Seven Nights in the Western Caribbean From Port Canaveral
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By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life
Photos/Video by Gerry and Pamela Barker
Last year, Port Canaveral, located on Florida's Space Coast, overtook PortMiami to claim the title of "world's busiest cruise port," greeting some 8.6 million visitors in 2025. One reason is the presence of MSC.
The market leader in Europe, with headquarters in Geneva, MSC has become a global powerhouse in the cruise industry, deploying 23 ships on five continents, with more on the way. Beginning late last year, MSC has two ships sailing from Port Canaveral: MSC Seashore, offering 3- and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas and 7-night cruises to the Western Caribbean, and making its U.S. debut, MSC Grandiosa, with 7-night Western Caribbean cruises.
Bags packed, Pam and I head for the port to spend seven nights on MSC Grandiosa, with stops planned in Cozumel, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica and Nassau. As we neared the terminal, you can't help but be impressed with Grandiosa's size. Launched in 2019, it stands 19 decks tall, with a passenger capacity of 6,334, plus another 1,700 crew, a true "city on the sea."
North Palm Beach Life
Photos/Video by Gerry and Pamela Barker
Last year, Port Canaveral, located on Florida's Space Coast, overtook PortMiami to claim the title of "world's busiest cruise port," greeting some 8.6 million visitors in 2025. One reason is the presence of MSC.
The market leader in Europe, with headquarters in Geneva, MSC has become a global powerhouse in the cruise industry, deploying 23 ships on five continents, with more on the way. Beginning late last year, MSC has two ships sailing from Port Canaveral: MSC Seashore, offering 3- and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas and 7-night cruises to the Western Caribbean, and making its U.S. debut, MSC Grandiosa, with 7-night Western Caribbean cruises.
Bags packed, Pam and I head for the port to spend seven nights on MSC Grandiosa, with stops planned in Cozumel, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica and Nassau. As we neared the terminal, you can't help but be impressed with Grandiosa's size. Launched in 2019, it stands 19 decks tall, with a passenger capacity of 6,334, plus another 1,700 crew, a true "city on the sea."
Yacht Club guests enjoy refreshments in a private area
The terminal itself was bustling with activity as guests dropped off their luggage and prepared to board. For this cruise, we are booked in MSC's Yacht Club. Often called a "ship within a ship," the Yacht Club offers their guests exclusive access to a restaurant, lounge, sundeck and pool, as well as its own concierge desk. Each Yacht Club stateroom -- there are around 100 on decks 14, 15, 16 and 18 (there is no deck 17 since the number "17" represents bad luck in Italy) -- come with its own butler.
There are many perks to staying in the Yacht Club, which we discovered soon after arriving at the terminal. Yacht Club guests have their own streamlined check-in process. You are issued a Yacht Club wrist band and escorted to a private waiting area with drinks and snacks. When it's time to board the ship, one of the Yacht Club butlers will escort you up the gangways and past the long lines of other passengers waiting their turn.
There are many perks to staying in the Yacht Club, which we discovered soon after arriving at the terminal. Yacht Club guests have their own streamlined check-in process. You are issued a Yacht Club wrist band and escorted to a private waiting area with drinks and snacks. When it's time to board the ship, one of the Yacht Club butlers will escort you up the gangways and past the long lines of other passengers waiting their turn.
Yes, you'll pay a lot more for the cruise, but you'll be so spoiled by the end it will be hard to go back to a regular stateroom. Also note that the Yacht Club, which hosts around 250-300 guests, is sold out on just about every cruise, so you'll want to book a spot well in advance of when you want to sail.
As you might expect, there's a lot to explore and discover across Grandiosa's 19 decks, so let's get started.
As you might expect, there's a lot to explore and discover across Grandiosa's 19 decks, so let's get started.
Take a Tour of MSC Grandiosa
Dining Aboard MSC Grandiosa
Food. It's the first thing most guests seek out once they are onboard a ship. You don't have to rush -- MSC Grandiosa has that covered. Since we were staying in the Yacht Club, we had most of our meals in the Yacht Club restaurant. But we also tried three of the five specialty restaurants: Butcher's Cut (American Steakhouse), Hola! (Mexican fare) and L'Atelier Bistrot (French). There's also the Kaito Sushi Bar and Kaito Teppanyaki. (Click for a video I took on MSC Seascape) More on those later.
