Choosing a cruise cabin on MSC can be surprisingly confusing, with so many different options to choose from. Do you save money with an inside cabin, or is a balcony actually worth paying extra for? Or do you risk booking a ‘partial view’ balcony because it’s cheaper, but then wonder what that partial view actually means?
Well, we booked a Deluxe Balcony Room with Partial View on MSC Euribia for our Christmas cruise and despite the words partial view sounding slightly ominous, our balcony was actually much better than I expected.
So, here’s my honest MSC Euribia partial view cabin review, including what the balcony was like, the bedroom and bathroom, storage, plugs, room service and most importantly, whether I think a partial-view cabin is worth booking.
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What cabin did we stay in on MSC Euribia?
We stayed in a Deluxe Balcony Room with Partial View on Deck 8, in cabin 8243, which was towards the aft of the ship.
Partial-view cabins are generally cheaper than a standard balcony cabin because something outside the cabin partially obstructs the view. The tricky thing is that MSC doesn’t necessarily make it obvious exactly what that obstruction will be when you’re booking, so it can all feel a bit of a mystery. The obstruction can also vary depending on which cabin you choose.
So, ‘partial view’ doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to spend your entire cruise staring at a giant wall. In our case, the obstruction was the roof of the lifeboat. But because our cabin was essentially level with it, the impact on our view was actually pretty minimal.
What is the obstructed balcony like on MSC Euribia?
Even though it was partially obstructed, the balcony was actually one of my favourite things about the cabin.
There was a generous amount of outdoor space, with plenty of room to sit outside and enjoy the view. The lifeboat roof did obscure the lower part of the view, but it didn’t really bother us because we could still look directly out and over it towards the sea.
For a winter cruise, we actually used the balcony more than you might expect. Not necessarily for sitting outside with a cocktail in hand, it was December in the North Sea, after all! But it was useful for checking the weather before heading off the ship and enjoying a hot cuppa in the crisp winter air.
On a summer cruise, I think this would be a brilliant balcony. Ours was noticeably deeper than a standard cruise ship balcony, giving us lots of extra outdoor space.
Is a partial-view balcony worth it?
If you’re happy to sacrifice a little of your view, a partial-view cabin can be a good way of getting a balcony without paying the full premium for an unobstructed one.
Just bear in mind that ‘partial view’ covers a range of possible obstructions, so I wouldn’t assume every cabin will look like ours. Our obstruction was low enough that it barely affected our enjoyment of the balcony, and I’d happily book a similar cabin again if it meant saving a decent amount of money. We still got our own private outdoor space, which for me is one of the biggest advantages of having a balcony cabin in the first place.
What is the MSC Euribia cabin like inside?
Our cabin on Euribia felt more spacious than I expected it to. The décor is fairly neutral and espresso toned with plenty of brown and beige tones, which will probably be a perk to some people and a negative for others. It isn’t exactly the most colourful room I’ve ever stayed in, but it was comfortable and practical and made a great base for our time onboard.
The queen-size bed was firm but really comfortable, and MSC also offered a choice of different pillows, which is handy if you’re a bit fussy about how plump or firm you like your pillow to be.
There was a large vanity area with a stool and hairdryer (albeit power-lacking), as well as plenty of mirrors around the cabin. There was a full-length mirror near the wardrobe and a large mirror opposite the bed, and I do think all these enormous mirrors helped make the room feel brighter and more spacious.
There was also a kettle with tea and coffee, along with a minibar, and a TV where you could hire films.
Can the sofa turn into bunk beds?
Yes. Our cabin had a large sofa which could be converted into bunk beds.
As it was just the two of us, we kept it as a sofa. But when we sailed on Virtuosa, Euribia’s sister ship with our boys, this was transformed into a bunk bed and worked really well. Even with four of us in the cabin, it didn’t feel too cramped. I’ll pop a photo below of it set up on Virtuosa.
Is there enough storage in an MSC Euribia balcony cabin?
We were travelling over Christmas, so we’d packed bulky winter clothing rather than the lighter summer clothes that take up far less space. But despite this, we still managed to unpack everything.
