MSC - Preziosa - Cities from Hamburg from 13.04. - 20.04.2025

We booked a Balcony Fantastica. This time, we are quite far towards the stern. Cabin 13215 is the third cabin from the back on the port side.

The balcony was equipped with 2 chairs and a stool.

I really liked the open space between the glass wall and the railing. There was space in between. When sitting, you could look through.

The cabin was very suitable for three people. Storage space was just enough. But maybe we always bring too much.

The bathroom has plenty of space.

The floors even have stone tiles.

Minibar.

I forgot that there is a kettle and instant coffee, milk, sugar, and tea.

However, we did not use that.

For breakfast service, there is filter coffee, and all bars serve coffee & Co. made with a portafilter machine.

That's what I get up for.

The walkways were also fine. Stairs and elevators nearby. I particularly liked the external stairs at the stern. You always have a great view there. The Preziosa always offers good views of the sea everywhere.

On Deck 14 is the entrance to the Maya Buffet Restaurant.

On Deck 6 is then the allocated service restaurant L'Arabesque.

One deck higher, back at 15, you are already at the Infinity Pool and a bar with a smoking area.

Smoking is prohibited on the balcony.

Thus, the cabin was quiet, as was the ship in motion.

However, the ship vibrates quite a bit during turns and docking maneuvers. You can feel that on Deck 13 as well.

Cabin service was good. Breakfast service was really good, used it 3 times.

Would love to do it again!

Now a summary of the trip with the Preziosa.

I have already written about the cabin and the kids' club. Let's continue.

Check-In Steinwerder:

Well, the check-in was a moderate disaster. Thanks to ETA. There were serious issues with guests not being prepared. This dragged the whole process to 2 hours. That was really bad. Eventually, we finally managed to get onboard. The boarding cards are received at the cabin door like at TUI.

SNRÜ:

It is done like with AIDA with a movie that you watch in the cabin. You go to the meeting point, but without a life jacket, which in our case is the Safari Lounge, and let the boarding cards be scanned. After that, an announcement is made that you should now dial a number on your cabin phone, so your participation is finalized. That’s it.

The ship:

I really liked the Preziosa. According to port information in Le Havre, we were traveling with 3950 guests. But most got on in Hamburg. Every port is a changeover point. In the farewell show, it was mentioned that 50% of the guests would be leaving the ship tomorrow.

It’s really nice that you always have views of the sea everywhere. The pool and sun deck are open. You can also feel the age, as the railing is not high. There is no glass panel in front of you anywhere. However, you have to watch your children very closely!

In addition to two outdoor pools, there is also an indoor pool with a glass roof. However, the outdoor pools were not used during our trip. It was simply too cold and the water was unfortunately too. The pool water is not desalinated. The waterslide is completely outside and was also not in operation.

Inside, it is also very nicely designed. A lot of gold and glitter and marble, but coherent and pleasant. Not over the top or anything.

The Swarovski stairs are of course a highlight onboard and a real eye-catcher.

There are many bars, a casino, a large theater, shops, a wonderful atrium over three decks, and two glass elevators. A disco at the top with a great all-round view of the sea. However, we of course did not visit that in the evening.

There is a video game arcade and an F1 simulator as well as a 4D cinema! We treated ourselves to that, and it was truly an experience! 5 minutes 10 euros, for the child 7 euros. Well, what can you do? It’s a vacation. Our daughter chose Dino Safari. It's like Jurassic Park. You drive through the park in a jeep and encounter dinosaurs. At some point, you get chased and shaken around. But the effects are really cool.

Restaurant L'Arabesque:

That was our assigned restaurant. The restaurant and table time are printed on the boarding card. We were quite worried if it would be too early for us. But it turned out not to be as dramatic as we thought. We also got lucky with our table. First, we actually got a window seat. And we also sat alone at the table the whole time. However, I do not know why we received an 8-seat table for three people.

As with TUI, there are two fixed waiters. One is responsible for beverages. Water and wine or any drink from the bar. The other one is responsible for the food. The waiters always come with a large bowl to each table and you can choose bread or rolls.

Every evening there is a changing 3-course menu. But there are also fixed dishes and paid extras.

On the first evening, I wasn't very happy with my choice. My husband made the better choice. It was tasty but nothing special. But from day 2 onwards, the food was really good.

Also, the children’s menu is impressive. Once again, always changing dishes and fixed dishes. However, you can skip the soups. They were just water with no taste.

The service was excellent. All in all, we maybe spent an hour in the restaurant, maybe a bit more. The nice thing about having fixed waiters is that you know each other, and ours were just nice, friendly, and accommodating. We enjoyed that so much at TUI in the Atlantik Klassik. A great team.

The restaurant manager also came around to check if everything was okay. When leaving, he stands at the door to bid farewell to the guests. Very present.

On the last evening, the crew, kitchen, and service were celebrated by the guests.

There were really many birthdays during the week. A cake is brought and a serenade is sung. Well, that’s just how it is.

