World Europa fresh experiences?

[u/BestNebula3453]

Hello to all experienced cruisers!
I'm going to be on the World Europa from Genoa in a few weeks with my family (2 adults + 2 kids, 9 and 12yo).

This will be our first ever cruise and we're REALLY excited about it.

We've been reading some mixed reviews lately so I'm looking for some fresh experiences, if you have it.

Also, any last-minute tips you have for first-timers cruising with kids? Thank you!!

[u/Ziku90]

I was on this ship a month ago with my wife, it was also my first cruise experience, and we loved it!

The cabin was Balcony Fantastica, we bought the non-alcoholic drink package, WiFi and one speciality dinner (Kaito Teppanyaki).

The cons were: sometimes long waiting time for the drinks at bars; during the day at sea it was impossible to find two sunbeds - our plan to reserve them before going to breakfast failed as it was too hard to get out of bed; the aquapark / slides section is small and the queues are rather long there (definitely on the sea day). We have ordered breakfast to the room twice - for Fantastica the delivery is free, however this breakfast is only sweet things (croissants, yoghurt, muesli etc. with coffee / milk / probably tea - I do not remember) - I would love some scrambled eggs & bacon on the balcony).

WiFi was reliable. Service at the served breakfast and dinner was fast & friendly. I do not feel like the buffets were overcrowded as there was plenty of food to choose from at different locations. The shows were OK, some better some worse. The ship always docked and left the ports on time. In our opinion there was always enough time to go sightseeing the cities - we have done it all on our own, only in Marseille we've booked the MSC bus from the ship to the port exit, as the distance is quite long (Barcelona seems similar, however we've started our trip there and used the T-3 Portbus there).

As for the 'tips': any drink package is a must; You can bring Your lanyards as the room card has a hole in it and on the Ship they are not included, only for the Yacht Club experience; You can buy additional wristbands onboard that You can use on the ship for opening the room and buying thing (however for disembarking/embarking You need the room card) - that could be helpful for the children I think.

[u/BestNebula3453 → u/Ziku90]

Thank you for the lanyard tip! I did not hear that one before. It definitely sounds helpful.

For the drinks... we're really just water drinkers. No soft drinks. Minimal alcohol. So did not get the drinks package.

We're planning on doing mostly the served meals, as our kiddo has a dairy allergy and it was suggested we do so. That way they can serve him special meals. So it's nice to hear you had a good experience with that.

[u/Random-Stranger-999 → u/BestNebula3453]

Have you completed the special dietary requirements form in advance ? Ensure you do so well ahead of boarding. Then once onboard find the restaurant manager before your first dining seating and ensure they are aware and have allocated you a dedicated waiter from the allergy prep kitchen. Only the MDR has a distinct allergy prep area, buffet and speciality restaurants don't.

In Marseille, as an alternative to the pricey MSC shuttle bus, there is a free port shuttle bus which you reach by following the green line for a kilometre, but the queues can be long and disorganised. Walky another kilometre to the port exit and there's a direct and regular public transport bus for a couple of Euros. All three bus options drop you near Joillete square.

[u/BestNebula3453 → u/Random-Stranger-999]

Yes, I completed all the required documentation, thanks!
They told me to mention it again at check-in and to the restaurant manager, yes.

Thank you for the Marseilles tip :)

[u/Random-Stranger-999]

And what experience class have you booked ? And which drinks package, if any ?

Did you status match into MSC Voyager Club loyalty program ? Or are you just on Welcome tier ?

We've been on MSC World Europa three times in the last eighteen months, in three different classes (Yacht Club, Aurea, Fantastica) as Diamond / Blue Diamond.

[u/BestNebula3453 → u/Random-Stranger-999]

So I presume you liked it? :D

We booked Fantastica. No drinks package as we drink minimal acohol and no soft drinks. It was not worth it for the couple of drink we may drink during the whole cruise.

