Showing posts with label MSC Seascape. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MSC Seascape. Show all posts

Monday, May 25, 2026

Lost Shaker of Salt- Day 7

 Making Friends with the Staff
Sea Day #3
April 11, 2026


Living it up and doing it all... You have to, it's the last day! 

Morning
We woke up a little later than normal but the seas were so peaceful it made for a very relaxing evening and night of sleep. We opted to eat at Hola Tacos once again as it really was our favorite onboard the MSC Seascape. TIP- Hola Tacos is FREE for breakfast EVERYDAY, except Debarkation day! The service and food were FANTASTIC! 


Hello Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas... Been there, done that! And we LOVED her! 
Check it out: Allure of the Seas- July 2023


The seas were PERFECT and it made for a wonderful day! 


The pastry and churros basket... Chris REALLY enjoyed these! 


The queso fondido... I ate this every time we went to Hola Tacos becasue who doesn't want QUESO for breakfast!

We spent the majority of the morning in the Cabaret Rouge Lounge for trivia. We tried our hand at many trivia games but unfortunately, for the 1st time in 29 cruises, we did not win a single trivia this cruise! We grabbed our traditional souvenirs in the MSC Logo Store before going to the Marketplace Buffet for lunch! 


I could literally sit and stare at this ALL DAY! 

Afternoon
The Marketplace Buffet is the only complimentary restaurant that is open for lunch and it was SUPER crowded on this day! TIP- You can order room service or eat lunch at Hola Tacos but those cost an additional fee. We arrived at the buffet shortly before noon and it seemed all 5,500 passengers were also in this venue. It reminded me of a Carnival Embarkation Day buffet and it was not fun! Since this was the last day of the cruise, the head chef and the Cruise Director were in attendance and there was a special ceremony and parade of nations type of event which explained the crowds. It took us about 25 minutes just to find each other and a place to eat our lunch. It was a neat experience but I would wait until a little later for lunch next time.


I liked this vibe but I was not expecting a FULL ON PARTY! 

After explore the ship to see what the crowds were like on a sea day (more specifically the LAST sea day), we spent the rest of the afternoon in the Sports Bar to watch the 3rd round of The Masters. Since this was a sea day, the bar service started earlier in the day and it made a PERFECT afternoon onboard. On our way back to our room Chris made a pit-stop at the Venchi Chocolate shop and "accidentally" got in with a Chocolate Tasting group. This chocolate tasting was $40 total and included 8 pieces of chocolate (of your choice) and a large chocolate bar to-go. Unfortunately, I do not like chocolate so I did not participate but we purchased many bars to take home to our kids and my parents as well. Chris really enjoyed the experience and said the chocolate was worth the $40. 


The Waterpark around 1PM... It was not crowed AT ALL! 


The Marina (Main) Pool on Deck 18 aft. 


The Infinity Pool around 1:30PM. 


Venchi Chocolate Tasting Experience 
(Deck 6 Midship) 

When we went back to the room, we got dressed for dinner and enjoy the peacefulness of our balcony before going to the Cocktail Bar as it opened at 5PM. We stayed here until our dinner time of 7:30PM just talking to the bartender, Ashish Rao from Mumbai. The past few cruises we have really enjoyed getting to know the staff and hear their stories. I loved getting to talk to Ashish and learn about his work and travel life and I now want to go to Mumbai before I die! 

Let's Talk Ship- Day #7 


We love a day at sea! 

Evening
Dinner in the Main Dining Room was Italian Night and one of MSC's biggest events. We had read so much about it and we were very anxious to try it. The tables were decorated and the entire atmosphere of the MDR had a much better vibe, in our opinion. The service was once again exceptional and the food was better than most previous nights in the MDR. 


I LOVED the decor and atmosphere on Italian Night! 


The Italian Night MDR Menu! 


Calamari 
Chris- 2.5 & Kellie- 2.0
It was a little chewy but the Italian flavor was SPOT ON! 


Caprese Salad 
Kellie- 2.0
I was a little let down on this dish as I expected so much more! 


