MSC Orchestra -our experience
Escaping Winter on the MSC Orchestra
The MSC Orchestra, part of the MSC Cruises fleet, is a modern, elegant cruise ship accommodating up to 3,223 guests. With 16 decks—13 for guests—it offers ample space for relaxation, entertainment, and adventure.
A thrilling winter sale made it impossible to resist. We chose a cabin with a balcony.
Our cruise from Barcelona to Marseille, Porofino, Florence, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Valencia.
-Our Cabin
**The embarkation process was a breeze. As long as you stick to your designated embarkation time, you’ll have a smooth start to your journey.
Our cabin was on Deck 8 and had a balcony, but it was not very usable at the end of January because of the weather. The cabin was a good size for two people.
The king-size bed was comfortable. The cabin was in excellent condition and very clean. The bathroom was small compared to the other rooms we had.
Bath gel and shampoo dispensers were on the wall.
Though facecloths weren’t provided, I happily brought my own from home for extra comfort.
The cabin wasn’t very quiet; you could hear the engine.
The sea wasn’t very kind to us for a few days!!
-Fine Dining to Casual Bites
Dining on MSC Orchestra delights with a variety of restaurants for every palate. Enjoy Italian cuisine at Villa Borghese or a relaxed meal with international flavours at L’Ibiscus. Shanghai offers authentic Oriental dishes for an additional charge.
La Piazzetta & Four Seasons features casual, stylish buffet dining for variety-seekers. Each MSC Orchestra restaurant is designed to offer a unique culinary experience, ensuring every meal feels distinct.
-Intertainment
The MSC Orchestra features an impressive selection of bars and lounges, each offering a distinctive ambiance. The L’Incontro Bar serves as a stylish gathering spot, while The Shaker Lounge offers an inviting space for live music and a lively dance floor. Wine enthusiasts will appreciate La Cantinella, a refined wine bar offering a curated selection of vintages, while cigar connoisseurs can retreat to La Cubana Cigar Room for a moment of indulgence.
Those seeking a vibrant social scene can head to The Savannah Bar for music and entertainment or unwind in the sophisticated Amber Bar. With so many choices, every evening aboard the MSC Orchestra is an opportunity to discover a new favourite spot to sip and socialize.
-Activities
The ship has three pools, including the Acapulco Pool and Le Piscine Pool, where guests can swim or relax in the sun. There are also seven whirlpool baths around the decks, perfect for relaxing and taking in the ocean views.
If you want to stay active, the MSC Gym has modern equipment, and the Sport Center has courts for basketball, tennis, and volleyball. You can also use the power-walking track or play shuffleboard. Whether you want to exercise or just enjoy a swim, the MSC Orchestra has options for everyone.
-Play, Learn and Explore
Families on the MSC Orchestra can enjoy a wide range of entertainment for all ages. The Baby Club Indoor Playroom is a safe and fun spot for the youngest guests. Older kids can get creative at The Jungle Adventure Mini Club. Teens have their own areas too, like the Young & Teen Club for socializing and gaming, and Virtual Games for those who love video games.
For outdoor fun, the ship has a Children’s Outdoor Pool & Games area, giving kids a special place to enjoy the ocean.
-Excursion
This cruise focused on visiting different ports. We had already been to places like Marseille and Rome, so we picked a different tour this time.
Most ports are quite far from the city, and there aren’t many ways to get there.
1-Barcelona, Spain
20 minutes from the cruise
Iconic architecture, colourful culture
Sangria and olives are my favourites.
2- Marseille
To reach the city center takes about 30 minutes. From the boat, you can pay for a shuttle (16 euros per person), a city bus, or walk.
Marseille is on the spectacular French Riviera coast. The port city is a unique mix of grit and glamour, seen in its labyrinthine streets and historical architecture.
From the old Port, you will find Charismatic cafes and stunning cities.
3-Genoa, Italy, Portofino
It is a fairly long walk to get to the street. There will be tour buses and cabs within the perimeter that you could use. We chose a tour to visit Portofino.
4-Liverno, Italy, Florence
Some berths at Livorno cruise port are close enough to walk into town in around 20 to 30 minutes, but most passengers take a shuttle bus to the centre. We chose a tour to visit Florence ( a 90-minute ride from the port).
5-Rome-Civitavecchia
Walking to town is about 25 minutes. City bus costs 6 euros, or the free bus (you don’t know where it will let you out).
Free shuttles connect terminals to the Largo della Pace service center and port gates.
The Civitavecchia Train Station is roughly a 15-minute walk (1-1.5 km) from the port entrance. A taxi from the port to the train station costs approximately €12- €15.
6-Valencia
It’s too far to walk. The cruise port is 4.5 km from the city centre. Taxis and city buses are available at the exit.
From Cruise Piers 1 and 2, there is a free shuttle service. Bus 4 goes to the city centre, and bus 95 to the City of Arts and Sciences and the beaches.
We decided on a tour bus.
-Drinks And Wifi
We chose not to buy Wi-Fi ($32.00 Can. per day) or the drink package (about $620 per person for the trip), as we found them expensive.
You can buy one or two per day and add them to your account.
I use an Airalo SIM card on my phone. The Wi-Fi works well until you’re out of range of the port.
-MSC For Me–Digital daily program
They encourage all guests to support their initiative to reduce printing on board and use their digital channels to plan daily activities.
They recommend their app as a convenient tool for all your information needs, from adding tours to navigating the ship. It’s like having a personal guide in your pocket, tailored to your unique preferences and needs.
There is no wifi, so you can just tap into any digital screen around the ship and see what happens.
Conclusion:
The trip went well overall, though the sea was rough for a few days.
I didn’t enjoy some tours because the stores were closed on Mondays or it rained all day, which made the experiences less enjoyable.
In Rome, our tours were cancelled because not enough people signed up. That was disappointing.
The buffet food looked better than what we had in the main restaurant, but unfortunately, the options there didn’t really suit us.
Since we had already visited Marseille, we tried to see new places. However, it was inconvenient, especially because some small streets were under construction, preventing us from visiting them.
So that you know:
Tour prices seem reasonable when you book, but you find out later they’re in Euros, so they end up costing more.
There’s also an $89 customer service fee per person, which adds to the total cost.
This time, we took more tours than usual because my knee was injured, making it harder to explore on our own.
