In late April, we set sail on a two-week transatlantic cruise aboard the MSC Grandiosa, sailing from Port Everglades, Florida, to Barcelona, Spain. Along the way, we stopped at Miami, St. Maarten, and Funchal on the beautiful island of Madeira before crossing the Atlantic to Europe.
MSC Grandiosa
sunset at St Maarten
This was our first time crossing the Atlantic by sea and our first cruise with MSC. We didn't know it at the time, but apparently this is one of the biggest ships when it launched in 2019. It can accommodate a maximum of 6,334 guests, although we heard there were only about 4,000 passengers on this sailing. The elegant atrium hosted live musicians throughout the day, while the spectacular LED dome ceiling stretching over the indoor promenade made it the ship's hub of activity. Lined with restaurants, bars, cafés, and boutiques, the promenade was a lively place to stroll at any time of day.
We splurged on a balcony cabin, which was perfect for enjoying the fresh air and endless ocean views. The only downside was the constant salt spray, which meant wiping down the chairs and railing before relaxing outside.
We crossed the Strait of Gibraltar at night. Aside from the lights along the shoreline, there wasn't much to see, but it was still exciting knowing we were sailing between Europe and Africa.
our cabin and balcony view of Funchal
MSC has Italian roots, and often times we had trouble understanding the captain and other announcements over the PA. Check-in was slow, and disembarking in Barcelona was even slower.
On the plus side, the buffet was excellent, featuring Mediterranean dishes and an impressive selection of fresh tropical fruits, including kiwi, papaya, mango, pineapple, watermelon, guava, and even dragon fruit.
Excellent Pizza!
papaya, fig, dragon fruit
Delicious prime rib
The dining room meals were hit or miss, although the service was consistently impeccable. We chose the early 5:30 p.m. seating, which suited our schedule but often meant missing the sunset and the chance to watch the ship sail away from the ports we had just explored.
Since we'd explored Miami extensively by boat years ago, we decided to stay on the ship rather than head into the city. With most passengers ashore, we planned to relax by the pool and hot tub, only to find the entire area closed for cleaning and maintenance. So much for a quiet pool day!
This was our second visit to St. Maarten, and its beautiful beaches were just as stunning as we remembered.
Madeira was the biggest surprise of the trip. We had no idea how large and beautiful the island was. Funchal's colorful murals adorned the narrow cobblestone streets and alleyways, giving every corner of the city its own unique character.
Perched high above Funchal is the Church of Our Lady of Monte, one of Madeira's most famous landmarks. We took the cable car to the top, enjoying spectacular views of the city along the way.
See the MSC Grandiosa?
Church of Our Lady of Monte
inside the church
The entertainment was a mixed bag. The dance performances were outstanding, while the singing was only average. The Flamenco show and the sand art performance were definite standouts. After the first few days, reservations were required for the theater shows, which caused some confusion among guests.
Unlike many cruise ships, the MSC Grandiosa has limited open deck space beyond the pools and hot tubs, which were almost always packed. Since we're from Florida, we didn’t mind skipping the sun. Instead, we walked laps around the ship each morning, joined a few Zumba sessions and dance lessons, and I also enjoyed playing ping pong with some very talented players - until my back decided it had had enough, forcing me to quit. ☹️
One of the highlights of the cruise was meeting so many wonderful people of all ages. It was a small-world experience—we met people who lived in the same community as a friend of ours and another who grew up in our old neighborhood. Looking at you, Misty and Christine! 😊
Another fun story came from the ping pong table. One gentleman told us he had met another player on a previous cruise, and by pure coincidence, they both ended up on this sailing without planning it. What a small world!
After six consecutive days at sea with no land in sight, we were more than ready to get off the ship. That says a lot coming from someone who lived on a boat for 25 years!
Have you ever taken a transatlantic cruise? We'd love to hear about your experience in the comments!
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