Planning a cruise on the MSC Poesia and wondering what to expect before you sail? We had plenty of questions before boarding our 7-night Alaska cruise, so we put together this video answering 10 of the things we wanted to know most.
From dropping off our bags and finding the right outlets to dining, pool hours, tendering in Juneau, Victoria, entertainment, and some surprisingly quiet viewing spots around the ship, here are a few of the things we learned during our sailing.
🎥 Watch the full video here:
https://youtu.be/S4vWBFd5_Sg
🧳 Could We Drop Off Our Bags in Our Cabin Right Away?
One of our first questions was whether we would need to carry our bags around until the cabins were officially ready. After boarding, we checked with Guest Services and were happy to learn that we could drop our bags off in the cabin and then leave again until the room was ready.
That made embarkation day much easier, especially when you want to start exploring the ship without carrying everything with you.
🔌 What Outlets Are in the MSC Poesia Cabins?
Our aft balcony cabin had a good selection of charging options, although almost all of them were concentrated around the vanity.
We had two North American outlets, European outlets, USB-A and USB-C charging ports. There were no dedicated outlets on both sides of the bed, which is something we always like to know before sailing.
🍽️ What Complimentary Food Is Available?
For complimentary meals, we used the buffet and the main dining rooms. The buffet served breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night snacks, and we especially appreciated the 24-hour beverage station.
The main dining rooms were also included and offered breakfast, lunch, and dinner at different times throughout our sailing.
We had originally been assigned a 7:15 p.m. dinner at a group table. After speaking with the dining staff, we were fortunate to be moved to a 5:00 p.m. dining time with a table for two. Changes are based on availability, but it was definitely worth asking.
🏊 Pool & Hot Tub Hours
This one surprised us. On our sailing, the outdoor pools were open from 8:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., while the whirlpools were open from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Those were some of the earliest hot tub closing times we have experienced on a cruise, so it is worth checking the schedule if evening hot tubs are part of your cruise routine.
🚶 Is There a Walking Track?
Sort of!
There are outdoor areas where you can walk, including Deck 7, but you cannot walk completely around the ship there. Up on Deck 14, there is an area MSC identifies as a power walking track, although there were no painted track markings during our sailing and the area can sometimes be obstructed.
⚓ Our Juneau Tender Experience
We had a private excursion booked in Juneau and thought we had left plenty of time to get ashore. Unfortunately, the tender process took much longer than expected and we arrived onshore around 10 minutes after our excursion was scheduled to leave.
Thankfully, our excursion company was able to rearrange things for us, but others were dealing with the same problem. If your MSC Poesia sailing tenders in Juneau and you have a private excursion, we would definitely allow as much extra time as possible.
Is 4 Hours in Victoria Worth Getting Off the Ship?
For us, absolutely.
Our stop was scheduled from 7:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. Even with the limited time, we enjoyed walking toward Fisherman’s Wharf and downtown Victoria, seeing the Parliament Buildings and the Empress Hotel, and simply enjoying the beautiful city.
We would recommend getting in line early to leave the ship so you can make the most of those four hours.
💃 What’s the Difference Between the Two Dirty Dancing Shows?
MSC Poesia offered two very different Dirty Dancing experiences during our sailing.
Dirty Dancing in Concert featured the full movie along with a live band and production performers appearing during the musical and dance portions.
Later, Dirty Dancing: The Celebration was more like a traditional cruise production show, with live music, singing, and dancing but without the movie playing behind it.
They were different enough that we were glad we experienced both.
🌊 Are There Any Hidden Viewing Spots on MSC Poesia?
This was one of our favorite discoveries.
At the front of the ship on Decks 9, 10, 11, and 14, you can walk past the cabins and through the doors at the end of the hallway to reach small forward-facing outdoor viewing areas. Some have seating or more overhead coverage than others, and they can be wonderfully quiet.
There are also outdoor staircases and viewing areas around the aft of the ship, including spaces near the back of the buffet. These became some of our favorite places to enjoy the scenery without the crowds.
⭐ 10 MSC Poesia Questions Answered
These were some of the questions we had before sailing, and several of the answers genuinely surprised us. If you are already booked on the MSC Poesia or researching the ship before choosing your cruise, we hope our experience helps make your planning a little easier.
🎥 Watch 10 Questions Before Sailing MSC Poesia (Answered!)
https://youtu.be/S4vWBFd5_Sg