We read all the reviews. We have a balcony cabin it is great, yes the shower is small but really it is good. The staff have been fantastic The food is good, really good. The buffers have everything thing you could need The beds are comfortable and bangs fit under the beds This is our second msc cruise and it is just plain good Value When we read the reviews we were suspicious, but on board we have been pleasantly surprised We are not looking for a party cruise we are looking for relaxation and good food. We had the fantastica package, this gave us a basic range of drinks, but the wines are good Overall we are very happy. The breads are great as are the snacks, pizza etc The restaurant meals were well presented and there was a range of seating so you could have an intimate meal with your spouse or sit with a group of people The buffets were busy and the normal push and shove by the Italians and the poms but this is normal. Read Less

We had an absolutely amazing vacation on Magnifica Was really nervous based on the mixed reviews but the cabin was spacious and well cleaned. The main dining room had good selection and great service. Didn’t use the buffet for meals but it was definitely adequate for an afternoon/late evening snack (pizza, pasta, deserts) We met so many wonders people from around the world and spent most of our week socializing and exploring ports with our new friends. Due to the heavy fog, Venice closed the port so we ended up docking 3 hours late and many of us missed our flights but that wasn’t MSC’s fault. 3 other cruise ships also had the same issue. We ended up renting rooms at Hotel Altieri in Meistre with 2 other couples we met on-board and had a great final evening in Venice. I previously only cruised once before on the Grand Princess our of Florida and much preferred MSC. Found the average age of cruisers on this ship was 35-55 and they wanted more of a social, fun, relaxed atmosphere rather than the Princess who had an older clientele looking for a more upscale, refined experience Already looking for our next MSC adventure If you want to meet people and make amazing friendships- deck 13 on Magnifica is the place to be. Read Less

Just returned from an amazing cruise on Sinfonia. I’ve cruised Celebrity, Scenic, Royal Caribbean and P&O and I can say MSC were fantastic. Food was absolutely delicious, the Italians know how to cook. I can only assume others have killed their tastebuds if they didn’t like the food. Please ignore negative comments about the food, it’s simply not true. Yes the itinerary is tight but that is no surprise. Just line up and get in early for tender tickets so you are first off the ship and make the most of your time in each port. Santorini and Mykonos were both spectacular. Cabins were comfortable and roomy, I had an inside cabin. Staff were so friendly and helpful. I got calls to my cabin making sure I was happy with everything, Entertainment was fantastic too, good singers and guitarists in the lounges. Only negative was the fact you can’t get second cabin keys when you are a family sharing two cabins with children. This is very problematic and frustrating. Read Less

The embarking process was quick and smooth. The barman at the lagoona bar. Bagus was the best, always friendly and make us laugh. Our waiter at table 704 de oliviera was great. He treated us like royalty. All the ports except Barndisi was great. There is nothing special to see. I would definitly do this cruise again. The musica staff is the best. Our room was located right in front of the ship and it was quite our cabin steward was very friendly and our room was spotless every time we return to the cabin. The food in the restaurants was great. I've tried all the food of which i could not pronounce the name of and believe me it exceeded my expectations every time. The entertainment staff was full of energy and makes us laugh a lot. Overall it was a great ship with a great crew . Well done guys Read Less

The cruise was a joint holiday for 4 couples who have been friends for many years. We all travelled to Venice separately, with all 4 couples doing other European tours before and after our cruise. ur cruise on the MSC Musica left Venice Saturday 14th Sept. We visited Brindici, Olympia Mykinos, Athens, Albania and Dubrovnik. The MSC shore excusions we did in each of our ports were fantastic for both content and value for money and content. The on-board facilities were excellent with exemplary service from all the MSC staff in the bars, restaurants and bistros, all over the ship.. Special mention to our cabin steward, Irene who looked after us for the week, she was a blessing....Always smiling and asking if we needed anything....A real treasure. Our waiter staff, Jetson, Roy and our dining supervisor, Carlos, in the main dining room also deserve a special mention. Very attentive to our group, always smiling. Great service We loved our daily tours but I think the highlight of our cruise was the nightly entertainment in the main auditorium. From the warm up / comedy teams that started to the show to our main acts that sang and danced and juggles and tumbled across the stage., the nightly shows were excellent. We sampled just about all MSC Musica had to offer including a Private Cocktail function for Minor Nationalities . A fantastic week on-board and one we hope to repeat in the not to distant future Read Less

Picked this cruise from Bari as we wanted to come back to Bari and spend time in the Puglia area.. Cruise was great although more time could have been spent in ports . Restaurant waiters and service was great and food too. Our housekeeper Mundir was very helpful and always there if Needed. Room was always cleaned to perfection. Entertainment staff were the best I have come across on a cruise . All very talented and hospitality with guests were great and so was the music played as well.. Stefano Guzzardi and Yennier Moreno who are part of the entertainment staff have made this cruise very memorable for me.. not only they are kind, funny and great entertainers , they are both great dancers which I love to do and both made time several times for me.. I would love to join them on a cruise one day .. Luigi Incarnato is also a great entertainer and always gets the crowds going.. Read Less

This is our 10 th cruise and first MSC we chose because of Split, Santorini and Venice and pricing. we had low expectations based on online reviews and we were impressed so much we will take another MSC in Carrebian in Decemeber 2019. Francisco, the restaurant Manager, Herman Fernandis, the Chef and all Waiters in restaurant provided excellent service to our group of 20. Chef cooked a special dietary breakfast and dinner for 4 in our group that we would not have expected from other major cruise line. Even the cafeteria staff is excellent and maintain cleanliness. Mykonos was cancelled due to high winds considering safety- a right thing to do. Talented entertainment programs in the theater. Cabin size and cleanliness were better than some older ships in other cruise lines. Overall our entire group enjoyed the 7 night cruise and no one had any major complaint. Glad we selected this ship and did not pay much attention to bad reviews. Read Less

