MSC Magnifica Review
Rating by category
Additional details
Having just moved to Europe, our family was looking for a way to link the cities we wanted to see in the Eastern Mediterranean. MSC offered the perfect cruise itinerary at the most affordable price. Our schedule was fairly limited, so we were very excited to find something that fit our availability.
We drove to Genoa and stayed 1 night before boarding on December 6, 2016 for an 11-night cruise. We didn't explore Genoa before embarking, but the whole embarking process was well-organized and fairly quick. We had priority boarding privileges with our Aurea Experience package, but we didn't really need it as the lines were not long at all.
We had our 2 boys (ages 7 and 9) with us, and they loved everything about the trip. The ship was beautiful and very well maintained--if a little "glitzy" for our simple tastes. Our cabin had a very comfortable queen-sized bed, a single-sized pull-out sofa, and a single-sized fold-down bunk. Because our boys are small, our sleeping arrangements varied on the day, with them sleeping together in one single on some nights. We had only walking space available when the pull-out sofa was extended, but it was easy to fold away during the day when we didn't need it. We opted for a balcony and really feel like it made our cabin perfect. We sat outside almost every afternoon as the ship sailed out of port, and it was nice to take pictures from each morning as we arrived. The window was a lifesaver for my husband as it allowed him to regulate the room temperature a little better.
Cabin Review
Balcony Stateroom
Our cabin had a very comfortable queen-sized bed, a single-sized pull-out sofa, and a single-sized fold-down bunk. Because our boys are small, our sleeping arrangements varied on the day, with them sleeping together in one single on some nights. We had only walking space available when the pull-out sofa was extended, but it was easy to fold away during the day when we didn't need it. We opted for a balcony and really feel like it made our cabin perfect. We sat outside almost every afternoon as the ship sailed out of port, and it was nice to take pictures from each morning as we arrived. The window was a lifesaver for my husband as it allowed him to regulate the room temperature a little better.
Port Reviews
Katakolon (Olympia)
We reserved an automatic-transmission rental car from AVIS a few weeks before and had no problem at all picking up the car and driving to Ancient Olympia. We used the self-guided tour in Rick Steves' Mediterranean Cruise Ports to see the archeological site and the nearby museum. Our family was pleased with this stop.
Athens (Piraeus)
We booked a personal tour through Olympic Tours by Niki Vlachou. Our guide Nina and driver Kostos were wonderful, professional and understanding of our needs/wants for the tour. We had a delightful car tour of the city with stops at the Panathenaic stadium and the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Nina provided a great historical context during our walk up the Acropolis, and our time in the new Acropolis Museum was a highlight of our whole cruise because of her guidance.
Rhodes
We walked into the walled city and explored on our own, using Rick Steves and DK as very basic guides. This was by far our favorite stop. We read a lot about the Knights of St. John before going and loved the history of the fortress. It was a beautiful day! Some of the shops and sites were closed due to the off-season, but we found plenty to enjoy despite that.