Seashore. First MSC cruise-some thoughts.

[iowacruiser]

Just returned from a quick 3 day cruise to the Bahamas for our anniversary. 

After reading some of the recent reviews we were both a little apprehensive but ended up being pleasantly surprised.

First of all, Yacht Club was well worth the cost. In fact we wouldn't sail MSC again without it.

We have 25+ cruises under our belt, with most of the recent voyages on Holland America. We like the smaller, midsize ships and an a little older crowd (we are both 65)

Seashore is the biggest ship we have ever sailed and the crowds were a little overwhelming at time. The Yacht Club provides a nice sanctuary and on our sailing the Top Sail Lounge, Dining room, and the private pool on deck 20 never felt crowded.

The ship itself is very nice with a lot of "bling". The elevators take a little time to get use too (kept reaching to push a button to pick a floor) MSC seems to focus more on shopping on board then other cruise lines.

The muster drill was the worse part of the trip. Forcing 5000 passengers to all funnel down the stairwells to deck 7. We saw several seniors struggling to navigate all the stairs with the mob behind them pushing them along. With everyone crammed like sardines onto one deck, if anyone picked up a virus it was probably there. Other cruise lines have managed to streamline the muster drills and MSC should do the same.  

FOOD

We ate in the Yacht Club dining room twice and the food and service were quite good. We both had prime rib and while the servings were pretty thin it was tender and flavorful. It was nice being able to sit in the Top Sail Lounge for a drink and have someone from the staff come and escort you to your table.

We ate there the last night as well. My wife ordered lambchops and raved about it. (she's a picky eater)

The second night we ate in Ocean Cay-the seafood specialty dining venue. The food was mediocre and the service was the worst of the cruise. They offer a 3 course pre-fix meal for $60 and several items for a 50% upcharge.. We opted to order ala carte and both ordered lobster tail for $47. It was actually just 3 chunks of lobster over a bed of wilted spinach. We also ordered king crab as an appetizer. It came to the table late and the drawn butter dish was actually pushed down in the bed of ice so it was more like cream cheese than melted butter. Disappointing at best.

The poolside buffet on deck 20 was popular and the food was always hot and appetizing. We ate breakfast there the first morning and had eggs to order and omelets. Very good and not very crowded.

The Yacht Club staff is top notch from the waiters and bar staff to the Butler and cabin stewards. They all wear multiple hats. Our Butler Angelo also served drinks at the pool and on Ocean Cay. I think if you are assigned to Yacht Club you must stay with Yacht Club guests on and off the ship. Unlike other ships where wait staff hounds you to buy more drinks,  at times we felt like we needed to hunt down a waiter to order something.

OCEAN CAY

We always thought Holland America's Half Moon Cay was the best private island in the Bahamas. MSC's  Ocean Cay Marine Reserve is just as nice if not better. It has paved roads, nice landscaping, plenty of beaches and water sport activities. The Ocean House (Yacht Club) was an easy walk from the pier but there were shuttles running back and forth all day. The Lighthouse-Lightshow as the ship pulled out was very cool. 

 

Overall we enjoyed the cruise, the crew and the food but would only sail MSC again if we booked the Yacht Club.

 

 

 

 

[JT1962]

Glad you enjoyed it. I’ve had good experiences with MSC. I was on the transatlantic on the Seashore in Oct / Nov and had no major issues, but heard many others complain about the food, service, entertainment, etc. It wasn’t perfect, but for the price I paid, I was happy. 
 

I love Ocean Cay as well. It is my favorite private island of all those I have visited, including Half Moon Cay, Princess Cays and CocoCay. I like the fact that it has not been overdeveloped with a waterpark and other amenities.

[momofmab]

I agree with you about the muster drill!  That's something they really need to work on!  As I was going from Deck 19 down to Deck 7, with 5,000 people, I wondered how smoothly this would go in an actual emergency.  My guess is not well.

[Mark_T]

4 hours ago, momofmab said:

I wondered how smoothly this would go in an actual emergency.  My guess is not well.

Yet it is at least some preparation for what the reality would be like, unlike many of the other versions of the drill...

 

Was it really '5,000' at the same time though?

 

My recollection of the drill on Divina was that decks were called in sequence to spread the load...

[iowacruiser]

39 minutes ago, Mark_T said:

Yet it is at least some preparation for what the reality would be like, unlike many of the other versions of the drill...

 

Was it really '5,000' at the same time though?

 

My recollection of the drill on Divina was that decks were called in sequence to spread the load...

Not sure if the exact number was 5000 but the ship was full and yes everyone was called to deck 7 at the same time.

[JT1962]

19 minutes ago, iowacruiser said:

Not sure if the exact number was 5000 but the ship was full and yes everyone was called to deck 7 at the same time.

On 7 MSC cruises in the past two years, I have seen them call by deck on some sailings and have everyone go at once on others. So typical MSC, no consistency, lol. 
 

I have learned to just go to my muster station as soon as the video is over and I have dialed the number and gotten confirmation. Someone has always been there to scan my card and I am able to get back up the stairs before most people even leave their cabins to head down the stairs.

Edited December 11, 2023 by JT1962

[capriccio]

On 12/11/2023 at 8:50 AM, momofmab said:

I agree with you about the muster drill!  That's something they really need to work on!  As I was going from Deck 19 down to Deck 7, with 5,000 people, I wondered how smoothly this would go in an actual emergency.  My guess is not well.

