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7 reasons to book a cruise on the MSC Grandiosa

I did my very first cruise with my family when I was 15 years old and something immediately made me love it. I love the idea of falling asleep in one place and wakeup in another the next morning and I love discovering multiple places and countries and just unpacking once. That being said, I was and still am a huge ship geek as well and sailing on these giant ships has always been an experience for me. So when I got the chance to sail on MSCs newest and largest ship, the MSC Grandiosa, I simply couldn’t say no.

The Grandiosa holds true to its name: it is massive! One of the newest shis in the MSC family can accommodate up to 6334 passengers on 19 decks, with 11 restaurants and 20 bars and dozens of activities. I just couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw how huge she is for the first time!

We all know that cruise ships have had a bad rap over the last few years due to their environmental impact. Well, the good news is that MSC Grandiosa has some amazing environmental features. For example, the ship is equipped with a selective catalytic reduction system that helps to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 90%, along with a closed-loop exhaust gas cleaning system that reduces ship sulfur emissions by 97%. All lights onboard are LED and there’s also a pretty amazing water filter system that doesn’t dump grey water in the sea. Furthermore, the ship also plugs into the port electric system to delivers electricity and reduce emissions when docked. I am so glad that a big cruise company such as MSC is moving forward with better environmental features!

So now, let’s talk about 7 reasons you should book a cruise on the Grandiosa.

Activities

You would think that you would find time to explore the whole ship and experience everything it has to offer on a week-long cruise, but you would be wrond. MSC Grandiosa offers so many different activities onboard for those who love adventure, cusine, relaxing… there’s something for everybody. The Grandiosa has its own casino, bowling alley but also an impressive game arcade with VR games and F1 simulators! If you prefer to read a book in a cozy atmosphere, there are plenty of bars and lounges to spend time and, after dinner, there are shows in the 2 theatres, including one by Cirque du Soleil. There is also a spa onboard if you’d like to take relaxing to another level!

Pressing pause

If you like to relax as much as you like to explore during your vacation, you’ll be happy to learn that there are plenty of things to press pause during your cruise! The ship has multiple swimming pools and jacuzzis, both indoors and outdoors, which means that you’ll always be able to relax, no matter the weather! But that’s not all, there’s also a spa on board with plenty of treatments to help you relax a bit more. There’s even a barbershop as well! But to be honest with you, my favorite way to relax was to stare out at the sea on my private balcony. I could hear the waves and enjoy the view without any noise around!

Cabins

Well, let’s start with what I liked the most: our cabin! On previous cruises I did, I almost always had the cheapest guarantee inside cabin which I love don’t get me wrong. They allow me to cruise on budget and in turn cruise more often, buuuuut… that doesn’t mean I would say no to a balbony cabin! When we entered our cabin aboard the Grandiosa, I was immediately blown away by how much light and space we had. Our room was on deck 12, which means that we were high above the sea and that we had a panoramic view of each city we visited, definitely a perk that inside cabins do not have! Our cabin also had a very comfy couch that can turn into a bed if you’re traveling with kids. What struck me the most is that even if space is limited (the max size is 22 square meters), everything has been cleverly designed to maximize space. There’s a good size closet, with plenty of hanging space, but also a very long desk with shelves and drawers to organize everything. Each cabin is also equipped with Zoe, a voice-controlled personal assistant that can answer most of your questions regarding the ship, like restaurant hours or showtimes.

If you prefer a larger or smaller cabin, the options are pretty endless! We visited a suite that had its own jacuzzi but also a duplex suite, with breathtaking views on the sea. If you’re more on a budget, they also have interior cabins & studios that are more affordable.

Luxurious design!

From the glamorous, blinged out Swarovski staircase to the artfully themed Galleria Grandiosa, you will be surrounded by elegance in all design elements on this ship. Perhaps the most stunning example is the almost 90 meters long LED dome that projects a digital sky over the 2-story promenade. Whether you are shopping, dining at one of the specialty restaurants, sipping a cocktail in one of the bars, or socializing and enjoying in some live entertainment, you are sure to love Galleria Grandiosa and the rest of the luxurious touches throughout the ship.

Galleria Grandiosa was probably my favorite area of the ship. There was always something happening in the Galleria and no matter how many times I walked along the promenade I was always in shock that this is actually… on a ship!

Powered by technology

Besides the technology behind the innovative stage productions and LED dome, MSC Grandiosa features the MSC for Me smartphone app. MSC for Me is MSC Cruises’ multi-channel digital program that enables guests to interact with the ship and crew members anytime, in any place, to better serve their needs, save them time and really make the most of their vacation. Key features include a handy app for smartphones, an interactive TV in the stateroom and interactive digital screens around the ship, meaning guests can access information, book services – like specialty restaurants and on board performances – navigate around the ship, and more.

One tech feature which everyone will notice onboard MSC Grandiosa is Zoe, the first virtual cruise assistant, ZOE can speak seven languages, answer hundreds of questions about the cruise and provide information about on-board services, guidance and suggestions or help to book a service.

Dining

Along with the traditional main dining room and buffet, MSC Grandiosa has several specialty venues for cruisers to indulge in various cuisines. Continuing the Mediterranean-influence, MSC Grandiosa is home to Hola Tapas Bar by Michelin-starred chef Ramon Freixa. Cruisers will also find the American-style steakhouse, Butcher’s Cut, serving up prime cuts. Kaito Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar serves up Asian favorites in a lively atmosphere. One new specialty restaurant also made a debut on MSC Grandiosa, L’Atelier Bistrot, a french restaurant whose design was inspired by neo-classical French architecture. An authentic experience all troughout, from cuisine to interior design! Further, those with a sweet tooth will love Jean Philippe’s Crepes, Ice Cream, and Chocolate.

The main dining room and buffet offer a good variety of quality dishes but I would definitely recommend dining in at least one speciality restaurant. They all offer themed dishes and an authentic, unique experiences! Oh, and definitely treat yourself with some Jean Philippe’s Crepes located in the Galleria, they were delicious…!