This was my second msc cruise along with my wife and two boys (14,11) and it did not disappoint. Yes most people on the ship are european which i dont mind cause i am fluent in italian and spanish, yes many people smoke, yes people cut the lines but for an american if you can get passed this you will find that most people will go out of their way to help you or provide service to you! Probably your best tool in your belt if your an american is tipping. In europe its not customary but i always tip and always find that a small tip can yield unbelievable results. Any way the cruise the ports were fantastic, the ship was clean and easy to navigate, no days at sea so no need to worry about the kids and a water park as your not on the ship much. The food is definitely above average for the price point and the pizza Never disappoints. The crew was spectacular a special thanks to the assistant maitre’d giuseppe esposito who fulfilled our every request in the dining room. Also i had the pleasure to interact with the hotel director giuseppe russo, i have to admit the most gracious host i ever met on any cruise, he sat with us talked with us and was genuinely excited to see americans on the ship. He made us feel like a million dollars and sent us a special surprise with his compliments. Everything about the cruise was great and we will definitely be cruising with msc again! Don’t hesitate to give them a try you will not be disappointed! Read Less

This summer we decided, for our vacation, to book a cruise that sailed from Venice, Italy to the Greek islands and back. Leg 1 of our cruise brought us to Kotor in Montenegro. While there we took a guided bus excursion allowing us to see and visit the 5th century town of Budva still surrounded by the original city walls. Right away when walking in you get taken back in time. The ancient city is made up of narrow streets and many churches. Budva is one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast. After we visited Budva we returned back towards the port and the old city of Kotor. There we had a short guided tour within the fortified walls of the old city. Breathtaking and worth the visit. The second leg of the cruise brought us to Mykonos. Our first time here and expectations were high. We booked 2 excursions. The first one was an island tour. Like most of the islands in the cyclades group of islands, most of the landscape of Mykonos is dry. Our bus and tour guide took us around the island giving us a chance to capture beguiling views of Mykonos town and the old port, before a scenic route brought us through the picturesque villages of Agios Ioannis and Kalafatis, eventually ending up at Ornos beach. Here we were able to relax and swim for a couple of hours before heading back to the ship. In the evening we returned onto the island. A windmill-dotted landscape, friendly locals and a particularly lively night-time clubbing scene have all gone to make Mykonos the popular holiday destination it is today. For this tour will see you leave the ship, hopon a local, public seabus for a short trip to theold port to enjoy an evening of Greek hospitalityand a light dinner in a restaurant. In addition todelicious local specialities and wine, you willalso get to enjoy a folkloric show while at therestaurant. You can even join in yourself andshake a leg or, if you prefer, simply clap in timewith the music. The tour also includes a guidedwalk around the narrow lanes of Mykonos town, full of whitewashed houses and enclosed gardens. The third leg of our cruise brought us to Santorini. A short tender boat ride from the ship brought us to Athinios port where we will boarded a bus to Oia, a typical Greek village characterized by narrow streets with traditional white churches with blue dome. A picture-postcard vision of the Mediterranean! This village offers a breathtaking viewover the Gulf of Santorini. Following our visit to Oia our bus brought us to Perivolos Beach, a picturesque stretch of black pebbles giving onto the beautiful blue of the Aegean Sea. We stayed about an hour and a half to enjoy beach life. Before embarking back on the bus we had a typical Greek meal at the Kouzina restaurant located along the sea front. The service was great and the food was very tasty. Once back at the port, a boat ride took us back to ou ship. The fourth leg of our cruise took us to Corfu. In the days of ancient Greece, Corfu marked the final stage of the legendary trip made by the mythological Greek god, Odysseus, on hisjourney home to Ithaca. This tour give us a chance to enjoy Corfus lush landscape as we travelled around the island. The excursion included a visit to Achilleions Palace, a beautiful white mansion and the former residence of Queen Elizabeth of Austria who was also known as Sissi. The richly decorated palace is set in pretty gardens overlooking the sea and is dedicated to another hero from Greek mythology, Achilles. Before returning to the port we will also had a chanceto pay Corfu town a brief visit and spend a little free time strolling around. While in Corfu we also visited the Church of Saint Spyridon, a Greek Orthodox church. It was built in the 1580s and houses the relics of Saint Spyridon. Its bell tower is the highest in the Ionian Islands and it is the most famous church in Corfu. The fifth and last leg of our cruise took us to Bari. Here we decided to to discover Bari on our own. We took a little road train tour around Bari’s historical quarter witch gave us a chance to view the local marvellous medieval architecture. We passed by the magnificent Baris old Norman castle for anexternal viewing after visiting the Basilica of St. Nicholas. This church was built in honour of Bari’s patron saint and founded towards the end of the 11th century A.D. The Basilica is an important religious pilgrimage site. Before returning to the ship we had a chance to roam through the little medieval streets where we had a chance to have a refreshment and to buy some souvenirs. With that, we headed back to our ship for the last night of our cruise. We had a great time and would recommend this adventure to anyone. It was great waking up in a different place every day. The MSC crew and staff was amazing. We would like to say a special thanks to Rowena D’Esposito, our guest relation manager, and to Mundir, our cabin attendant. Every one on the ship was great but these two really went out of their way to make sure that we had a great cruise. The buffets and restaurants leave you wanting for nothing. Our cabin was cleaned twice a day, every day. Truly spoiled. There is always something going on all the time. There are numerous lounges with live music and drinks to satisfy all tastes and there is even a great disco for the young and the young at heart. If you like to try your hand at chance, there is also a casino onboard. Every night you can enjoy live shows at the ships theatre. We had a great time and we would sail again with MSC. Read Less

