Seaside 3-day trip report with pictures

[CruisinCrow]

We were on the August 31 3-day cruise to Ocean Cay.  I just finished posting my review with lots of pictures.  Here is the link:

https://susancrow.blogspot.com/2023/09/msc-seaside-getaway-to-ocean-cay.html

 

My favorite parts of the cruise - having almost two full days at Ocean Cay, the jet ski tour, the Michael Jackson show, the Bridge of Sighs, the atrium and sports bars.  Ocean Cay is beautiful and I hope we can get back there again soon.

 

The service at dinner was minimal but pretty standard for a weekend cruise.  Breakfast was great.  Dinner was just ok but better than it was on our Divina cruise.  I was very happy that we were able to get My Choice Dining.  

 

The Easy Plus drink package was included with our booking.  It was plenty for us.  I ordered a couple of drinks that were over the $10 limit but was only charged the difference in price.  

 

Loved having a balcony cabin but there wasn't much storage, especially in the bathroom. Our room steward Ronnell did a great job. 

 

I'll be glad to answer questions, if I can.

[CruisinCrow]

Cabin 14160

 

 

[Fla Mike]

Love the photos on your blog!

Glad you had a great time.

 

One question,,, How was the crowd on a three day?

Was it Carnivalesque (?), Or was it in between?

I would fully expect it to be livelier than a seven day, but just concerned about loud and obnoxious.

 

We have been on two - four day MSC cruises and the people were great, but the last was over a year ago.

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

2 hours ago, Fla Mike said:

One question,,, How was the crowd on a three day?

Was it Carnivalesque (?), Or was it in between?

I would fully expect it to be livelier than a seven day, but just concerned about loud and obnoxious.

Fla Mike, I was on this same 3-night sailing. Because it went over Labor Day weekend, I think a lot of younger people were already back in school and not on this ship. Overall, other than toddler age, I did not notice a lot of kids on the ship. The nightclub activities were well-attended though so there was no shortage of partiers but they did not go screaming down the hallways at 2AM like you might find on Carnival. If interested, I posted the parties on my Orlando-based nightlife Blog:

Night 1/2: 70's Night & Others: https://www.orlandoentertainmentnews.com/?p=23598

Night 3: White Party: https://www.orlandoentertainmentnews.com/?p=23639

[CruisinCrow]

2 hours ago, Fla Mike said:

One question,,, How was the crowd on a three day?

Was it Carnivalesque (?), Or was it in between?

I would fully expect it to be livelier than a seven day, but just concerned about loud and obnoxious.

 

 

The bars could be busy but we didn't see anyone being loud and obnoxious.  There were more international people than you'd see on Carnival. 

 

The main problem with a 3-day isn't the partying.  It's that it's such a big ship that you haven't even learned your way around by the time it's time to get off. 🙂

 

[CruisinCrow]

7 minutes ago, KINGBOBOFTHENORTH said:

Overall, other than toddler age, I did not notice a lot of kids on the ship. The nightclub activities were well-attended though so there was no shortage of partiers but they did not go screaming down the hallways at 2AM like you might find on Carnival.

 

Really?  My husband and I were actually surprised how many kids there were.  It seemed like there was a lot of them to do though, so they weren't sitting at the bars ordering soda. 🙂  Younger kids, not many teenagers.

I'll check out your party reviews.

Edited September 18, 2023 by CruisinCrow

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

11 minutes ago, CruisinCrow said:

The main problem with a 3-day isn't the partying.  It's that it's such a big ship that you haven't even learned your way around by the time it's time to get off. 🙂

 

Right? I felt the same way! On Day 3 I was starting to get the hang of it, lol.

[Essiesmom]

1 hour ago, KINGBOBOFTHENORTH said:

Right? I felt the same way! On Day 3 I was starting to get the hang of it, lol.

And no longer running into mirrors…?  EM

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

46 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

And no longer running into mirrors…?  EM

OMG yes! There were a couple places where mirrors blocked the passageway!

[Fla Mike]

9 hours ago, KINGBOBOFTHENORTH said:

If interested, I posted the parties on my Orlando-based nightlife Blog:

 

Great Photos Bob, Thanks.

 

A lively looking crowd for sure. I will admit Lovely and I really had a great time at the White parties on Divina and Mera.

Still a little nervous for our upcoming Seashore in November although the aft facing  Aurea "Condo" suite should be nice.

[CruisinCrow]

8 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

And no longer running into mirrors…?  EM

 

I thought the reviews about the mirrors were an exaggeration until I walked around a corner and almost walked smack into one. 😄

[Fla Mike]

9 hours ago, CruisinCrow said:

Really?  My husband and I were actually surprised how many kids there were.

 

I would think that over Labor Day the ship would be loaded with kids too!

 

We always try to plan our short cruises a week or two before a holiday, (week before memorial Day or Thanksgiving) knowing the kids will still be in school, and it seems to work out.

[CruisinCrow]

9 hours ago, KINGBOBOFTHENORTH said:

If interested, I posted the parties on my Orlando-based nightlife Blog:

Night 1/2: 70's Night & Others: https://www.orlandoentertainmentnews.com/?p=23598

Night 3: White Party: https://www.orlandoentertainmentnews.com/?p=23639

 

Enjoyed your party reviews.  We never made it to any of the parties because we were either asleep or in the casino.  It's the great thing about cruising - you can be on the same cruise and do totally different things.  There's something for everyone.

[CruisinCrow]

4 minutes ago, Fla Mike said:

We always try to plan our short cruises a week or two before a holiday, (week before memorial Day or Thanksgiving) knowing the kids will still be in school, and it seems to work out.

I wish we could but my husband doesn't have much time off so we have to take advantage of the bonus days when we can.

[quattrohead]

12 hours ago, KINGBOBOFTHENORTH said:

Fla Mike, I was on this same 3-night sailing. Because it went over Labor Day weekend, I think a lot of younger people were already back in school and not on this ship. Overall, other than toddler age, I did not notice a lot of kids on the ship. The nightclub activities were well-attended though so there was no shortage of partiers but they did not go screaming down the hallways at 2AM like you might find on Carnival. If interested, I posted the parties on my Orlando-based nightlife Blog:

Night 1/2: 70's Night & Others: https://www.orlandoentertainmentnews.com/?p=23598

Night 3: White Party: https://www.orlandoentertainmentnews.com/?p=23639

Do you or anyone here know how to contact DJ Burn ahead of our cruise in November ?

Or, if we bring a USB stick of our favorite 80's tunes, do they have the ability to play it and display the video's.

Thanks for your video's, looks like our kind of time.

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

38 minutes ago, quattrohead said:

Do you or anyone here know how to contact DJ Burn ahead of our cruise in November ?

Or, if we bring a USB stick of our favorite 80's tunes, do they have the ability to play it and display the video's. Thanks for your video's, looks like our kind of time.

Quattrohead, I don't know how to get in touch with DJ Burn. I've become Facebook friends with a lot of the cruise ship DJ's over the years (https://www.facebook.com/king.bob.7505) but Burn wasn't one of them. There is zero chance of any DJ anywhere letting you use your USB stick on their equipment. You could write down some of your favorites and see if they can play any of them but that would be it.