A Western Mediterranean Adventure

MSC Grandiosa is a modern ship, which holds over 6000 passengers but never felt overwhelming throughout our voyage. It has a huge shopping promenade with a ceiling that lights up and has shows like Downtown in Las Vegas.

The highlight for me was definitely the Swarovski staircase and the shows in the theatre - the dancers, vocalists and the lights were outstanding, the shows got a standing ovation every night! The shows included The Best: A Tribute to Tina Turner; Rouge based on Moulin Rouge with a Burlesque theme; ABBA Tribute Night; and the legendary Michael Jackson Show, plus many more.

Another highlight was the huge choice of restaurants which are included as well as a selection of speciality restaurants if you wanted something a bit more special - it was such a treat every night to get dressed up and head somewhere new to eat.

Although it's not for everyone, I really liked that the ship caters for everyone whether you are with family, couples or friends. If you have children there is a vast amount of activities for children of all ages including water park, climbing ropes, kids clubs, football, arcade games, F1 simulator, tenpin bowling and many more.

Embarkation in Palma

Palma is a beautiful port, filled with yachts and views across to the castles and the impressive Palma Cathedral. As it's not a major embarkation port, boarding was a breeze. MSC staff took our suitcases as soon as we entered the terminal, and because we'd checked in online, we simply handed over our passports and were sent straight to the ship. Our first sight on board was that sparkling Swarovski staircase.

If you'd like to explore Palma itself, the town is around a 15-minute walk from the ship.

Port highlights

Barcelona

The ship docks close to the city, but you'll need a taxi or use the MSC Cruises shuttle bus to leave the port, as walking would take around 40 minutes. The shuttle cost €9 per person return, added to our onboard account, and dropped us at the World Trade Centre cruise terminal. From there we hopped on a sightseeing bus, which brought us back to the same spot for our shuttle home. With beaches, shopping and plenty of attractions, Barcelona suits families, couples and groups alike.

Monaco and Monte Carlo

This is a tender port, so guests collect a free tender ticket to stagger the 'batches' of people going ashore. As we'd booked an MSC excursion, we skipped this and met our group at 8am before being guided to the tenders and on to our coach.

In Monte Carlo we had free time to visit the famous casino, browse designer boutiques such as Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Versace and Fendi, and see part of the Grand Prix circuit. We then headed up to Monaco-Ville, catching the changing of the guard at the Prince's Palace and visiting the place where Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier and where they are now laid to rest. The views over the harbour, packed with yachts of every size, were stunning, and we also saw the Yacht Club (which is designed like a ship) setting up for a Yacht event.

It's hilly with plenty of steps, so it's maybe not ideal for anyone with limited mobility or families with buggies.

Genoa

Genoa is a historic city full of beautiful architecture. You can walk straight off the ship and out of the terminal, where local companies offer a range of excursions. We took another sightseeing bus to see the historic centre and a fishing village, then spent a relaxing afternoon by the adults-only pool at the back of the ship.

La Spezia

Free shuttle buses take you from the ship to the cruise terminal. We booked an excursion to Pisa, about an hour away by coach, with plenty of commentary along the way. Our guide led us to the square, where we had free time for photos, souvenirs and a reasonably priced Italian lunch overlooking the Leaning Tower. The area is flat but cobbled, so sturdy shoes are a good idea.

Rome

Rome is around an hour and a half away from the port of Civitavecchia by coach, and as we'd both visited before, we stayed on board and enjoyed the pools and whirlpools. It was lovely to spend some more time on the ship while everyone else was off exploring. We did the same the following day as we were at sea, we booked to go to the Thermal Spa and relax after a busy week of exploring and relaxed by the pool before disembarking the next day.

Disembarkation in Palma

Luggage went outside the cabin between 10pm and 1am the night before, and we didn't need to leave our cabin until 10am, which was a pleasant surprise. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast before disembarking, and our luggage was waiting in the terminal. From there, a short taxi ride took us to our hotel for a two-night post-cruise stay.

Interested in an MSC Cruise? Check out our website and give us a call for more information.