My previous four cruises were on Princess, and I found the services with MSC similar. The main difference was the low price of this MSC cruise as well as the ports of Malta and Tunisia included in the itinerary. We got more than our money's worth in entertainment and pleasant memories.
Time of year: We cruised the last week of September, so temperatures were warm enough to enjoy the pools and sunbathing while at port or at sea, but it wasn't too hot. I recommend this time of year-summer crowds are gone at the ports but it's still pleasant.
Embarkation: We boarded at the Barcelona port, and it was a breeze. The taxi dropped us off at the door with an hour to spare before final boarding. We were on the ship within ten minutes of arrival. No lines, and no hassle. We have found long lines at the earliest check-in time for Princess. On MSC, passengers arrive and depart at all seven ports, which spreads out the numbers of passengers boarding.