Seasoned Cruiser but 1st with MSC (World Europa) - Disembarking Protocol

[Happychappie]

Hi All,

 

Im looking for tips from seasoned MSC cruisers re disembarking. We have done about 25 cruises with RC and wanted to try MSC just for a change as their European itineraries appeal as they have some different ports. With RC other than Rome/Barcelona they dont offer the boarding at multiple stops option so their docking time at the end of the cruise is pretty much constant ie 5am-6am and then usually clearing customs for departure an hour later. We are looking at Marseille as a port to board and disembark and the arrival time at the end of our cruise is showing at 7am currently. As this isnt really the end of the cruise though and is just another stopping point I wanted to check how long after docking MSC usually allows you to depart. I need to factor in maybe an hour or so in case there is a late arrival too. I have an option of an 11.40am flight home from Marseille airport which is circa 25km away and want to ensure if there is enough time to do this. 

 

Do MSC allow you to take your own luggage off so you can clear the ship a little more quickly too?

 

Finally, and this is a slightly contentious question re the onboard food. I read lots of complaints about the MSC food compared to other lines. Lots of RC passengers rave about how great RC food is compared to MSC even though I dont think RC food is anything special at all in the main dining room. We tend to do a full speciality dining package for that reason. If you can offer any of your thoughts on the food it would be appreciated as it may just be that americans have a different expectation on food styles and it has nothing to do with quality. Is it worth paying the extra for speciality dining on MSC and if so does it feel quite upscale? I have a very open mind on the topic but many passengers are so loyal to their preferred line they cant see good in any others. I on the other hand hope all cruise lines are great and not just the one im used too!!

 

Many thanks

[Tierun]

Was on WE last month. We sailed out of Barcelona and the disembarkation was seamless. We walked off with our luggage around 8:15. At the airport by 9. As far as food, it was hit or miss in the main dining room. Never inedible though. Very similar to my last cruise on Independence OTS.

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

6 hours ago, Happychappie said:

Do MSC allow you to take your own luggage off so you can clear the ship a little more quickly too?

Yes. If you can handle your own luggage, it's the way to go. You're off quickly; no waiting around in a lounge somewhere waiting for your turn.

[snoozecrooze]

8 hours ago, Happychappie said:

Is it worth paying the extra for speciality dining on MSC and if so does it feel quite upscale?

Very debatable. I think you could run into a really bogged down restaurant and have a long slog to get your food out, which could ruin your experience and make it less upscale. Or you could have a smooth time, which would then justify your cost. I think the vibe of the restaurant and where you're seated can affect a lot about how you feel about the dining -- for example, if you're seated along the Galleria outside of Butcher's Cut, the fact that that's also a thoroughfare for people would not make your dinner an intimate one. But maybe you enjoy people watching, and so thus, it's a nice change of pace for specialty dining. As for the food itself, I'm not a picky eater, so I've never felt like the specialty was so, so much better than in the MDR, but I appreciated what I wouldn't have gotten elsewhere onboard.

 

I want to make sure that you also understand that if you buy a specialty dining package with MSC, you will only be allowed to choose from a specific menu within those specialty restaurants. Or you can pay a reduced fee (50%?) for an entree that's not on the specific menu but is instead, on the a la carte menu. Perhaps this may be an annoying thing for you so then you would rather just pay a la carte like you would in general. Or it might not be that much of a detraction. Therefore, I suggest that you just look up the menus online and see how you feel. Your experiences may vary.

[Happychappie]

13 hours ago, Tierun said:

Was on WE last month. We sailed out of Barcelona and the disembarkation was seamless. We walked off with our luggage around 8:15. At the airport by 9. As far as food, it was hit or miss in the main dining room. Never inedible though. Very similar to my last cruise on Independence OTS.

Hi Tierun, Thats very helpful. If you walked off the ship at 8.15am can you let me know what time you docked and then got clearance for passengers to disembark? Im trying to understand how long this process takes with MSC. 