Entertainment

In addition to nightly live music and six different productions shows in the main theater, MSC Grandiosa also hosts two one of a kind Cirque du Soleil shows. The Carousel Lounge is a circular venue that is custom built to accommodate these theatrical performances. Guests can enjoy a dinner and a show experience. Each of these shows has a unique concept, ambiance, storyline, and costumes. These shows, not found anywhere else in the world, are part of a longstanding partnership with the entertainment leader for a total of eight original shows on MSC Cruises’ Meraviglia class ships. You can also participate in various dance lessons, quizzes and other types of entertainment onboard!

In conclusion, I would highly recommend booking a cruise on Grandiosa or on any of her sister ships (Meraviglia, Bellissima, Virtuosa) These ships have everything you can think of and more. There is always something to do it just depends on what you like! Grandsioa also has an amazing itinerary in the Mediterranean so… what are you waiting for!

I also sailed on Grandiosa’s older sister ship MSC Bellissima, so if you’d like to read more about that experience CLICK HERE and if you have any questions about MSC or Grandiosa or anything really, feel free to send me a message on Instagram, Twitter or just e-mail me!

As always, thank you for reading, Dominik!

How is cruising going to change moving forwards?

26. April 2020.27. April 2020.Dominik | Cruise Ship Paradise1 Comment

Given the recent health crisis, cruising has been suspended until at least late June and probably even longer. Cruising will resume at some point, of course. Ships won’t just float around forever. But when it does, it may look a lot different than it did a few months ago, or for at least quite some time. In order for cruising to resume, cruise lines will certainly be required to implement new policies and oblige to stricter protocols to ensure the health and safety of their passengers. While no one knows for sure how all of that is going to look like, here are my thoughts on how cruising might change once it comes back.

Ships sailing at reduced capacity

One of the biggest changes that happened to the way that we behave is social distancing. The idea of being crammed together close to other people has become something quite dangerous and something that we are all trying to avoid. People are surely going to want and need more personal space around them and one of the consequences of that is we’re going to see cruise lines sailing their ships at reduced capacity. One of the big trends recently in cruising has been bigger and better ships or to fit more and more people onto the ships because the economic model was to get people on the ship and then get them to spend a lot of money once they’re onboard. We’re probably going to see cruise lines cruising with less people onboard and we’ll also see new ships with more public space allocated per passenger.

I believe that social distancing will have to be carried over onto ships as well. Genting (owner of Dream, Star and Crystal cruises) has already released a document about how they’re planning to move things forward once cruising starts and most of those measures are probably going to be implemented by other cruise lines as well. Some of those measures are reducing the ammount of people they let into venues, for example they are going to fill the theater only to half capacity so people can spread out. That will also probably include night clubs, parties, bars… but with ships sailing at reduced capacity that shouldn’t be a big problem.

For example we might see mega ships having the guest capacity of mid sized ships.

Itineraries

The second thing I think we’re going to see is cruise lines focusing on staying closer to home and their home ports. Over the last couple of years we saw cruise lines trying to find new itineraries, new places to cruise to, and the cruise lines were putting their ships all around the world. Moving forwards I think that at least in the beggining we might see cruises to nowhere or maybe short cruises that only visit cruise lines private islands. Cruise lines will probably be focused heavily on staying closer to ports they already have strong relationships with and also focusing heavily on well known regions such as the Caribbean, Mediterranean… where they have big cruising ports close by with developed infrastructure and also where they have more influence, because if an outbreak does happen, they will need to act quickly. So I wouldn’t be surprised to see ships that were meant to go to Europe or Alaska to stay in the Caribbean and also to see revised and changed itineraries.

Ports staying closed

Some ports will take longer to open or they may be only allowing a certain ammount of cruise ships/passengers at each time. There was already a lot of discussion around over tourism even before the pandemic so I think that a lot of these destinations are going to rethink their whole approach to tourism and especially accepting cruise passengers, partly because they may be concerned about cruise ships coming in and bringing in disease or infections. Some countries like Norway and Canada closed their ports to cruise ships until July and August so we’re probably going to see fewer destinations willing to take cruise ships which is going to make cruise lines change their itineraries and probably focus more on staying in popular regions and trying to find new itineraries in those regions.

New health screenings

One thing that’s really going to change is the way that we embark ships. Even before cruise lines started suspending sailings, they began to implement enhanced medical screenings prior to embarkation. It is a sure bet that these elements will remain in place for the foreseeable future once cruising resumes. These measures include more thorough health questionnaires as well as temperatures checks of all guests prior to embarkation as well as upon return from port. We might actually have to bring medical certificates that we’ve been vaccinated or there even may be actual testing before we embark. Some airlines are already considering similar measures.

One thing that’s closely related to this is a change in the way that seniors, elderly or people who are at higher risk for severe illness go cruising. That can be a massive challenge for some cruise lines because even before the cruise shutdown there was a strong advice for those groups of people to avoid cruising and all the cruise lines started asking for some sort of certifications from your doctor saying that it was OK for you to go on a cruise if you were 70+. That becomes a problem for cruise lines as large numbers of cruise passengers are seniors, especially in off seasons.

Onboard changes

Some people might like this and some won’t but we’re going to see the removal of all self-service venues and changing them to be crew operated. They already started doing this on some newer ships to reduce food waste and increase hygiene but there is no doubt that buffets will never look the same again. Most crew members serving you will also probably be wearing PPE (gloves, masks…) just to be sure, at least in the beggining. Other key changes to restaurant and dining spaces could be in terms of table sizing and spacing. Restaurants could even see screeen dividers installed between tables.

Crew operated buffet with glass partitions between people and the food. This is probably how the buffets will look like in the future.

Public areas and cabin corridors could be equipped with the new anti-microbial carpets. We might also see more automatic doors operated with photocells onboard and bathrooms being modified for touch free operation of faucet and flush. Other changes could be replacing shower curtains with glass doors, cabins having new hall storage area for clothes and shoes worn prior to entering the cabin.

Medical centers

We are also going to see a redesign of certain areas of the ship, but we’re going to see a real change in medical centers. Medical centers on cruise ships are currently designed to stabilize the situation and if anyone needs serious treatment they’re taken off the ship to shoreside facilities. Medical centers onbaord don’t have the facilities to isolate and treat people with complicated conditions. We will see medical centers become much larger and more complex with more medical staff.