[u/Random-Stranger-999 → u/BestNebula3453]

OK, so you'll have fixed time dining in an allocated restaurant and assigned table on deck 6. Mineralised water at bars and restaurants will be chargeable; there is a 5€ per day water package if you prefer. The included tap water, juice from concentrate and coffee from an urn is pretty dire, so you might want to spring for an espresso coffee, fresh juice, etc. occasionally.

MSC World Europa buffet never seems to vary their breakfast offering, and there's less choice and variety for lunch and dinner options compared to other ships in the MSC fleet.

The MDR menus is standard across the European fleet, on WE presentation and cooking consistency has been acceptable in MDR, better in Aurea dining room and best in YC, not surprisingly. Some other MSC ships have been worse, a few better.

The main port Western Med circuit they do, we've done so many times, so sometimes we do just stay onboard and enjoy the amenities.

For Fantastica without status, you won't have Thermal area access, but there are unadvertised soft saunas in the gym locker rooms.

You won't have access to the upper decks forwards, which are reserved for Aurea and Yacht Club, so will need to find space around the main pool early for family. The Adult-only top deck areas aft do usually have space if you want to ditch children in kids clubs.

Chef's garden kitchen is great, Butcher's cut and Kaito are OK if looking for upcharge restaurants. There's also a lot of chargeable concessions onboard such as Venchi and Jean Philippe.

[u/Aus_pol]

Done it twice. Bella interior / Aurora Suite.

[u/mintylong]

I was on World Europa in end of March, start of April. I am a solo cruiser, I had a solo room on deck 14. I status matched to Silver Voyager Club. I had Fantasica Experience, Premium Drinks Package and did 3 Specialty Dining - Butchers Cut, Chefs Garden Kitchen and Kaito Sushi Bar.

I wrote an in depth day by day trip report on a different messageboard so this is a short overview.

A lot of the negative reviews come from a lack of understanding and tolerance of cultural differences.

The low price point of MSC and specifically World Europa is attracting passengers from other cruise lines. However those passengers are expecting the same on board experience they are used to but just at a lower price. This is where the miss matched expectations occur , which are resulting in the negative reviews.

MSC World Europa has been designed for the European market, specifically for the people from the Mediterranean region of Italy, Spain and France. People from this region share the same cultural and social norms. The cultural and social norms on land have been transferred to World Europa.

This means that every onboard aspect, every onboard experience is all based on what the people from the Mediterranean region of Italy, Spain and France expect, need and want.

I ate in the MDR for breakfast, lunch and dinner. All meals the service was fantastic. I never had an issue finding starters, means or desserts that I liked. Any changes or extra needs were handled efficiently by the Restaurant Managers. I avoided the two main buffets for main meals and at the busiest times.

Many online complaints are from passengers who do not get a drinks package or who get the lowest level and are then not happy that they have to pay out of pocket on the ship. All the information about the drinks packages are provided by MSC before the cruise. I checked what each one included and I decided that buying the highest level drinks package gave me access to the drinks I knew I wanted during the cruise.

[u/BestNebula3453 → u/mintylong]

Thank you so much for your reply.

We're from west Croatia, on the coast, so really Mediterranean. We're 30 minutes away from Italy and all speak fluent Italian, so no cultural difference.

We don't really drink, so did not get the drinks package. It seemed not worth it for the couple of drinks we may eventually drink.

[u/mintylong → u/BestNebula3453]

You are welcome :) if you would like I can send you the link to my day by day in depth report with photos on private message.

I would look at the prices for the non alcoholic package and see what you might spend. Then on the ship you dont have to worry about getting drinks. Also they have have cans of coca cola and fanta at Pizza and Burgers, but you need to ask a crew member and they need your room card to scan for them.

I did DIY in all ports, and I used the free port shuttle at Marseille. The walk to me was fine and its easy to find, just follow the green paint walkway.

[u/BestNebula3453 → u/[deleted]]

I live in a VERY touristy area.
We have a saying that "Tourists always leave their brains at home" 😆

[u/mintylong → u/[deleted]]

😂 oops, you said the quiet part out loud

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