Whatsmyline

2 hours ago, ronbe65 said:

 

Whatsmyline,

First of all, thanks for the great post and a spot on comment.

The YC stuff has polluted the boards.

This article will help understand what class division on cruise ships means.

MSC ship-within-a-ship set up is the worst: it's in your face. The most disgusting is that the private island is divided too!

 

Secondly, your non-YC experience will depend on the ship you booked. MSC cruises do not exist. Only ships do. What ship?

If it's Meraviglia, I would suggest that you change the ship asap. 

Go with the Seaside - only.

Let's face it.

If a ship is divided in two classes, how the passengers of the second class will feel? Like Super First? Like Premium?

But please note, that "First class" on MSC is not first class at sea. It's ~ between 4* and 4.5* overall (for the best ships - Seaside/Seaview) that is equal or below "standard class" on some ships with no class division (various price groups).

What about the "second class" then?

Yes, overall it's below most "standard" mass market products (RCI or NCL best ships - to name a few).

 

BUT... Let's be practical.

By booking a cruise on MSC ships you agree to play their game.

You pay bargain price and get....what?

MSC Seaside

The non-YC product available to you will be (overall) above Carnival Vista/Horizon/Panorama, NCL Epic, NCL Sky, Princess (Royal/Regal/Sky).

Overall equal to NCL Bliss/Encore.

Not too bad, right?

You'll see the spa that is above anything comparable on Celebrity.

The entertainment program will be second best after RCI.

The open promenade will surpass anything you can find on Celebrity.

Well, the "included" food is the worst at sea (except Costa).

The cabins are smaller than standard.

The ship is crowded.

And the price is low.

And.... with the introduction of their private island, MSC is able to offer the second best resort itineraries (after HAL) in the Caribbean.

 

Is MSC Seaside worth you vacation time?

Yes.... but get the right cabin (ask me if you want), right itinerary and right time.

 

Happy cruising!

 

Thank you to everyone who responded (except the guy who thought it was necessary to curse and the guy who called me a troll).  And I WAS feeling much better about my decision to try MSC.  Until I read the section I've underlined above.  Geez, the negativity around here isn't helpful or cool.  (And probably exists on the other boards, too.)

Beginning to like the suggestion of deleting my CC account and not reading this stuff.

I booked a MSC cruise several months ago.  Then I started lurking on this board and reading all the information.  And now I wish I had not booked this cruise.  Because I didn't book the Yacht Club.

So many posts say the only way to cruise msc is in the yacht club.  That they wouldn't do any other cabin.  Questions about regular cabins get answers about the yacht club.  It's mostly yacht club in the subject lines of posts.  Its yadda yadda yadda yacht club.

I feel like a 2nd class guy who is going to have a 2nd class, lousy time.  Sorry if I sound bitter, but a lot of the posts here have made me feel that way.