Sailing out of Barcelona is a breeze, organized and efficient. Once you get checked in, you can buy souvenirs and alcohol on the way to the ship. We were supposed to get vouchers for bottled water and no one seemed to know where to pick up the vouchers, was sent to Reception, to Accounting, to cabin steward, back to Reception, back to Accounting, no big deal just a lot of walking and time. Ship is beautiful and spotlessly clean. Cabin was beautiful and service was excellent. Shows were OK, wonderful dancers but choreography was lacking. Music was formidable in every lounge.

A minor glitch with excursions, had reserved thru the MSC website, once we got on board, asked the tour desk and was told vouchers would be delivered to the cabin the night before the tour, called the night before and was told vouchers were being delivered and if not, to show up at designated time and place. Went to departure lounge the following morning and our names were nowhere to be found, were able to go on the tour and was told to stop by the excursion desk upon return to the ship. Turns out that our reserved tours never made it into the system, they were very accommodating and was able to reserve the rest of the tours. One minor incident once we arrived in Civitavecchia, tour 'Rome on your Own' Bus #14, driver kept driving around town and of course we had no idea where we were, turns out bus had a flat tire and we spent part of the morning at a garage, driver only spoke Italian and no MSC rep on board. Finally on our way, arrived in Rome at 1:45 pm and had to be back on the bus at 4:45 pm. Disappointing day in Rome and MSC had no apologies or even offered a credit for the cost of the tour.

Food was excellent at the buffet and dining room. Will probably cruise again on MSC just will not expect that extra service that other cruises try to distinguish themselves.