Just Returned From Poescia- Never Again

[Bonnielass]

Just returned from Poescia and have decided never again to take MSC. The ship was absolutely stunning, beautifully furnished and exceptionally clean but unfortunately the staff have not been trained adequately enough and appear very very unhappy. MSC to not have a very good on board product. Two examples. I was aware that coffee was not served after dinner and needed to be purchased, however i was not aware that every day after breakfast the coffee, tea and juice machines were locked away. If you wanted coffee, tea, juice you could purchase it and an exorbitant amounts. Water was not freely available, again we were aware of this but at dinner when we requested a jug of water we were informed by the waiter that he was not allowed to bring anything but bottled water, at a price. Also when we took these complaints to the Guest Relations Manager, he was dismissive, arrogant, chauvanistic and mocked us. He stated that European passengers were happy to pay for such items, that we did not like to receive them free!!!! We were also involved with a passenger that had an accident, they were taken from the ship and their travelling companion remained on the ship. For three days she went to guest relations asking for information and they kept telling her "no news". When we learnt this we demanded a meeting and assisted the elderly lady in discovering that her friend had broken her leg and was in hospital in Bari. MSC are in my opinion amateurish. Never again.

[camofwilliamsburg]

Sorry you did not like your cruise. If you had done research you would have known about the coffee and the water. To say Never again is silly... it was YOUR error. They price their cruise at a more affordable price so that you should be able to afford coffee. They are able to cut corners like this to save on the overall cruise price, and most know this and willingly pay for what they want. If they charged more, you would be yelling how much money this cruise was! Maybe try MSC in the USA...those things are free there, as well as other things that are not in Europe. I think it is not fair to scorn an entire cruise line here for no coffee or water.....Also, if you did your research you would know the ship is MSC Poesia!

[boca7]

Sorry to hear of your problems with MSC, I have traveled extensively with them in Europe & US & yes problems sometimes do exists as they do on every cruiseline but to condemn then is ridiculous, they give a great product for the buck, I`ll be on the Poesia 11/30, my 3rd cruise with them this yr.

[Rumball]

I will travel again with MSC...but I can empathize with the valid concerns noted above. And it is important to note such observations for the benefit of those of us whom such issues may affect. No need to denigrate the messenger(s)! And it is hoped that MSC pays attention to what passengers have to say, good and bad, so that they know where they have to improve, which works to everyone's benefit over time!

[Man_Overboard]

My wife and I are booked on Poesia for the October 24th transatlantic from Venice. For only $16 per day, per person, we have pre-purchased UNLIMITED wine/beer/water/soda at lunch and dinner for the entire cruise. This is a SPECTACULAR value.

[buggins0402]

Wow, Manoverboard that is a great deal. I'll have to check out if they have it on Splendida.

 

As for the water issue - it comes up here so much. I wish the TA's and on-line TA's would tell people when they book that this is how it is on this cruise line in European waters and note to them that they will most likely not spend $XXX on water and coffee vs. the cost of a higher price cruise. When you expect it - it's not a shock. For example my DH practically sleeps with his passport when we go overseas (afraid of it being stolen). I've already warned him that for EU countries they will keep it in the office of the ship so it can pass customs & immigration easily (from what I've read here). He's gotten ok with it. And, I've averted him making a stink on board.

 

As for the service issues, the OP might have some valid complaints in the way ship management delivered the certain messages.

[Bonnielass]

My wife and I are booked on Poesia for the October 24th transatlantic from Venice. For only $16 per day, per person, we have pre-purchased UNLIMITED wine/beer/water/soda at lunch and dinner for the entire cruise. This is a SPECTACULAR value.

 

I would certainly of taken advantage of this very good package, unfortunately this package is only available to residents of the USA. European passengers are not allowed to purchase it.

[AmoMondo]

I would certainly of taken advantage of this very good package, unfortunately this package is only available to residents of the USA. European passengers are not allowed to purchase it.

There is a simialr offer available to Europeans. The undernoted has been copied and pasted form information provided by MSC UK hence the prices in £sterling. It works out a £14 per person per day which is not quite as favourable as the dollar price but is probably largely due to the pound having devalued so much lately.