A starting point for many is the Marketplace, a massive buffet located on Deck 15 that can accommodate over 1,300 diners at a time. There are three main dining rooms -- La Loggia and La Peria Grigia on Deck 6, and the Purple Crab, on Deck 5, each elegantly appointed. Lovers of chocolate and sweets will want to try Jean-Philippe Chocolate and Cafe, as well as Jean-Philippe Crepes and Gelato on Deck 6. Craving fish and chips, bangers and mash? Head for Masters of the Sea on Deck 7, a traditional English pub, where food is priced per item. 
You might wonder why a couple that doesn't eat beef chose Butcher's Cut -- a steakhouse -- for specialty dining. While steaks are their wheelhouse, you can also enjoy lobster, sea bass and roasted chicken. We had the latter two, and both were superb. For around $60 you have your choice of appetizer, entree and dessert. If you want to splurge, there's the 24 oz, Dry-Aged Porterhouse for two ($40 extra), the 36 oz., Dry-Aged Tomahawk for two ($65 extra) or the Wagyu Striploin ($30 extra).
Hola!'s decor is festive Mexican cantina, priced at $25 a person for AYCE (all you can eat). You can order by item if you don't want the fixed-price option. All the traditional Mexican favorites are here, including a wide selection of tacos. I had the Al Pastor taco, with marinated charred pork, pineapple, onions and cilantro, which I learned was their most popular. The guacamole doesn't disappoint, either. By the way, they are open for a complimentary breakfast and children 3-12 dine for a flat fee of $12. If Pam could dine anywhere, it would be Paris. But since the City of Light is some 5,000 miles away from our location in the Caribbean, we opted for L'Atelier Bistrot, the French specialty restaurant onboard. For $40 a person, you get appetizer, entree and dessert, and a bonus amuse bouche to start your meal. Our recommendation is the Tartelette Aux Poireaux Braises appetizer: Braised leeks, gruyere cheese and roasted cherry tomatoes. Charges can also vary depending on what kind of package you purchase or if you purchase in advance of your cruise. Likewise with room service, which may come with a delivery fee except for Aurea and Yacht Club guests. Speaking of which, we fell in love with the room service pizza, which is available 24/7. |
Roasted Chicken at Butcher's Cut
Hola! Tacos and Cantina
Hola! Al Pastor Taco
Tartelette Aux Poireaux Braises
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Entertainment on MSC Grandiosa
Yes, MSC Grandiosa has a lot of ways to say "that's entertainment," but in fact, the whole ship is alive with sights, sounds and lights 24/7, starting with the Galleria Grandiosa promenade on Decks 6 and 7, where a lighted LED ceiling is a mosiac of shifting patterns morphing into giant fish, creating a multi-sensory feast.
There's a new show every night in the Theatre La Comedie on Decks 5 and 6. Guests can get their dance groove on at the Attic Club (Deck 18), and catch special productions in the intimate Carousel Lounge (Deck 7), which only seats 373. Carousel shows are extra charge ($18), which includes a free drink. For those seeking a little more adventure, the Himalayan Bridge (Deck 19) is a ropes course almost 200 feet above the sea. For us, highlights included the much-lauded Michael Jackson impersonator "Starwalker" show, ABBA (who can resist moving to "Mama Mia" and "Dancing Queen"?) and the two shows in Carousel, "Strings" and "Sweet," both with amazing aerial performances and choreography. And the Sail Away party on the pool deck got the cruise off to a rockin' start. While shows in the main theater are complimentary, they do ask that guests register. |
Galleria Grandiosa Promenade
The Himalayan Bridge
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The Yacht Club
The Yacht Club Lounge
MSC's Yacht Club truly is a "ship within a ship."
Although the cost of staying here is significantly higher, its near-300 capacity suites are almost always sold out, and there's a good reason for that: Yacht Club staff take care of everything, and make you feel special.
It starts with the special boarding area just for Yacht Club guests. Staff dressed is formal wear serve you drinks and snacks while you wait to board. When it is time, you are escorted past the long lines and right into the ship. Since there are over 5,500 people sailing with you, that's a huge plus.