Chicken Parm
Chris 3.5 & Kellie 3.0


I loved the napkin folding from the waiters. 


Tiramisu
Chris 3.0 & Kellie- 2.5

After dinner we made the dreadful walk back to our stateroom to pack up for the week. This is the absolute WORST part of any cruise as it means the fun is over. We quickly packed our suitcases and left them outside our door for the "Assisted Debarkation" as we always do. TIP- We enjoy a slower end to our cruise and exit off the ship on Debarkation Morning so we choose to not carry our own luggage off. This usually allows a slower breakfast and a 8:30-9AM debarkation time (on any cruise line). However, you can carry ALL your luggage off and get off the ship as early as 7AM on most cruise lines. 

We went back to the Cocktail Bar just minutes before they were closing down but of course Ashish made us a few rounds of drinks before they officially closed the bar down. We ended the night at the Sports Bar for Christo del Rey last performance. We found several people enjoying the last night onboard and the bartenders gave us some wonderful drinks (for free). 


Thank you TED for these delicious drinks! 
Here's to MSC Seascape and this awesome cruise! 


We love this vibe! 

Let's Talk Ship- Night #7 and Cruise Recap

It was a wonderful week spent onboard the MSC Seascape and we enjoyed trying out a new cruise line and all the new things that come along with it. I am not sure MSC will be a new favorite cruise line by any means, we thoroughly enjoyed our week and our cruise. Reminder- A cruise is what you make of it and we had a great time despite all of the differences we noticed. I will say MSC offered OUTSTANDING service each and every day! Plus the Seascape herself was GORGEOUS and I believe the most beautiful ship we have ever sailed in 29 cruises! 


MSC Seascape... It's been fun! 

We've got 3 more cruises booked in 2026 plus Natalie's European Graduation Cruise in 2027! 

Up Next... The Mariner of the Seas (our SUITE LIFE to achieving Diamond) and the kids first trip to the Bahamas on the Symphony of the Seas this summer! 

 God is Good... ALL THE TIME! 

Click on a link to see our past cruising adventures:
Harmony of the Seas- February 2026








 


Carnival Conquest- 2006

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Sunday, May 24, 2026

Lost Shaker of Salt- Day 6

1990's Spring Break Vibes
Day #6- Cozumel, Mexico 
April 9, 2026 


Cruise #29 means Cozumel visit #24! 
It truly is our "Caribbean home away from home" 

Morning
We woke up a little bit later than usual since we stayed out until the early morning hours the night before. However, this allowed for a less crowded breakfast since most people had already gotten off the ship in Cozumel. We decided to have Butcher's Cut again for breakfast since it was FREE. The service was just average for this meal and I am not sure if that is due to the later arrival (9:45AM instead of opening time) or another reason. The food was good but not "blow you away" type of meal. Both Chris and I opted to try the Steak and Eggs and the steak was paper thin and incredibly chewy. The Biscuits and gravy were flavorful but the biscuits were hard; in fact, I wonder if they were stale. It was a mediocre meal (at best) but was about par for our cruise, to be honest! 


Greetings from our Home Away from Home! 


I loved the crafted Ice Latte's in literally EVERY bar.
This was delivered in Butcher's Cut and it was great! 


The omelet Chris and I shared was nothing impressive! 
Kellie- 2.5 & Chris- 1.5

We finished breakfast and got off the ship around 10:30AM. The MSC Seascape was docked at the Punta Langosta- the Downtown Pier. Carnival and Royal Caribbean both use the southern piers so it had been many years since we had ported at this pier. The island has really built up this pier and I was impressed with the overall design and structure. TIP- However, the construction is not yet complete so you will have a bit of an issue getting back across the street getting back to the ship. While I enjoyed the upgrade terminal, I still prefer the International Pier (Royal Caribbean) the best of the three Cozumel piers. 

We made our way through the terminal and I was able to find a "Fish Spa". I have always seen these and wanted to try it out and this allowed such an opportunity. It was a 20 minute "fish eating" session for $35 total. The 100+ fish started eating at my dead skin immediately- it was really weird. With the tip, this cost $43 total and I am not sure I would do this again, despite it's uniqueness! 


