first cruise on msc (US cruise)

[mpacker]

Been on 15+ cruises all on princess, Carnival, RCL and NCL

 

what should i expect to be different on MSC? (good and/or bad).  

 

Thanks!

[Georgia_Peaches]

What category experience did you book?  What ship?

[mpacker]

We are on seashore out of port canaveral.  Just a normal room (not yacht club)

[Two Wheels Only]

2 minutes ago, mpacker said:

We are on seashore out of port canaveral.  Just a normal room (not yacht club)

 

Bella?

Fantastica?

Aurea?

[mpacker]

7 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

Bella?

Fantastica?

Aurea?

it says Fantastica.   I didn’t even know what those meant…. 
 

I did just go and read about those differences so I at least understand them now

 

 

i should mention that we rarely drink so alcohol is t a concern of ours

 

 

thanks
 

 

Edited October 30, 2023 by mpacker

[Two Wheels Only]

Just now, mpacker said:

It says Fantastica.   I didn’t even know what those meant….

 

Experiences are like economy, coach, business, first class, etc. when flying. Different levels get different things.

 

Someone could have an interior with Yacht Club experience (highest level) while someone else could have a balcony with Bella experience (base level).

 

One of the reasons for such varying reviews is because of the different experiences, accomodations, and expectations.

 

Assigned dining is something that bothers some people. Certain experiences have it while others are more freestyle like NCL. With Fantastica, there is some flexibility but it's still assigned for dinner.

 

More info HERE (Bella, Fantastica, Aurea) and HERE (Yacht Club).

 

[Georgia_Peaches]

We really enjoyed Seashore.  It's a newer ship and very beautiful.  We were in the YC but felt very comfortable in all areas.  I would say the feel is close to RCL and NCL...especially on the pool deck and sports/water park areas.  I liked the indoor layout and dining venues better on Seashore than RCI or NCL.  Only downside for me was the casino...not as good as the other lines...smaller and fewer games.  If the price is right, give it a try!

[Essiesmom]

You will have old fashioned fixed dining with assigned time and table, you should have specified your preference for early or late when doing checkin.  It will be printed on your cruise card, but there will be a time and place to request a change.  When are you cruising?  I have been on sister ship Seaside and will be on Seashore in Dec.  

   if your cruise is 7 nights or more there will be a high proportion of non-North American cruisers, and I have found they tend to dress a little better than many of us, especially the ladies.  No droopy drawers or spending the day in PJ pants.  
    Food portions are not huge and they have gone to a charge of $5 for a second entree, a,though you can have as many apps and desserts as you want.  I found the buffet quite good for breakfast and lunch…I never visited it for supper.  My biggest problem is that the only free ice cream is in the MDR and limited hours for soft serve.  Gelato is pricey but delicious, though.  EM

[mpacker]

31 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Only downside for me was the casino...not as good as the other lines...smaller and fewer games.  If the price is right, give it a try!

I have already found out that they have no Craps table and that’s all I play.   But I know it going in so not a big deal 🙂

 

thanks

[mpacker]

28 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

You will have old fashioned fixed dining with assigned time and table, you should have specified your preference for early or late when doing checkin.  It will be printed on your cruise card, but there will be a time and place to request a change.  When are you cruising?  I have been on sister ship Seaside and will be on Seashore in Dec.  

   if your cruise is 7 nights or more there will be a high proportion of non-North American cruisers, and I have found they tend to dress a little better than many of us, especially the ladies.  No droopy drawers or spending the day in PJ pants.  
    Food portions are not huge and they have gone to a charge of $5 for a second entree, a,though you can have as many apps and desserts as you want.  I found the buffet quite good for breakfast and lunch…I never visited it for supper.  My biggest problem is that the only free ice cream is in the MDR and limited hours for soft serve.  Gelato is pricey but delicious, though.  EM

we are going in a couple weeks, it was a “last minute deal”.  It’s actually a short cruise as we didn’t want to book longer cruise without trying it first.  It seems people either live or hate MSC.  We are going in with the mindset “it’s different” and are going to have fun not matter what 🙂

 

we are concerned about MDR.  We have always just dined “out time” before and prefer just a table for us.   Can you find out if you are on larger table and request 2 topper?  If so how and when is best to do this?

 

they charge for 2nd entree???   Wow.  Better make sure I get something I like then 🙂

 

 

thanks!

[shipgeeks]

After you board, your ship card will note your dining room and table number. You can probably go in to check it out.  If not satisfactory, you will be able to see a head waiter to ask for a change.  The time and place for that will be listed, probably in your daily program, or outside the dining room.

