Home yesterday from the Seaside, thoughts and updates

[LSauls7537]

These comments are from 11-23-12-1 cruise in the yacht club, cabin 18043.

We had chocolate martinis and did not pay extra, had gelato in the Venchi and Miami Beach bar, no charge.  I paid for Camus wine because I wanted to see for myself it was good....ah, it was, but, I'll skip the $14.95 charge.  The You Tube video does far more than I could do with my point and click camera, so no pics.  I'm just going to make comments, they may be applicable to you, or not, these are my opinions only and no comparisons with other lines.

 

From 3:35 to 4:45, on Sunday, ALL the bars had a choice of 6 drinks....FREE.  Mimosa, a fruity something, martini, champagne and 2 others I don't remember.

ALL the pools have a lifeguard on duty during pool hours.

 

To have less people around you at the pool, slip on back to the Jungle area, hot tubs, lots of shade, drinks and a pool.  It IS true, pools are over 5 ft. deep.  Never crowed, no lines, no chair hogs.

 

In the YC, no lines ever, no waiting, food available all the time, nice pool (cold to me, but I'm from Florida).  Loads of places to sit and read, talk, play games, drink or just watch the water and your cares pass you by.

 

Non hosted Sat night service.

 

MSC had it nailed for the cruise critic meet and mingle.  Lots of free drinks, plates of snacks from shrimp, to tuna toasts, petit sweets.  ALL of the senior officers were there and answered questions.  The Captain gave a great speech...why does this surprise me?  Because 1 hr after there was a Captains cocktail for all YC guests and only 3-4 of the officers were there.  They definitely made the point that Cruise Critic, their comments are taken seriously.  The HUGE cake was a white cake with whipped cream frosting.  Yum

 

In the YC you were given a wristband, only thing you needed on the ship.  Only used your room card in the cabin to keep the lights on and when you got off or on the ship.

DEBARKATION....started with carry your own stuff off at 6:30...that's right!  Those in the YC met at the lounge and we were escorted on our private elevator, downstairs to get off and taken to a line only for those in YC and off the ship.  We left the lounge at 7:10 and were picking up our luggage at 7:25 (yes, we're slow walkers).  A porter took our bags, to an immigration line with 2 people in front of us.  Outside and into a cab in under 5 minutes.  Can you believe there was NO crowded streets or people milling all over.  Unreal, best we have EVER had (57 cruises)

 

Loved our cabin, it was behind a bank of elevators and only 2 cabins there, no noise ever.

 

Very FEW announcements what a pleasure.  You can get your info via MSC app., in your cabin, in the printed material.

 

Cruisers were from all over the globe, most spoke some English; communicating was not an issue.

 

I know some have posted it was slow getting on the ship, but this isn't MSC fault.  If you stay in a hotel they want you out EARLY so they can start picking up more guests at the airport that were staying in the hotel the night before, or did the drive and cruise package.  Then at the port, you can't get inside the terminal until the previous ship is cleared!  So, they stand I line outside at 10:00 and ***** cause' they can't get in...also makes for a nightmare of cruisers arriving and leaving.  We sat outside watching people come to the terminal at 2:00...NO lines, NO traffic.  Yes, you can check in early, but can't board the ship till the previous cruise is cleared.  In our case, we had a cruiser who refused to leave, so ship could not be cleared, terminal could not open, those on B2B couldn't get back on either.  (That's how we got our info, the couple we met told us they kept putting out calls for some people to come to Guest Services, but this one guy refused.  They had to do a search and find for him).  Again, now MSC problem, just an idiot!.

 

Will we sail again with them?  YES.  Did they exceed our expectations?  Yes.  (I don't mention food or entertainment because that is too close to our hearts)  My Mom made the best potato salad in the world, so no other restaurant, ship or friend could make it as well.    Oh, I did really appreciate the OJ and grapefruit juice in the YC were fresh squeezed, that was a real treat.

 

Book and enjoy!

