🛳️ 8 Days, 7 Nights on MSC World Europa

Just disembarked from the stunning MSC World Europa, and I’m sharing my full experience—from exploring new cities every day to navigating the ship’s entertainment and services. It was exciting, packed, and at times… exhausting. Here’s what I learned to help you prepare for your own cruise!👇 🌍 Itinerary & Route Overview Route: Barcelona – Marseille – Genoa – Naples – Messina/Taormina – Malta – Sea Day – Barcelona Highlights: ✔️ A new port every day, with only one sea day scheduled at the end—perfect for resting after the city hopping. ✔️ Step count alert: Expect 20,000+ steps daily—comfortable shoes are a must! 🛳️ Onboard Facilities & Ship Layout • Ship size: Hosts over 6,700 guests and 2,700 crew—huge, modern, and well-maintained. • Getting around: Walking from cabin to dining areas can take 10–15 minutes. Elevators are your best friend (especially after dinner 😅). • Water fun: Bring your swimsuit! The outdoor deck has a great range of water activities when the weather’s good. • Slides: The ship’s water slides are a must-try for adrenaline lovers—super fun for teens and young adults! 🍽️ Dining Experience • Buffet: • Breakfast is basic and repetitive; lunch and dinner are better. • Deck 18 buffet is better than Deck 19—mostly Western food. • Asian flavors: You’ll spot a few Asian-inspired dishes at dinner (like Kung Pao chicken—authenticity questionable but appreciated). • Specialty dining: A sushi restaurant is available for an extra fee. If you’re craving Chinese food, almost every port city has solid options nearby. 📱 Connectivity & Reservations • Show reservations: There’s a performance every night, but booking is required (via app or ship kiosks). ⚠️ All shows are in English; no Chinese language service onboard. 🛶 Shore Excursions & Port Tips • Booking tours: MSC shore excursions can be booked a day in advance at the 6th-floor tour desk. Tickets and meeting points will be sent to your room. • Port advice: • Barcelona: Large port, crowded. Take the Cruise Bus (€4.5 one way) to reach the Columbus Monument area. • Marseille: Port is far—Uber or taxi (~€20) is recommended. • Taormina: Strongly recommend MSC’s excursion; it’s a 40-minute drive one way. • Other ports: Mostly walkable! 🌊 Sea Day & Final Tips • Sea day experience: Just one, but the ship did sway more than expected. I caught a cold and ended up spending the whole day in bed 😅 • Shopping: Prices onboard are high—do your research beforehand and buy what you need in the port cities. • Medicine: Bring your own! Ibuprofen on board costs €17 (vs €2 on land) 😭 #msccruise #cruisetips #europeancruise #mediterraneancruise #familytravel #travellog