First Cruise Experience Aboard the Grandiosa - Part4

[OmegaSeamaster]

Entertainment, Shows, and Summary: Fun and Flaws

This is mainly about the pools, slides, hot tubs, and the daily and evening shows, as I've already covered the Fun Pass entertainment in a previous review. Starting with the pools, the atmosphere pools were of decent size and kept at a refreshing temperature. To secure loungers near the pool, we found it necessary to arrive around 8 am, which was manageable. Spending time there, relaxing and swimming on port days, was definitely worth it. However, the pool area became overwhelmingly crowded on sea days, making it less enjoyable for us. The poolside entertainment was frequent, ranging from quizzes and dancing to aerobics lessons and football or mini-golf competitions. Personally, the entertainment didn't quite align with my taste. The compere and music were too loud, resembling what you might find in a budget holiday village. However, that's just my personal opinion. The Horizon bar and pool, located aft of the ship, were much smaller and not an area where we spent much time, except for a quick post-dinner drink as we sailed off into the sunset. The smaller pool wasn't a viable option, except for a quick dip to cool down. Similarly, the Safari, a small indoor pool with a retractable roof, was usually busy and mainly frequented by families with younger children.

Interestingly, our kids were fond of the hot tubs, but they were too warm for my liking and often overcrowded. They also enjoyed the water slides, and the wait times were manageable for them.

Inside the ship, especially in the Galleria, there were some entertaining acts in the evenings. However, the large crowds could make one feel quite claustrophobic, so personally, it was an area I tried to avoid.

Now, let's talk about the shows. I had pre-booked the Sweet show Carousel for Saturday evening, but upon arrival, we were informed that it had been canceled. Unfortunately, we were departing the next day, so there was no opportunity to reschedule. We are currently waiting for a refund on that. As for the free shows, we managed to secure a booking for the Abba show in Theatre La Comedia. A tip for others: you need to book these shows on the day, and they fill up quickly. Try to reserve as early in the morning as possible using the screens throughout the ship. The Abba show, however, was truly amazing, with incredibly talented singers and a fantastic dance performance.

Very briefly on the casino. It was quite smokey, so we only ventured in once, just for the experience. I inserted €20 into a slot machine and won €320. I quickly cashed out and called it a day.

I managed to get plenty of exercise during the cruise by using the stairs instead of the lifts. Although it could be exhausting at times, it was a great way to burn off some calories.

Lastly, a quick note on disembarkation. We left our luggage outside our room by midnight on the final night and picked it up when we disembarked around 10am. Paying the bill, I thought was automatic since I had registered my credit card, but alas it's something you have to do manually. Didn't take long to disembark, but maybe luck in our timing. Our car keys were ready and waiting for us near our luggage in departure lounge. The process was simple and hassle-free.

In summary, we thoroughly enjoyed our first cruise aboard the Grandiosa. The ship itself was beautiful, our cabin was great, and the staff were excellent and attentive. There was plenty to keep us busy, and the cities we visited were interesting to explore. While it wasn't perfect, I attribute some of the flaws to sailing during peak season at full capacity. I imagine most cruise lines would face similar crowding issues. There are certainly areas where MSC could improve, but overall, they offer a fantastic cruise experience. For those disembarking in Genoa, if you can it's worth spending one night in or near Portofino, it's a truly beautiful little place to visit (about one hour from Genoa).