I have always wanted to try these and today was the DAY! 


My feet were left very soft but overall, it was a memory made for sure! 


My Fish Spa experience... YOLO! 

We then ventured into Senor Frogs and immediately the MTV Spring Break vibes started flowing. Chris and I got a drink and really enjoyed the dance videos and theatricals from the workers. I had not been to Senor Frogs since my HS Senior Trip to Cancun in 2001 but this really hit the spot! Oddly enough, the restaurant was full of Generation X 1980s babies just singing along to Alanis Morsette! Next time we will get food! 


We opted for the 20oz instead of the YARD and it was perfect! 
$18.99/ each and the Yard was $27.99! 

Hello from Senor Frogs... This was a GREAT day in Cozumel! 

Afternoon
We got back on the ship and went to the buffet for lunch and it was still just not for us. The food offerings were substantial and offered something for just about anyone but overall the food was just Food Court standard in our opinion. 


Chris's neuropathy was giving him fits so we opted to get a bicycle shuttle back to the ship!
The best $15 tip EVER! 


MSC desserts were "low key" delicious! 
(Sorry... I am trying to be a cool blogger) 

We got changed into our swimsuits and then went to the Infinity Pool once again for a beautiful afternoon. It was very windy and since the infinity pool is not very deep, we were not in here for very long as we just got too cold! We showered and got dressed for the evening and then made our way to the Loft Cafe for mid-afternoon snacks and drinks. This was a moment we were both enjoying the Wi-Fi that came with our Premium Package. It felt a little weird to be playing games and scrolling social media on a cruise but we enjoyed the communication availability! 


The Infinity Pool around 2PM- It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon!


MSC version of the "Ranger Cookie" from Royal Caribbean... Not near as good! 

We spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening in the Sports Bar for the 2nd Round of The Masters. As I mentioned in a previous post, I LOVE The Masters and being able to watch it for hours in this expansive Sports Bar was literally priceless. I am already thinking about how to take off work next year and watch it from a cruise ship sports bar! We were also able to see the MSC Seascape push off from Cozumel and begin making our way home from Deck 8 just outside the Sports Bar! 


I am ready for CARIBBEAN Attire night! 
Gotta Love Shein... Only $11!


This is where we spent the majority of our afternoon! 
This Sports Bar is LEGIT!


Goodbye Norwegian Prima... We will see you in Galveston in 2 days! 


The Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas and the Carnival Dream also docked in Cozumel! 


Adios Cozumel... See you in TWO MONTHS! 

Evening
We went to our favorite bar, The Cocktail Bar, as it opened at 6PM and had another wonderful conversation with Ashish Rao, the bartender. We were also able to talk with a fellow quest who was an elementary principal about the "joys of education". This was a very enlightening, albeit curse-filled, conversation. We also strolled through the Captain's Court Specialty Restaurant Lounge. 

Check out these AWESOME areas around the ship: 


Liberty Plaza and Duty Free Shopping (Deck 8 Midship) 


Captain's Court- Specialty Restaurant Lounge 
Deck 8 Midship (going towards Aft) 


Uptown Lounge (Deck 8 Aft)

We made our way to Deck 8 for a gorgeous sunset and then dinner in the MDR. The Mexican Themed menu was not terrible and on the same level as the Carnival and Royal Caribbean Mexican menus. 


THIS is why I cruise... These sunsets are GORGEOUS! 


I still cannot believe we got THIS view from our MDR table! 


Hello Table #430.. You are FOREVER my favorite! 


The Mexican Themed Menu aboard MSC Seascape! 



French Onion Soup 
Kellie-1.5
There is a reason Royal Caribbean is FAMOUS... This was a pass!


Quesadilla 
Chris- 3.0 & Kellie-2.5
This had a LOT going on but was flavorful! 


Brisket 
Chris- 2.0 & Kellie-1.0
WHOA... This was so NOT GOOD! 