We have just returned from our 7 day cruise departing venice and travelling to Bari, Katakolon, Santorini, Pireas and Kotor in Montenegro and we couldnt recommend this cruise highly enough! We travelled on the much larger MSC Seaview last year and I have to say I much preferred this size of ship although we didnt spend much time in the pool area as we had access to the top 16 deck with its two large jacuzzis. it is more mangeable and I was able to find my way around far easier than on the larger ship. I found the food was good overall, the restaurant food was lovley but the buffet was a bit basic and we seemed to always be going there when they were closing some part of it so we hardly ever saw the full choices available. Breakfast for the kids was perfect, pancakes, fruit, waffles etc as well as the usual cooked breakfast and cold meats etc available for adults. Loved the fact that they had a large range of sauces from around the world including UK HP Sauce. Lunch was a bit basic but it could just have been that we were dining later than most people and they had closed off some areas. We only had dinner in the buffet once and to be honest I much preferred the restaurant as we were able to have a proper conversation without one of the kids wanting us to get them something else from the buffet. The restaurant food was lovely and our waiter was really nice, enjoyed the meal times there. We travelled with 2 kids and to be honest they would hardly leave the kids club so it felt like we had a real break! The kids club was excellent and there were lots more english speaking kids there this time. Staff were really nice and it was secure so I didnt have to worry about them. Loved the top 16 deck area, our kids could play in the jacuzzi and we could relax and read. All in all I really enjoyed my week on maginfica. Read Less

My husband and I decided to book a very spontaneous trip on MSC Magnifica four days before the ship was to set sail through Expedia. We were coming from Boston, USA and took a non-stop flight to Rome, then a smaller flight to Bari, Italy where we embarked. We read some of the negative reviews (mostly about smoking on the ship and staff being rude) but decided to risk the trip anyway. We are so happy we did!! We found most of the criticisms of MSC and the crew to be completely inaccurate. From the moment we boarded, the staff, crew and bartenders were fantastic and very responsive to any of our needs. We did not have to wait very long for drinks, everyone was friendly to us and the ship was gorgeous. The cabin was ready when we arrived with our bags already in the room. The cabin was nicely furnished, very clean, comfortable bed and a beautiful room with a balcony. The dining in the main dining room at night wasn't my favorite. The food was good but nothing blew me away with flavor. If you are what we call in the states "a foodie", this is probably not the cruise for you. The buffet for breakfast and lunch was good, however. Very nice salad bar, hamburgers, french fries, pasta, homemade pizzas, rice, Thai dishes and lots of other choices. We went on the cruise for the Ports of calls and a spontaneous adventure. The dining portion and food were a low priority for us. The Activities on the crew were fun, we danced, had drinks at the cool bars, sat in the sun, and attended many of the Broadway-style shows. They were cute shows with skilled dancers and singers and a nice way to end the night. The thing we loved the most was the amazing ports of call. Every Greek island and/or city (Venice, Montenegro, Bari) was outstanding. Too much to write but a trip of a lifetime. Everything and more that we had hoped for. I highly recommend this cruise. The only small difficulties were lots of Europeans do smoke, but only outside. Not many people spoke English so we were a little isolated (but my husband found that to be a positive lol), the initial Embarkment was a 2.5 hour wait to get on board, and lines were a bit confusing in the buffet area for breakfast and lunch. I recommend going to the buffet right when it opens to avoid the frenzy. The only people I found to complain were the Americans who didn't have a lot of travel experience. Their expectations were too high for some of the places they visited off the ship. We understood that traveling to these ancient cities there would be lines and confusion since they are not equipped for the influx of thousands of tourists descending on their infrastructure at one time. Some of the ports of calls would have 5 cruise ships show up at one time letting 4,000 people off per ship. One last thing, I do believe you need to be average to good shape to walk around these ports of call. I am in good shape (45 year old female) and found it to be moderate to above moderate exercise to get around with lots of cobblestone walkways and uneven terrain. I was grateful my 80 year old parents decided not to attend the cruise with us as I don't think they would have had the energy to walk around. Overall I would rate this an excellent trip and would do it again with my family in a heartbeat. Read Less

I’m not even sure my words can accurately describe just how amazing this entire trip was. Our vacation started in the beautiful port of Venice, Italy. Highly recommend flying in at least 2 days before embarkation so you can explore a bit in Venice. Stay at the Hilton Molino Stucky if you want beautiful views! We were first time MSC cruisers so unsure exactly what to expect, as we are American and the ship is dominantly Italian folks. Embarkation was a breeze. We were settled on the ship with our luggage within an hour of boarding. We had a balcony on deck 12 towards the back of the boat and loved the sizing and layout of the room! Our bed was a bit shaky, which we blamed on the engines (maybe?) but it was certainly bearable. More than enough room for 2 people in the basic balcony! We had the Fantastica experience, as we did not need any bells and whistles but did want a bit more than the “Bella”. The itinerary was simply phenomenal. Each day we got off the boat more in awe of where we were. We booked excursions in every island that required us to walk and move around a lot. This was not your typical ‘relaxing’ vacation. This itinerary is heavily culturally enriching. You will gain a lot of knowledge of the ports and the history surrounding them. I am not a history gal, but I was mesmerized by the history I learned. It was fascinating to learn from the tour guides who were so proud and excited to share their wealth of knowledge. Our itinerary break down was as followed: -Venice, Italy (visit San Marco) -Bari, Italy (visit Matera) -Katakolon, Greece (you have to see Olympia here) -Santorini, Greece (go visit the famous Oia) -Piraeus, Greece (you have to visit the Acropolis) -Corfu, Greece (must visit paradise beach) -Kotor, Montenegro (do a boat tour of the bay) The food on the Magnifica was SOOO good! We tried to keep our buffet time to breakfast only. Which was perfect for our early docked days. For dinner, we ate at the same table with 6 other folks and LOVED who we sat with. At first, this seems a bit ridiculous to have the same server with the same guests but we genuinely valued this time to unwind and reconnect at the end of a busy day! The entertainment was decent, but certainly have seen better. However, the dancing was great! MSC brought on aerialists that were excellent to watch! They were the highlight of most shows! The cruise staff was the absolute best staff we have ever been around. We have cruised several times but found this staff to be the BEST. So engaging, kind, and genuine. They wanted to really get to know you and help you have the most enjoyable time on board. It really says a lot when out of 2,500 rotating guests, they still remember your name! We were so sad to leave this crew, as they truly helped create many memories. The ONLY downside of our trip were the amount of children aimlessly running around, pushing and shoving. Luckily, we quickly learned how to avoid them and kept our distance. MSC is very family oriented, which is great! Just beware, you will certainly come across kids in mot public areas! Overall, this trip was epic. One of the best, if not, the best trips I have ever taken. Do not hesitate to book this trip. Hurry before it sells. You will love every second of it!!!!!!! Read Less