Cleaning protocols

No doubt there will be increased cleaning protocols in place for public areas once ships start sailing again. This will likely include a more regimented schedule of cleaning high traffic areas like elevator buttons, handrails, bar tops, gym equipment… Hand washing station will probably pop up all over the ships with much more enforcement from the crew. They are going to take what they learned from this situation and put it into force by truly sanitazing ships and making sure everything stays clean even more then it used to be.

Flexibility

Finally we can also expect a lot more flexibility when it comes to cruise cancellation policies. Even before the cruise shutdown we saw cruise lines introducing “cruise with confidence” programs which gave passengers more flexibility when it comes to changing or canceling your booking. So by having these programs it means you can book cruises with more confidence just incase anything happens or something goes wrong. But of course, travel insurance should now more then ever be essential just incase anything happens with your flights, pre cruise hotels etc…

In conclusion there is no doubt that cruises and the cruising experience in general will change, at least for some time. I will welcome some of these changes with open arms, such as getting rid of self service buffets… and some of them will of course be nuisance but they will too become the new normal with time. I’m sure that cruising will still be an amazing and safe way to spend your vacation!

Currently there are many articles out there bashing cruises, spreading inaccurate information about everything and anything related to cruising. I’m sure some of you saw a couple of those articles but we need to support the cruising industry which is doing everything to make sure cruising comes back safer than ever and I’m sure that once it does, all of us cruise addicts will be rushing up the gangway!

I hope you all are staying safe and healthy!

As always, thank you for reading, Dominik!

30 tips for first time cruisers!

5. January 2020.5. January 2020.Dominik | Cruise Ship Paradise4 Comments

Cruising can be quite stressful and confusing if you’ve never cruised before… trust me I know! Before my first cruise I must’ve read every cruise blog and watched every video on youtube on the subject and I still had some questions unanswered! Seeing that many of my blog readers and social media friends are first time cruisers I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite cruise tips that came in handy! Whether it’s your first sailing or your 50th, there are always new cruise tips to learn for when you take your trip.

Planning!

Picking the right ship/cruise line

Do your research before you book a cruise. You’ve got to think of what size ship you want to be on, what ports of call you’re most interested in, what kind of on board activities you want and more. There’s a lot to consider. There are cruises for different age groups, for different interests and there are even THEMED cruises. Think about what kind of a vacation you want to have, maybe you want a really lively and fun cruise which Carnival and Norwegian are famous for! Or maybe you want a more traditional, relaxing and quiet cruise experience, something that Princess, HAL and P&O offer.

What’s great about today’s industry is that you have so cruise lines and ships to choose from. I’m a strong believer that there is a cruise line and cruise ship for everyone, you just need to find which line/ships suits you!

Start short

If you haven’t cruised before, start with a three- or four-day cruise to a couple of ports. It may cost more per day than a longer cruise, but it’ll give you a feel for the cruise life.

Older ships are cheaper to cruise on

If you’ve never been on a cruise and you want to check it out, but you don’t want to spend a lot of money, look out for sailings on older ships! Even if an older ship and a newer ship sail the same itinerary, the fares on the older ship will be dramatically lower.Of course, in exchange you won’t get the wild new things like waterslides and ten swimming pools. But if you’re the sort of person who simply wants to be out on the water, you can save hundreds of dollars by sailing on an older ship.

Interior cabins – cruise more

Many people claim they couldn’t sail in anything other than a balcony room and I’m definitely not one of them! Interior cabins can get you on the ship for hundreds sometimes even thousands less than paying for a balcony room. Considering that many of us are rarely in our cabins other than to sleep, it doesn’t make sense to pay a fortune for a room that you won’t use. Instead, you can sail a lot cheaper with an interior room… and potentially cruise a lot more! I’m such a budget cruisers that I’ve only sailed in balcony cainbs when I got free upgrades!

Cruise when the kids are in school

I live by this rule! They should call it the “law of cheap cruising”. If you want to save a ton, be flexible with your dates and sail when school is in session. When school is in, families with kids — a huge demographic in cruising — can’t take their trips. That means the cruise lines are looking to fill rooms and will offer up cheap fares to entice people to sail. In fact, it’s not surprising to find fares that double during holiday breaks when families can take their trips.

Travel insurance

Chances are that you won’t need the travel insurance you buy, but when you do, it’s a lifesaver. Travel insurance can cover a ton of different things, including if you get hurt or sick on your trip. It’s also handy if you lose your luggage or miss the ship and have to make alternate arrangements to meet your ship elsewhere (or get back home). Even if it turns out you that didn’t need to buy cruise insurance, it was still a good investment since it gave you a peace of mind during your cruise!

Seasickness tip

If you know you suffer from motion sickness generally I would recommend picking a mid-ship cabin on lower decks, they tend to “move” less. And also pick a cruise with no or not many sea days.

I’ve heard about this just recently on my last cruise, I don’t know if it works but green apples are supposed to be a natural cure for seasickness. That’s why you’ll always find them at the buffet. Grab one or two the next time you are feeling queasy and test it out.

Packing!

First day carry on

The cruise company will generally pick up your checked luggage and bring it right to the ship for you. Convenient, except that you might not get your bag back until late in the evening, so make sure you have a change of clothes, swim suit, prescriptions and any other essentials in your carry on.

Pack a USB hub/adapters

I carry so many devices that I constantly need to recharge like my phone, camera, power banks etc. and usually (epecially on older ships) there are just a few power plugs in your cabin. The situation is slightly better on newer ships but I would still recommend packing a USB hub just incase. I also always bring an american adapter with me since I’m from Europe and that way I can utilise one more power plug! Be aware that not all cruise lines allow you to bring power strips onboard!

Shoes

Shoes take up far more room in luggage than clothes do. Limit yourself to three pairs — a sturdy pair for active pursuits, a pair of flats or flip-flops for daytime wear and a pair of dressy shoes for dinner. Sometimes it’s hard to choose just three if you’re a person who loves shoes and if you’re going on a longer itinerary but they do take up a lot of space in your luggage so pack wisely!

Bring your own pharmancy

One thing I always bring with me is every medication I might need on a cruise! Bring all medications you might need from home because they cost about 10 times more in the cruise ship’s shop. I bring everything from motion sickness to allergies medications, you can never be to cautious.

