MSC Port — Local services in Bimini

My husband and I recently cruised with MSC Seashore, and while we enjoyed some aspects, there were a number of areas that could use improvement.

First, boarding was a bit chaotic. We faced long lines and late embarkation, which left us wondering about organization from the start. And while we appreciated the affordability compared to other lines, it became clear that some service aspects reflected that price point.

Once on board, we noticed some unusual policies. For instance, drinks aren’t allowed in the pool areas, which made relaxing by the water less enjoyable. The adult-only infinity pool was a nice space, but without music, it felt lacking in ambiance. Plus, there were no towel stations poolside, so we had to lug towels from our room if we wanted to swim.

In terms of dining, we found the main buffet small but with a decent variety of food options, and the pizza was especially good. We loved the breakfast buffet and even went back for seconds one morning. However, the buffet on MSC’s Ocean Cay private island was a letdown – long lines and only one option meant we skipped it altogether. Speaking of Ocean Cay, it’s beautiful but underdeveloped, and excursions there were very overpriced. Simple amenities like bathrooms and bars were crowded, making the experience less relaxing than we’d hoped.

As for drinks, long lines were the norm at bars, and selection was limited to house versions of popular liquors. Our room’s mini bar was initially locked, so we struggled with keeping water bottles cold until it was finally unlocked later that night. Also, many of the water bottles onboard were room temperature – perhaps a European standard, but a minor frustration nonetheless.

Our room was a mixed experience. It was generally clean, but we noticed some crumbs on the floor upon arrival. On the bright side, housekeeping did an excellent job of refreshing our bed and towels every time we stepped out, which was a nice touch.

Other inconveniences included long elevator wait times and odd miscommunications; at one point, our agenda for the day had the wrong destination and date. There was also a weird situation with blue paint rubbing off from the pool onto our feet. Additionally, at the onboard casino, bar service was backed up, but a waitress helped us out by skipping the line to make our drinks – a nice gesture, but also indicative of the slow service.

We didn’t check out any shows, so can’t speak to those. We did try the nightclub, and while the DJ’s playlist was dated, we still had fun dancing.

All in all, while MSC Seashore offered a budget-friendly cruise experience with some lovely scenic stops, it was offset by a few frustrating policies and service issues. With some improvements to organization and amenities, it could be a much more...

Traumhafte Kulisse aber beim Service kein MSC-Niveau.

Ocean Cay ist landschaftlich wirklich beeindruckend: türkisblaues Wasser, weicher Sand, tolle Aussicht und viel Platz zum Entspannen. Die Leuchtturm-Show am Abend sorgt für eine schöne, ruhige Stimmung zum Abschluss.

Kulinarisch wurde sehr gut vorgesorgt: BBQ, Snacks, Getränke alles gut organisiert, schmackhaft und ausreichend vorhanden.

Zum Thema Liegen: Es gibt auch kostenfreie Liegen, die überall auf der Insel verteilt sind allerdings ohne Sonnenschutz und natürlich nur begrenzt verfügbar (nicht ausreichend für die Besucher) Wer sich etwas voller Sonne schützen möchte und Schatten sucht, muss auf die kostenpflichtigen Bereiche ausweichen.

Und hier liegt das Problem: • Die bezahlten Liegen mit Schirm stehen sehr eng beieinander kaum Privatsphäre. • Keine Flexibilität: Es gibt nur 2er-Pakete (2 Liegen + 1 Schirm). Wer zu dritt reist, kann nicht einfach eine Liege dazubuchen, das ist für Familien extrem unpraktisch. • Kein persönlicher Service: Keine Einweisung, kein Personal vor Ort. • Schirm nicht aufgespannt das nötige Werkzeug (ein kleiner Stift) lag lose im Sand und musste erst gesucht werden. • Der Bereich war nicht gereinigt, teilweise mit Blättern bedeckt, und einige Liegen waren beschädigt.

Das steht im deutlichen Gegensatz zur Servicequalität auf dem MSC-Schiff, wo alles bis ins Detail funktioniert. An Land wirkt vieles eher wie Selbstbedienung und das trotz Aufpreis.

Fazit: Ocean Cay ist optisch ein Traum, bestens geeignet zum Entspannen. Wer kostenlose Liegen erwischt, hat Glück wer zahlt, erwartet zu Recht mehr. Für eine Insel mit Premiumanspruch braucht es klar bessere Organisation, mehr Flexibilität und mehr Service. Wir würden wiederkommen aber mit realistischeren...

As you can see from the video ocean Cay is pretty flat, but they have a lot of beaches and shopping and honestly, I don’t see much else to do. There’s wave riding swimming with stingrays there are certain excursions but I’ve been to other private islands and I have to say that this is the least impressive. It would be nice to see a waterpark here maybe a lazy riverthere’s plenty of swimming that’s for sure. Don’t take my three stars as a negative about this place. It...