Smurfies Latest Adventure

[david63]

I’m still on the fence with MSC.

I know that I am talking about YC but to me the Top Sail Lounge, which is the YC lounge, is very reminiscent of P&O's Crows Nest, both in location and ambience. As the restaurant is quite small (claims 140 seats) then it is not manic like some other MDRs - also you do not get waiter stations throughout the restaurant.

I know that you are looking at Saga but a quick check there is a 15 night Med in bottom price cabin for the same price as 14 night med MSC YC to the Med (both in July 2026)

[Stephen]

Med in July too hot for me + it's school holidays. If flying involved then a definite no no.

MSC YC sounds similar to Celebrity Retreat that we had recently. And as you say, it was nice not to see any service stations in the designated restaurant.

Maybe one day we'll think about MSC.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Great reports David, thank you. And well done for not getting murdered.

[cruisin_duo]

David, thank you for your comprehensive report on your recent cruise. Interesting reading.

[Jan Rosser]

Enjoyed your report David and that you survived to sail another day

[towny44]

A useful report Smurfie, I am sure I would enjoy the newer MSC ships, just I have enjoyed the Royal Caribbean ships. But I would like to get a feel for what the non YC experience is like, before I would consider booking a cruise from Southampton.

[barney]

We always try and avoid school holidays when booking a holiday, be that a cruise or land based. You’ll never avoid them completely but it reduces the number of noisy ankle biters about.

Thanks for the reviews and final report David. I’m still on the fence with MSC.

We thought we’d done that on our upcoming October holiday only to find out retrospectively that the Scots break up a week before the others.
Hopefully it will be fine

[Stephen]

How inconsiderate. Can’t you get them to change barney

[david63]

A useful report Smurfie, I am sure I would enjoy the newer MSC ships, just I have enjoyed the Royal Caribbean ships. But I would like to get a feel for what the non YC experience is like, before I would consider booking a cruise from Southampton.

Two points I would make John.

First from what I could see there did not appear to be many disabled cabins (based on the number of wheelchair users around the ship, and yes I know that it is not always a wheelchair user that needs such a cabin). You might find this useful https://msccruises.co.il/wp-content/upl ... ET_ENG.pdf.

The other point is that as everything is concentrated in two areas (decks 5-7 for shops entertainment etc, and 15-19 for the outdoor stuff) then moving around is probably a lot easier than on many ships. However as I said earlier the lift system is such that a wheelchair user would probably find moving from deck to deck less troublesome that on many other ships.

From talking to some of the crew they all say that outside of peak holiday periods the ship is not that crowded.

[Mervyn and Trish]

One thing I find odd, and a lot of ships do it, is they put their best accommodation in the worst place for us, at the front of the ship. We'd never book there as Trish would struggle if there was more than a ripple.

[Stephen]

I’ve always thought that too. Why for example put suites right up front or to the rear. Put them mid-ships or there about.

[Mervyn and Trish]

The only suite we've ever done was Azura and we chose one of the midships ones. Better position for us but smaller shaded balcony and right under the pool deck so risk of noise. Though luckily we weren't troubled.

[david63]

Suites on the aft have the ability to have bigger and/or wrap-around balconies.

Neither of us are affected by the motion front, middle or back so it does not matter for us.

[Onelife]

I take my own butler when on a cruise so have no need for a suite…I did however get invited to a suite and the noise from the wash made conversation quite difficult....not for me.

[Ray B]

OL,so you take your butler on a cruise, but if you lost your driving licence, you said that you would find it difficult to get anywhere due to the remoteness of your Estate.
What's wrong with the chauffeur driving you.