We choose this cruise due to destinations it sailed to. After reading so many negative reviews I was a little bit worried about going with MSC. But let me be honest. EMBARKING After reading about chaos at embarking, this chaos comes due to witnessing the most impatient people I've ever seen trying to get on ship first. People that don't think they should queue. Your given a number and when it's called you go to security. If you can be patient everything is fine, if being impatient bothers you, you'll ruin your own holiday yourself. Watching people having a paddy cause they want to board on number 5 instead of 6 was actually hilarious. CABINS OK so when we got to enter the cabin it nice, not the best cleaning Ive seen ( a few smudges on a mirror) but at end of day it wasn't going to ruin my holiday and make me complain. The cleaner did nice touches and even left us cakes one night, I acknowledged this with a thank you note back. RESTAURANT we had 2 amazing waiters Michael from South Africa and Juni from Indonesia. We had a laugh with them every night, nothing to much trouble. If I didn't like any starters I had 2 mains instead. If you don't ask you don't get, but the problem seems to be witnessing the manner in which people ask. Talk to them in a rude manner you'll get one back, be polite and they will go above and beyond for you. Portions are small but I never went hungry. MSC are not your royal carribean or princess standard, but we didn't pay those prices to start with so don't compare the two otherwise pay more for your holiday. OVERALL We couldn't really find any faults with the ship at all. After reading so many bad reviews I soon came to realise that some people expect to much. The ships very clean, the staff work extremely hard and have been on the ship many months without a break, they may be at your disposal but treat them like humans and with respect to get the same back. Don't be put off by the hard hotdog cob review (we never found that). Also didn't get my food luke warm, weather that's because we was on first sitting. Our food always came out at a good temperature. Beware of the passengers who act like animals at feeding time in a zoo, racing up and down acting like its all going to go in a flash, this isn't Msc fault, it's your fellow passangers behaving like that, way to avoid is to go at quiter times I.E just before all trips come back to ship. Read Less

I have read a lot of bad reviews about the MSC Musica and was very worried but it was amazing! Embarkation and Disembarkation were not great experiences however apart from that everything was great. The staff are second to none and cannot do enough for you. The shows were fabulous and the entertainment staff work non stop to make sure everyone is having fun. The bar staff are so friendly and the cleaners keep the place spotless. Food was great, my son loved the pizza especially. We only used the buffet as have no complaints. The ship never felt overly busy and you could always find a space for yourself. We had a balcony room which was fabulous and had everything we needed. The Itinerary was the reason I booked this cruise and it didn’t disappoint with the highlights being Mykonos, Dubrovnik and Venice. Brindisi was a surprise too such a beautiful little town. This was a first cruise for myself and my son and we loved everything about it from start to finish. I set my expectations low and everything exceeded my expectations! Read Less

I chose this cruise because it was going round the Greek isles & also was all inclusive on the the drinks. The embarkation went smoothly and we where son on the ship. My first surprise was how big the ship was. We where all ushered to one of the bars for a welcome drink and the captain came to welcome us on his ship. We then went our room. We chose interior with a window would of liked a balcony but my husband gets confused in the night if going to the bathroom so was worried he would go to the balcony. We where introduced to our butler and told anything we wanted to just ask. The rooms where lovely & spacious beds where very comfortable & I thought there was plenty of hanging space for your clothes. Bathroom was small but no toiletries except in a container on the wall & shower but I always bring my own. There was a note to say they where trying to cut down on plastic to help with the environment which is good. The buffet was on the top floor of the ship. When we first went in we thought it was chaotic it seemed everyone had gone to eat at once. It took a while to find a table but there was plenty of choice of food. In the evening we ate in the restaurant with waiters we where on the first sitting, it was a set menu with 3 choices of each starter main & desert and I thought there was enough for me to eat but could imagine that there may may be not enough for a man, we had wine with our meal & was topped up when nearly empty. Our waiters where lovely. The entertainment was wonderful & we really enjoyed the shows. As we where on first sitting where went to the show later in the evening. The entertainment through the day was fun to watch if you wanted to or you where left alone to enjoy the sun. All the service we received was very good from waiters to cleaners all spoke to you when met up with them. We went on 2 excursions the best was Santorini we bought both excursions through MSC before we went on the cruise on line. We only got off the ship in Corfu & Kotor which we thought was wonderful. I would definitely go with MSC cruise again. Read Less

We chose this cruise because of the itinerary - Apart from Venice & Kotor - all the other ports were a new experience for us. The other attraction was there were no sea days, so every day was an opportunity to explore a new place. The Ship was very nice (shame about some of the other passengers) but we found that the main dining room seemed very cramped in comparison to a number of the other ships we have been on. The accessible ocean view cabin was again quite spacious but not as large as similar grade cabins on other ships - because the door did not open automatically, it meant that I had to be there to open the door for my wife's wheelchair. The theatre was very nice, but having all the announcements made in seven languages became quite tedious. The shows were mainly of the dancing and acrobatic type rather than the 'west end' type of show that we have seen on other lines, but we still enjoyed them. The food was excellent but the service seemed to be quite slow - this was because one waiter had to serve the food, serve the wine and also clear the plates from the table so he was kept very busy, but he was very friendly and we had no problems with the way he served us. One 'niggle' was the fact that in most ports, MSC had provided shuttle buses from the port to the city but NONE!! of these were accessible to wheelchairs so in most cases we had to sort ourselves out. Even when a port provided its own internal transport (Corfu) this again was not wheelchair accessible. Our other 'niggle' was some of the other passengers who would push past you when waiting for the lifts. Read Less

