Booked a min inside cabin (1)guarantee on an AARP Single Fare on Dec 23, 2009. I learned about this cruise and the remarkably low fares from an email from a web site. Was assigned a Category 8 Balcony Cabin on the Starboard side on Deck 14. It was VERY NICE to have a balcony cabin. However, I would not have paid the usual fare which would have been about $1800 (200% Single Fare)

On Dec 23rd, this ship was WIDE OPEN with less than 10% of the cabins booked for this departure. On sailing day, there were still 3 cabins showing as available. In two and a half months MSC and their volume agents did a remarkable job of booking the ship full. I took the cruise to specifically check MSC out. I have been to all the ports many times and did not book any excursions nor the spa.

The is ship is new and sparkling clean. There is staff cleaning 24/7. The vessel is very functionally designed and decorated in an understated but yet bold way that is a little like Celebrity for its minimalism but not as bold or Mardi Grasish as Carnival. The soft furnishings are bright but not gaudy and are of sturdy commercial grade but are not sumptuous in any way and are showing signs of wear, particularly in the cabins, after only two years in service. This is definitely a high volume and passenger dense ship in 7 day rotational service. Read more