Sorbet 
Kellie 1.5
I always have to have an "Ice Cream" night and this was it! 

After dinner we went back to the Cocktail Bar before they closed at 9PM and then to the Casino to try our luck but we were not successful so we made our way to the Casino Bar to talk "Beagles" with one of our favorite bartenders. It started to get busy around 10:30PM so we went back to the Sports Bar for more live music with Christo De Rey, the Classic Rock guitar performer! 


Our beagle, Rockefeller, for reference! 
2.5 years and he thinks he RULES THE WORLD! He is a MESS! 

Let's Talk Ship- Day #6


It's ALWAYS a good day on a cruise! 

We called it a night right before midnight after a great day spent in Cozumel and onboard this gorgeous ship! 

UP NEXT... Our last day spent onboard the
MSC Seascape! 

 God is Good... ALL THE TIME! 

Click on a link to see our past cruising adventures:
Harmony of the Seas- February 2026








 


Carnival Conquest- 2006


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Friday, May 22, 2026

Lost Shaker of Salt- Day 5

Nirvana Ain't Cheap
MSC Day #5 
Roatan, Honduras 


We love specialty dining and this night did not disappoint! 

Morning
We both slept much better and were up ready for the day before 8am. We decided to try the Main Dining Room for breakfast and were impressed with the speed of service but disappointed (again) in the overall food. Most of our dishes were served cold and the flavor (overall) of the food was still lacking quite a bit in our experience and opinion. 

The island of Roatan is SO PRETTY and one of our favorites! 

It is time for BREAKFAST! 

Main Dining Room Breakfast Menu 


Pancakes
Kellie- 3.0 & Chris- 3.5


Special of the Day- Mexican Bowl
Kellie- 2.0
This was interesting to say the least... The egg texture was AWFUL but the flavor was not bad! 

After breakfast we went back to the Infinity Pool and Hot Tub areas to try and enjoy another morning of a less crowded ship. The Adults Only hot-tub on the side of the ship was warm and not at all crowded but it was in the sun and it got hot very quickly so we decided to go back to the pool. Our last stop was the Fresh Orange Juice at the Jungle Pool Bar! 


My traditional buoy picture... just 5 days late! 


I really enjoyed this empty hot-tub. I just wish it wasn't in the sun! 


The Jungle Pool Lounge was not at all crowded on this PORT DAY! 

We ate a very early and light lunch since we had massages in the afternoon. The Marketplace Buffet offered lost of variety and I loved the layout of this buffet but overall the food was mid-level (Applebee's) at best. We did enjoy the Tuna, Chicken and Egg salads most days! 

Afternoon
We went to Times Square for more trivia... this time Board Games. Chris came very close to winning but there was a group of teenagers who knew all of the answers. We also tried to win the General Knowledge trivia but we fell short again! Maybe we won't win a trivia this cruise... Wait and see! 

Chris was even able to get into the "tie breaker" of the General Knowledge but was not able to come home with a win! I guess this is just an excuse to go on another cruise! 


POV- Come with me to my Cabin! 

While Chris went and took a nap, I went to enjoy my Thermal Spa Package that was a perk of the MSC Voyagers Club. TIP- MSC offers status match with all major cruise lines so I was able to be GOLD Status based off my current Emerald Status on Royal Caribbean. You have to request the Status Match at least 2 weeks prior to your sailing date. For whatever reason, Chris was not able to get his loyalty status matched; which was highly irritating. BUT that just meant I was able to enjoy one of the MSC GOLD level perks by myself. This "Thermal Spa Package" perk allowed me to enjoy over an hour of every section in the MSC Spa which included Saunas, Thalassotherapy pools, fancy hot tubs and even a "snow room" for energy. This was easily the fanciest spa I have ever enjoyed on ANY cruise we have sailed. If you are status matching on MSC, be sure to enjoy your "hour" Spa Package. 

