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 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.
papaya, fig and dragon fruit
Excellent pizza!
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
The entertainment was a mixed bag. The dancing was outstanding, but the singing was only so-so. 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 doesn't offer much open deck space beyond the pool and hot tub areas. They were always packed, but since we're from Florida, we were happy to skip the sun. Instead, we walked laps around the ship each morning and sometimes in the evening. 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. With 4,000 passengers onboard, it was amazing to discover that some live in the same community as a friend of ours—and they even knew each other. Another had grown up in the same neighborhood we did. 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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