What is it really like to take a cheap, 4-day cruise with MSC Cruises?
Today, I’m sharing the story of Jackie and her husband Joe, who recently embarked on a 4-night MSC cruise. They wanted to escape Ohio's frigid winter, so when the couple came across a cheap, last-minute cruise fare, they didn't hesitate to book the sailing.
For $970 total, they sailed in a balcony cabin on MSC Seashore, one of the cruise line’s most modern ships. Jackie and Joe experienced a lot in 4 days, whether visiting MSC’s private island or trying new foods in the dining room.
Not everything was perfect, however, and this is what Jackie and Joe loved and hated about their cheap MSC cruise.
They thought the ship was beautiful, exceptionally clean, and had fantastic service
At first glance, Jackie and Joe were already impressed with MSC Seashore. The ship, which launched for MSC Cruises in 2021, is one of the fleet’s newest, and it can accommodate more than 5,500 passengers on a single sailing.
On embarkation day, the couple loved walking around the ship to explore its amenities. Indoors, MSC Seashore features a stunning, 4-story-high atrium complete with bars, restaurants, and lounges. On the outer decks, guests will find swimming pools, an aqua park, waterslides, and 15 hot tubs.
Jackie explained how the ship was not only beautiful but appeared very clean, too. She always noticed crew members cleaning, whether mopping the floors, promptly clearing tables in the buffet, or servicing her cabin twice each day.
Read more: MSC Cruises ships by age — from newest to oldest
Speaking of service, Jackie and Joe were wildly impressed with MSC Seashore’s attentive crew members.
“The staff was very kind and helpful. I cannot say anything bad about the service from crew members,” Jackie explained. “Everybody greeted you kindly, said hello and goodbye, and asked you if you needed anything. [The service] was exceptional and we were really made to feel special.”
They loved visiting MSC’s private island, but the lunch buffet was too crowded
The first port stop on Jackie and Joe’s itinerary was a day at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC's private island in The Bahamas.
Ocean Cay has 7 pristine beaches, a shopping plaza, a variety of bars and restaurants, a spa, and a suites-only space for MSC Yacht Club guests. It's a highlight for many MSC cruisers, and it's common for ships to stay docked into the evening, allowing guests to watch the sunset from the beach.
Read more: 7 things I wish I knew before I went to MSC's Ocean Cay
During their port day, Jackie and Joe found the island gorgeous and tranquil. It was easy to navigate, and they spent most of the day at Ocean Cay Lagoon.
When lunch rolled around, they were disappointed to see a long line at Seakers Food Court, the island’s complimentary buffet. Instead of waiting in line, they ate lunch onboard the ship and returned ashore later in the afternoon.
Next time, they might try to avoid peak times at the island’s buffet.
The couple disliked the cruise line's nickel-and-diming
Most cruisers encounter nickel-and-diming onboard today’s cruise ships, whether sailing on a line like MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, or Princess Cruises. Even though you might come across a cheap cruise fare online, it only includes the basics. If you want any add-ons, like drink packages, specialty dining, and shore excursions, you’ll have to pay extra.
Jackie and Joe knew to expect a fair amount of nickel-and-diming, but a few instances seemed over the top. In the dining room, for instance, Jackie noted how MSC charges $5 extra for any second entrée aside from pasta.
“I thought that was kind of cheap,” she mentioned. “Five dollars in the grand scheme of things is not that much money, but when you’re paying to go on a cruise and you don’t like something, I think they should at least give you one other free entrée.”
While at MSC’s private island, Jackie and Joe realized they would have to pay for a beach umbrella. MSC currently charges around $20 to rent an umbrella if reserved before the cruise.
They thought paying for an umbrella on a cruise line's private island seemed silly and found chairs with natural shade instead.
Read more: What's included on an MSC cruise?
The cabin was mostly functional, but it had a few downsides
Although Jackie and Joe booked an oceanview guarantee cabin for their MSC Seashore cruise, they were upgraded to a balcony upon check-in.
Such a surprise was well-appreciated by the couple, and they loved taking in the Bahamian ocean breeze each day. Not everything was perfect about the cabin, though.
Jackie explained that she found the bed comfortable, but she wished there were USB ports on both sides of the bed instead of just one. This made charging the couples’ phones more challenging. To make matters worse, the cabin's wireless charger on the desk didn't work at all.