The Yacht Club itself is located all the way forward, on Decks 14, 15, 16 and 18. Ours was a balcony suite on Deck 18, where we met Mark, our head butler, and Kelly, his junior butler assistant. Every suite has its own team of butlers, ready to do your bidding.
Our balcony stateroom was tastefully appointed and offered plenty of storage space for our week's worth of belongings. There's a fully-stocked minibar that your butlers will complement with your favorite beverages, and each stateroom can get four pieces of clothing laundered at no charge.
We made reservations for the two Carousel shows, as well as three of the five specialty restaurants onboard. Butler Mark made a note and during the week, personally escorted us to each. The advantage? Every butler has a key card that calls one of the elevators and provides a nonstop ride to our floor. Plus, the theaters have a special, private area just for the use of Yacht Club guests, so you aren't fighting the crowds. Taking a shore excursion? You'll be escorted to that as well.
Although the cost of staying here is significantly higher, its near-300 capacity suites are almost always sold out, and there's a good reason for that: Yacht Club staff take care of everything, and make you feel special.
It starts with the special boarding area just for Yacht Club guests. Staff dressed is formal wear serve you drinks and snacks while you wait to board. When it is time, you are escorted past the long lines and right into the ship. Since there are over 5,500 people sailing with you, that's a huge plus.
The Yacht Club itself is located all the way forward, on Decks 14, 15, 16 and 18. Ours was a balcony suite on Deck 18, where we met Mark, our head butler, and Kelly, his junior butler assistant. Every suite has its own team of butlers, ready to do your bidding.
Our balcony stateroom was tastefully appointed and offered plenty of storage space for our week's worth of belongings. There's a fully-stocked minibar that your butlers will complement with your favorite beverages, and each stateroom can get four pieces of clothing laundered at no charge.
We made reservations for the two Carousel shows, as well as three of the five specialty restaurants onboard. Butler Mark made a note and during the week, personally escorted us to each. The advantage? Every butler has a key card that calls one of the elevators and provides a nonstop ride to our floor. Plus, the theaters have a special, private area just for the use of Yacht Club guests, so you aren't fighting the crowds. Taking a shore excursion? You'll be escorted to that as well.
Our butlers, Kelly and Mark
Our balcony stateroom on Deck 18
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 Stefan drizzles honey over cheese
Yacht Club guests have exclusive use of a restaurant (Deck 18) and Lounge (Deck 16), elegantly appointed and fronted by a panoramic wall of glass that affords sweeping views of the sea. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while the Lounge offers a bar and snacks until 1 am. Additionally, complimentary room service is available 24/7 (the pizzas are fantastic). The Yacht Club also has its own Concierge staff, ready to assist with billing questions, show or restaurant reservations or any issue you might need help with.
Zeno, the Yacht Club director, and Stefan, the Maitre D'Hotel, made every day special in its own way. Stefan even arranged for us to have the same table, which afforded an excellent view, and prepared a plate of our favorite cheeses, drizzled with honey, to go with every meal. The Yacht Club decks are served by a private elevator, but you can also opt for the crystal-studded staircases that connect all of them. On Deck 19 is the private Sun Deck, pool and hot tub, as well as the Yacht Club Bar and Grill, where they serve buffet breakfast and lunch. One night on our cruise they staged a Starlight Party here, where the crew joined the guests for a rockin' good time while a DJ played music. On another day, they served Afternoon Tea in the Lounge. When it came time to disembark, Mark was with us all the way, helping with our carry-ons. We knew that once home, it was going to be hard not to pick up the phone and order a late night snack, or turn the laundry over to a butler. But such is a stay in the Yacht Club, where once you have experienced it, you'll never want to go back to any other accommodation. |
Shore Excursions
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Cayman Islands: Pedro St. James Historic House and Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Garden
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Cozumel: La Casa Adults Only Retreat
Lunch, Drinks Included |
Closing Thoughts on MSC Grandiosa
MSC Grandiosa approaches Nassau
Here are some final takeaways from our 7-night cruise on MSC Grandiosa:
-- The ship, like other MSC ships we've experienced, is beautifully appointed with stylish touches throughout. Not only that, but also it's spotless. The 1,700 crew must work around the clock cleaning, polishing and scrubbing all the surfaces to a sparkling finish.