I am rating this cruise Excellent, basically due to the Itinerary. You are in Venice, Split, Santorini, Mykonos, Dubrovnik, Ancona, and back to Venice. Here are the pluses of the cruise ship. It's a smaller cruise ship compared to the "mega ships" out there today, and that's the type of ship I personally like. I do not care for the super large ships. It reminded me of old world cruising. The ship is not new, but it was very clean and well maintained for the most part. The international flavor/mix of the guests on board, we particularly enjoyed. Although language could be an issue at times, but we did find some english speaking folks on board from the UK, Ireland, Australia, etc. Quite nice. At first, once I studied the ports of call, I was concerned there was not enough time in each of them (after all, we always want "more") but to be honest, it all worked out quite fine. Even with the shorter time in Mykonos. The times we had to tender and or dock, were well organized and were very seamless. Embarkation was a little clustered, we got there shortly after 12noon, and apparently so did everyone else :) After about 30 minutes, the lines moved and it was much more organized. We were onboard about 1pm give or take. Our Cabin was just about ready at that time, and we met our Cabin Attendant...he told us to come back in about a 1/2 hour and he'd have our cruise cards for us. Sure enough he did. In the meantime, they had a buffet open up on Deck 11, so we went up there, grabbed a bite and went to the Capri Bar (which turned out to be our favorite bar on the ship). We got to know the Bartenders and Servers right away, and they became best buddies before you knew it. They would see us coming and no matter how busy they were, they would always sneak us our drinks before others.(We did tip them from time to time but we were also very nice to them. As you can imagine, not all guests are pleasant. Anyway, after we got out cruise cards, we went down to the Reception desk and activated our cards with a credit card for any "extras". We did by the Drink Package (we got the middle package, for we didn't need the top shelf) and it turned out to be a wise choice. I strongly suggest if you enjoy your adult beverages. The prices (for those who do not want to buy a package, were averaging 6.50 Euros per drink. With the drink package, all beverages were comped, ie: bottled waters, soft drinks, cappuccinos/espressos, etc. Cabin- We were on Deck 10, cabin 1096, balcony. I strongly suggest Balcony cabins if you can afford them. It adds to the space of your cabin and with such beautiful scenery to take advantage of, we utilized the balcony a lot. The bathroom was a standard cruise ship bathroom. The shower was a little challenging for a 6'2 guy, but I managed. There's plenty of storage space for luggage, drawers, nightstands, etc. The cabin has both 110 volt and 220 volt electric current. The bathrooms have a built in hair dryer. There was a TV in the room, fairly good choice of programs if you wanted to chill in the cabin. Overall, not a bad sized cabin. I would of liked to upgrade to a suite so we could have a sitting area, however, we survived. Dining-Now, we had chosen the "your choice" dining for the dining rooms. We only ended up using it for one night, on "Gala Night". We were using the Buffet up on Deck 11 95% of the time. We went for the Gala night, the dining room was quite nice and that old world style, but the meal was a bit lack-luster. The portions were quite small and the dessert, for a gala dinner lacked imagination. So, after dinner, we went back up to the Buffet! We found that the Buffet had pretty much everything you could want. Somethings better than others, but over all, compared to other cruise lines I have been on, we really liked it. They also have a cafeteria style "Pizza station" and a Hamburger/Hotdog" station. They were quite popular and they worked out great if you wanted a quick snack (god forbid the buffet should be closed, haha). The only days the buffet was really crowded were the 2 At Sea days. Get there when it opens. They also had freshly tossed/prepared pasta stations available for lunch those 2 days at the Capri Bar. They were great! Entertainment- We didn't partake in any of the entertainment ie: theater stuff. We did enjoy the bands that played on deck though. Service- WE were nice to them and they were MORE than nice to us. We did witness some really rude behavior by people to some of the wait staff, just because that's how people are, and we felt bad. Think that's why we were extra nice. Proved to work out in our favor. We ordered room service for coffee/croissants each morning and they were always punctual if not a little early. Loved it. Ports- Shore Excursions. We are very seasoned travelers and like to just do things by ourselves, but the one excursion I wish we DID take advantage of was the tour of the Caves in Ancona. It looked really cool. Ancona (your last port) is a sleeply old shipping port, so there was not much to see in the town, although we found a nice place to enjoy some wine and tapas. In Split, we took advantage of a taxi offering a city tour for 30 euros, and it was all of an hour, we liked that. The other ports, we just walked around and entertained ourselves. Now, one thing I will tell you. The early arrival in Santorini, is a GOOD THING. Reason being, you have to wait in line for the Tram to the top. We were like the first tender off the ship, and we zipped right up to the top (it's 6 Euros) and had a nice late breakfast and had a amazing view overlooking the harbor and the sites of Santorini. There's a myriad of places. Anyway, reason being early was best, all of a sudden, you saw all these cruise ships coming. By the time we came back down from the tram ( we decided to go down around 1230pmish) and the line was insane to get UP the tram. MSC also had a nice touch at the boarding spot for the tender. They offered nice cold towels/waters/juices, while you waited. Lovely. The other ships i didn't see that. Mykonos! Although we arrived at around 7pmish, it was still light out. Plenty of time to walk around, enjoy the little village. We had a bite to eat, a a drink, then found a nightclub and a couple bars on the water front by where we came in. Jackie'O's was our favorite. We say outside and watch the people. It's a gay bar by the way and we are a gay couple...but it's a lovely place and the staff was super nice. We ended up hanging there until about midnight, then tendered back in. Would of been nice to be there a little earlier, but we loved it. Ancona--- Small seaport...not much to do, we noticed folks stayed on board, or did the excursions. It's a quick walk in to the center of town. It was nice. Disembarkation was very well organized. We docked in Venice around 7am. Our cabin group was to meet up in the Sinfonia Lounge and we left around 9:10am, and in to the departure hall to collect our bags. Pretty simple. About the ship- The ship is very clean, and again, reminded me of an old world cruising style. (I sailed on the ORIGINAL LOVE BOAT, The Pacific Princess, so I have been around while:). I would say that the Sinfonia Lounge and the Manhattan Bar on Decks 5 and 6, seemed a little dated. Since the weather was so great, we loved being out at the Capri Bar on Deck 11 the best. We didn't care for the "Irish Pub" so much, but if you are a beer lover, they have a ton of different beers. Shopping- The shops had a lot to offer, but it was in a bit of a funky area. Think they are trying to offer more specialty shops with the limited space. However, we were not there to shop...we wanted the ports. They did have some duty free sales, but again, we were not in the market for anything. There were more Children than I thought there would be, but the Europeans tend to travel with the families. The pool area is QUITE nice and has a water park for kids. We didn't hang out at the pool, but we did up on deck 12 if and when we wanted. We didn't want to be around the little darlings. To sum it up, we really enjoyed it. I ignored the reviews and decided to just see what it's all about, and my partner and I had a fantastic trip. It is what you make of it. I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat! Enjoy!!! Read Less