We are on the Seascape right now.  My DH had major spinal surgery 2 months ago and doctor’s orders are “use a cane to keep you steady.”  Needless to say he isn’t fast and use of the cane could trip other passengers on a crowded stairway.  I asked on this forum how MSC handles those cases and a couple of respondents said that a butler would be stationed at the elevator to take him down 9 decks.  After boarding I asked at the YC concierge desk and they said watch the video, call the number, and then he should remain in the room and I should take his cruise card with me to the muster station.  They also made a note about needing assistance in a true emergency.
 

I don’t know what they would have suggested if we both had problems with so many steps and crowds.  In my own opinion, while the steps were bad, muster station D - the casino was a disaster.  Hundreds of people crowding the bottom of the stairways with some heading in the direction of the casino; others in the direction of the theater.  The staff verifying cards were lined up against the walls with their tablets - I never made it into the Casino and didn’t realize that it was, in fact, the muster station!  What a mess it would be in an emergency with very limited seating and lines of sight.  I had no problem submitting both cards but then the problem was heading back towards the elevators thru the incoming surge of passengers.

 

We have experienced much easier ways to use modern technology for the muster drill.  On Princess you notify guest services after boarding if assistance will be necessary in a true emergency.  Then at your leisure before departure you watch the required video in your cabin.  Then, again before departure, you proceed - by whichever means you desire - to your muster station to have staff scan your Medallion (which replaces the old cruise card).  The old muster drill allowed those guests with trouble on stairs to take an elevator manned by staff to the muster station where everyone sat thru the presentation and life jacket donning.
 

As much as I appreciate the hassle factor reduction of the new drills, I can’t help but think that in an emergency that I would have more faith in my fellow passengers if they actually knew where they were going and how to buckle a life jacket.

Edited December 12, 2023 by capriccio

[morpheusofthesea]

Muster drill. Why the butlers do not suggest this to those with mobility problems suggests they do not know that there is a second muster drill the following morning for those that "missed" the first compulsory drill. Leisurely take the elevator to the theatre the following morning. NO hassles....

[morpheusofthesea]

45 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Why the butlers do not suggest this to those with mobility problems suggests they do not know that there is a second muster drill the following morning for those that "missed" the first compulsory drill.

OR, perhaps the onus falls upon the butler to "get you to the church on time" for the 9:30 am in the theatre? (making more work for themselves?)

Edited December 12, 2023 by morpheusofthesea

[Mark_T]

3 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

OR, perhaps the onus falls upon the butler to "get you to the church on time" for the 9:30 am in the theatre? (making more work for themselves?)

...or the protocols do not allow them to suggest that someone skips the drill before departure...?

 

[morpheusofthesea]

1 hour ago, capriccio said:

I can’t help but think that in an emergency that I would have more faith in my fellow passengers if they actually knew where they were going and how to buckle a life jacket.

You are correct. I would also have more faith with my fellow passengers. On one cruise line all the passengers were assigned to lifeBOATS and all crew to lifeRAFTS. When the ship capsized only two lifeRAFTS were launched. The crew took the passenger places on the lifeBOATS and left 1000 passengers on board.

[momofmab]

2 hours ago, capriccio said:

The staff verifying cards were lined up against the walls with their tablets - I never made it into the Casino and didn’t realize that it was, in fact, the muster station!  What a mess it would be in an emergency with very limited seating and lines of sight.  I had no problem submitting both cards but then the problem was heading back towards the elevators thru the incoming surge of passengers.

 

Yes - this was my issue as well.  I think our muster station was in the theatre because that's where our cards were scanned and we paraded through it, but it didn't say that anywhere - there was just a "C" on our card.  We were on X this past January and I remember also having to go have my card scanned at a restaurant but it wasn't an "everyone all at once" scenario.  I seem to recall them giving you a range of time to get it done by.  I'm glad they let your husband stay behind.  I was worried about a few people that I saw trying to navigate the stairs.

[Svea817]

Is the muster drill at a set time (like after 4PM?) and are you free to have lunch, go in the pool, etc up until that time?  Or is everyone hanging out in their room until after the drill?  First MSC cruise tomorrow so I appreciate the insight. It might affect how we plan our day.

[capriccio]

13 minutes ago, Svea817 said:

Is the muster drill at a set time (like after 4PM?) and are you free to have lunch, go in the pool, etc up until that time?  Or is everyone hanging out in their room until after the drill?  First MSC cruise tomorrow so I appreciate the insight. It might affect how we plan our day.

Yes.  The time should be in your daily schedule.  I seem to remember 3:45 or thereabouts.  Maybe someone on board now - or with a better memory - will chime in.  Have a great cruise!

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

8 hours ago, Svea817 said:

Is the muster drill at a set time (like after 4PM?) and are you free to have lunch, go in the pool, etc up until that time?  Or is everyone hanging out in their room until after the drill?  First MSC cruise tomorrow so I appreciate the insight. It might affect how we plan our day.

Yes, you're free to have lunch, go to the pool, self-tour the ship prior to the muster drill, whatever. The muster drills on my two most-recent MSC cruises were at 16:45 on Euribia and 16:00 on Seaside.

Edited January 5 by KINGBOBOFTHENORTH