Read more: Take a tour of Jackie and Joe's balcony cabin
In the bathroom, Jackie found the shower's storage space limited for storing her toiletries, as it had just a single shelf.
Nonetheless, she found the bathroom adequate for their short stay. She appreciated the consistent warm water along with the storage space for toothbrushes and other personal hygiene items near the sink.
The couple loved MSC’s complimentary dining, both in the buffet and dining room
A highlight of any cruise vacation is the food, and Jackie and Joe found MSC Seashore’s dining options impressive. They stuck to the included restaurants onboard, eating at the buffet and dining room during their 4-night vacation.
MSC Cruises is known for its pizza, and the couple absolutely loved the freshly made pies in the buffet. Aside from pizza, they found the ship offered a large variety of dishes, from American to Italian, Indian, and Mexican cuisine.
It was fun to try new foods, too. They ventured outside their comfort zone, trying dishes like curry chicken, fried plantains, sweet and sour cauliflower, and yuca fries.
Read more: Food review on MSC cruise ship
Even though the food was great, they encountered a common issue with the ship’s drink and ice dispensers.
“They were frequently out of ice,” Jackie mentioned, “And then they would put a container of ice on the counter and everybody had to get the ice out with a scooper, which isn’t very hygienic."
She also explained how many of the complimentary drink dispensers, such as iced tea and lemonade, were frequently empty: “I do think it would’ve been better if they could have had that better stocked."
They loved the entertainment, and MSC’s app was helpful when planning things to do
It’s hard to feel bored on a cruise ship as big as MSC Seashore. Jackie and Joe enjoyed trying a variety of activities during their time onboard.
Every evening, the pair attended a show in the theater, and they enjoyed these shows more than they expected. Joe doesn’t always like attending production shows on cruise ships, but he was blown away by the talent of the singers and dancers on MSC Seashore.
One show, “The Journey,” was particularly intriguing for the couple, which combined a live performance with digital screens to immerse the audience in a scenic train journey around the world.
Outside of production shows, they found a lot more to do, including a coffee demonstration, liquor tasting, trivia, and watching live music from bars and lounges.
Jackie loved planning her day of activities with MSC’s app.
“The app made it easy to find what you were looking for,” she explained. “I liked the app for planning my day because it had the ability to remind you of what you signed up for so you wouldn’t forget.”
Read more: 18 free things to try on your next cruise
Jackie wished the internet package was cheaper—she paid $34 for a single day
Internet on cruise ships is anything but cheap. On most cruise lines, you can expect to pay between $20 and $30 each day of the cruise for a premium internet package with streaming.
Jackie hoped to disconnect during her 4-night cruise, but she still wanted to be available to her family in case of an emergency. She already had free T-Mobile coverage in both Nassau and Ocean Cay, so it felt wasteful to spend money on an internet package for the whole cruise.
On the itinerary's sea day, she decided to purchase an internet day pass. She spent $34, which she thought was shockingly high.
Read more: What you need to know about MSC Cruises Wi-Fi
Jackie and Joe thought their cruise offered a fantastic value despite the short length
Jackie and Joe’s last-minute cruise was over before they knew it.
While getting ready to disembark, the couple found themselves wishing they booked a longer itinerary. If they planned a cruise with just a few more nights, they could have visited more exotic ports in the Eastern or Western Caribbean.
Even still, it was hard to beat the value of their cheap MSC cruise. At around $117 per person, per night, Jackie and Joe thought their cruise fare offered an incredible value.
“It wasn’t that expensive,” Jackie explained, “And to get free food, your room, and a free upgrade to a balcony, I think that it offered a good value for the getaway. The wonderful sit-down dinners and entertainment every night were so terrific.”
Although the couple had a few disappointments, their short getaway was just what they needed. Soon enough, they were headed back to chilly Ohio—but they're already looking forward to their next cruise vacation.
Jenna DeLaurentis
Jenna DeLaurentis enjoys exploring new ports of call around the world on a cruise ship, learning about new cultures, discovering beautiful landscapes, and trying diverse cuisine. She loves to get active while in port, whether cycling through mountains in the Caribbean or scuba diving under the sea.
