Cruise Experience for Beginners

Have you still not experienced a cruise by 2025? (Recommended for beginners) For your first cruise, I chose the most economical option with MSC. 🚢 The ship is the Grandiosa. Cruising along the Mediterranean coast in Europe is a common way to travel. Typically, the cruise stops at multiple countries along the Mediterranean, with passengers boarding and disembarking daily. The Mediterranean is relatively calm, making it a safe choice for first-time cruisers. 💰 Costs 💰 This time, I booked an 8-day, 7-night trip in an interior cabin for $1,156 USD, which includes a $75 credit. Cruise prices fluctuate, so keep an eye out for deals. Of course, it also depends on your schedule flexibility. Once onboard, head to the kiosk on the fifth floor to link your credit card 💳. There’s an additional daily charge of $12 for gratuities, which will appear during the trip (don’t be alarmed 😂—it’s standard). 🌟 Recommendations 🌟 We paid a little extra for a specialty restaurant and a paid performance (which includes a drink). It was absolutely worth it! MSC’s Japanese teppanyaki chefs put on a show, and it’s one of the few Asian flavors available onboard. Highly recommended ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. 〰️ Itinerary 〰️ Day1️⃣ Genoa (Portofino), Italy Departure from Genoa at 5:00 PM. You can board early, as there are usually shore excursions in the morning. Genoa is MSC’s home port, so the signage and directions are straightforward—just follow the signs or the crowd. ⚠️ Luggage may not arrive immediately, so bring a bag with swimwear or items you’ll need before departure. ⚠️ If your luggage hasn’t arrived, don’t worry—there’s a small room near the credit card kiosk on the fifth floor where unclaimed luggage is stored. Day2️⃣ Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy About 1.5 hours by car from Rome. You’ll need to take a paid shuttle bus to the train station. Day3️⃣ Palermo (Monreale), Italy Sicily (check my homepage for other food recommendations). You can walk to the city center, and most attractions are within a 10-20 minute walking distance if you’re up for it. Day4️⃣ At sea There’s so much to do onboard that you won’t feel bored at all. Day5️⃣ Ibiza (Balearic Islands), Spain The famous party island with breathtaking scenery. It’s about a 30-minute walk to the city center (guess how I know 😂). Taking a public ferry offers a better experience, though some reviews complain about its timing. Day6️⃣ Valencia, Spain The port is quite large, so it’s highly recommended to queue early to disembark. A bus to the city center costs €13 and stops at the entrance to the old town. Day7️⃣ Marseille (Provence), France MSC offers a shuttle bus to the city center for €16, but you’ll have to wait outdoors in the sun. The shore excursion time here is the shortest of the entire trip. Fortunately, taking an Uber round-trip costs about €40, which is reasonable if you’re traveling with someone. Day8️⃣ Genoa (Portofino), Italy ⚠️ Before 10:00 PM the day before disembarkation, attach the luggage tags provided by housekeeping and leave your luggage outside your cabin door. ⚠️ On the morning of disembarkation, cabins must be vacated by 8:00 AM, but you can still enjoy activities and meals onboard.