 

I think the food thing is very subjective as we all like different things. However certainly on RC the food standard now to what it was has dropped hugely over the last 10 years in my opinion which is why we do more and more 3 night or UDP with them. The restaurants still look lovely, its just staffing levels and general standards have changed. However im getting older now at 49 and maybe just not "down with the kids" anymore who perhaps want a quicker, informal style!! I actually think the WJ is more consistent that MDR now and I never thought I would say that!!! It would be nice to try MSC and my expectations will be different as MSC price point is very different (in a good way) so splurging on dining packages will be easier!

Thanks

Edited December 19, 2023 by Happychappie

[Tierun]

3 hours ago, Happychappie said:

Hi Tierun, Thats very helpful. If you walked off the ship at 8.15am can you let me know what time you docked and then got clearance for passengers to disembark? Im trying to understand how long this process takes with MSC. 

 

I think the food thing is very subjective as we all like different things. However certainly on RC the food standard now to what it was has dropped hugely over the last 10 years in my opinion which is why we do more and more 3 night or UDP with them. The restaurants still look lovely, its just staffing levels and general standards have changed. However im getting older now at 49 and maybe just not "down with the kids" anymore who perhaps want a quicker, informal style!! I actually think the WJ is more consistent that MDR now and I never thought I would say that!!! It would be nice to try MSC and my expectations will be different as MSC price point is very different (in a good way) so splurging on dining packages will be easier!

Thanks

Honestly not sure of the exact time we docked, but arrival was scheduled for 8. At 7 the ship was positioning to dock. I hopped in the shower and immediately went to the gangway to disembark. We were one of the first walk offs which was cleared at 8:10 and we made our flight at 10:40.
 

as far as specialty dining prices, just like the pricing in general, it beats RCCL. We did eat at Hola Tacos, Butcher’s Cut and Kaito Teppanyaki. All were delicious.

[bluecontrolman]

Hi,

 

Another disembarkment question. 

 

I'm on a MSC cruise that is scheduled to arrive into Venice-Marghera at 9am. My flight from Marco Polo is at 16:15. Are we allowed to just stay on the ship as long as we want that morning? Could we have lunch even?

[Tierun]

6 minutes ago, bluecontrolman said:

Hi,

 

Another disembarkment question. 

 

I'm on a MSC cruise that is scheduled to arrive into Venice-Marghera at 9am. My flight from Marco Polo is at 16:15. Are we allowed to just stay on the ship as long as we want that morning? Could we have lunch even?

You can’t stay as long as you want, but you could disembark later in the morning around 11. You would have to speak with the onboard staff. 

[bluecontrolman]

5 minutes ago, Tierun said:

You can’t stay as long as you want, but you could disembark later in the morning around 11. You would have to speak with the onboard staff. 

 

Thanks. 

 

We have the top tier drinks package, but i'm assuming it wouldn't be valid for that morning (i'm thinking coffees)?

[Tierun]

2 minutes ago, bluecontrolman said:

 

Thanks. 

 

We have the top tier drinks package, but i'm assuming it wouldn't be valid for that morning (i'm thinking coffees)?

Drink package is valid until you leave.

[insidecabin]

We changed our strategy on most lines.

 

Just aim to get off near last, early can be hit/miss.

 

MSC Southampton has seen lines 100s long as loads ignores their times and just try to get off with the self disembark people and they start queues early.

 

No struggle with bags then by the time you get to the baggage hall hardly any left and very few people.

 

This was Miami last month(NCL), we just hung around having breakfast with no crush as most were done.

 

Still a bit crazy outside the terminal.

[Nikita4]

5 hours ago, Tierun said:

You can’t stay as long as you want, but you could disembark later in the morning around 11. You would have to speak with the onboard staff. 

In Europe you can stay until the afternoon on the ship, there is no count zero like in the US. Sometimes we stay until 3 pm oder so on the ship in Europe. You have to ask the staff and in the YC its easier dann in the other categories.

[Tierun]

4 minutes ago, Nikita4 said:

In Europe you can stay until the afternoon on the ship, there is no count zero like in the US. Sometimes we stay until 3 pm oder so on the ship in Europe. You have to ask the staff and in the YC its easier dann in the other categories.

