My Experience With Fantasia Cruise Discovering places
Escaping Winter on the MSC Fantasia
A thrilling winter sale made it impossible to resist, and we were delighted to receive a free upgrade to a cabin with a balcony.
Our cruise from Barcelona to Marseille, Genoa, Naples (Pompei), Palermo, and La Goulette in Tunisia.
-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 on the spacious Deck 12 was a superior balcony that exuded comfort and relaxation. It was generously sized, including the bathroom and balcony, a full-size sofa with a small oval table, a desk, a three-door wardrobe, plus a safe.
The king-size bed was comfortable. The cabin was in excellent condition and very clean. The bathroom was huge compared to the other rooms we had.
The shower stall was large enough, like a sinking level, so water was on the floor every time we showered. Bath gel and shampoo dispensers were on the wall.
No facecloth was available, so I always brought mine from home.
The cabin was quiet, with no vibrations, and even when the sea was rough, I noticed only the most minimal movement.
-The Buffet
The buffet was a delightful array of culinary delights, offering various dishes. However, it wasn’t enjoyable to find that some dishes were served at a less-than-ideal temperature.
Some days, we could not find a table at a buffet restaurant.
Some people have been starving for months because they used to pile food on their plates and fill their bags with food. Worse, they left their plates full without finishing the food. What a waste of food.
The servers were often too fast to remove the plates from the table. I had to tell them to leave it a few times; we were not finished!!
On a brighter note, the dessert selection was a true highlight, with each sweet treat being a delicious end to the meal.
-Excursion:
This cruise was all about the ports. We wanted to visit Pompeii, but the number of people who could visit the site was restricted, so we took a tour. You stop at a jewelry store on our way with an expensive tag price,
There are so many shore excursion options that if you take all of them, your cruise will become more expensive.
Most ports are far from the city and have few options for getting there. They will say the town is 5-10 minutes away, but I’m sorry to say, you cannot walk everywhere.
The only options are to walk a lot, take a taxi, or take the bus. Some places have many taxi drivers at the ship’s exit.
1-Barcelona, Spain
20 minutes from the cruise
Iconic architecture, colourful culture
Sangria and olives are my favourite.
2- Marseille
To reach the city center takes about 30 minutes.
Marseille is on the spectacular coastline of the French Riviera. 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
Walking from the cruise to the city center takes approximately 15 minutes, providing a convenient location for exploring the city.
Genoa, Italy, is a city that invites you to wander down its winding medieval alleyways and historical Piazza Matteotti and admire its 16-17-century buildings.
4-Palermo Italy
10 minutes from the cruise ship to the city center!! NOPE!!
The Port of Palermo is the regional capital of the island of Sicily.
The cosmopolitan city is known for its heavenly architecture, street food and beautiful beaches.
5-Naples / Pompeii
5 minutes from the cruise
Naples is one of Italy’s oldest ancient jewels. We Visit
Pompei instead.
6-La Goulette, Tunisia .
It was too far, so we took a tour.
**Visit all my posts for more information on tours or ports.
-Drinks And Wifi
We opted not to purchase a wifi and drink package, which we found pretty expensive.
I use a SIM card from Airalo on my phone. The wifi works well until you’re out of the port range.
-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; tap into any digital screen around the ship and see what happens.
Overall
It was a nice cruise ship compared to the last MSC we took.
**This was a bigger ship than we are used to!! It was a nice ship, but it was too busy with people, kids, and teens.
The elevators were always crowded, and the buffet area was also crowded, even at 6.30 am!!
The exit to go out was not so bad; leave early, and most people sleep, LOL..
My Pet peeve….
When you book a tour, the price looks good, but when you arrive home, you find out that the price is in Euros… Prices go up!!
**They also don’t tell you that you will receive a bill for $81.00 each person for customer service, which is more money spent.
Conclusion:
A Fantasia cruise through Tunisia, Italy, and France offers a perfect blend of cultural discovery, scenic journey creates unforgettable memories.
With seamless onboard and exciting shore excursions, a Fantasia cruise is an exceptional way to explore these diverse and enchanting destinations