Alcohol restrictions

The vast majority of cruise lines don’t let you bring on beer or hard liquor. Nearly all of them will let you bring on bottles of champagne or wine. Check with your cruise line, but the rule is usually either one bottle per cabin or one bottle per adult passenger. One or two bottles of wine likely won’t last your entire cruise, but considering the price of drinks onboard, anything you can bring saves you a lot of cash. But as I’ve said, check with your cruise line, so you don’t have to drink all of your wine in front of the cruise terminal, or even worse… throw it away!

Boarding the ship

Documents

Going on your first cruise can be quite stresfull, especially when you don’t know how the whole “boarding a cruise ship” procedure works, what you need to know is that you NEED to have all the boarding forms, health questionnaries, cruise tickets with you when arriving at the cruise terminal. Don’t pack them in your luggage, keep them in your carry on/purse or in a folder like I do! Make sure that you know what documentation is required well ahead of the cruise (your cruise company will be able to help you with this if there is any confusion)

Don’t show up too early

If you show up to board right when the boarding window opens, you can expect to do a lot of waiting. Sometimes there is a mad rush to board the ship right as it opens, which leads to long lines. What most people don’t realize is that showing up later actually lets your board faster. Get to the port about an hour before the boarding window closes and you’ll find no lines. It usually only takes about 10-15 minutes to get checked-in and board, all without having to fight huge crowds. I know that waiting to board your ship can be quite tough since the anticipation to start your vacation is high, so I am the first person to admit that I don’t always follow this tip!

Boarding a cruise ship is not like boarding a plane

No, you don’t have to go through the same hassles that you see in airports. You don’t have to take off belts… or shoes… or carry only 3 ounces of liquids. You’ll just have your bags x-rayed and walk through a metal detector (no full body scanners!). Getting through security usually takes no more than a minute or two.

Onboard

First day ship exploring

You will be tempted to just unpack your luggage and hit the pool or buffet, which is totally fine. But some areas of the ship like the spa and thermal suite are open for tours during this time and you will be able to see all the ship has to offer. I know that some cruisers don’t even know certain features of the ship exsist until the last day of a cruise. There is nothing more exciting to me than boarding the ship and exploring it from top to bottom, but maybe that’s just me being a ship nerd!

Search for the “secret decks”

As a “ship geek” this is one of my favorite things to do! Many ships have decks that not easily accessible, but are still public. These are fun spots to find on the ship, especially if you are looking for a little more privacy and to get away from the crowds.

Take the stairs as much as you can, it’s faster!

With thousands of people on a cruise ship, the banks of elevators can get overwhelmed, making stops on every deck going both up and down. That means it can take a while for the elevator to reach your floor. Instead, if you are only going up or down a few decks, it’s definitely easier and faster to just hoof it with the stairs. The stairs definitely don’t look inviting, especially when they look endless since ships these days are floating skyscrapers but think of it this way, it’s faster and you’re burning off that cheesecake you just ate at the buffet!

Turn on airplane mode as soon as you step onboard

There are way too many horror stories of cruise passengers forgetting to turn off their phone’s data and then coming home to huge bills for international roaming. I should know…. I’m the main star in one of those stories…. That’s why you should either turn your phone completely off or turn it on airplane mode to where it doesn’t use up data or connect to wireless service.

Port days

I see a lot of first time cruisers running around each port trying to see as much as they can, if that’s what you like then certainly do that but know that you don’t HAVE to disembark at every port. Often the day trips can be expensive, unless you arrange them yourself. If you want to chill and enjoy the ship without all the people then staying on board can be great. Most of the facilities on board stay open. It’s a great opportunity for photographers to get some wonderful, people-free, photos. That’s at least what I do!

Specialty restaurants

Most cruise lines have specialty restaurant that require a slight upcharge of $25–$35 per person. While you might feel compelled to make the most of the meals that come included with your cruise, the specialty restaurants often offer a better dining experience and higher quality food. Just remember that you usually need to make your reservation right away on day 1 or day 2. I usually dine in complimentary dining venues but on special occasions it’s nice to splurge and go to a specialty restaurant, if anything, it’s worth because of the experience!

Breakfast and lunch in the main dining room

Everyone knows about dinner in the main dining room… but they usually head to the buffet for lunch and breakfast. If you want something of higher quality, head to the main dining room instead of the buffet. They serve both meals, but with much smaller crowds. Best of all, the food is usually better as well, since it’s made fresh. If your ship has two main dining rooms, usually only one will be open for breakfast and lunch, read your daily newsletter onboard for more information.

Diatery restrictions? No problem

Vegetarian? Gluten-free? Food allergies? No matter your dietary restrictions, the cruise lines can accommodate. Don’t wait until you are on the ship to tell the cruise line about your diet restrictions. Call as soon as you book and speak to a customer service agent. They can update you on food options and also make a note on your account to notify the crew.

Wash your hands!

One of the plagues of cruise ships is, unfortunately, the gastroenteritis causing bug known as norovirus. This is because a closed off cruise ship, with a large number of people in close proximity and sharing meals, provides a near perfect environment for norovirus to spread. Norovirus can spread relatively quickly through cruise ships and it can knock you out for several days. Help yourself and other passengers out by using hand sanitizer before and after meals, and regularly throughout the day. It goes without saying that you should wash your hands regularly too!

Wi-fi expectations

I see people complaining about this all the time and it’s the wi-fi speed. Don’t expect fast wi-fi onboard a cruise ship! It can be a hit or miss depending on a ship but usually the wi-fi won’t be that fast, sometimes it’s annoyingly slow and not really reliable but you are on a moving ship in the middle of nowhere so keep that in mind. Wi-fi usually also costs quite a lot on ships so would I recommend it? Yes if you really need it, but what I tend to do is use my phone data in countries where I can do that or I connect to free wi-fi spots on shore (usually McDonald’s offers great wifi services haha!)

Stay updated

Cruise ships run daily newsletters which keep guests up to date about upcoming shows and shore excursions, opening and closing hours of dining and entertainment venues, fun little facts about the places you are going to visit, restaurant specials and new cocktails, and little pieces of information about upcoming guests’ birthdays or anniversaries. There are so many things happening each day and it is possible to have a lot of fun without having to pay for any onboard activities, just make sure to read your daily onboard newsletter!