I was speaking in reference to Europe. In the US, there's no way you're staying on past 10am with people checking in at 11am. However with cabins needing to be cleaned 11 is a good time to get moving on a EU sailing. 

[Nikita4]

3 minutes ago, Tierun said:

I was speaking in reference to Europe. In the US, there's no way you're staying on past 10am with people checking in at 11am. However with cabins needing to be cleaned 11 is a good time to get moving on a EU sailing. 

Cabins to be cleaned at 8 also on european cruises… with diamond you can stay longer in the cabin.

But it is no problem to stay in the public rooms on the ship until 1 or 2 pm.

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

5 hours ago, Nikita4 said:

Cabins to be cleaned at 8 also on european cruises… with diamond you can stay longer in the cabin. But it is no problem to stay in the public rooms on the ship until 1 or 2 pm.

Was on a European cruise earlier this month and the Disembarkation Info paperwork distributed the night prior says "Please vacate you cabin by 08:00 tomorrow morning." So regardless of whether you intend to hang-around, you do need to be out of your cabin by 8am. And since every disembarkation port is also an embarkation port, I don't doubt you can get off until later. But what about your luggage? If you're taking it off yourself, you then have to keep it with you everywhere you go. If you put your luggage in the hallway intending to pick it up in the terminal, I wouldn't trust it to still be there when you finally decide to leave.

[Nikita4]

With the luggage there is no problem. You can leave it at the concierge or in the terminal. Once the made a phone call to us at 4 pm, that our luggage was the last in the terminal in Marseille. We left the ship a little bit after 4 pm.
We never leave the ship before lunch in Europe, and it was never a problem. In Genoa my train home departs at 1.20 or so, I take lunch on bard and 12.50 I leave the ship.

[Gemina]

This is great info! We are sailing WE for the first time (and first MSC and European cruise) in October and I have been feeling a little bit at a loss for planning. Lots of time still to figure things out but I’ve definitely already got my eye on flights. 

[Tierun]

42 minutes ago, Gemina said:

This is great info! We are sailing WE for the first time (and first MSC and European cruise) in October and I have been feeling a little bit at a loss for planning. Lots of time still to figure things out but I’ve definitely already got my eye on flights. 

Where are you embarking? I found Barcelona to be easiest choice coming from North America.

[Gemina]

1 hour ago, Tierun said:

Where are you embarking? I found Barcelona to be easiest choice coming from North America.

We are embarking from Barcelona so I’m glad to hear that! We will likely spend a few days before and after in order to take advantage of direct flights. I’ve heard it’s a great city to visit. 

[heatherb1958]

As others have said so long as you are out of your cabin by 8AM you can stay onboard an MSC ship in Europe as long as you want , we have done it many times out of Barcelona . We keep our luggage with us , find a comfortable place to hang out , usually the indoor Solarium . We have to take it in turns to grab any food but it is much better doing that than hanging around at the airport for a late departure .. 

[Nikodemos]

On 12/20/2023 at 10:15 AM, Gemina said:

We are embarking from Barcelona so I’m glad to hear that! We will likely spend a few days before and after in order to take advantage of direct flights. I’ve heard it’s a great city to visit. 

We were on the World Europa in June out of Barcelona.  Since we were in YC, we didn't have to wait embarking or disembarking, and we were escorted on and off the ship by the butlers.    I highly recommend staying in Barcelona a few days before to enjoy the city.  Not being time bound on a visit to the Sagrada Familia is really nice.  We spent evenings on Las Ramblas and on one night attended a Flamenco dancing dinner and show there which was wonderful.

[Gemina]

On 12/22/2023 at 12:53 PM, Nikodemos said:

We were on the World Europa in June out of Barcelona.  Since we were in YC, we didn't have to wait embarking or disembarking, and we were escorted on and off the ship by the butlers.    I highly recommend staying in Barcelona a few days before to enjoy the city.  Not being time bound on a visit to the Sagrada Familia is really nice.  We spent evenings on Las Ramblas and on one night attended a Flamenco dancing dinner and show there which was wonderful.