-- While you would think 6,000 people on one ship would make for jostling crowds, traffic for most part moves smoothly around the ship. The public spaces, like the Promenade and Infinity Atrium, are large, with activity centers spread out across its 19 decks. Having said that, there are a few peculiar design quirks: You can't exit the Champagne Bar except the way you came in, and we ran into some dead ends trying to find the Sky Lounge.
-- You summon an elevator via a digital panel , which directs you to what elevator to take. Sorry kids, there are no buttons inside for you to press every floor as you exit.
-- Register and arrive early for the popular shows, such as the Michael Jackson "Starwalker" performance and ABBA. Also, consider attending one or both of the paid shows in Carousel, where the seating is much more intimate. Ditto for making your reservations early the specialty restaurants, which you can do prior to your cruise.
-- The ship, like other MSC ships we've experienced, is beautifully appointed with stylish touches throughout. Not only that, but also it's spotless. The 1,700 crew must work around the clock cleaning, polishing and scrubbing all the surfaces to a sparkling finish.
-- While you would think 6,000 people on one ship would make for jostling crowds, traffic for most part moves smoothly around the ship. The public spaces, like the Promenade and Infinity Atrium, are large, with activity centers spread out across its 19 decks. Having said that, there are a few peculiar design quirks: You can't exit the Champagne Bar except the way you came in, and we ran into some dead ends trying to find the Sky Lounge.
-- You summon an elevator via a digital panel , which directs you to what elevator to take. Sorry kids, there are no buttons inside for you to press every floor as you exit.
-- Register and arrive early for the popular shows, such as the Michael Jackson "Starwalker" performance and ABBA. Also, consider attending one or both of the paid shows in Carousel, where the seating is much more intimate. Ditto for making your reservations early the specialty restaurants, which you can do prior to your cruise.
Capt. Vincenzo CilentoMaster of MSC Grandiosa
-- While I can't speak for the food or service in the main restaurants, we had stellar service in the Yacht Club, as you might expect given the premium cost. Again, if it's in your budget, highly recommend you consider staying there.
-- We felt a little motion when we left Port Canaveral, but otherwise, it was smooth sailing all week. You barely knew you were moving.
-- The WiFi performed well with just a few exceptions, but that's also true of land-based networks as well.
-- MSC is a great choice for families. Their kids and teen clubs are first rate, and it's a sure bet your child -- and maybe you, too -- will never want to leave the Aqua Park.
-- There is shopping, of course (Pam is very happy with her new perfume). And if you're feeling lucky, there's a giant casino onboard to give you a taste of Las Vegas at sea.
--The Aurea Spa has an amazing array of ways to relax and beautify. I opted for the Balinese massage, a holistic, full-body treatment "designed to boost circulation, relax muscles, and harmonize the body." And it certainly did that.
MSC continues to expand its commitment to Port Canaveral. Set to debut there in November, 2027 is MSC World Atlantic, sister ship to MSC World Europe, MSC World America and MSC World Asia, with more to come. In addition, they have announced a new class of ship, "New Frontier," for delivery starting in 2030.
While a fleet of new ships is exciting, I only have one request: Make sure all of them have a Yacht Club.
-- We felt a little motion when we left Port Canaveral, but otherwise, it was smooth sailing all week. You barely knew you were moving.
-- The WiFi performed well with just a few exceptions, but that's also true of land-based networks as well.
-- MSC is a great choice for families. Their kids and teen clubs are first rate, and it's a sure bet your child -- and maybe you, too -- will never want to leave the Aqua Park.
-- There is shopping, of course (Pam is very happy with her new perfume). And if you're feeling lucky, there's a giant casino onboard to give you a taste of Las Vegas at sea.
--The Aurea Spa has an amazing array of ways to relax and beautify. I opted for the Balinese massage, a holistic, full-body treatment "designed to boost circulation, relax muscles, and harmonize the body." And it certainly did that.
MSC continues to expand its commitment to Port Canaveral. Set to debut there in November, 2027 is MSC World Atlantic, sister ship to MSC World Europe, MSC World America and MSC World Asia, with more to come. In addition, they have announced a new class of ship, "New Frontier," for delivery starting in 2030.
While a fleet of new ships is exciting, I only have one request: Make sure all of them have a Yacht Club.
MSC Grandiosa docked in Nassau
