MSC Preziosa Review
Rating by category
Additional details
Embarkation was terrible - we waited for the passengers to go ashore before staff arrived and opened the desks - 1 yacht club, 2 Priority Boarding and 2 desks for the remainder (majority) of passengers. No announcements. People began to queue, the queues were long and people began to get irate, shoving to the front of the queue. MSC need to organise this better and have more staff on hand.
Once on ship quickly directed to our room, luggage had arrived and cards were on the bed, the card was not showing our all inclusive package, so down to reception and into another long queue. The card was quickly changed, why MSC are so bad on admin. I don't know. No time no for anything to eat or drink as the announcement goes out for safety drill.
After the first day we had a fantastic cruise.
Cabin Review
Interior Stateroom
Very spacious, well planned to make full use of space and very comfortable. If had the choice I would choose a cabin just rear of midship for convenience of getting to bars and restaurants.
Port Reviews
Cadiz
Very easy port to explore on your own. Beautiful town - just wonder through the streets and squares or walk around the periphery of the town by the seaside and beaches
Lisbon
Beautiful town to explore and easy to do this yourself. Docked at Appolonia port, cross the road to the underground, buy a day ticket from the machine and it gives you acess to the trams and buses too. One stop takes you to Commerce square. We took the 28 tram to Graca and walked around the castle and down through Alfama. Walked up to the Justa Elevator, also included in day ticket, walked to Convent Carmo, back to elevator and strolled around Rossio. Walked back to the ship as it was only 15 mins.
Madeira (Funchal)
Ship docks in central Funchal. Walk off and start to explore. If you want to see Madeira you will need to take an excursion, but if you just want to see Funchal it is very easy to do. If you are on a budget and want to see Monte, get the local bus for less than 2 euro, they run really regularly and from close to the market hall area. The Information Office is one street back from the seafront road, just behind the big white fort and they give very good info about buses, etc and give you a detailed map funchal. You could also get the local bus to Camara de Lobos.
Tenerife
We docked at Santa Cruz and I didn't really think there was enough for us to do in this modern capital, so after a brief look around (nice seafront square and modern auditorium} we headed for the tram (very clean and modern), bought our ticket at the machine (about 1.20 euro) and headed to La Laguna which is the old capital. It takes about 40 mins and you get off at the last stop. La Laguna is a lovely traditional town with beautiful buildings. Highly recommend going up there.