We will be in YC as well. Glad to hear we likely won’t deal with waits. Sounds like you had a lovely time!

[Maria63]

On 12/18/2023 at 8:54 PM, Happychappie said:

 

 

Finally, and this is a slightly contentious question re the onboard food. I read lots of complaints about the MSC food compared to other lines. Lots of RC passengers rave about how great RC food is compared to MSC even though I dont think RC food is anything special at all in the main dining room. We tend to do a full speciality dining package for that reason. If you can offer any of your thoughts on the food it would be appreciated as it may just be that americans have a different expectation on food styles and it has nothing to do with quality. Is it worth paying the extra for speciality dining on MSC and if so does it feel quite upscale? 

My DH & I have during the past 15 yrs crused a lot with RC (our preferred line due to the loyalty benefits) & Celebrity, but also with everything from Viking, Azamara and Cunard to the older MSC and Costa ships. Last November we did a b2b on World Europa and were actually pleasantly surprised regarding the food. In our opinion MSC is steadily improving food-wise, though crowd management is still something of an issue. If you do book Aurea you get to dine in a more peaceful MDR-environment, but if not, speciality dining is worth considering if you want a more upscale feel to the dining.

 

We had a dining package and did Hola, Chef´s Garden, Sushi and Butcher´s Cut and enjoyed them all. The package-menu in Butcher´s Cut is limited but this was not an issue in our opinion and we were quite happy with what was included in the package. We found it to be at least as good as Chops on RC. One thing worth noting if you want a good table inside and not in the rather noisy Galeria, is to book a time as soon as they open at 18.30 and be there a few minutes before opening time. They don´t do reservations for specific tables but operate on a first come, first serve -basis.

 

Chef´s Garden is the most upscale experience in our opinion, but we found it to be a bit overly fussy regarding the food presentation, though the taste of the food was fine. In Chef´s Garden the limitation of the package-menu is also more noticable than in Butcher´s Cut.

[Happychappie]

On 12/24/2023 at 7:37 AM, Maria63 said:

My DH & I have during the past 15 yrs crused a lot with RC (our preferred line due to the loyalty benefits) & Celebrity, but also with everything from Viking, Azamara and Cunard to the older MSC and Costa ships. Last November we did a b2b on World Europa and were actually pleasantly surprised regarding the food. In our opinion MSC is steadily improving food-wise, though crowd management is still something of an issue. If you do book Aurea you get to dine in a more peaceful MDR-environment, but if not, speciality dining is worth considering if you want a more upscale feel to the dining.

 

We had a dining package and did Hola, Chef´s Garden, Sushi and Butcher´s Cut and enjoyed them all. The package-menu in Butcher´s Cut is limited but this was not an issue in our opinion and we were quite happy with what was included in the package. We found it to be at least as good as Chops on RC. One thing worth noting if you want a good table inside and not in the rather noisy Galeria, is to book a time as soon as they open at 18.30 and be there a few minutes before opening time. They don´t do reservations for specific tables but operate on a first come, first serve -basis.

 

Chef´s Garden is the most upscale experience in our opinion, but we found it to be a bit overly fussy regarding the food presentation, though the taste of the food was fine. In Chef´s Garden the limitation of the package-menu is also more noticable than in Butcher´s Cut.

Thats great thanks. We have a "GRAND SUITE AUREA WITH TERRACE" type room so hopefully that allows us the more peaceful environment you mention? We did the status match thing too and are Diamond on RC so not sure if Aurea of status match has any upsides or not? Being new to MSC we are just looking forward to trying something new (although the back of World Europa looks just like an Oasis class ship!!) 

[wirral36]

On 12/19/2023 at 7:46 PM, Nikita4 said:

In Europe you can stay until the afternoon on the ship, there is no count zero like in the US. Sometimes we stay until 3 pm oder so on the ship in Europe. You have to ask the staff and in the YC its easier dann in the other categories.

Hi, what happens to your luggage if you don’t leave until 3pm? Does it stay on its own in the terminal ? Or can you keep it on the ship ? This is much better if you have a late flight.