tired of all the people taking the kids out when they started screaming, then coming back in 2 minutes later, and leaving again 3 minutes later and on and on.  And I never leave in the middle of a show.  It's rude to the performers, but a theatre packed with shrieking kids is also rude.

 

Anyway, I thought the food in the MDR was only just acceptable.  Flavors were good but fish and chicken dishes were both dry and seemed they're been prepared too far in advance.  Service wasn't great to start but improved over the week.  Or maybe I just got used to it.

 

I stopped having breakfast in the buffet by Thursday.  I just couldn't take the noise and congestion.  Don't recall being on a ship that there was no omelet/cooked-to-order egg station.  MDR breakfast was quite good and the mimosa made with fresh OJ was delicious.

 

Edited April 24, 2022 by NCTribeFan

[NCTribeFan]

I went to the Monet show in Le Cabaret Rouge.  I enjoyed that much more than the main theatre show.  I didn't go to any other shows.

 

Most of my entertainment was spending too much time in the casino!  I had enough points by the 2nd evening to qualify for the 30% offer but didn't come close to the 9,999 needed for a free cruise.  I should've stopped after that 2nd night! 😄

 

I got off the ship in Puerto Plata and just walked around the Taino Bay area.  I'm not much of a fan of made-for-cruise-ship developments.  I still mainly sail to see the ports/islands, not to hang out at a pool or shop.  I'm sure this development is employing a lot of locals, but it's keeping people from getting out there and seeing the "real" area.  I don't cruise to spend my money at a chain bar/restaurant.

 

I got off the ship in San Juan and wandered the streets.  I love the old city.  I stopped at my favorite establishment, Cafeteria Mallorca.  That's the type of place I like to spend my tourist dollars.

 

 

[NCTribeFan]

Ocean Cay - I'm not really a beach person but this looked like it could be fun.  After we docked on Thursday afternoon, I got off and walked around.  I ended up back at the lighthouse bar (which wasn't quite open).  Sat and waited for the staff to get things ready to go.  Then, of course, people were piling up around the bar and I, the lone, older woman, was ignored while they waited on many others who had just walked up.  Back in the day when I worked in service, you were trained to look around and pay attention to who was next.  Appears that's no longer done.  And I love when someone KNOWS you were there before them but just goes ahead and lets the person take their order anyway.  So rude.  And then, the drink was not good.  Oh well.  Back to the ship to get a much better drink.

 

Not sure what I was expecting with the light show that night, but I went to my cabin after dinner and went out on the balcony.  I watched for about 90 seconds then went back in and just sat and read until I was ready to go to sleep.

 

I went back out the next morning.  It was very, very, very windy.  This time, I just got on the tram and round around.  A couple of guys were being dropped at South Beach, which looked really nice.  Back on the ship, I'd hoped to actually spend some time at the infinity pool.  I don't do much sunbathing and thought this was my chance.  It was so incredibly windy I couldn't even walk back there.  The sun was hot but with such a strong wind, if you were in the shade it felt cool.  Oh well.  More sitting and reading indoors.

 

Oh, another instance of solo, older woman being ignored.  That first day, one of the first things I did was go get my nails done.  I'd had them done a week earlier and it was the worst manicure ever.  Chipped and peeling 4 days later.  When I was done, I headed to the sports bar for a beer.  Sat down.  Bartender was making drinks for people on the other side of the bar.  Then he made drinks for 4 people who came in from outside.  Then he left and came back and was stocking shelves.  There were people sitting at the end of the bar and knew I'd come in and hadn't been served.  I sat there and called out to him and waved my hand and he never looked up.  Did those people who could've gotten his attention do anything?  Nope.  Just sat and looked at me.  I got up and left and never went back in there.

[NCTribeFan]

So, it wasn't a terrible cruise.  I've never had a terrible time in the 20 years and 40+ sailings.  But it was far from a great cruise.

