Our trip on Fantasia

[mrsbraxton]

We got back sat morning from our cruise on Fantasia. I really enjoyed the week.

 

We flew to Barcelona early morning so had the day to explore. We had booked our cases into storage before we left so the guy met us at baggage carousel and took them and met us later at port with them so a service I'd definitely recommend for anyone who has time to spare in Barcelona. We did a tour of nou camp which was enjoyable.

 

Official boarding time wasn't until after 6pm but we chanced going to port earlier to see could we check in and no problem when we got there at 5ish. Check in was quick and only took a few minutes.

 

We were in cabin 10025 which has the steel surround balcony. Initially I was disappointed when I found out months ago but it worked out well as we had our 18 month old with us so it was v safe to have him out on balcony with his toys etc. the cabin was v spacious and spotlessly clean. They had a travel cot in as requested and it had a lovely thick mattress on it to so was very comfortable for our little boy to sleep on for the week.

 

Day 1 - Marseilles

We decided to stay on board this day to get settled and find our way around etc. our cabin was at front of the ship so when we were coming into port each day we could hear ship but other than that it was in a lovely quiet location.

We went to mdr (il cericho d'oro) this night and food was lovely. Staff very accommodating with toddler and nothing was too much trouble. The show tonight was star walker Michael Jackson tribute which was very enjoyable.

 

Day 2 - Genoa

We got up early and went to aquarium after breakfast. The excursion price for this on board was €39 pp but thanks to advice here we did it ourselves. The aquarium is 800m from ship so an easy walk and tickets are sold at port for €24 each so a lot cheaper. The aquarium itself is huge and took a few hours to get around. Our son loved it so def a trip worth doing with kids.

 

Day 3 - Naples

We stayed on board again today as we have done Pompeii, sorrento, Capri etc so figured we'd take the day to relax and catch some sun. The ship was lovely and quiet all day so we had no problems getting sun loungers and buffet was calm enough at lunch time.

 

Day 4 - Messina

We decided to do a tour bus in Messina but to be honest there's not a huge amount to see so maybe a stroll around would have been as nice. It was very warm so when the tour bus was over we got back on board as didn't want our son in the heat and sun too long in case he burnt.

 

Day 5 - Valletta

My favourite stop of the week. It's a beautiful place. We walked from ship to the lift which takes you to city for €1 each. Then we walked around taking in the sights. There was a band playing so we stopped to watch them for a while. We didn't have long in Valletta which was a pity. We had to be back on board at 12.30pm as the next sailing time was long to get to Palma.

 

Day 6- at sea during day and then Palma at 9pm

This was the first time all week where you'd feel the amount of people on the ship. It was v busy in most areas, particularly around the pool. We went to pool about 9am and there we're only a handful of loungers left. We managed to get one on deck above pool. Despite all the signs around saying any towels which were unattended for 30 mins or more would be removed this wasn't the case. There were several loungers with towels on them for hours and no one came to them and no staff removed the towels. I feel they need to be more on top of this as there were so many people looking for loungers and several taken with towels but no people came near them.

We got to Palma at 8.30pm and the ship pretty much emptied within an hour! We didn't get off as it wasn't suitable with our son but looking out the window at the streams of people getting off we were definitely in the minority staying on.

 

Dinner tonight was open seating which was a bit chaotic too. We got to dining room at 6.45pm and there was a big queue. We decided to eat in the tex mex. we had eaten there a few nights previous and were impressed. It's extra charge but worth it and very reasonable.

 

We left Palma at 5 am and arrived back in Barcelona at 2pm. Our disembarkation time was 2.30pm and it was very quick. A few years ago we cruised on the armonia and found the process far more efficient on the Fantasia.

 

Overall we had a Great holiday and would def cruise with MSC again. The one downside we found (and it was an opinion shared by other people we met) was lack of manners by many other passengers. It never ceased to amaze me how waiting at elevator people (both adults and kids) would barge past me to get in even though we were waiting first and I had stroller with me. Then when lift stopped people wouldn't wait for us to get out before barging their way in. That got annoying as the week went on. Same in the buffet, it was a free for all some days. Queues mean nothing to some people and they'd walk to front, take what they wanted and didn't bother with everyone else who was waiting in line for food.