Linda

 

 

[mnocket]

Thanks for the review.  Glad you enjoyed it.  I'll be taking my first MSC cruise next Sept - also on the Seaside and also in YC.  I read so many conflicting reviews about MSC that I don't really know what to expect.  I figure the only way to find out is to give them a try.  I hope I come away as pleased as you are

[DMH15]

Thank you so much.  I just booked my air  for my cruise next May leaving from Fort Lauderdale at 11:45 AM. I have always said I would never book a flight before noon but I did it.   

 

I am an early bird so getting up and out and going from Miami to Fort Lauderdale does seem doable.   I realize every cruise is different and my experience may be different than yours but hearing it from you makes me feel good about my decision.  

 

Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts. 

[portofrome]

Thanks for your review!

[Preziosa]

When did you have the Meet and mingle party...

[jules815]

Thank you for your review.  We'll be on Seaside in YC next month (1/12), our first time sailing with MSC.

 

Really getting excited for this cruise.  With the holidays coming up, I have a feeling the time is going to fly by.  🙂

 

[mmpgoodtogo]

53 minutes ago, jules815 said:

Thank you for your review.  We'll be on Seaside in YC next month (1/12), our first time sailing with MSC.

 

Really getting excited for this cruise.  With the holidays coming up, I have a feeling the time is going to fly by.  🙂

 

I agree, same situation with us and on the same sailing and I cannot wait. 

 

OP, thanks for the review!!

[LSauls7537]

16 hours ago, Preziosa said:

When did you have the Meet and mingle party...

Meet and Mingle was 10 AM on Sunday, a sea day.

[venicia]

Excellent review, we board this Saturday and your review made me so anxious.  This is our first cruise on MSC and we are in the YC.

[TrinaLC]

I really wish they would change the meet & mingle back to 4 or 5 pm when they used to have it. A party is not a party at 10 a.m.  

[#1TravelMom]

I literally could have written a duplicate review of the OP.  This was cruise #58 for us.  The Seaside TOTALLY exceeded our expectations.  I really think they have worked out all of the issues they had in the beginning.  I thought we would feel uneasy and have things constantly remind us that we were on a "different" cruise line.  It really felt like all of the others to us:  NCL, Carnival, Princess, RCCL.  I rate MSC Seaside overall below RCCL Harmony and equal to NCL&CCL's larger, newer ships.  Cleanliness was superior to all of our previous cruises, even Princess and Celebrity.

 

I am a person who normally can't name a previous cruise director if you paid me a trillion dollars.  However, Gene Young is AMAZING.  Make sure to watch the morning show - he is hilarious.  He is very witty and so funny.  He calls himself the fat Samoan.  He is very handsome - I think he is part Samoan, but NOT fat - although the self-deprecating banter with his morning show partner is very entertaining.  He is very witty and definitely memorable.  I will be surprised if another major line does not steal him from MSC.

 

I think if MSC keeps their prices down as they are know, they will need another ship based in the US!   

[jules815]

16 hours ago, TrinaLC said:

I really wish they would change the meet & mingle back to 4 or 5 pm when they used to have it. A party is not a party at 10 a.m.  

There were some people who were complaining that the later time wasn't working out for people with early dinner seating times.

 

[Two Wheels Only]

15 hours ago, #1TravelMom said:

I think if MSC keeps their prices down as they are know, they will need another ship based in the US!   

 

MSC is bringing several ships to the US including the first World Class ship (unnamed).

 

 

[Selion]

On 12/4/2018 at 11:46 AM, Two Wheels Only said:

 

MSC is bringing several ships to the US including the first World Class ship (unnamed).

 

 

 

First ship in a new class of ships...  Not sure that's a good thing besides the newness.

[Two Wheels Only]

46 minutes ago, Selion said:

 

First ship in a new class of ships...  Not sure that's a good thing besides the newness.

 

Just avoid for the first few months, wait for the kinks to be worked out, things will be fine...

 

 

...worked for Seaside. 

[Selion]

2 hours ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

Just avoid for the first few months, wait for the kinks to be worked out, things will be fine...

 

 

...worked for Seaside. 

 

All new ships have small issues, but we all know those cruisers who make a huge fuss about them and give unfair horrible reviews...

 

BTW, just got off the Seaside last Saturday.  Loved it.