 

It was about what I expected.  Too much ship (but beautiful).  Decent service most of the time.  Nice casino.  Not great MDR or buffet food.  I enjoyed having the drink package (probably enjoyed that a bit more than I needed to).  I don't hate kids; but I don't like it when they run and shout and treat all spaces as their own personal playground and the parents ignore it.

 

The only way I'd consider sailing this class ship again would be if my DD wanted to sail.  I imagine her husband would love it, and they have a daughter who will be 2 in August.  I'll consider booking using my 30% casino discount for next January (since I have a late-Jan cruise booked, I could do another side-to-side) if they want to sail.  As for going solo again?  Probably not.

 

I've moved away from Carnival (>30 cruises on them and a B2B2B med/med/TA coming up in October and the Jan 2023 booking).  My preferred line now is Holland America.  It's just more my speed.  I'd like a more diverse demographic on HAL but I love their ships, service, food, and itineraries.  Really liked X but unless I start getting good offers from them, if the price is comparable to HAL, I'll stick with them.  I like MSC and as long as their fares are in my budget, I'll consider them, but they won't be at the top of my list.

[cellfree]

NCTribeFan, interesting to read your review - adding a couple of our thoughts -

1) We arrived at Port 10:55 as our boarding pass said and stood in lines for 2+hours until we were given the “blue boarding card number” at which time we walked right onto ship, bypassing a family and agent at bottom of escalator who all seemed terribly confused. 

2) Also enjoy Puerto Rico and walking the streets of the “old city.”

3) Arrived Ocean Cay Lighthouse Bar as they were setting up, definitely needed more crew there, had to push onto bar area for service, and fully agree with you when you said something to the effect “drinks not that great, went back to ship for better ones.” In January Lighthouse Bar was an excellent choice to sit and read and be served great drinks 

4) Enjoyed ship but didn’t love it, talked about Back to Backs we have been on in the past and we both came to the conclusion that we would not do one on Seashore. 
5) We too have been on Meraviglia and Divina and Armonia. Our second Mera was in January of this year, much prefer that style, and would certainly cruise her again, but when she returns to America it is my understanding she is sailing out of New York. Armonia is a delightful smaller ship, but she has left us for Europe. Have Divina booked for September, hope we enjoy her as much as on our previous sailings on her. 

[CampNCruise74]

2 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

So, it wasn't a terrible cruise.  I've never had a terrible time in the 20 years and 40+ sailings.  But it was far from a great cruise.

 

It was about what I expected.  Too much ship (but beautiful).  Decent service most of the time.  Nice casino.  Not great MDR or buffet food.  I enjoyed having the drink package (probably enjoyed that a bit more than I needed to).  I don't hate kids; but I don't like it when they run and shout and treat all spaces as their own personal playground and the parents ignore it.

 

The only way I'd consider sailing this class ship again would be if my DD wanted to sail.  I imagine her husband would love it, and they have a daughter who will be 2 in August.  I'll consider booking using my 30% casino discount for next January (since I have a late-Jan cruise booked, I could do another side-to-side) if they want to sail.  As for going solo again?  Probably not.

 

I've moved away from Carnival (>30 cruises on them and a B2B2B med/med/TA coming up in October and the Jan 2023 booking).  My preferred line now is Holland America.  It's just more my speed.  I'd like a more diverse demographic on HAL but I love their ships, service, food, and itineraries.  Really liked X but unless I start getting good offers from them, if the price is comparable to HAL, I'll stick with them.  I like MSC and as long as their fares are in my budget, I'll consider them, but they won't be at the top of my list.

I'm sorry your cruise wasn't super, but I guess it could have been worse.  The Seashore does have two omelet stations at the stern of the buffet, which can be far from where people normally enter. The omelet station is slow so if someone's interested you better get there early.  When we got off a few weeks ago there was a large number of service employees that had just arrived on new contact and probably not had too much training.  I do understand about having to be super assertive sometimes.  Surprisingly on Ocean Kay I said at the bar for a while with no one asking me if I needed anything.  I finally asked him who do I need to speak to to order.   MSC definitely has the kids, but they do market themselves as a family oriented line with extensive kids club experiences.

