alyssamma

Fantastica, balcony, 8159. This is my first non YC cabin. But, if you've sailed interior YC, the shower is the same size. The room is larger, tho, and has WAY more closet space. Overall the room is adequate, but nothing to brag about. Some other thoughts...wow, just can't say enough about the staff. Completely blown away. The ship is kept pretty spotless...this includes the buffet. Tables are bussed frequently and the floor is kept clean of fallen food. Shows are typical MSC...we don't like them but many do. Entertainment around the ship is average to good. Nothing standout but pleasant enough. Drinks are excellent, but best IMHO at the zebra bar. I'd say they are made near perfect there... alcoholic and non. The announcements in 7 languages has now officially gotten on my nerves. I get it, but ugh. This is really the only thing about the ship I don't like and that is pretty minor. As mentioned, food is typical MSC quality. I will say the pizza here is definitely better than Caribbean sailings...it's more like they USED to be in the Caribbean. That and breakfast are the only standouts. One very annoying thing is that the food is often at room temp instead of hot or even warm. Huge variety at lunch so you'll def find something you like, but you may have to go through a lot of eh things to get to it 😀 haven't done buffet for dinner so can't comment there.

Lol, yeah TV can do that 😀 Like others have said, stamps can be a problem. This is also one of the things I was alluding to when I said government officials. But, again, I believe that to be mainly when traveling by air and not a cruise. Regardless, new passports so you are good there. Also, to clarify, my comment about traveling in an organized tour was really about your comfort level. If you think you can easily use public transportation in foreign countries, then go for it. Some people have problems with that in their home countries 😀 There are also the issues of things like observing proper customs, which is really for any part of the world. Travelling to churches in Rome you would dress a certain way, for example. A tour would make sure you are aware of these things, but also a simple Google search will educate you also.

I think this is a pretty interesting question and not what I expected from the title. As a black man, I get the worry and often research the same.types of questions from a racism perspective. Having travelled to the Middle East, I'd say most issues would be from government officials and not the general population...but that would be if you travelled on your own. However in the case of a cruise, I believe you would be very safe. Sadly, as with most things, living in the US is likely to be your biggest source of problems. And I'm not saying that for political reasons so hopefully this doesn't veer the thread into that direction. But from my *personal* experience, that is the case. Go on the cruise...I think you'll enjoy it. I would recommend ship excursions unless you are well travelled as navigating that part of the world can sometimes be tricky. But whatever path you take I think you'll enjoy it.

My wife made me wait until we get home to cancel...she really wants to take that cruise too 😀 as mentioned, the staff here are amazing...I've really never seen anything like it. Yesterday my wife explained things to the food and beverage manager and he is going to try and do something for us... anything...even a small token...and my wife will make me keep the booking 😀

I will try to post more menus...

Lol, well...the food here is very average overall. You won't go hungry but you won't be excited about eating either 😀 that's actually a plus for me as I don't want to gain 20lbs on this trip.

Here is a menu...

I will try to post one, but I will say the dining room is the only disappointment so far. Well, actually 2...see below. Food in the buffet has been good ..not amazing, but solid. Breakfast has been above average...and dangerously good 😀 But the MDR so far has not. The food was average at best, but the wait staff were terrible. It really stood out because the staff on the rest of the ship might be the best I've ever cruised with. That being said, I did experience something that just made me say I'm done with MSC. I had some OBC in USD and they used an insane exchange rate to convert it.to EUR Although they were nice at guest services, they did nothing to help. And while this is a very small thing I feel that MSC is full of very small things like this and there are enough other cruise lines to get my money so not going to deal with them anymore. I canceled my Sept 24 Baltics cruise, but did keep my Jan Seascape because it's YC and I'll lose the deposit if I cancel. That will be the last time I sail with MSC. But this is really my own personal choice and shouldn't stop you or anyone else from sailing with them and, specifically on the Poesia One other note. We have a balcony and the cabin is pretty small. The shower is like a coffin. But, there is good storage space so that is a plus.

This is really important info. Yes, it's in the T&C, but it is something that is easily overlooked. Agree with the TA comment...I usually get close to 10% pre taxes back. Definitely a nice perk. I would add that you get 50 OBC if you book early enough and are a voyager member. I can't remember the level you need to be but you can status match.

Np... do you have any specific questions? So far it seems like @Nunagoras summed it up perfectly. This is definitely the least "elegant" MSC ship I've been on, but it's very nice for sure. I have this ship booked for Sept 2024 and I'm fine keeping the booking. Nothing that makes me worry I picked the wrong ship 😀

Boarded about an hour ago...like what I've seen so far. Very MSC like in terms of design. Staff is amazing. Will post more later...

Let me be clear...I knew I could have gotten it. But I never drink the alcohol in the mini bar...I get enough of that from.top.sail.😀 I'm strictly a Pringles man in the bedroom, lol. In general, the butlers are nice and keep my room stocked. They also find me in top sail and give them to me.

Yeah I know all that but the point is with MSC, YMMV. We didn't get the large bottle of alcohol...but I didn't care. However, we did get snacks refilled.

Mini bar is included in YC...rules have changed a little and I think you don't get free refills anymore. I say think because while that's the official line, when I last sailed they did replace certain items...I don't do a lot of mini bar so not sure if they would have replaced others

Are you in the YC?

Gotcha...I wouldn't call that woke, but I understand what you're saying and *think* I agree. I say think because I haven't really seen that, but if I did would prob agree 😀

What is an example of a woke activity? Lol, I'm kind of curious too what you mean by this.

Lol, pizza waiting...or pizza to eat. That will teach me not to respond before I'm fully awake.

Lol, I'm with you. I never do it ..but friends I often travel with in the YC delight in it 😀 The only real perks I partake in are not having to wait in lines and having the butler have a pizza eating in my room each night 😀

Lol, I would LOVE this...and not just ship to ship but sailing to sailing on the same ship. Sometimes they do things differently DAILY. it's really maddening.

Nothing wrong with putting them on yourself, just saying they aren't needed. Let the butlers handle it. I've never put one on and the butlers happily do it for me every time. If you drive, maybe not a big deal, but if you fly in, then it can be a pain to put them on after you land. Lol, definitely talking first world problems here, but you are in the YC so take advantage of what they offer.

You take your luggage to the YC tent and the butlers put luggage tags on them. One of the many perks you'll get... So you said first time, I assume you know you don't go through the normal check in line right? You don't follow the normal check in process at all. And you know you won't have to stand in lines waiting for shows, getting on the ship, etc? You know you can commandeer elevators like firemen?

I've never really had a problem with kids in the YC. They've all been well behaved. Have I just been lucky?

Bring back the unlimited mini bar