 

 

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[first_time_30th_birthday_]

Thank you for the lovely review, I am doing this cruise myself from Genoa in November, so it's nice to know what to expect x

[Beamafar]

Great to hear you enjoyed your cruise and that you got to embark early as it was something you were concerned about :)

 

I'm glad the luggage service worked out - I'm considering using it for my upcoming trip thanks to the info you provided. My flight on the day of disembarkation is late that night so I'll have the day to potter around Barcelona relaxed in the knowledge that my luggage is being taken care of and will be brought to the airport for me! It's a far better system than using a storage locker, I reckon.

 

Interesting to hear that dinner was open seating with the ship being in port at night. It's something I haven't experienced but will keep in mind for future similar itineraries. It makes sense, I suppose, with the expectation that most people will be onshore in the evening, to use the open seating arrangement. But, as you said, the downside is the chaos it can create - especially when people become accustomed to the pre-set arrangement.

 

As for the lack of elevator "etiquette" - it really is a negative feature. We sometimes travel with my parents and have had my dad in a wheelchair due to mobility issues. It's a real pain trying to access the lifts with able-bodied people jumping in and taking up the space the wheelchair needs!!

 

It's good to know you had a great time, overall. Nice memories for you to look back on with your son.

[mrsbraxton]

Yeah the baggage storage worked out well. We initially only pre booked one way as wasn't sure how we'd find it and didn't want to pay for way back if I wasn't happy with it. But we booked again during week. It's €15 per bag to book at port when you arrive or €10 online. There was a stand in cruise terminal on way out so we just dropped bags there and picked them up before flight.

 

I can't believe people would push in past a wheelchair. Actually I would! Here everyone waits their turn to get on an elevator, you stand back to let people out and would never push in past anyone, let alone someone in a wheelchair but so many people on board saw elevator as a free for all and we were frequently pushed out of way by kids getting in.

 

 

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[Beamafar]

Yeah the baggage storage worked out well. We initially only pre booked one way as wasn't sure how we'd find it and didn't want to pay for way back if I wasn't happy with it. But we booked again during week. It's €15 per bag to book at port when you arrive or €10 online. There was a stand in cruise terminal on way out so we just dropped bags there and picked them up before flight.

 

I can't believe people would push in past a wheelchair. Actually I would! Here everyone waits their turn to get on an elevator, you stand back to let people out and would never push in past anyone, let alone someone in a wheelchair but so many people on board saw elevator as a free for all and we were frequently pushed out of way by kids getting in.

 

 

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I'm convinced now to give the luggage service a go. I hadn't heard about it before you mentioned it on your pre-cruise thread, so, thanks again. I won't need it on arrival as boarding will be at about noon and our flight arrives in that morning, so it'll be straight to the ship for us. But definitely on the day of leaving the ship. We'll be in YC and were going to hang back until afternoon. We were allowed to stay onboard before until 4pm but, as that's discretionary I didn't want to assume that we'd be allowed to this time. I'll just have to organise the times that'll suit, now!

 

Yeah ............. people jumping into the elevators in front of a wheelchair LOL I think they just see that, if the chair goes in, there won't be any room for them so they hop in first. I really believe they don't get the irony! I witnessed a very funny incident on a lift, once - not wheelchair related. The lift was packed when it stopped at a particular floor. This rather large lady decided to push her way onto the lift, anyway, when a man at the back informed her that it was already overcrowded. Her response was that the man should get off and allow her on as she was "entitled" to be on it just as much as him!!! You couldn't make it up!!

[GOLDENBONNY]

I can't believe people would push in past a wheelchair. Actually I would! Here everyone waits their turn to get on an elevator, you stand back to let people out and would never push in past anyone, let alone someone in a wheelchair but so many people on board saw elevator as a free for all and we were frequently pushed out of way by kids getting in.

 

 

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Lol you better believe it. :p We had a cruise on HAL ship and our DD was in stroller back then . You should see those Florida birds who been flying before us to elevator :p We started to take stairs because it was very close to the moment when my DH would grab one of them and kick them out of elevator)))

[ghockley1981]

This luggage service sounds a great convienence. Will have to hunt down your pre cruise thread. We are doing the same cruise later this year.