 

 

[NCTribeFan]

I circled the entire buffet area multiple times and never saw an omelet station.  Believe me, I was looking for one.

 

Thought the pizza was good, as had been on past cruises.  No, there isn't as much of a selection, but what they had was tasty.  I sometimes got one  of the little pre-made sandwiches, then over to the deli meats and cheeses and loaded it up with more protein. 😄

 

I may look at Divina in January.

 

Oh, and I'm not a coffee drinker (hot tea for me, thanks), but I started going to the Brooklyn Cafe mid-morning and having a cappuccino, which was very nice.  I'm also not a chocoholic but those little Venchi chocolates that you get with the coffee were delicious.  I received a box of chocolates as a gift from the casino.  I haven't opened it.  I'm going to give it to DD tomorrow.  If I open it, they'll all be gone by then!

Edited April 24, 2022 by NCTribeFan

[Stockjock]

You mentioned the lack of masking, but you also mentioned Celebrity Summit, which I sailed on a few months before.  I presume that the mask situation was even "worse" on Summit, as it is a mask-optional cruise (which we liked, btw).

[cellfree]

19 minutes ago, NCTribeFan said:

I circled the entire buffet area multiple times and never saw an omelet station.  Believe me, I was looking for one.

Sorry you didn’t find the Omelet Station, it was on very back wall of buffet across from a coffee/tea serving area, we always sat at the very end of ship as less crowded and I enjoyed an omelet a few times, never a line-up of more than three or four, perhaps others could not find it either, that is also where you could find crispy bacon. 

[NCTribeFan]

No masking on Summit.  As we walked onto the ship, we were told we could remove our masks.  

Had it been necessary to muster on Summit, I would've kept a mask on while the masses were packed onto the staircases.

 

The thing with Seashore was that everything prior to sailing, and onboard the ship, stated that masks were required.  If you aren't going to enforce that, then take it out of all the documentation.

 

My issue with it was that everything SAID we were to be masked yet very few were actually masked, including small children in crowded areas, who I'm pretty sure weren't vaccinated.  Just enforce your own rules or eliminate them!

 

I wore a mask in the airport and on the flight home.  There were many small children on the flight, also.  I haven't been this careful for the past 2+ years to end up getting sick now!

[paceyswife]

5 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

No masking on Summit.  As we walked onto the ship, we were told we could remove our masks.  

Had it been necessary to muster on Summit, I would've kept a mask on while the masses were packed onto the staircases.

 

The thing with Seashore was that everything prior to sailing, and onboard the ship, stated that masks were required.  If you aren't going to enforce that, then take it out of all the documentation.

 

My issue with it was that everything SAID we were to be masked yet very few were actually masked, including small children in crowded areas, who I'm pretty sure weren't vaccinated.  Just enforce your own rules or eliminate them!

 

I wore a mask in the airport and on the flight home.  There were many small children on the flight, also.  I haven't been this careful for the past 2+ years to end up getting sick now!

We were on the April 9th sailing. We’ve sailed Seaside and Divina. We had cruises booked on both Armonia and Meraviglia but both canceled during Covid. 
We enjoyed our cruise very much. I believe we had around 3100 passengers and didn’t feel as crowded on as our full sailing on Seaside in 2020. There were lots of empty seats at the shows (we rotated the early and late shows). My husband and I went to Le Cabernet nightly and enjoyed it much more than the main theater. 
We wore our masks whenever inside. My 14 year old was the most vigilant of us. Both my husband and 17 year old came down with sore throats on Friday and when we got home Sunday night, they tested positive for Covid. Several others (from a group Facebook page) tested positive as well upon return home. 
We went 2years and four months avoiding Covid. Fortunately both only had bad head colds and somehow my 14 year old and I remained negative. That’s even after driving from Miami to Buffalo! Our MDR server went missing after 3rd night without explanation so we think that could have been our exposure but who knows. We did take taxis in Cozumel and Grand Cayman (but we were masked). 
MDR was fine, nothing that knocked our socks off. Buffet was as expected. The omelet stations were at the back. My husband had one most mornings. 
We went to Sports bar a couple of times and service was iffy as well. Bartenders were arguing with each other our second time there. 
We had so many issues prior to booking with MSC we said we likely wouldn’t sail again unless they cruise experience on board  made up for it. It did. MSC gave us additional OBC to what we already had (to make up for their many blunders… like canceling our reservation the day before we were to leave)! We ended up the last night struggling to spend it. Husband went to duty free and we are stocked up for the next year in tequila and gin🤣. 
I like the smaller ships as well as that’s how I was introduced to cruising. Kids like the bigger ships as there are more bells and whistles for them. 