Best prices ever, food was on point ,the neatness of the cabins,dining setup was classy, Oooh the excursions were great. I really, really enjoyed this cruise I will never forget the extra service from the medical staff to the security .The staff was amazing always go an extra mile. Was happy to see South Africans working on board.. meeting new friends . Will do this again with my crew this year December. MSC keep it up... yhoo I was so scared because of previous reviews people saying bad things about MSC, I almost cancelled the trip yerrr...what I've learn is that you will never satisfy everybody just stick to your thing and do what you you know is best. This was my first time cruising trip. Now looking forward cruising from Rome and Naples as well as the Amalfi coast around December . Safety was the priority with MSC. Well done Read Less

As I read through several of these reviews, I'm scratching my head, but okay, I'm going to post MY EXPERIENCE as best I can and hope that folks understand that not only am I a person whose character can be selective (not snobby) and want quality for my hard neared dollar. Also, since there is not a lot on this site about this specific line and this specific ship, not trying to deny other people THEIR experience, I have to share because what I have read is far from and light years away from what we experienced. Let me start by saying that this cruise, taken in 2019, was planned since 2012 because I wanted a high-quality cruise experience for my now deceased mom's landmark 80th birthday. Since I didn't want to cruise Viking (thought it would be too stuffy for my mom's likes), MSC became the choice because their itineraries were exactly what I wanted. I lost my mom in 2015 so my BFF (a gay man..trust me, this will matter in the review) and I decided to celebrate our moms' in spirit since he lost his mom also and make this a couple of days prior to the cruise on land/excursion beginning in Barcelona and after the trip on land as we flew to London at the end of the cruise before coming home to the states. Flew into Barcelona from San Francisco (via Delta Airlines) and stayed a couple of days in Barcelona at a nearby Best Western (a friend works there and we received excellent service from them as well). The port city of Barcelona was PERFECT since disembarking from there helped make what could have been much more difficult, much easier. Barcelona is a busy, well-organized port city, that was the case, but it was a great choice on our end. That's where our trip began. Food: We were initially overwhelmed by all of the options for food and drink, which MSC Sinfonia seemed to dominate like an Italian aunt that wanted you to feel at home in her house. The option we purchased including beverages in our cruise package was smart, since this cost can be quite substantial to your cruise, and while we didn't choose the highest level liquor package, we did pick all you can drink coffee/tea/soft drinks/wine and cocktails (selected with quality liquors but not the Hennessey-level booze...didn't buy it because we don't drink all THAT much and can pay for those beverages as an aside). Great food, including a diversity of tastes and flavors, for all meals and snacks of the day, were fantastic. Not all were with an Italian taste but there was plenty of Italian-based tastings and we were very satisfied; because we are Americans, we also appreciated the pizza/pasta/sandwich bars along with the burger/hot dog and fries bar; they have fresh gelato as well as a Vitamin/Smoothie with fresh fruits bar and when you can get avocado and pineapple in a smoothie in the middle of the Mediterranean, I'm there! There was literally enough good healthy food along with the corrupt stuff you don't want your kids to eat, but being on vacation allowed everyone to be happy. While there is a breakfast buffet with enough options culturally to satisfy pretty much every country on the planet. But my travel companion found that if you get to the areas where you'll typically find pizza and burgers at lunch, you can get your omelette/pancakes. I loved to sleep in so I didn't get much of this but it was nice to know it was an option besides the over abundance of bacon and eggs or oatmeal and yogurt (greek yogurt). And that's another thing...they had delicious oatmeal. I was trying to be good with all the food goodies on board and didn't feel like my doctor would kick my bottom when I see him next visit. The coffee barristers and bartenders made our tasty drinks and pretty much to taste for us. I didn't have to ask for my tequila to be a specific one or have my drinks made in any way. Their bartenders know exactly what to do and how to make drinks. For the dinner/fine dining dinner option, we had My Choice dining as part of our package, allowing us to eat at a time of our choice and since we dine on the later side, we mostly sat without anyone else at our table (you're thoughtfully placed with others but it's not weird like putting a single couple or couple with a large family). We became to know the servers and the Dining manager was a professional maitre'd and could have worked at any of the 5 star restaurants we're used to going to in the US. Excisions: The opportunities and options were fantastic. From the choices of the well-thought out excursions, which were fairly priced and surprisingly well-organized to get folks on and off the ship efficiently, allowed us to make choices on how we wanted to live on the ship on our own. We were on a 12-day/11-night Mediterranean cruise, out of Barcelona, with stops in Malta/Corfu/Katalion/Herkalion/Pireaus/Civitavecchia/Genoa/Marseilles and back to Spain. What a GLORIOUS cruise this was. For myself and my friend to cruise for the first time, we were thoroughly overwhelmed. We experienced every opportunity on this ship that adults without children can experience, and we did visually see families enjoying themselves, so even if we can't speak as a family, as two single adults traveling together, we can both cheer for this cruise and this specific excursion. The Ship: There were lots of things to do, both on and off the ship from shows, to televisions everywhere to watch sports and have a beer or cocktail/coffee/tea or soda...public spaces, a casino (and you do get your winnings); of course traveling in early Spring as we did wasn't a guarantee of great weather but we did fortunately have sunny days and it was amazing. We were all able to sit outside and enjoy the wonderful Mediterranean sunshine. Fresh foods every day (fresh fruit for Americans that live in California is a huge deal and for me, as a New Yorker that lives in California now, as I said earlier, this was supposed to be a mom celebration...and baby, I LOVED my Momma....as did my friend. I even had a bout of bronchitis and he a bout with gout, so we visited the ship's doctor and even that experience was top-notch (needed antibiotics and received in an IV drip so I could fly and ended up continuing my trip without even having felt like I was ill). They had a photo studio where you can purchase pictures and capture everything from wedding to family portraits. In fact there was a wedding/reception/honeymoon on board the boat if I can properly recall. Their Staff/Crew: We were treated with wonderfully, energized joy by the MSC crew. It was like a Welcome Party. The preparation to have you get on-board starts with your obtaining a cruise card, which is basically your on-board, ID card, charge card and access card. Makes keeping your valuables safe painless. My plan was to relax and spa since we took advantage of the Aurea Spa package, which allowed us to obtain massages and add-on other purchased pampering. Again, since this was supposed to be a mother-daughter thing, I was looking forward to a facial and other treatments. These are on the pricier side, but considering their estheticians are the same quality of major spas in international cities, the price point wasn't out of reach or not something worth reviewing. They have a full service hair salon on board as well as treatments from acupuncture to various massage methods. MSC makes sure folks understand that it's not an unlimited financial card because your ability to have fun, responsibility both fiscally and emotionally are always gonna be front of mind. They have all types of shopping and other fun things to do, so even if you're not born rich, they treat you well and with car. We even met a couple from Perth Australia who told us that they've been cruising for years and they love Sinfonia even though MSC has newer ships. They described it as "old-stool' cruising and I understood what they meant. Being American, you can have some Disney-styled cruises (too child-attentive/better for families) or too Viking-esque (potentially too snobby and stuffy even if luxuriously appointed). We wanted to be treated like Viking, with party options that were not too immature). MSC hit the bill OUT OF THE PARK for us. To add to the other points: My friend is a gay man over 50; he was VERY happy and because he also blogs for LGBTQ entertainment, he plans on doing a piece on this experience...which I'm whole-heartedly rooting for because it was more than deserved. Also, I saw lots of disabled people: seniors with canes and wheelchairs in families and couples; a disabled athlete in a wheel chair; a family (it seemed since there were 2 visually impaired people in the group). We saw sign language used and when it came to language barriers, there were none....They have a talented, multi-linguist staff and their tours which were conducted in many cases in multi-languages, were just another impressive action because their folks speak multi-languages. I was impressed. A special shout-out to: Adrian (Dining Services); Shubert (Bar Services); Melray (Buffet Manager); Anthony (Stateroom Attendant), Irina (Spa Services) and all the servers on Sinfonia. You made us never forget you and we WILL BE BACK! Read Less

