Booked our first cruise this month!

[Ty0604]

We booked our first cruise recently and it’s coming up in 3+ weeks. We’re going on a 5 day/4 night cruise of the Bahamas aboard the MSC Magnifica out of Miami. Can’t wait! We’re flying into Miami 2 days before the cruise and spending a day in Everglades NP before we depart. We also fly out 2 days after the cruise ends and spending a day in Key West before we fly home. We were looking at longer cruises but wanted to test the waters and see how we liked it before committing to anything longer. 

 

A little about us! I’m 28 and my sister, the one accompanying me, is 23. We’ve visited all contiguous 48 states and just recently started exploring internationally with a month long trip to New Zealand and Australia in 2023. We’re originally from Wisconsin but she lives near Seattle and I’m outside of Knoxville. 

 

1/27 Flights to Miami from Knoxville and Seattle

1/28 Everglades NP

1/29 Embarkation 

1/30 Ocean Cay

1/31 Day at sea

2/1 Nassau 

2/2 Debarkation 

2/3 Key West

2/4 Flights to Knoxville and Seattle from Miami 

[mom says]

Welcome to CC. Did you have a question? I hope your first cruise is a memorable one.

[ldubs]

Enjoy!  

[Ty0604]

No questions, just wanted to introduce myself. Sorry if this isn’t the forum for that. 

[Essiesmom]

My question is about visiting Key West.  Are you flying or driving?  If driving, it’s over 3 hours,  long drive for not a lot of time in Key West…. EM

[Ty0604]

14 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

My question is about visiting Key West.  Are you flying or driving?  If driving, it’s over 3 hours,  long drive for not a lot of time in Key West…. EM

Driving there and flying back. Have a friend in Key West who needs her car back and it’s in Miami. The last time we drove to Key West it was 2 hours 30 minutes though. We went late at night with very little traffic and were able to maintain 80 a majority of the way. We’ll do the same this time. 

Edited January 4 by Ty0604

[Mum2Mercury]

2 hours ago, Ty0604 said:

We booked our first cruise recently and it’s coming up in 3+ weeks. We’re going on a 5 day/4 night cruise of the Bahamas aboard the MSC Magnifica out of Miami.

Good for you!  Usually I'd say, "A 5/4 isn't long enough!  Doesn't justify your travel!", but since you're using this as a "test" to see whether you like cruising, I think you're making a good choice.  We did the same thing ... and we all loved it. 

2 hours ago, mom says said:

Welcome to CC. Did you have a question? I hope your first cruise is a memorable one.

You'll come up with some questions!  

40 minutes ago, Ty0604 said:

Driving there and flying back. Have a friend in Key West who needs her car back and it’s in Miami. The last time we drove to Key West it was 2 hours 30 minutes though. We went late at night with very little traffic and were able to maintain 80 a majority of the way. We’ll do the same this time. 

Serendipitous!   

[Mangrove Snapper]

Have a great time!

[crystalspin]

On 1/4/2024 at 12:48 PM, Ty0604 said:

No questions, just wanted to introduce myself. Sorry if this isn’t the forum for that. 

You did fine! Lots of us like to feel the excitement vicariously!

[Ty0604]

I have a friend who does 5-6 cruises a year and seeing all his post on Facebook is what got me interested 😊

[Host Kat]

On 1/5/2024 at 4:27 PM, Ty0604 said:

I have a friend who does 5-6 cruises a year and seeing all his post on Facebook is what got me interested 😊

 

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[puppycanducruise]

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Cruising.

Have a great time.

[cruiseaholic777]

If you are looking for things to do in Nassau we love going to Breezes resort. It is about 12 min. from the cruise port. We just get a ride at the port and pay 100$ a person at the resort. That includes all your food, drinks, pools, hot tub and the beach.

[Ty0604]

Our first cruise was great. I’m surprised how good the food was. I ate nonstop at times. Ocean Cay was wonderful but Nassau I wouldn’t recommend. The US Embassy currently has a travel advisory there right now. 18 murders in January alone. The beaches are dirty. We did do a city tour that was okay. Went to the Queens Staircase and stopped by a lot of rum factories but we don’t drink. I would 100% cruise with MSC again though! Looking forward to booking our next one. 

Edited February 3 by Ty0604

[Essiesmom]

I would like to invite you to come over to the MSC board here and tell us about your cruise.  So many people there only talk about the Yacht Club and make those of us in the rest of the ship feel like second class citizens.  But 90% of guests are having a good time NOT in the Yacht Club.  EM

[Ty0604]

20 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

I would like to invite you to come over to the MSC board here and tell us about your cruise.  So many people there only talk about the Yacht Club and make those of us in the rest of the ship feel like second class citizens.  But 90% of guests are having a good time NOT in the Yacht Club.  EM

If I can find it I’ll definitely post! What’s the Yacht Club? Is that the fancy pool/spa area? I went to there once to watch the sunrise. Didn’t seem too special. Just less crowded than the main pools. 

[Essiesmom]

The MSC board here is located under Cruise Lines A-O.  The Yacht Club is the ‘ship within a ship’ concept on MSC, limited to those who book it.  Has its own pool, decks, restaurant and buffet…. EM

[Ty0604]

3 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

The MSC board here is located under Cruise Lines A-O.  The Yacht Club is the ‘ship within a ship’ concept on MSC, limited to those who book it.  Has its own pool, decks, restaurant and buffet…. EM

Oh. I’m not sure the Magnifica had that. They did have a members only pool deck with a spa etc but the only buffet was open to anymore. They had other restaurants as well but only a few did you have to pay for and anyone could go. 

[Essiesmom]

 No, Magnifica (Musica class) does not have Yacht Club.  Any restricted areas would have been for Aurea class cabins.  EM