[Essiesmom]

Are you one a four or three day cruise?  When I did the 4/3 B2B they opened the lower dining room to all My Choice on the three day cruise.  Having a 2 top will mean you will have close neighbors… pics below are from the My Choice MDR on Seaside and the instructions about dining are in the Welcome Aboard paper:

[Essiesmom]

Pack water shoes for Ocean Cay.  There will be one night when they encourage everyone to wear white.  If you have multiple electronics to charge, you might want to bring a plug adapter for an EU outlet.  There are two US and two EU outlets at the desk. There is no way to plug in a nightlight in the bathroom, so I used this the last cruise.  It is magnetic and recharge by usb.  I parked it on the bathroom wall across from the toilet.
 

[mpacker]

38 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

Are you one a four or three day cruise?  When I did the 4/3 B2B they opened the lower dining room to all My Choice on the three day cruise.  Having a 2 top will mean you will have close neighbors… pics below are from the My Choice MDR on Seaside and the instructions about dining are in the Welcome Aboard paper:

 

 

we are on 4 day

 

close neighbors are okay.  
 

I guess it’s weird we have done 17 cruises and never had “assigned dining” time.  This will be a first for us 🙂

 

 

[Selion]

1 hour ago, mpacker said:

 

we are on 4 day

 

close neighbors are okay.  
 

I guess it’s weird we have done 17 cruises and never had “assigned dining” time.  This will be a first for us 🙂

 

 

In August on Seaside, we were booked in Fantastica and they gave us My Choice Dining.  Something MSC started experimenting on the US short cruises for small(er) parties.  Just go to your assign MDR during dinner service and they would seat you.  Our longest wait was around 5 minutes on the 1st night.  The remainder 2 nights we were seated in 1 to 2 minutes.  Hopefully MSC is still doing this on your cruise.

Edited October 31, 2023 by Selion

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I did the "My Choice Dining" once on my last MSC cruise last month and the wait to get seated was less than 5 minutes. I had been scheduled for the early dining but couldn't make it one night. The ship was pretty full too.

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

5 hours ago, mpacker said:

It seems people either live or hate MSC.  We are going in with the mindset “it’s different” and are going to have fun not matter what 🙂

 

With that kind of attitude, you're going to do just fine. MSC has become way more Americanized in the decade they've been operating here and really, I don't see much difference onboard any more.

[gizfish]

9 hours ago, mpacker said:

we are going in a couple weeks, it was a “last minute deal”.  It’s actually a short cruise as we didn’t want to book longer cruise without trying it first.  It seems people either live or hate MSC.  We are going in with the mindset “it’s different” and are going to have fun not matter what 🙂

 

we are concerned about MDR.  We have always just dined “out time” before and prefer just a table for us.   Can you find out if you are on larger table and request 2 topper?  If so how and when is best to do this?

 

they charge for 2nd entree???   Wow.  Better make sure I get something I like then 🙂

 

 

thanks!

Keep in mind that you can order the pasta or risotto as a starter even though it's listed as a main.  They will bring you a full size portion.  We cruised Meraviglia out of NY about a month ago and did not find the portions small at all.

[insidecabin]

5 hours ago, KINGBOBOFTHENORTH said:

With that kind of attitude, you're going to do just fine. MSC has become way more Americanized in the decade they've been operating here and really, I don't see much difference onboard any more.

They have been trying to fit the UK market as well by adjusting the cruises that run from Southampton.

With competitive pricing that have been doing well.

 

Been loads off family and solo deals.

 

We like the product a lot, you can  work round some of the problem areas.

 

Avoid school holidays when they fill the ship with kids.

 

Avoid buffet peak times.

 

Learn how to avoid the lines that tend to build up.

eg. don't think about trying to disembark early, just hang out with a late breakfast till people clear.

 

Book any add one before boarding.

 

Not for every cruise but great as part of a varied cruise portfolio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Heartgrove]

If eating in the buffet, it will be crowded for seating at the entry. But in the rear seating should be available.

[JamieLogical]

As others have said, the primary difference is assigned dining time/room/table. Other than that, there aren't that many differences. You will get both morning and evening room cleanings, which is super nice. With Fantastica, you can get free continental room service breakfast. That includes coffee, tea, juice, milk and cold food items like pastries, cereal, and yogurt. There will be a card in your room that you fill out each night and leave hanging on your doorknob.

 

MDR food portions are very reasonable. Oh, there is no included food beyond the the buffet and MDR. All other restaurants are an upcharge.