Check your onboard account daily

Check your account statement every day to avoid some surprising costly items on your final bill! It is easier than ever to check your onboard account since now you can see all of your onboard spending on your TV. It’s easy, fast and this way you can avoid standing in a long line at guest services on the last day!

Smoking onboard

Smoking bans are becoming ever more ubiquitous in indoor spaces such as restaurants and bars. However, many cruise ships are exempt from such bans.On many cruiseships you will definitely be able to smoke outdoors in a certain area and on some ships still on your balcony. Cruise lines that allow smoking on your balcony are Aida, Costa, TUI and Fred Olsen.

Itineraries can change

Storms at sea, sickness warnings at one of the ports you were due to call at, or the opportunity of more enticing shore excursions at a different port, can all change your itinerary slightly when you are on a cruise.

So, it pays to be a little flexible in your thinking, and to prepare yourself for the possibility that the cruise may involve opportunities and adventures that are different to those advertised on the official schedule

Don’t be late!

When you are out on a shore excursion, or generally exploring the bars at one of your exciting cruise destinations, it can be so easy to let time slip through your fingers. The crew of your ship will be very scrupulous about ensuring that everyone is on board before you depart, but don’t keep everyone waiting – don’t be late to re-board the ship as cruise liners have to plan their timings according to tides and weather patterns. Ships will wait for a short time, but will depart eventually when you won’t show up.

Hopefully you will find some of these tips useful! Some of these are really helpful and I wish I knew about them before my first cruise! If you have any other cruise tips you’d like to share feel free to message me or email me! I’d love to add your cruise tips to my list!

If you’d like, you can check out my review of MSC Bellissima or find out which cruise misconceptions we need to leave in 2019!

As always, thank you for reading, Dominik!

Cruise misconceptions we need to leave in 2019!

29. December 2019.4. January 2020.Dominik | Cruise Ship Paradise3 Comments

Do you have those cruise skeptic friends who are still saying that cruises are boring and for old people? I know I do, but I’m slowly converting them into cruise addicts one by one! Most of them change their minds when they actually step on board! Here is a list of cruise misconceptions I hear about all the time, that we need to leave in 2019!

Cruises are boring

On most cruise holidays you are never more than a day or two from a port, and there need never be a dull day onboard. Bigger ships have everything from ice-skating rinks to basketball courts and on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum class ships, bumper cars, an indoor sky-diving tunnel, simulated surfing and a pod which takes you 300 feet above the ship.(I love Quantum-class ships!) Most ships have first-class fitness and spa facilities, Broadway style entertainment, casinos, cooking courses and classes in everything from astronomy to Zumba. Not all activities are adrenaline pumping either, like the biggest library at sea on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 (its 8,000 books should keep you going for a while!) I know I like both, relaxing and quiet cruises and also busy, action packed cruises! All in all, you won’t get bored!

You’ll feel trapped on a cruise ship

The thought of being in the middle of the sea, surrounded by hoards of other holidaymakers and with only a small cabin space to call your own, can instantly put those with claustrophobic tendencies off the idea of cruising. It’s true that there are thousands of guests on a massive ship, BUT you must remember that you are boarding a ship, not some random little boat. These cruise ships are designed to hold people, supplies, machines, etc. They can be compared to small cities or a floating resort complex. It’s still pretty easy to find a spot where you can relax . In my personal experience, bigger and newer ships do feel more crowded at times compared to older and smaller ships but I’ve never felt like I couldn’t escape the crowds on a cruise.

Cruises are for old people

I used to think so too. Haha! Well, maybe in the past when cruise lines were few and prices were still steep. But now that there are lots of them and many of these cruise companies are starting to tap the younger generations, the average age of passengers is slowly dropping annually. According to CLIA’s 2018 Cruise Review, the average age of cruisers in a global setting had dropped to 46 y/o, the lowest in 20 years! It’s expected to drop continuously as cruise lines target to reach the millennial market by adding more interesting and exciting features like family-friendly suites and activities, onboard bars/clubs, romantic dining options, and themed-parties for single people. Some cruise lines even have studio cabins for relatively young solo cruisers. I am 20 years old and I started cruising when I was much younger, from my own personal experience I can tell you for sure that cruises are not just for old people!

You will be spending the whole trip on board

It is true that on larger ships, especially those on classic Med or Caribbean itineraries, your port time will be limited to the day (the usual times are from 8 a.m. to about 5 p.m.). However, many lines, particularly ones with smaller ships are staying longer and in some cases overnight. So, for example, if you find yourself on a Canary Islands cruise, you are likely to spend all evening in port, allowing for dinner in town and, on some islands, stargazing, as the islands are so near to each other. Certainly in the case of St Petersburg, most cruise lines spend a night or two as it’s impossible to see the city in a day.

Cruises are expensive

First things first. Cruises can be quite expensive… (my bank account will confirm that!) but they can also be pretty cheap if you know how to find a great deal or if you have a good travel agent! There was a time when cruising was so expensive that only the most well-to-do could afford the privilege, but a fast-growing market means more ships and more competition, which drives prices down. The emergence of casual cruising and family cruising also means that cruise companies are lowering prices to attract a new type of holidaymaker, and amazing cruises can be picked up for the price of a package holiday. When you consider all that’s included – endless activities, free kids’ clubs, world-class shows and entertainment, the multiple destinations and all you can eat food… the value is clear to see.

It’s too formal

Cruising has long been associated with gala balls, glamorous casinos and formal Captain’s dinners, so you’d expect to need a suitcase full of elegant evening attire to fit in. Not so. While formality still exists on Cunard and some of the smaller luxury ships, most of the larger lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, have replaced formal nights with ‘Dress Up or Not Nights’. And even if your cruise ship does have a dress code in place, a casual suit or cocktail dress will usually suffice, even Cunard has loosened its position on ties recently! I personally like dressing up and enjoy theme nights but some people don’t and that’s fine! With so many cruise lines to choose from, there’s something suit everyone!