[Morgsmom]

19 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

Back in the day when I worked in service, you were trained to look around and pay attention to who was next.  Appears that's no longer done.  And I love when someone KNOWS you were there before them but just goes ahead and lets the person take their order anyway.  So rude. 

Totally agree with this and so sorry that it happened to you.  I have found that when I sail solo the service is lacking unless I make it, uh hum, clear that I am traveling alone.  Sometimes the bartenders assume that you are waiting on someone to come join you (to give them the benefit of the doubt). 

[quattrohead]

47 minutes ago, Morgsmom said:

Sometimes the bartenders assume that you are waiting on someone to come join you (to give them the benefit of the doubt). 

This could very well be the case. Almost all of the service people are so polite I can see they struggle with loud crowded situations. Mrs QH and myself have never had a problem getting served but neither of us is backwards in being forward 🤩

But you have cemented my stance on the "smaller ships" and avoiding Miami.

Next trip will be on Divina again and then I do want to try Meraviglia later this year when she returns to PC.

[NCTribeFan]

Can't believe I missed the omelets after all that circling of the buffet stations!

 

Looks like Divina will be in Miami by next January.  Of course, that's all still subject to change!  I may book her if my DD wants to go.

 

Yes, I've often had servers who seem to assume that I must be waiting for someone to join me.  They should ask, though, not assume.

 

Actually, the first night at the Shine Bar (where I had to teach the bartenders how to make a Dark & Stormy), a guy selling dining packages walked up and the first thing he said was "why are you alone?"  My response was "what?"  He repeated it.  Uh, because I'm sailing solo!  And he again said "but why are you alone?"  BECAUSE I WANT TO BE!  Maybe some of these folks are just from highly patriarchal societies where they just don't see women out by themselves.  But if they're going to be working with people from different cultures, they should be made aware that this is not all THAT uncommon these days.  I'm not sure whether I actually saw anyone else on the entire ship that appeared to be solo, ,though.

 

Does MSC send out emails for feedback after their cruises?  I can't remember whether I got them in the past or not.  There were several things I wanted to share with them.

[cellfree]

7 hours ago, quattrohead said:

Next trip will be on Divina again and then I do want to try Meraviglia later this year when she returns to PC.

What i have heard is that the Mera is going to sail out of NY, we enjoy the Mera so not excited about that. 

Edited April 25, 2022 by cellfree

[paceyswife]

2 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

Can't believe I missed the omelets after all that circling of the buffet stations!

 

Looks like Divina will be in Miami by next January.  Of course, that's all still subject to change!  I may book her if my DD wants to go.

 

Yes, I've often had servers who seem to assume that I must be waiting for someone to join me.  They should ask, though, not assume.

 

Actually, the first night at the Shine Bar (where I had to teach the bartenders how to make a Dark & Stormy), a guy selling dining packages walked up and the first thing he said was "why are you alone?"  My response was "what?"  He repeated it.  Uh, because I'm sailing solo!  And he again said "but why are you alone?"  BECAUSE I WANT TO BE!  Maybe some of these folks are just from highly patriarchal societies where they just don't see women out by themselves.  But if they're going to be working with people from different cultures, they should be made aware that this is not all THAT uncommon these days.  I'm not sure whether I actually saw anyone else on the entire ship that appeared to be solo, ,though.