We treated ourselves to a breakfast and lunch in the Golden Lobster. The menus are also very diverse here.

In the evening:

So, going to bed early is not on the agenda. That much is certain. On sea days, we participated in the kids' disco at the Safari Lounge from the Kids Club at 20:15. At that point, things get lively. Before that, there is also a Dance Class every evening. A dance teacher couple shows different dances for participation. At 21:00, the second show starts in the theater.

The theater is very large, and there were never any seating problems. All the shows were really great. Singers and dancers were very professional and of a very high standard.

One evening there was a fantastic illusionist. And on the last evening, a wonderful circus show. Earlier, MSC had the Cirque du Soleil. Unfortunately, it fell victim to Corona. I would have loved to see that. The show was definitely on the agenda.

There are actually three highlights during the week. Starting with the gala evening. One can say that 90% of the guests comply and participate in dressing elegantly. Not in long evening gowns, but the ladies in beautiful dresses and the gentlemen in suits or blazers. The buffet is, however, excluded.

The dress code is adhered to every evening. I only saw short pants and flip-flops once in the buffet. We had dinner there once in Le Havre.

During the White Night, almost all guests adhere to the dress code. The party starts at 22:15 in the Safari Lounge.

The last evening was the Mediterranean evening in the restaurant. The waiters were all well-dressed with bow ties and long aprons. They always look neat. Regardless of the time of day.

I indulged in a limoncello in a souvenir glass to conclude. 9 euros, but as I said, it’s a vacation.

Life onboard:

Was relaxing. You can always have action and animation, but also enjoy your peace. During the day as well as in the evening, the ship offers many possibilities.

There is nothing missing for the kids.

The indoor pool and the whirlpools are, of course, highly frequented by children. A lifeguard really ensures order.

In the morning, you also have the opportunity to swim. The pool was never full at that time of the day.

Bars and service:

There are many bars, and the service was always quick and good everywhere.

We booked the Easy Plus package. Onboard, it is really great, the boarding card is scanned, and that’s it. No slips, no signatures.

An Aperol costs 9 euros, for example, and the cappuccino 3.50 euros.

Easy Plus has definitely paid off for us.

In the buffet restaurant, there is also a bar. You can help yourself to drinks but there are also waiters who walk around and bring drinks to the table. That’s good, too.

As this topic has already come up, the cutlery is wrapped in cloth napkins. They are placed next to the plates.

The food in the buffet was okay, but nothing special. For breakfast, there are the usual things. The rolls and bread taste really good.

The only downside is that you get your drinks in a can. Even in the main restaurant. It might not matter in the buffet, but at the bars and in the restaurant, I would prefer to receive drinks in a glass directly.

You do get a glass, but then you also get the can. Onboard, there is Pepsi.

The juices from the machine are inedible. :-/

Bon Voyage Package:

Before the trip, we booked the Bon Voyage package. That was very nice. There were champagne and two souvenir glasses in the cabin, along with snacks. During the trip, we also received fresh fruit in the cabin every day.

The announcements onboard:

Yes, they are made in multiple languages. It takes a bit of time, but that's fine. Personally, I didn't mind it at all. I listened to the German part and tuned in to the sound of the sea for the other languages.

Dry Dock Stay:

Unfortunately, I can't say what was done. I only know that the indoor pool area got a new floor. And the ship received an exterior paint job.

Excursions:

We booked two excursions. With MSC, it is still quite classic. You receive the tickets at night in your cabin and the meeting point is the theater. You then go with your group to the bus.

In Le Havre, we went to Mont Saint-Michel. That was really an experience, and the long journey was well worth it. Although we unfortunately didn't have much time on site. It was just incredibly crowded! Everything took a long time. The advantage of the excursion was that the bus could park directly, and we were able to queue for the abbey in the group line.

As I mentioned in the travel guide, 80 km before Le Havre, a tire burst on the highway on our way back. Fortunately, nothing happened, just a flat tire. But onward travel was not possible. We stood on the highway for an hour. A new bus took 45 minutes to arrive. Luckily, we were on an MSC excursion. The ship waited for us! Instead of leaving at 8 PM, we left at 9 PM.

The next day we received cabin mail. In addition to an apology, we also received a 15% credit on the excursion price. We did not expect that. We were just glad that the ship waited for us.

In Southampton, we followed the trail of the Titanic. It was a walk to various points as it was back in 1912. And afterwards, we went to the Titanic exhibition.

Voyagers Club Meeting:

Due to the status match, we started directly at silver status with MSC. So we could participate in the meeting at the theater on the second sea day. It was nice. There was champagne, a speech from the cruise director, and the captain and officers were also present. The event manager sang a song by Amy Winehouse, really a great voice, and dancers showcased their abilities.

Before that, there was a short future cruise film about Alaska with a Panama Canal transit. Surely very cool!

Final Conclusion:

It was a wonderful week with great destinations and a wonderful ship. Would love to do it again!