You can’t cruise solo

Solo cruising has never been more affordable than today! Solos have long had cause to complain about a lack of affordable cruise holiday options. The dreaded single supplement has meant that lone cruisers have had to pay through the nose for their single status, however if you choose your cruise line wisely you shouldn’t have to pay a single penny more than passengers in pairs. Norwegian is leading the way with their Studio complex, complete with single cabins, lounge and bar. Fred. Olsen specialises in attracting solo guests, with more than 200 single cabins fleetwide, regular solo supplement promotions and solo hosts and events onboard. Saga also offers a high proportion of solo cabins (25 percent) for over 50s.

You will get seasick

Well, this one’s pretty subjective. Seasickness or motion sickness doesn’t affect us the same way. I, for one, don’t get get seasick but some of my cruise buddies do. For people who do get seasick easily I would recommend picking a large cruise ship (the larger the better), and choose a cabin close to the ship’s balancing point (low and centre). Having a window or balcony to look out of can also help reduce sickness while in your stateroom. You can take patches, bands or pills for seasickness with you but rest assured that if you do get caught unawares, you’ll usually find a remedy in the onboard shop or medical centre. If all else fails, take a river cruise! But do keep in mind that most of the ships built today are much larger than they used to be in the past so they don’t rock and roll as much older ships do!

All cruises itineraries are the same

It’s not just about the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. The fact is, if there is a body of water there’s likely to be a ship sailing on it. These days you can choose from a wide variety of cruise itineraries, from short mini-cruises to long, repositioning cruises, there’s something for everyone.

All you do is eat

It’s true that cruise ships offer amazing culinary delights in their dining rooms and specialty restaurants, but eating doesn’t have to be on the top of the agenda with all the onboard activities. For example, Royal Caribbean ships offer rock climbing, basketball, miniature golf, an outdoor jogging track, and specialty fitness classes such as pilates, yoga, and spinning.

Cruising is dangerous

Fires. Power outages. Rogue waves. Rough seas. Hurricanes. Passengers “falling” overboard. You’ve heard about it all on the news, but before you work yourself into a panic, know this: Statistically, cruises are one of the safest forms of travel.

Additionally, each ship sails with its own dedicated team of mechanics and engineers, who are specially trained to deal with any malfunctions that might arise. Crew members undergo rigorous training via safety drills to prepare them for emergency situations. All mainstream ships have onboard teams of doctors and/or nurses to deal with medical issues, and the control rooms on all vessels employ equipment dedicated to avoiding hurricanes and minimizing exposure to excessively rough waters.

As for “falling” overboard, the odds are low unless you’re somewhere you shouldn’t be. Most balconies and outer decks have high railings or partitions to keep anyone from toppling over the side.

All in all, if you’re a first time cruiser, I hope I debunked some of these “cruise myths” for you. And if you’re a seasoned cruiser I hope that you’re debunking these myths to first time cruisers all the time so we don’t have to hear about them in 2020!

Would you add some cruise misconceptions to this list?

As always, thanks for reading, Dominik!

5 reasons why I love Costa Luminosa!

5. December 2019.4. January 2020.Dominik | Cruise Ship ParadiseLeave a comment

In October ‘19 I was lucky enough to be onboard Costa Luminosa on one of her last Eastern Mediterranean cruises out of Venice before her repositioning cruise to Ft. Lauterdale, Florida where she will spend her winter season! I’ve spent 8 fabulous days onboard this beautiful ship and there are countless reasons why I loved it so much, but here are a couple of reasons why you should consider booking a cruise on Luminosa or her nearly identical sister ship Deliziosa!

Size

Size DOES matter! Costa Luminosa is considered a mid-sized ship and it’s currently one of the smallest ships in the Costa fleet, but at 92.600 gross registered tons and 294 meters in length she definitely feels big and spacious. I always loved mid-sized cruise ships since they have everything you might need & expect from a cruise ship but unlike on bigger ships, there is a more friendly and sociable atmosphere onboard. Staff also seems to be more personal and dedicated to each guest onboard smaller ships! I know that some people just want to blend in with the crowd on their vacation and you can do that on this ship too, but it will be much easier to do so on much bigger ships where you don’t have to say a word to anyone for 8 days!

Costa Luminosa compared to Costa Smeralda, the biggest ship in Costas fleet!

What I also really liked about this ship is that it always felt like we were on a ship, not that it rocked and rolled but it never felt like a mall at sea which is popular these days! I’m not saying that mega ships are bad but I believe that you will have a more relaxing cruise on smaller ships! I love the serenity of smaller ships but I also love action and thrill of bigger ships so I’m definitely open to booking both. Just know what type of vacation you’d like to have, there is something for everyone these days! All in all, I was really pleased with the size of the ship and the amenities onboard!

Luminosa’s sister ship, Costa Deliziosa in Pireaus, Greece!

Itineraries

Costa Luminosa offers great itineraries too! Being the smaller ship she is, she can dock in ports that larger ships cannot visit. That’s why you will find her cruising out of Venice during the summer season. Venice itineraries usually include stops in Dubrovnik, Croatia, Kotor, Montenegro, Corfu, Greece, Athens, Greece and Bari, Italy. There are multiple variations of this itinerary. This itinerary was amazing to do since it includes some amazing cities but also smaller ports that are so worth visiting, like Kotor, Montenegro. I would also like to mention that Eastern Mediterranean itineraries are, to me at least, more relaxing compared to Western Mediterannean since you’re not visiting huge, capitol cities everyday.

Costa Luminosa spends her winter seasons sailing out of Ft. Lauterdale, Florida doing longer 10-day itineraries that include visits to Mexico, Jamaica, Honduras, Bahamas and Grand Cayman Island! She is the only Costa ship sailing out of Unites States this winter so if you’re planning on sailing with Costa out of Florida hurry up while there are still cabins available.

Food

On an Italian ship you can expect some good Italian food and it does not disappoint! There are a couple of complimentary food venues such as the main buffet, Taurus Restaurant (main dining room) and Burger & Grill bar on the pool deck! There are also 3 upcharge restaurants, Club Luminosa, Samsara Restaurant and Pizzeria Pummid’oro. Tip: If you plan on dining at these upcharge restaurants, definitely join Costa Club if you haven’t already because you will receive up to 50% discount on dining in specialty restaurants. You will also recieve special deals and discounts in bars and shops onboard!