 

Does MSC send out emails for feedback after their cruises?  I can't remember whether I got them in the past or not.  There were several things I wanted to share with them.

I got a survey.  It allowed for a brief comment at the end. 

[Nunagoras]

Nice review, thanks!

 

Kids is just why I tend to avoid as much as possible cruising during school breaks. I love them, but again... It's my holiday time! If I want to rest during that time, I wouldn't go for what can be as stressful as it can be. Surely MSC permits kids all the year, but with schools open you'll have less kids, and generally better behaved ones, and that affects the service levels for the better.

 

Have a nice day!...

[no1talks]

8 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

Can't believe I missed the omelets after all that circling of the buffet stations!

 

Looks like Divina will be in Miami by next January.  Of course, that's all still subject to change!  I may book her if my DD wants to go.

 

Yes, I've often had servers who seem to assume that I must be waiting for someone to join me.  They should ask, though, not assume.

 

Actually, the first night at the Shine Bar (where I had to teach the bartenders how to make a Dark & Stormy), a guy selling dining packages walked up and the first thing he said was "why are you alone?"  My response was "what?"  He repeated it.  Uh, because I'm sailing solo!  And he again said "but why are you alone?"  BECAUSE I WANT TO BE!  Maybe some of these folks are just from highly patriarchal societies where they just don't see women out by themselves.  But if they're going to be working with people from different cultures, they should be made aware that this is not all THAT uncommon these days.  I'm not sure whether I actually saw anyone else on the entire ship that appeared to be solo, ,though.

 

Does MSC send out emails for feedback after their cruises?  I can't remember whether I got them in the past or not.  There were several things I wanted to share with them.

1) I'm a bit appalled cruise bartenders didn't know the Dark & Stormy. They're mixing drinks on a cruise ship. Rum cocktails should be in their wheelhouse. Furthermore, Moscow Mule variations are listed on various drink menus and if one knows that drink, one should know the Dark & Stormy.

2) Did they have actual ginger beer for the Dark & Stormy, or was it sad ginger ale? I know several menus' drinks mention ginger beer, but I did not see a proper ginger beer, such as Gosings, listed on any bar's menu.
3) A customer comments e-mail promptly arrived in my inbox shortly after our cruise on Mera, which was a few months ago.

Edited April 26, 2022 by no1talks

[Morgsmom]

8 hours ago, no1talks said:

2) Did they have actual ginger beer for the Dark & Stormy, or was it sad ginger ale? I know several menus' drinks mention ginger beer, but I did not see a proper ginger beer, such as Gosings, listed on any bar's menu.

I noticed that some venues (on the Mera and Divina) had proper ginger beer, but not all.  

[NCTribeFan]

Most of the bars I visited did not have Goslings Black Seal rum so I didn't even ask for a D&S.  Yes, Shine Bar had Goslings Ginger Beer.  It's not my favorite.  I buy a ginger beer called Q and get the spicy version.  I put extra lime in mine.

 

My survey email was in my inbox this morning, so I'll do that later.  I have to go take care of the grandbaby today.  

 

One other thing I neglected to mention.  The volume of the live music in the atrium.  O.  M.  G.  It was absolutely deafening.  You'd be sitting there at the bar, chatting with someone, and the music would start.  The only way to continue conversing was to have to absolutely shout at the person 2 feet away.  Music volume in public spaces is one of my pet peeves.  Why do we need blaring piped in (bad) pop music in every space everywhere?  But this band was just stupidly loud.  Hey, I have lots of musician friends and I realize they all think they have to play at full volume regardless of the space in which they're playing.  I also realize the atrium on this ship is large.  But it's a public space.  The excursion and service desks are in this area.  There are multiple bars.  There are seating areas.  What makes them think it's necessary to have music SO LOUD that it's impossible to hear yourself think, let alone converse with someone?  I mean, it really was just incredibly loud.  And don't get me started on the music that was blasting from one of the tiny shops.  Yeah, I'm going to want to shop and spend money on fancy jewelry because you're playing music at a level that's actually painful..  That's a real incentive. 😡