However, with how much cruise lines have been touting their green initiatives, I pay special attention to things like single-use items when I sail. I'll admit that I'm not always as environmentally conscious as I should be. Single-use napkins at Hola! Mexican restaurant on MSC Seascape. In one particularly frustrating instance, I was forced to walk from Deck 15 to Deck 6 - nine decks, 18 flights of stairs - in high heels because my estimated wait time for an elevator was an astounding four minutes. On several occasions, the screen would tell me to expect my car to arrive in 20 seconds and then, inexplicably, update to read it would be two minutes. The system, which forces you to select your floor before boarding and then assigns you a particular car based on traffic, didn't work on Seashore, and it doesn't work on Seascape, either. In addition, the ship has the same type of digital elevator buttons that MSC Seashore implemented when it debuted. Twice, I had to walk around the corner and sit at one of the tables at Venchi as I filled out my answer sheet. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUYĮven though my sailing wasn't at capacity - there were just 3,065 passengers out of a possible 5,632 when all berths are full - many spaces felt crowded and seemed incapable of handling the number of cruisers on board.įor example, the Times Square lounge, just beyond Venchi on Deck 6, hosts multiple trivia sessions on sea days, but there are never enough seats for everyone. The elevators on MSC Seascape are painfully slow, sometimes taking several minutes to arrive. What I didn't care for Near-constant noise It can be loud during peak times, but often is a nice place to meet friends, check email or simply relax with a drink. Venchi also features an adorable seating area with high-top tables and stools that look like chocolate sandwich cookies. On my sailing, they constructed a bonsai tree, an anchor, a slightly creepy Santa Claus and a likeness of Doremi, the cruise line's mascot. It offers some of the best coffee and hot chocolate beverages (with or without alcohol) I've ever tasted, along with both fresh sweets and wrapped chocolates for purchase.Įven more impressive are the chocolate sculptures the crew craft by hand for all sorts of special occasions. The chocolate-themed bar on Deck 6, named for its partnership with the famed Italian chocolatier, reprises its role on MSC Seascape. Speaking of favorite returning venues, I'd be remiss if I didn't give a shoutout to Venchi. FamiliarityĬhocolate sculptures at Venchi on MSC Seascape. It seems MSC has, perhaps, begun training crew in a more American style of service. That means dinners routinely take two to three hours, waiters check in less frequently during meals to see what you might need, and service throughout is generally more brusque, bordering on aloof. That's not to say the service is bad on other vessels, but it's decidedly European. Waiters are more attentive, the folks at guest services are more friendly, and I noticed more smiles from crew members all around. In addition to shorter dinners and larger portion sizes in the onboard restaurants, the level of service also feels elevated, even outside of the Yacht Club. I'm excited to say I think MSC Seascape represents a pivotal change in that area. One of the biggest pain points for MSC Cruises in recent years is its seeming inability to understand what Americans want as the line continues to build ships specifically geared toward the North American market. A crew member prepares a cappuccino at Venchi on MSC Seascape.
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