LIVE report MSC Seaview Yacht Club, 27th Sept-4th Oct 2024, Palma, Mallorca Med Cruise (with pre and post cruise stays).

[ConnieTact]

Then we explored a little up in top deck outside area and then explored just outside in Aurea section. We were then surprised to be “locked out of heaven!” Our keys didn’t work to get back into the Top deck are and we were locked out! 😅

We went down three floors and got in that way. The friendly concierge told us this had already been reported to engineers to be fixed. She joined in my joke and said ‘welcome Home!’ 😂Then back to cabin where luggage awaited. We unpacked and are back upstairs enjoying the sun. 

[ConnieTact]

Did I need the blueberry bread pudding with vanilla custard? No but need & want are different on a ship ! 😅

Afternoon snacks in pool bar. 

[ConnieTact]

Now a 5 o’clock drill in theatre. Ours is section ‘D’. 
This is different than Virtuosa (watch TV video, phone a number from cabin & walk through theatre having scanned card!)

sitting awaiting….something. The announcement said we will be shown our assembly stations’. 

 

[ConnieTact]

Here’s the area outside the Top Sail Lounge. Lots of seats for smokers & a whole side of upstairs at the front. 
Last photo show the side view. 

[ConnieTact]

We were shown our assembly station- in the entrance to casino just outside the theatre.

 

[ConnieTact]

Then we looked around the ship. We were a bit frustrated that every deck that looked like we could lap outside was obstructed but I’m not sure why. There seemed lots to explore and the layout is very different than other classes of msc ship. Good job we have a week to explore further and hope to find a deck we can walk around. 

[ConnieTact]

We found the Yacht Club lift! Never noticed a dedicated one before! 

[ConnieTact]

Found the hair salon

[ConnieTact]

Also, the ‘Zen adult area - partially closed off’ 

[ConnieTact]

So pre dinner we saw the sun come down as we soaked in one of the two hot tubs at the front of the ship. I noticed the sun glowing on Norweigen Escape so beautifully. We then went to the room to change for dinner. I chose my too and afterwards noticed the theme was tropical for the evening so without realising I had got it right! 
Dinner was delicious and service was pleasant and friendly. Afterwards, while we had drinks watching the guitarist, the YC director Vinod, reminded us there was a party in the deck upstairs so we finished drinks. We joined in the dancing straight away and enjoyed the party. We’ve never experienced a party up on deck in a YC and loved it! Vinod explained later that it was due to the late sail out (11pm) and the good weather too. Gotta love a party where they circulate with trays of champagne! 🥂🕺🏼

[ConnieTact]

[ConnieTact]

This morning we are in Barcelona. I got up to watch sun come up and left Mr CT to catch up on his sleep. I had a couple of pots of Earl Grey tea and more than a couple of ‘fresh out of the oven’ pastries. The team were efficient up there under the watchful eye of Vinod who was up there doing his checks. It’s great to have such a visible, accessible YC director. It certainly makes a difference to customer experience. 

Then, having woken Mr CT we are now upstairs relaxing by YC pool in full Spanish sun with copious teas. 

[ConnieTact]

We’re not getting off today as we have ‘done’ Barcelona a lot recently and this is a break for us to relax. Here’s some fave places there though that I recommend. Firstly MOCO museum which has  modern and contemporary art. I loved it there. I almost disappeared into one if the art works! 😅
Next the beautiful La Sagrada Familia is a must for anyone who hasn’t been. We timed our pre booked entrance time for late pm to get the lights through the windows at their best.

 

 

[ConnieTact]

After a relaxing morning on the top deck, we went for a light lunch in restaurant. We enjoyed the views of Barcelona as we ate.

 

Next we went to the room and watched a movie, Paddington. I loved the books as a child and am impressed with the films now too.

Then we went to investigate the Thermal Area before our couples massages in the Aurea spa. We were impressed with the area and although often don’t use the perk of spa access due to it being busy, we timed our visit perfectly. As not many people join the ship in Mallorca, and an awful lot join in Barcelona, today they were all busy with their drill! We benefited by being the only ones in the spa. The massages were amazing as they often are in MSC and better value as they were prepaid before boarding.

[ConnieTact]

Oh so chilled! Still keeping that post massage relaxed state in place! We had very light dinner of pasta and sent cheese n biscuits & petit four to the cabin for later. Meanwhile we are relaxing in the Top Sail Lounge watching entertainment in YC by guitarist/vocalist and then pianist both play selections of old and new hits. We both decided we don’t want to entire outside YC tonight as we don’t want to lose the chilled mood. Once as in YC have hit the mark on entertainment. 🥂👍

[Best Cat Mom]

On 9/27/2024 at 9:59 AM, ConnieTact said:

I prefer the Mediterranean style food in YC on MSC to the same daily boring menu on NCL! 

