Booking a first timer cruise

purplecow1977

Hi,

Myself and my husband are sharing a significant birthday next year. I'd like to try a cruise. He's not keen, but I think I'm going to go anyway - even if I have to go with my mother! (I'm probably going to include her anyway!). I've contacted 2 travel agent people who both want to phone me to discuss options. I find phone calls very overwhelming and never take in information properly and even though I explained email is better for me, I'm no further on. Can anyone advise on the following:

I wish to travel between May - July 2026. 2 adults, 2 children (5 and 3). Possibly 4 adults, depending! I like the look of the MSC line but the multitude of ships & their different features is overwhelming. My main aim is that it's family and kid friendly - this is a holiday so I want to ensure my kids can attend a kids club some of the time! 7 nights in the Mediterranean - has anyone any advice on booking a cruise? Or on the specifics of the MSC ships? I've checked various sites and they ALL sound great!

Strumms

get one of the newer MSC ships. They are incredible, a couple of the older ones not so much by current standards nowadays….Talk to Carmel Aylward with The Travel Broker. She’s their cruise specialist and knows cruise holidays inside out.

We’ve been booking with her through this company and her previous employer for about 18 years…. She genuinely excellent.

https://travelbroker.ie/about-the-team/

finbarrk

MSC will be fine for you. We had the kids on one of them before. A Mediterranean trip from Barcelona.

fitzparker

MSC is perfect, booking direct is fine, especially from Barcelona.

This port is probably the best for first timers, as there are multiple flights and airlines daily and the port is close to the airport.

really for a ship you only need to decide 2 things - where you want to stay (inside, outside, balcony) and if you want a drinks package and if so which one, for MSC there are I think 3 alcoholic ones and 1 non alcoholic - each one depends on what standard/type of drink you get ( each person in the room has to have the same one (kids get non alcoholic, this includes I think ice cream and hot chocolates)

Your buffets are always included, then restaurants on board are separate, you can buy a package for these pre sailing

Regards the ship, as suggested above, go with the newer ones - anything from the seaside class onwards
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MSC_Cruises

With MSC it allows you to filter by port and ship

Mike3549

I always check vacationstogo.com first, but just to get the itineraries and the "from" prices. Website is kinda crap and you have to contact them for the actual price. Then I go to Americandiscountcruises.com, or cruise.com or MSc directly

Our 1st MSc bellisima was from Barcelona. Awesome experience. Booked through ADC. Paid deposit and the balance 100 days before the cruise.

We just came back from our new York Bahamas MSc Meraviglia cruise. Booked directly. Same class ship. Same payment option.

But with a currently weak dollar, I would book through American agents. I already checked the price, one hell of a difference in price and perks.

There's a new "world" class of MSc ships now.

Some piece of art.

World Europe sails from Barcelona I think.

All new-ish big fancy MSc ships sail in Western Mediterranean. Unfortunately if you want to visit greek islands, you'll have to stick to the smaller and older ships with no aqua parks. Something to consider if travelling with kids.

purplecow1977

Thanks all. I booked the Seaview from Barcelona. Have to get potty training the little one before then! Thanks for all your help.