Food in complimentary restaurants was pretty good. There is a big variety in both the MDR and the Buffet so you will definitely find something delicious to fill your plate with. If you’re not up for fancy Italian dishes you can always grab a burger and fries at the Burger bar on the pool deck. I would absolutely recommend desserts and pastries on Costa, they’re really tasty! I can’t even tell you how many donuts, pancakes and waffles I ate every morning. Delicious!

Dinners on Costa are quite an event on-board and usually last at least two hours. You can have up to 5 to 6 courses if you want to! When you board you are assigned to either early (main) or late sitting. Early sitting is at 18:45 and late is at 21:15.

Something I would definitely recommend is buying a drinks package. On Costa ships you don’t get free water with your meals in the main dining room and juices are only available during breakfast. Water is of course available 24/7 in the Buffet. I’ve had Panzo & Cena drinks package on this cruise, it is the cheapest one but it was pretty adequate for my needs. It included sodas, selected wines and beers by the glass during the lunch and dinner in the MDR and the buffet. As a fan of sodas during my meals this package was perfect for me. There are also more expensive and more inclusive drinks packages offered that include a much wider selection of drinks and you can use those packages in all bars on the ship!

Entertainment

Entertainment onboard Luminosa was great but what I really loved was that almost every night you could find live music being played at multiple locations onboard. It’s a lively ship in the evenings!

Entertainment was consistent in quality all troughout my cruise. There were shows in the main theatre every night. It’s good to know that Costa shows are slightly different than your normal cruise shows because Costa ships do attract more international crowds so most of the shows are musical, dance style shows with most of the songs being in English. There were also acrobatics shows which were also quite good, but the show that attracted the biggest crowd was ‘The Voice at Sea’. Basically the same principle like the show you watch on your TV, but with passengers being the participants.

Each night has a theme and a suggested dress code, for example on our cruise there was an Italian night and the suggested dress code was red, white and green. We also had a white night, gala night and Latin night! I loved this, it’s fun to participate even in a small way. These are only suggested dress codes so if you don’t have anything that fits the suggested dress code, don’t worry! I’ve seen a lot of people doing their own thing and after all it is only suggested!

Italian experience!

No matter where this ship sails it will always be a little “Italy at Sea”! Italian experience onboard Costa ships feels so authentic and I love it! Everything from the italian food to the interior design of the ship seems unique. Costa ships are so colorful and fun with many unusual art pieces onboard, such as the big naked lady in the middle of the atrium! If you want to have that international and italian experience then Costa is definitely for you!

On instagram and twitter I frequently get asked “Is Costa for me?” or “Can I go on a Costa cruise even though I don’t speak any Italian?”. My answer is always, try it out and see if it works for you. But what I can tell you is that you can definitely cruise with Costa without having any Italian speaking skills, I mean… Look at me! Ha-ha! Just expect that most of the passengers on the ship won’t speak the same language you’re speaking (unless you’re Italian of course!) On my cruise there were around 60 English speaking passengers and there is an English speaking representative to help you out if you have any problems on board.

I would also like to mention that Costa ships are quite loud and full of life, so keep that in mind if you’re looking for a more peaceful atmosphere! I would recommend this line to anyone who likes to party and have a good time, try new things and be immersed in a different culture! If you’re thinking about booking or have a chance to book a cruise on this ship or this cruise line definitely check it out. If you like it great, if not at least you know for certain that it’s not for you!

If you would like to read more about my cruise on Costa Luminosa CLICK HERE and if you have any questions about Costa, Luminosa or anything in general feel free to contact me on Instagram, Twitter or via E-mail. I love hearing about your cruise experiences and helping you with your cruise questions.

As always, thank you for reading, Dominik!

Cruise ships classes you NEED to sail on!

11. October 2019.5. January 2020.Dominik | Cruise Ship Paradise1 Comment

With so many cruise ships sailing the high seas these days, it’s hard to choose on which one to book a cruise. It would be nice to try them all but who has money and time for that! So we always go trough multiple sites to check out which ship would be perfect for us, at least I know I do!
I made this short list of some ship classes that I would definitely recommend. Disclaimer: This is my personal opinion so if your favorite ship class is not on this list please don’t be mad!

1. Meraviglia class

One of the biggest ship classes currently in service and the biggest class in the MSC fleet, Meraviglia class offers many amenities that were already a staple for MSC but also brand new ones which made the experience of sailing with MSC even better. The first Meraviglia class ship, MSC Meraviglia, debuted in 2017, she was the fourth biggest cruise ship in the world at the time! Now (in 2019) you can choose between three Meraviglia/Meraviglia plus class vessels and those are: MSC Meraviglia, MSC Bellissima and MSC Grandiosa (slightly larger than two previous sister ships)! One of the most unique features this class offers is a 90 meter long indoor promenade with the longest LED dome screen at sea. Next to all the usual cruise ship entertainment options, you can also enjoy in Cirque du Soleil shows which were created specifically for this class of ships. All in all, you will not get bored on these ships That’s for sure!

2. Vista class

Vista class is an evolution of a couple of previous Carnival designs, like Destiny, Conquest and Dream classes. Vista class is the biggest in Carnival’s fleet to date. (Mardi Gras will steal that title in 2020!) Carnival Vista was the first to debut in 2016 followed by Carnival Horizon in 2018 and Carnival Panorama in 2019! With this class, Carnival included everything that you loved on previous Carnival designs but made it bigger and better, they also designed some new features that made these ships stand out. Like the Skyride (a pedal-powered bike suspended above the deck) and the Havana area which includes a dedicated pool, hot tubs. promenade and a bar. It was also the first ship class to have a brewery on board. Carnival took a different direction when they designed public spaces onboard Vista class ships, they have a more contemporary look with more muted colors, which is a departure from their previous ships known for their neon and colorful interiors! I would say that if you liked previous Carnival ships, chances are that you will like these ships too. Because, I feel like, Carnival never made a drastic change with what they’re offering, they just made it bigger and better!

