This was our second cruise with MSC (the first was on the Preziosa in the YC) and overall we had a terrific time. The ship itself is in great condition and that includes the cabins. We had a balcony cabin up on deck 14, with the Aurea Spa experience. This package was well worth the upgrade, and the location of the cabin only enhanced this further. The private Top16 sundeck was a comparative oasis of calm compared to the madhouse of the pool deck, which seemed to have more music and games than even RCCL! The included drinks within the package were a little strange to understand – only Heineken beer and one choice or whatever colour wine allowed, BUT a whole host of spirits, cocktails and liqueurs were included! Daily use of the Spa facilities were also a very nice addition. I’d say this cruise was probably the best value for money we have ever had, and with NCL and RCCL seemingly hiking prices almost annually, MSC may be the way to go in future. The staff were mostly friendly and efficient (guest services could do better imho) and the food in the buffet we had few complaints with (no sign on the repetition I kept reading about elsewhere). Now to MSC’s Achilles heel however – the Dining Room. We noticed this last time, and sadly the same was true on this cruise – a smaller choice than most ships, small portions ( and I mean small), and often served lukewarm. To be fair we mentioned the food temperature to our waiter and the situation did improve thereafter. He also willingly brought extra portions and was happy to provide a second main course in lieu of desert (to my son not me I might add)! The itinerary was outstanding and partly why we booked the cruise. There’s a slightly chaotic feel to parts of MSC – I checked 3 times about self-disembarkation and got 3 different answers. The sports equipment can be found in any of decks 5, 6 or 13 depending what time of day you want it and what other activities are taking place. Embarkation was OK, but nowhere near as efficient as the other lines we’ve been on. All that said, I wouldn’t hesitate to book again with MSC, as the positives far outweigh the negatives.