 

704 – UNLIMITED DRINKS PACKAGE - £154 per person (11 day cruises only, with meals) Inclusive of unlimited wine, mineral water, beer and soft drinks

Selection between following wines: - Cabernet Veneto – Trebbiano – Verduzzo Veneto Red - Montepulciano

709 – UNLIMITED SOFT DRINKS PACKAGE - £77 per person (11 day cruises only, with meals)

Unlimited Soft Drinks and Mineral Water at Main Meals

[Bonnielass]

There is a simialr offer available to Europeans. The undernoted has been copied and pasted form information provided by MSC UK hence the prices in £sterling. It works out a £14 per person per day which is not quite as favourable as the dollar price but is probably largely due to the pound having devalued so much lately.

 

704 – UNLIMITED DRINKS PACKAGE - £154 per person (11 day cruises only, with meals) Inclusive of unlimited wine, mineral water, beer and soft drinks

Selection between following wines: - Cabernet Veneto – Trebbiano – Verduzzo Veneto Red - Montepulciano

709 – UNLIMITED SOFT DRINKS PACKAGE - £77 per person (11 day cruises only, with meals)

Unlimited Soft Drinks and Mineral Water at Main Meals

 

Well if i ever change my mind and i am travelling on a cruise of 11 days or more i will certainly take advantage of this package. Thank you for the information.

[boca7]

Hate to tell you but Poesia is not sailing from Venice but Hamburg, don`t know where you got your info from.

[hat776]

What fascinates me on CC is the contrasting posts. A few threads further up is a thread Our Fabulous Journey Aboard the Poesia .

I really wish that on brochures, when booking on line, Travel Agents etc all emphasise the fact that Juice and Coffee are only free with breakfast. And that water is not free. It would solve so many problems.

[njhh]

boca7, on Oct 24th Poesia is sailing from Venice for their Transatlantic cruise. This I know as I will be sailing on her.

[boca7]

Very sorry, your right, Poesia in Sept 2010 is doing Hamburg to US, which I was hoping to go on.

[marylizcat]

What fascinates me on CC is the contrasting posts. A few threads further up is a thread Our Fabulous Journey Aboard the Poesia .

I really wish that on brochures, when booking on line, Travel Agents etc all emphasise the fact that Juice and Coffee are only free with breakfast. And that water is not free. It would solve so many problems.

 

I think you are absolutely right, here. The main problems seem to be when people are not expecting this.

 

We are going on the Splendida knowing the position on drinks and also ready for pushy Italians. We have had quite a few holidays in Italy and are well used to their behaviour at bus stops, etc! We could have booked on Celebrity Century or Norwegian Gem for the same week and I debated long and hard, knowing MSC's mixed reputation. But we preferred their itinerary, so went with MSC, fingers crossed. Hopefully if we know what to expect, it will be OK.

[oceangreen]

Hi everybody, I just returned from Poesia as well, so I was there at the same time as Bonnielass and just can't agree with her.

1. The prices of coffee were not EXORBITANT, they were from 1,1 euro for plain cofee to 4,9 euro for special types with alcohol etc. If somebody can't afford this, maybe they should consider cruising at all.

2. The staff was very well trained and VERY polite, I dealt with them every day as we (me and my husband) took our parets with us, there was all the time something to sort out and they were most helpful.

3. The price of the cruise was so amazing that we were happy to pay water and tea/coffe etc. - we paid only for what we have actually used without dearly prepaying "free staff". Besides, when people get things for free I am afraid they usually tend to waste them.

 

I don't understand how can somebody have such a stunning cruise ruined by a few bottles of extra paid mineral water and this reminds me of as if we (six people altogether from Czech rep.) felt offended by not be greeted in or language in the evenings by cruise director.

[Bonnielass]

Well for the final time. I did not let the fact that tea,coffee or water not being available spoil my cruise. I am fortunate enough to be able to purchase sufficient amounts to swim in if i liked. The fact that a decent cup of tea was not available, purchased or free, was annoying. If MSC wish to venture into the English market, then they will have to get this right. However the bottom line is, i got a good deal on MSC but no different to the good deals i get with RCCL etc. MSC have a lot to learn, the service, food, entertainment was not up to the standard i am used to receiving on RCCL. The whole experience was a compromise, the inability to use the hot tubs, Italy families surrounded them with their sunbeds and claimed them for there own. MSC allowed this. Lack of poolside entertainment, smoke everywhere - leaving the Casino simply because i could not breath, bored by the entertainment, which was excellent on the first day but repeated throughout the week. Being surrounded by a crew appearing to be so unhappy, being with so many passengers complaining about this and that. So i hope i have not offended anyone by simply stating the facts but at the end of the day i vote with my English Pounds and in future RCCL, Celebrity, Princess, P & O and HOlland America will be my choice, not MSC. However i applaud them for their beautiful ship, the cleaniness of the ship and the perfect itinerary.