There were drawers, cupboards, cubbies and a wardrobe, plus some useful coat hooks behind the front door. It’s also worth buying these magnetic hooks for extra storage options, they’re so handy and we take them with us on every cruise!
The wardrobe itself isn’t enormous, and because it runs along the length of the bed with a sliding door, it isn’t the easiest to access compared with some other cruise ship layouts. We especially love the cabin layout on Enchanted Princess, where the wardrobe area is more like a little walk-in wardrobe.
To keep the room tidy, we tucked our suitcases underneath the bed so they weren’t taking up valuable floor space. For two people, we found the storage perfectly adequate for a week. Things got a little tighter when it was the four of us on Virtuosa, but it was still doable.
What is the bathroom like?
As you’d expect from a cruise cabin the bathroom on Euribia is compact, but it didn’t feel uncomfortably small at all.
I was actually pleasantly surprised that I could wash my hair in the shower without repeatedly smacking my elbows against the walls, which I consider a pretty reasonable benchmark for cruise ship bathroom sizing!
In the shower, there were dispensers containing MSC’s own blend of shampoo and body wash, as well as a retractable washing line. We didn’t need to use it during our winter cruise, but I can imagine it being really handy for letting swimwear drip dry during a summer sailing.
What plugs are in an MSC Euribia cabin?
Our cabin had a mixture of EU and US two-pin sockets, as well as USB charging points near the bedside tables. So, if you’re travelling from the UK, you’ll need to take a couple of travel adapters with you.
On a random side note for the women (as I’m sure any men reading this won’t care!) one thing I was very pleased about was discovering that I could use my Dyson Airwrap in the cabin.
I’d read plenty of warnings beforehand about hair styling tools not working on MSC ships. Our normal multi-country travel adapter wouldn’t power the Airwrap, but this EU-to-UK adapter worked perfectly. So I didn’t have to spend the entire cruise looking like I’d been dragged backwards through a hedge. Hurrah!
Was the MSC Euribia cabin noisy?
Generally, no. The air conditioning and heating inside the room was easy to control and wasn’t particularly noisy at night, although this may be more noticeable if you’re a very sensitive sleeper.
We did experience a little bit of creaking from the cabin during the cruise, but we were travelling through some fairly strong North Sea weather over Christmas. At times, the ship was rocking quite noticeably, so I guess you’re bound to hear a few creaks when there’s that much movement.
We didn’t have any problems with noise from neighbouring cabins either, but that’s always going to be a bit of pot luck depending on what sort of neighbours you end up with!
How clean was the MSC Euribia cabin?
Our cabin was clean and comfortable when we arrived, and our cabin steward was incredibly efficient at keeping everything looking tidy throughout our stay.
He provided us with fresh towels daily, and our tea and coffee supplies were always kept topped up too. We also received the daily programme and any other information we needed during the cruise, so the whole cabin service was very efficient.
Can you order breakfast to your cabin on MSC Euribia?
We had breakfast room service included with our Fantastica package, so we decided to try it on Christmas morning so we could have a slow, lazy start to the day.
The process was really simple. All you have to do is fill out the breakfast card with your preferred delivery time and hang it outside your cabin the night before.
The room service breakfast menu was fairly limited compared with what was available elsewhere on the ship, but for us that didn’t really matter. It was perfect for a lazy Christmas morning, and we enjoyed eating breakfast in the cabin before getting ready for the day. Nobody’s stopping you from getting a second breakfast anyway…
Would I book a partial-view balcony again?
Yes we would! Our balcony obstruction was minimal on Euribia and didn’t stop us enjoying the outdoor space at all. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised by just how little it affected the view.
If you’re trying to keep the cost of a cruise down but still really want a balcony, I’d definitely consider looking at the partial-view options. Just remember that the obstruction can vary from cabin to cabin, so don’t assume every partial-view balcony will look like ours… but looking at the ships deck plan can help you work it out.
For us it was a great compromise. We still got our own private balcony and plenty of outdoor space without paying the full price for an unobstructed view, and I’d happily make the same choice again. If you’re hoping to find a cruise at a good price, make sure you take a look at the Cruisenation deals as they often have some great packages on offer. And if you want to know more about MSC Euribia, take a look at my Euribia review to help you decide it its the right ship for you.
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