This is exactly why we switched to MSC as well!

[ConnieTact]

15 hours ago, Best Cat Mom said:

This is exactly why we switched to MSC as well!

We have sailed on MSC since 2016 and enjoyed the food and Italian style. Mr CT’s parents were both Italian and it feels homely for us! Especially the pasta and sauces! 
There is a different feel to the Northern Europe and the Mediterranean cruises with the clientele changing. We like both for different reasons.

The roll calls are much quieter for MSC cruises and entertainment not so expansive as the NCL offering. More and more the MSC prices attract us, but NCL still has its place for occasional trips. 

[ConnieTact]

Last night having burned the candle at both ends, I was too tired to post! Judging by the errors in my last post last night, probably just as well! 😀

I was tempted by the chocolate strawberries in the lounge.so pretty and delicious too!

We arrived back to find the petit four and cheese plate we requested.

 

[ConnieTact]

This morning we went up to the pool deck for some cereal for breakfast and watched the tenders going back and forth to the port in Cannes. We pondered on whether we wanted to join the line to go ashore but were enjoying the sun and beautiful views. We watched the remains of the yachts sail by from last week’s ‘Les Régates Royales Cannes’ which ended in their last race yesterday.

After that we decided we were in the place we wanted to be already so got changed and had a long relaxing soak in the hot tub and enjoyed the sun and the idyllic views. 
Maybe a lazy option but possibly a wise one as we heard later there were lines in the scorching sun with little shade on ‘the other side’. 
We’ve been to Cannes before. The hilltop village that may have tempted would be Eze that can be reached from Cannes. We love it there. Here’s a link of transport options if anyone is tempted. 
https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Eze-Village/Cannes

 

[ConnieTact]

Despite the backdrop of spectacular coastal views, lunch ended disappointingly but started with promise!
We decided we liked two different mains so had a pasta main for starters and I chose pork for my second ‘main’. It was good that I was almost full from  the tasty veal pasta, as the pork was overdone and I could hardly cut into it!

At this point there was no staff and the woman next to me had to go and search for someone to get her some more bread. It was weird as it started with me saying how the staff were on top of things but ended up with nobody to be seen! When Mr CT finished his second main we left the table and went downstairs unnoticed by waiters and the restaurant manager who had his back turned away, at the desk.

I am one for politely feeding back directly if something is wrong but in this case, there was nobody around and it went unnoticed. I’m sure it’s a ‘one off’ but we will see! 

 

We came downstairs and I chose a few delicious little desserts from the snack section and service has been equally excellent. 

[ConnieTact]

To walk of some of the food we have enjoyed, we decided to once again, explore some of this enormous ship! We found it a challenge to find the ‘Bridge of Sighs’ but achieved our aim eventually, walking through so many different areas of the ship.

There were the shops, we hadn’t yet seen, the Market Place buffet restaurant has a large outside eating area and the huge pool deck out on the Aft of the ship. 

We then noticed a lot of seagulls chancing their luck for titbits, around the outside buffet area and soon realised why. A woman was feeding the birds bread from the buffet by throwing it overboard. 

 

[ConnieTact]

The bridge of sighs. I was sighing, with relief, at the end as MrCT nearly slipped and fell from a puddle that had collected in the end of the glass pathway!

 

[ConnieTact]

Tee explored the ship before dinner tonight. Went to perfume shop but even with 20% offer not a great deal on my favourite Chanel perfume. 
Looked in at Saxaphone sensation Vitalie and lots of oompha that was reminiscent of jolly German music and which some would enjoy.

 
Then we witnessed the Michael Jackson tribute that would have the worst of Jackson fans turning in their graves courtesy of Gabriel & Martina. We couldn’t get away far enough! 

Weirdly, as I type this, in the Yacht Club lounge, Fernando is singing a MJ hit, “Don’t stop til you Get Enough’ and knocks the socks off the other two! Beautiful rendition that is worthy of the master himself! 

Edited Sunday at 08:36 PM by ConnieTact
Spello

[ConnieTact]

The food tonight was all good. Service too, although by the end, no offer of tea coffee but we have continued good service in lounge we retired there. 
We asked for a double crepe for dessert as one doesn’t quite hit the mark. Delicious as always! 

[ConnieTact]

Not cold outside. Amazing for September- my mum said she had her central heating on today at home.