Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Booked my first MSC cruise

mcrimmins

By mcrimmins,
in MSC Cruises

 Share

Recommended Posts

mcrimmins

mcrimmins

Posted
Posted

We have 5 cruises with Princess and 1 with Royal. We were looking for a fall 2023 New England trip to see the colors. Princess has gotten pricey lately and MSC had a good promo.  I called in and spoke to an agent who was in the US and booked the 11 day next October. I got the Veteran discount and they matched my Princess status all while I was on the phone. (I had my DD214 on my phone so easy to email) Very smooth transaction. 
 

We just got off a Mexican Riviera cruise on Princess where the ship was just under half full. Food was good as was the entertainment. It was a great trip that required a port change due to a hurricane. No complaints at all - only pricey. 
 

Time will tell.

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites
showingdiva

showingdiva

Posted
Posted
17 minutes ago, Casino Comp Chick said:

Me too. I have heard crappy food but great ships but I find peoples food tastes is selective.

I will judge for myself soon.

 

Great pizza, great pasta, amazing panna cotta.    Plentiful cheese and bread.   You won't starve.

 

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites
ChattTenn

ChattTenn

Posted
Posted

Hope you will enjoy MSC.   We will be on our 2nd MSC later this year.  Our 1st was on Divina last year with only 1900+ passengers it was very quiet, the food was very European due it was after the pandemic but believe it is better now.  We are the Elite with Princess and got status match on MSC also got one free dinner at Butcher's Cut - very nice.  MSC price is very good and with a free dinner it is better.  Can't wait.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
PG_traveller

PG_traveller

Posted
Posted

I also booked my first MSC Cruise recently. They have great solo prices. I'm not sure if they always do, or it is a promotion. Anyway, it's a four day out of Miami on the Divina, but I'm considering changing it to a seven day. Possibly on the Meraviglia out of Orlando. Does anyone know if those two ships are pretty comparable?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cellfree

cellfree

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, PG_traveller said:

I also booked my first MSC Cruise recently. They have great solo prices. I'm not sure if they always do, or it is a promotion. Anyway, it's a four day out of Miami on the Divina, but I'm considering changing it to a seven day. Possibly on the Meraviglia out of Orlando. Does anyone know if those two ships are pretty comparable?

 A seven day cruise is always a better choice for us. We have been on both Mera and Divina several times. Just off Divina three weeks ago, did a B2B. Everything was wonderful, we feel food selections greatly improved, on evening menu they now offer “daily selections” along with four or five other choices, was great. In January doing a B2B on Mera. Hoping they too have what seems to be the new dinner menus. Comparing ships, hard to do, both beautiful, on MSC ships you rarely find a spot of rust. Divina is a more typical cruise ship plan whereas the Mera has a huge atrium which is gorgeous, really nice English Pub, steakhouse beautiful. Many cruisers feel Mera does not have enough outdoor space but we have never felt that way. If you have specific questions I “may” be able to answer. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
oleb84

oleb84

Posted
Posted

Good on ya! We will hopefully be joining you soon in booking MSC for the first time. 

 

Compared to the cost of other lines, it's worth a pint I'd say. Almost half the cost of one we have just done for the same time of year. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
HipHipOnAShip

HipHipOnAShip

Posted
Posted
19 hours ago, PG_traveller said:

I also booked my first MSC Cruise recently. They have great solo prices. I'm not sure if they always do, or it is a promotion. Anyway, it's a four day out of Miami on the Divina, but I'm considering changing it to a seven day. Possibly on the Meraviglia out of Orlando. Does anyone know if those two ships are pretty comparable?

The two ships are VERY Different. Worth researching to see if you have a preference.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ready2cruzagain

ready2cruzagain

Posted
Posted
19 hours ago, mcrimmins said:

We booked Fantastica. We don’t need a lot of frills on a cruise.  

You will be fine in Fantastica. We have sailed on 9 cruises with MSC and getting ready to sail our 10th on the Meraviglia in January. We have always booked Fantastica, I don't need a butler on a cruise and never been disappointed in the "common steerage" area.

 

The staff on MSC (at least on the Divina, Seashore and Seaside which we have sailed) are awesome and bend over backwards to make you comfortable. We have sailed Carnival, NCL, Princess and Celebrity and mostly sail only MSC anymore. The food on MSC as others have said is very subjective. Never had a problem finding something we like. If I tried something and didn't like it our waiters would always be bringing us more food.  

 

Love the Thermal Spa on the MSC ships, worth the extra for us. Actually a decent price compared to other cruise lines. Our 11 day cruise the spa package is $195 pp.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Tierun

Tierun

Posted
Posted
10 hours ago, ready2cruzagain said:

You will be fine in Fantastica. We have sailed on 9 cruises with MSC and getting ready to sail our 10th on the Meraviglia in January. We have always booked Fantastica, I don't need a butler on a cruise and never been disappointed in the "common steerage" area.

 

The staff on MSC (at least on the Divina, Seashore and Seaside which we have sailed) are awesome and bend over backwards to make you comfortable. We have sailed Carnival, NCL, Princess and Celebrity and mostly sail only MSC anymore. The food on MSC as others have said is very subjective. Never had a problem finding something we like. If I tried something and didn't like it our waiters would always be bringing us more food.  

 

Love the Thermal Spa on the MSC ships, worth the extra for us. Actually a decent price compared to other cruise lines. Our 11 day cruise the spa package is $195 pp.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

 

My wife and I always book Aurea for the spa thermal access. We find it worth it with the priority embarkation and my time dining. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
ready2cruzagain

ready2cruzagain

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, NewbieCruiser2015 said:

This feed is making me feel better.  Some of the reviews of MSC are so scary.  It’s our first MSC cruise (only been on one RC ).  So we are not experienced. Glad to hear some good reviews.  Thanks!! 

Go into it with the thoughts that it IS different. I believe that is why we fell in love with MSC. They are not the same ole Carnival, NCL, etc. Their food is different, but delicious, once again, that is subjective. You couldn't ask for a more friendly crew! The ships are beautiful and I dare you to find a spec of dirt or rust! They take pride in their ships. Go with an open mind that it is NOT Carnival or any of the other cruise lines and you will love it.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...