3. Pinnacle class

This is the newest class in Holland America’s fleet and also the biggest! It is their biggest departure in ship’s interior design yet, with public spaces that feel more contemporary and open while still having that old world, elegant charm. Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam offer everything you saw on previous Holland Amarica Line vessels but they do have something new and special. The music walk, a trio of musical venues where you can catch live music being played almost all the time. No matter what music ganre you like, you will probably find something you like. Music is big theme onboard these two ships, so many art pieces are music inspired which makes it really interesting to explore the ship! This is all done to attract a younger audience and offer something that is new to the line! This class is perfect for those who want a more relaxing, destination oriented cruise in an elegant ship. It’s also great for foodies beacuse the food is AMAZING!!

4. Breakaway/Breakaway-plus class

In 2013, Norwegian Breakaway debuted as the first Breakaway class ship and we got a new sister ship almost every year since then! But that will soon change as Norwegian Encore will be the last Breakaway class ship to be built, a perfect name for the last ship in this extremely successful class. These ships were a game changer for NCL as it took their “Freestyle cruising” motto to new levels and brought the line to the masses! Each ship got bigger and better with new features, that’s how we got open air laser tag and the first race track at sea (which you can find on Joy, Bliss and Encore). These ships are perfect for everyone but especially for those who seek a fun, “freestyle” vacation! Count me in

5. Oasis class

What is there to say about Oasis class that you don’t already know! Four biggest cruise ships in the world are all a part of this class. When Oasis of the seas debuted in 2009, it was a gamechanger in the industry, and with every new Oasis class ship, Royal Caribbean manages to still wow people with new features and designs! There are things that you will find only on Oasis class ships, like a park with 12.000 real plants or maybe a boardwalk that was inspired by the Coney Island boardwalk, an aqua theatre… the list goes on and on! This class is arguably the one that started the movement in the cruising industry of making the ship itself a destination. Now, in 2019, you can choose between four Oasis class ships: Oasis, Allure, Harmony and Symphony of the Seas. Overall they are all pretty similar but still have some unique features and design differences that set them apart. There are also new Oasis class ships to come, like Wonder of the Seas in 2021 that will sail from China and Oasis 6 that will debut in 2023. When Oasis 6 debuts, the first ship in the class will be in service for 14 years… that truly shows the succes of this class!

There are many more ships I would recommend and many more I would love to sail on! This list is only those 5 mainstream ones that everyone should try at least once, because they are truly amazing and innovative ships!

As always, thank you for reading, Dominik!

MSC Seashore – more details unveiled!

19. September 2019.4. January 2020.Dominik | Cruise Ship ParadiseLeave a comment

MSC, a company that is experiencing a massive growth held a traditional maritime coin ceremony today at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, when the keel was laid for MSC Seashore. At the milestone event, MSC Cruises revealed details of the significantly transformed overall design and new features of the ship.
MSC Seashore will be the Company’s longest ship – 339 metres – when she enters service in June 2021, the first of two enriched “Seaside Evo” Class ships with the latest available environmental technology, extended public spaces, more cabins and the highest ratio of outdoor space per guest of any ship in the company’s fleet.

MSC Seashore will be fitted, amongst other, with a state-of-the-art Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system and a next-generation Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) system. SCR’s helps reduce nitrogen oxide by 90 per cent through advanced active emissions control technology. Nitrogen oxide from the engine operations is conducted through a catalyst and converts them into nitrogen and water, both harmless compounds. With AWT’s, wastewater undergoes a comprehensive purification process through a very fine filtration process that transforms it to near tap-water quality. The system meets the so-called ‘Baltic Standard’ and treats the wastewater to a higher standard than most waste standards available in cities around the world. The new build will also be fitted with shore-to-ship power which connects cruise ships while at berth to a port’s local power grid to reduce further the ship’s emissions.

These new features add to other effective environmental technologies deployed on MSC Seashore and across the Company’s fleet to minimise and continuously reduce environmental impact, including: cutting-edge hybrid Exhaust Gas Cleaning systems (EGCS) that removes 98 per cent of sulphur oxide from ship emissions; advanced waste management systems; ballast water treatment systems approved by the United States Coast Guard; latest-technology systems for the prevention of oil discharges from machinery spaces and various effective energy-efficiency improvements – from heat recovery systems to LED lighting.

MSC Seashore is based on the ground-breaking “Seaside Class” prototype with a range of breathtaking design features enabling guests to connect with the ocean such as the spectacular Bridge of Sighs, stunning panoramic aft lifts and stylish glass catwalks. More than 40 per cent of the ship has been redesigned and enhanced, making MSC Seashore a significant evolution and improvement of sister ships MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview.
Some of the new enhancements are visible to the naked eye and include the 16-metres extended length of the ship, 200 additional cabins, a larger MSC Yacht Club and an additional double-deck aft lounge. The internal architecture has been completely redesigned with two central meeting points positioned at the middle and forward part of the ship, as well as specific measures to further enhance passenger flows. Overall the ship has 10,000 square metres of additional deck space for an even greater and more spacious onboard experience.
MSC Seashore will offer more suites thanks to the addition of 28 more terraced suites, two suites with private whirlpools and the MSC Yacht Club – the all-inclusive ‘ship within a ship’ premium concept available on MSC Cruises ships – will see two new cabin categories: 41 Deluxe Grand Suites and two Owner’s Suites with whirlpools.
The ship will feature new cabin designs such as cluster cabins for families that link two or three adjoining cabins and can accommodate between six and 10 people, plus bigger and more spacious cabins for guests with a disability – 75 in total – will be available.
Two brand new restaurants will be introduced, including one exclusively for Aurea guests. There will be a new location for the five specialty restaurants to allow for waterfront seating on the ship’s breathtaking boardwalk to give guests a greater sea view as they dine al fresco.
MSC Seashore will have a new double-decker show lounge at the aft part of the ship, a bigger casino and 20 distinct specialty bars. The ship will feature a new design of her aft pool design, an enlarged indoor pool and a new interactive waterpark will provide thrills and spills for guests of all ages. Clubs for young children and teenagers have been separated from a larger kids’ zone.
The ship will provide all her guests with latest customer-centric technology, including ZOE – the world’s first-virtual personal cruise assistant and an MSC Cruises exclusive in every cabin – and MSC for Me.

What do you think about MSC Seashore! So far I’m loving all the changes and I feel like this ship is truly going to be even more amazing than her two sisters, and those are hard to beat!

Thanks for reading, Dominik!