My husband and I had the opportunity to experience MSC Cruises in April, 2006. We selected this cruise based on the itinerary - new and different ports of call. As we prefer longer itineraries, this 11-night sailing was very attractive to us.
We were pleasantly surprised as we embarked, the ship was very light and bright throughout the public areas and immaculately maintained. Our accommodations were very comfortable and well-appointed.
Our first day was spent at sea before we reached our first port of call - Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
We explored the area of Dunn's River Falls by visiting the Sandals Dunn's River Resort which had been recently renovated. Certainly, a remarkable resort and excellent choice for a Caribbean vacation on land.
Another relaxing day at sea, before arriving at Cartagena, Colombia. We opted to take the city tour which enabled us to enjoy the city comfortably and also with excellent historical information. We were quite impressed with the history and sites of Cartagena. We felt that our time in Cartagena was well-spent.
The next day we re-visited the San Blas Islands, an archipelago, located off the coast of Panama.
The islands are inhabited by the Cuna Indians who are known for their artwork, Molas. This art is crafted by the women of the tribe and essentially, are cloth works of reverse, applique embroidery. Much to our surprise, this port also enabled us to spend a wonderful afternoon on the beach enjoying the warm, turquoise waters of the Caribbean.
Cristobal was the port of call utilized by MSC Cruises for passengers wanting to visit the Panama Canal from the perspective of land. Several shore excursions were offered including boat, rail, or flights.
Our visit to Costa Rica was on the Caribbean side in Puerto Limon. We visited the town of Puerto Limon in the morning on our own walking through the park and to the local market. Also, enjoyed shopping for some local crafts; I.e. coffee, wood products, and banana paper. Varied shore excursions were once again available. We selected the "Old Banana Train Adventure" so that we could experience the sights and eco-tourism of Costa Rica. We visited a working banana plantation before boarding the train. The train trip was relaxing as we enjoyed the lush, tropical sights of the coastline of Costa Rica.
Our last port of call was Roatan, one of the Bay Islands, located off the coast of Honduras. We hired a taxi to visit the island. We were able to visit a local village, some beautiful vista points, and also, experience the flavor of the island. Before returning to the ship, we enjoyed a gorgeous beach located at West Bay, truly a wonderful way to spend our last port of call in the Caribbean.
Our entire cruise was filled with great sightseeing and wonderful shipboard memories. MSC Cruises captures an international clientele. Many of the onboard features reflect the benefits of cruising on mid-size vessels. Service was very attentive. Staff was courteous and friendly. Entertainment varied.
Overall, we enjoyed and we are looking forward to our next cruise.
I would be happy to assist with your future cruise plans. Please call Jan Geiser, James TravelPOINTS Cruise Specialist at 303-442-2340.