We're finally home! As much as I enjoyed being by myself for a week, I missed having RQS by my side and couldn't wait to meet her at Grand Central.
But first things first....
I didn't much get sleep, and I ended up watching the ship's virtual porthole TV channel as the ship was about to go under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge around 4:30 am. Although I tried to rest a little more, I was unable to do so and proceeded to get ready for the day. After showering, making up my face, and getting dressed for the last time while on the ship, I packed up all my gear, double checked that I was leaving nothing in the room, and left my cabin for the last time around 7:00 am. Then, it was off to my last breakfast on the ship, where I was seated next to a couple who drove to the pier from Canada. (I can only imagine what their drive home will be like.) We struck up a conversation and found out that they had similar feelings to mine in regard to this cruise. All too soon, they had to leave, and I finished my breakfast at a leisurely pace.
Unfortunately, I couldn't stall things any longer, and proceeded to an area where I could sit and kill a couple of hours - the main dining room. Although it was a staging area for people who needed assistance in leaving the ship, I was welcome to hang out there as the buffet area upstairs was already mobbed with people trying to get their last ship board meal.
Around 9:30-9:45 am, my group number was called, and I finally got off the ship. Although it was a long walk to the baggage claim area, my suitcase was waiting for me there. Since we cleared customs while in Miami, there was no reason to stop for an ID check when debarking at Brooklyn. So I took another long walk with my luggage to the ferry, walking through slow moving people and around vehicles picking up passengers for their rides home. Unfortunately, I just missed the ferry as it was leaving the dock, and I had to kill an hour before the next ferry came.
Around 10:35 am, the ferry came, and I was off to Grand Central. I texted RQS to let her know that I'd be in Manhattan by 11:00 am, and would likely be at Grand Central's waiting room by 12:30 pm. Instead of walking to the subway station on Wall Street, I decided to do a shoreline walk to South Ferry. It was a nice day, and I could use the exercise. So, after 15 minutes or so, I caught a uptown bound train and made it to Grand Central ahead of time.
As I got to the waiting area, I noticed that the women's room line was out the door. Winter tourist season had begun, and Grand Central was much busier than usual. After taking care of business, I picked up a sandwich downstairs and proceed to wait for RQS. It wasn't a long wait, as we were able to make the 12:23 train to Croton with a few minutes to spare.
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Would I take another cruise on MSC in the future?
I'm just as ambivalent on this as I was before taking the cruise? MSC is a cruise line for "value oriented" (price conscious) cruisers. If Carnival is the Walmart of cruise lines, then MSC is aiming to be the Target of cruise lines. Nothing shouted "Don't cruise with us again" or "I can't wait to cruise with you again." Instead, everything said "I don't care if I cruise with MSC again or not." Everything seemed to be a notch below that of other lines I've cruised with, save for the glitz in the public areas of the ship. That was often over the top.
The other day, I watched a cruise Vlogger whose main gig is being a Travel Agent. One of her clients noted that they tried MSC and told her empathically that they would never cruise with MSC again. Another said, "No, I will never cruise with MSC again," but was attracted to cruise with them twice because of MSC's low prices. Yet, this travel agent wouldn't be honest with her viewers about this cruise line, trying not to say bad things about them, so that she could collect her fees when booking people on this line.
MSC provides decent value for the money spent for their cruises. But I wouldn't expect a top notch experience unless one has spent the money to enjoy their Yacht Club experience. (Like most cruisers, I can't afford that experience.) It's a line I might cruise on again of the price and itinerary was right. So far, I haven't seen any future cruises that would get me to take another cruise on this line.