(Unfortunately, I was not allowed to take pictures) 

We booked a massage on the first sea day for only $159 which included a 50 minute hot-stone massage, scalp massage, foot and leg massage and a free gift. This was a great massage and we both enjoyed it very much. With our tip for each massage therapist, this cost $390 total and it was well worth it in our opinion. 

After our massages we went back to the room and changed clothes for the evening before going into the Sports Bar to watch the opening round of The Masters. The Masters is one of my all-time favorite sporting events and this Sports Bar was an incredible place to watch the highlights. We were able to get a small booth TV area all to ourselves and while the bar-service was slow at the start of this afternoon, we really enjoyed it! 

Shortly around 5PM we decided to go and get cookies and small snacks in The Loft Cafe. We loved this venue and really enjoyed the continental snacks they offered during the day- plus the incredible bar service. 

Evening
We went back to our stateroom and got ready for the evening and watched the Sail Away from Roatan. We were hopeful to see pier runners but our stateroom was on the opposite side. 


We love sail away... It does not matter the destination! 

We had dinner reservations at Kaito Sushi for 6:30PM but we were very hungry since we ate such a light lunch at 11AM so we went to the Specialty Restaurant Lounge to see if we could get in to eat around 5:30PM and they honored our request. 

Kaito Sushi is a Specialty Restaurant aboard the MSC Seascape and is an upcharge of $32-40 (depending on the sale). We pre-purchased this meal at only $34/each and that INCLUDED gratuities which is a steal for a specialty meal. The Package we selected included 4 plates from the Kaito Sushi Belt, 1 Soup or Salad, 1 Main Entree & 1 dessert. This was regularly $40 (plus tips) which is still a great deal but with our lower price, it is an even more impressive cost. 

We loved the Sushi Belt experience overall and the sushi itself was really good; it is similar to the a sushi restaurant on land and we thoroughly enjoyed this meal. We agree that Royal Caribbean Izumi Sushi is better but overall this was easily the best food onboard the MSC Seascape! We couldn't even finish everything and for the first time of the cruise we had to go back to the room to lay down because we were so full! 


We really enjoyed this restaurant! 


The menu from Kaito Sushi! 


The traditional California Roll from the Sushi Belt! 
Kellie- 4.0 & Chris- 3.5


Tempura Shrimp and Vegetables 
Kellie- 4.5 & Chris- 4.0
This was really good tempura and fried PERFECTLY! 


Teraki Filet Mignon
Kellie- 4.0 & Chris-
This was outstanding and flavor was spot on. My filet was a little overcooked for my perfect steak but overall it was great! 


Chuukara Maguro 
Kellie- 2.5
I have never had sushi like this and it was an experience! I am not sure I would order again! 

Banana Tempura
Kellie-3.5 & Chris- 4.5
Overall this was good! 


This is another Cruise Ship Specialty Restaurant we would visit again! 
Easily our best meal onboard the MSC Seascape! 

Check out our experience at Kaito Sushi


We took a brief "power nap" and then made our way back to our favorite place onboard- The Cocktail Bar. We loved the drinks offered here and despite the $2 upcharge for our favorite drinks, we loved the atmosphere and the bartenders especially. We talked to the bartender, Ashish Rao from Mumbai, for nearly 2 hours and we loved it! We shut down this bar once again shortly after 10PM. 


We were back to our balcony just in time for the sunset! 

We went to the Main Theater for the Adult Comedy Show and it was packed. This was one of the only times we felt crowded on the ship. TIP- I would plan to get to the comedy shows at least 10 minutes early! The comedian was funny and his act was all about getting older and we laughed way too hard. We ended the night at the Casino Bar talking to another bartender about their life back home! We even shared pictures with each other of our beagles! We really do love getting to talk to the staff onboard. 


The Atrium around 1AM! 

Let's Talk Ship- Day #5

It was another great day onboard the MSC Seascape, despite not even getting off the ship! 

UP NEXT... Cozumel, Mexico! 

 God is Good... ALL THE TIME! 

Click on a link to see our past cruising adventures:
Harmony of the Seas- February 2026








 


Carnival Conquest- 2006

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