u/Lagunitas1117

Looking for a sanity check from the award travel crowd. I did this way in advance and it’s the first time I’ve used my venturex points on an international Carrier.

Family of 4 traveling NYC to Barcelona in August 2027 for a cruise.

Booked through British Airways Avios on Iberia:

Outbound Aug. 11 JFK 8:40 PM → MAD → BCN 12:45 PM

Return Aug. 22 BCN 1:35 PM → MAD → JFK 6:55 PM

Total for all 4: 194,000 Avios round trip $1,114.12 taxes/fees

That’s 48,500 Avios round trip per person, or 24,250 each way.

The schedule is a big part of why I like it. The 8:40 PM outbound lets me work most of the day instead of burning another vacation day, and the 12:45 PM BCN arrival lines up nicely with hotel check-in. The return also works well after our cruise without rushing to the airport.

What’s interesting is that the exact award itineraries have since disappeared from Point.me, while the flights themselves are still scheduled and my reservations remain intact in BA and Iberia.

I briefly considered Aer Lingus from EWR, but it would cost more Avios, more cash after cancellation fees, and would leave much earlier in the day.

Iberia also quoted roughly $70 per 23 kg checked bag for the full outbound itinerary once baggage purchase opens.

I also managed to grab 2 rooms at the Grand Hyatt Barcelona for Aug. 12 to 14 for 60,000 Hyatt points total, so effectively 15,000 points per room per night. That gives us two connecting rooms for the family for the two nights before the cruise.

For peak summer, fixed dates, and 4 seats together, how would you rate 194K Avios + $1,114 total? Strong redemption, average, or nothing special?

Family of four here: two adults, two girls ages 6 and 10 looking to cruise next January.

Trying to choose between:

MSC World America • Miami departure • Puerto Plata, San Juan, Ocean Cay • 2 cabins: ocean balcony + interior across the hall • New ship/private island are big appeals • Concerned about food, service, crowds, wait times

Royal Symphony of the Seas • Galveston departure • Roatan, Costa Maya, Cozumel • 2 cabins: ocean balcony + interior close by • More proven ship/line • Concerned about Galveston/Western Caribbean crowd vibe and less exciting itinerary

We’ve sailed Odyssey, Rhapsody, and Celebrity Reflection, but never a true mega-ship or private island.

For people who have done either or both: which would you pick for the better overall family trip? Ship experience matters more than ports, but food, service, crowd flow, and kids’ amenities matter a lot too.

Edit

Pricing for two rooms on each

MSC - $3225 + $300 obc

RCCL - $3500 + $190 obc

Hi all, I’m considering booking MSC World America for a family cruise out of Florida next winter and would love some balanced feedback from people who have sailed her, or who have sailed MSC’s newer U.S. ships.

For context, we’re a family of four: two adults and two kids, ages 6 and 10. We’ve previously sailed Royal Caribbean Odyssey/Symphony and Celebrity Reflection, so that’s my main comparison point.

The appeal of MSC World America is pretty obvious: newer ship, strong pricing, good cabin setup, and what looks like a lot of family-friendly amenities. My hesitation is that I’ve read very mixed reviews, especially around:

•	MDR and buffet food quality

•	service consistency

•	bar wait times

•	buffet/crowd flow

•	waits for slides, pools, kids activities, shows, elevators, etc.

•	whether the ship feels organized or chaotic at peak times

I’m also trying to understand the onboard crowd/vibe. Since MSC pricing can be very competitive with Carnival, does the onboard experience/crowd feel closer to Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or something different entirely? I’m not trying to insult any cruise line or passengers, just trying to understand the vibe and whether it would be a good fit for our family.

For people who have sailed MSC World America, especially with kids:

1. How were the food and service in reality?

2. Were wait times for amenities manageable?

3. Did the ship feel crowded or poorly organized?

4. How was the crowd/vibe compared with Royal, Celebrity, Carnival, or NCL?

5. Would you book it again, or would you pay more for Royal/Princess instead?

Appreciate any honest feedback, especially from people who went in with similar expectations or concerns.