Best Vacation I traveled the Mediterranean aboard the MSC Lyrica for 8 days in September with a few girlfriends and had an absolute blast. I was amazed at how hard the crew worked during our stay. They were very attentive & accommodating. We paid for the unlimited drink package in advance and when we arrived, our cabin cards did not reflect such. We went to the reception desk and were taken care of with cards updated immediately. The food was mediocre in my opinion but that is not abnormal for cruise lines. There were options of salads, hamburgers, hotdogs, French fries & pizza every day & night so when nothing was appealing on the buffet there was always these options to fall back on. The breakfast was my favorite meal of the day, eggs made in every variety for different preferences. The dinner restaurant was enjoyable. Our servers, Antonio & Igor were very nice and provided excellent service. Trust me we were a group of picky eaters and they handled us with such grace. There was a hard time finding sun beds on the deck for relaxation, early bird gets the worm with the chairs & that’s normal. Walter waited on us regularly on the deck. This guy was always there hustling to provide superior service; quick, attentive and friendly. The drink menu had a large variety, Definitely something for all tastes. I enjoyed different mixed cocktails by day & wine or whiskey on ice by night. I did find many of the passengers were rude & lacked manners. Simple things we do in America like not cut in line and wait for an elevator to empty before entering was definitely lacking in abundance during my stay. Excursions were good, locations were amazing. There were a couple excursion guides that were a bit brash but balanced with the others that were friendly while informative. Absolutely beautiful sceneries. Would like to have had more free time on land when planned excursions. The entertainment was perfect. The nightly shows in the theater were different each night and had good choreography. My personal favorite place at night was the Lord Nelson bar. Nightly music by Nenad was so nice to settle down for the evening. He offered a variety of music choices and even tossed some comedy into his gigs. The service was superior in this bar than the others, all the drink waiters and waitresses were hospitable. The bartenders in this bar were also above average, Yash always had a smile on his face and eager to serve. If there’s such thing as regulars in a weeks time, this was the location. I not only adored the staff & entertainment in this bar but made friends from all over the world with fellow passengers. The music, service and company each night will forever hold a warm place in my memory of my time on the Lyrica. The ship was clean; bathrooms, sitting areas, bars, dining spaces, floors & cabins. I noted employees cleaning at all hours. Our cabin was cleaned twice a day and the entire ship was maintained well in accordance with the amount of people on the ship. Overall this was an exceptional experience and I will be booking with MSC again in the near future, along with strong recommendations to my family, friends & colleagues. Read Less

This was our first cruise not with Holland America but we were soon appreciative of the comfort and luxury offered by MSC. The accommodation was excellent and the food exceeded our expectations. The itinerary both on board and the excursions suited us well as we are both nearly 70 being able to relax and enjoy the leisurly days as we wanted was important. The public spaces were a little noisy but there were quiet places and all the staff were helpful and made us welcome. Embarkation in Venice could have been easier as the ship is a little way from the water taxi stop but a quick drink in one of the many comfortable lounges soon revived us. Dinning was pleasant and of a high standard, the staff really made us welcome and spoke good English making it easy for us to chat end enjoy the time spent with them. We have no hesitation in recommending the cruise on MSC Lirica and are looking forward to a repeat cruise. Read Less

we choose this cruise to celebrate our exams ending, and although it started weak, it ended up being amazing. the ship had everything you needed, and you could eat whenever you wanted, and there was food for all tastes, although the buffet was crazy. The dinners were better every day, and all waitress was simply great, i celebrated my birthday there and they made it unforgettable. the entertainment team was super energetic, they always gave the best of themselves, offering and they had always a big smile for you, but with the visits, you didn't have much time to do the activities. The best part of the ship was the lord nelson pub, despite we didn't smoke, the voice of konstantin it's just amazing even being sick, it was crazy the way he played, and all the pub team was just wonderful, we tried to go every night. All the ports was amazing,the only negative point was that you had to take the shuttle bus to the center for most cities, and these should be free. We enjoyed each second inside and outside this ship. Read Less

Value for money! very well organised and very good information about the cruise and activities. friendly helpful staff, excellent choice of food at the buffets and very good service at the sit down dinners. We would like to make special mention of Rachelle our very friendly and helpful waitress! Very good choice of activities and entertainment. Excellent shows with very good talent. Lovely bars and dancing opportunities even the dance classes were good fun with professional teaching.we particularly enjoyed the piano playing of Roelof in the Le Barougue coffee shop. Although we could only afford an inside cabin it was very nice and comfortable and always clean. We are South Africans and our money dont do well in Europe against the Euro. Very good communication about the next days activities by way of the newsletter. Very good security at embarkation and disembarkation, very well organised and done in a very speedy way. Very friendly staff and we would like to make special mention of Jean Pierre and Frik. We did some of the shore excursions but mostly preferred to do our own thing which was most enjoyable. We chose this cruise for its affordability and itinerary! Read Less

Fantastic Mediterranean cruise with the MSC Lirica. Amazing experience. I have seen so many beautiful places in Italy, Greece and Croatia. And that in just 1 week. Beautiful Greek islands. The varied coast of Croatia with Dubrovnik as a highlight. And of course Venice with all its water. Temperature averaged above 30C. Very delicious. The water temperature of the Mediterranean in late August is also excellent. For swimming ideal. To visit Venice with a ship is very special. It is also very nice to enter the center of Venice. Everyone in the center uses a boat. You do not see cars, buses and trains. Everything goes through the water in the center. Public transport is via a bus boat. Very cool. The MSC Lirica is a beautiful ship. A recently renovated boat that looks like new. There were 2.000 passengers on the ship, the maximum. There are ships with 4.500 passengers, but 2.000 I also find a lot. The service is good and very friendly. There is so much to eat and drink. Not normal. On board the ship you will find people from all over the world. Staff and passengers come from everywhere. That's pretty funny. A cruise ship is a small world in itself. Nice to experience. Highlight on board: the Lord Nelson Pub, with his modest singer and super guitarist Nenad Konstatin from the Czech Republic, and the sweet Mary from India, who is always ready to serve you. Finally, I want to thank my new Mexican friends for the Mexican Cuba Libres. My favorite drink from now on. Thanks everyone.. Read Less

We had never heard of this cruise line but ran the Eastern Italy and Greece and it fit our schedule. We didn’t have a lot of expectations of this cruise but it turned out to be one of the most fun cruises we have ever been on! As Americans we were concerned that we would not understand what was going on, but we actually did just fine as they make announcements and daily information letter in English and other languages. There is a wonderful show every night that was highly entertaining! Very talented performers! They also have a entertainment staff that run all the activities throughout they day and into the evening. They were so funny and engaged the guests with so much energy! They put on their own comedy show every night that had very few folks at the first night but by the end of the cruise there was standing room only! You could tell they loved their job! We met several staff members on board that we formed a relationship with which always makes a cruise more enjoyable. Our favorite bar was the Pub. Really have only a few negatives we found on board. Breakfast was not the best meal for sure. We only had lunch on board 3 times and that was good but found we liked eating in the dining room better for lunch. Dinners were fantastic! There was probably on 2 dinners that were not a good as others. We traveled with 4 of us and almost always each of us had something different so got to taste a lot of the food. The elevators are very slow, so we tended to walk up and down instead. Getting off the ship in ports could have been better. People can start this cruise at several ports so there was folks going on shore for the day and some leaving the cruise. For the most part we didn’t notice unless it was a port where there was a lot of guests disembarking like in Venice. They should have had a separate exit off the ship for those going out for the day as you had to wait in line to get off the ship along with everyone else. Takes away from your port times. Some of the ports had such a short time in them that was not fun in some of the ports. Some of them a few hours were enough, others, we would have loved a full day. The buffet area is not good! Way too small and hard to get around with the layout they have. Food was good, but it was really hot in the dinning area and very narrow. Not a good feel up there. Like I said before, we liked eating in the dinningroom for both Breakfast and Lunch better. Just a better feel. You could order off menu or go through the buffet in there. Overall, we had a blast on this cruise. Felt a little “fish out of water”the first day only because we felt like we were the only ones on board that spoke English, but by day 2 we were just fine and met folks from all over Europe, and had a blast trying to communicate with them! Just added so much to our experience! Give them a try, you may be pleasantly surprised! Read Less