[upwarduk]

The fact that a decent cup of tea was not available, purchased or free, was annoying.

 

Who can make a decent cup of tea- only found in UK!

 

P&O supply a kettle in the cabin, but you will pay through the nose in the original cruise cost, for the privilage.

 

I have noticed some wonderful cruise prices on MSC recently ( 5th Dec 09, £10 per day on a Trans Atlantic) but on looking in to it, I found that airfare to return from S.America was high ( £650+)

[AmoMondo]

Who can make a decent cup of tea- only found in UK!

 

Oh how true! Now you Yorkshire folk have got it down to a fine art!

[buggins0402]

What fascinates me on CC is the contrasting posts. A few threads further up is a thread Our Fabulous Journey Aboard the Poesia .

I really wish that on brochures, when booking on line, Travel Agents etc all emphasise the fact that Juice and Coffee are only free with breakfast. And that water is not free. It would solve so many problems.

 

Hat, agree completely! If the cruise meets the expectations (because people have read about certain charges beforehand) it seems everything is fine - someone will have a good experience. But, if the expectations are different, because of what they didn't know and because something was done a certain way on another cruise line - it seems to color their perspective of the whole cruise vacation. And, it makes for reading some absolutely bi-polar cruise reviews of the same ship.

 

We're probably in the same camp as you (ex-NCL'ers). Less worried about the charges for some things, more worried about the lack of "freestyle" and whether giving that up was worth the better itinerary, nicer ship and price differential.

[hat776]

We have friends who are on the Splendida at the moment. They are seasoned cruisers who sail at least twice a year. They usually sail Costa. They found NCL too American for their taste. Carnival was even more so. They find fault in every line and so always return to Costa.

They phoned us yesterday and said the food was good (don't know if up to Costa standards ) the ship stylish , the cabins the best they've had. In fact they intend staying on the ship in certain ports which they've been to umpteen times.

We all speak fluent Italian and our culture and tastes are very condinental. That's what makes Malta unique - the mixture of Italian and British culture.

However, we are going to be three couples and trying to choose a time for dinner is proving to be a problem. I definately am missing the 'freestyle'.

Some other friends sailing next week can't accept that they have to choose in advance and have to stick to the same time throughout the cruise !

I'm also going to miss the coffee maker in the cabin. I'm taking a travel kettle as I don't function till I have my coffee and room service starts at 7.30 which is way too late. I'll also miss having coffee available 24/7 and the water 'problem'.

However, I know about these things, accept them so can't complain about them.

[buggins0402]

We have friends who are on the Splendida at the moment. They are seasoned cruisers who sail at least twice a year. They usually sail Costa. They found NCL too American for their taste. Carnival was even more so. They find fault in every line and so always return to Costa.

They phoned us yesterday and said the food was good (don't know if up to Costa standards ) the ship stylish , the cabins the best they've had. In fact they intend staying on the ship in certain ports which they've been to umpteen times.

We all speak fluent Italian and our culture and tastes are very condinental. That's what makes Malta unique - the mixture of Italian and British culture.

However, we are going to be three couples and trying to choose a time for dinner is proving to be a problem. I definately am missing the 'freestyle'.

Some other friends sailing next week can't accept that they have to choose in advance and have to stick to the same time throughout the cruise !

I'm also going to miss the coffee maker in the cabin. I'm taking a travel kettle as I don't function till I have my coffee and room service starts at 7.30 which is way too late. I'll also miss having coffee available 24/7 and the water 'problem'.

However, I know about these things, accept them so can't complain about them.

 

I can see why your friends might not like NCL - the constant up-sell can drive one absolutely bonkers. And, on our last cruise we only ate in the main dining room twice - we paid the surcharges for the specialty restaurants because the food was so much better. But, will still miss the freestyle dinner times. Glad to hear your friends think the food was good on MSC.

 

We're going through same thing - working out the coffee issue - probably will do the same thing as you. Water doesn't bother me because we drink fizzy water all the time anyway.

 

Guess every cruise line has it's strengths and weaknesses.

[boca7]

All the reasons Bonnielass gives for not cruising MSC is why I cruise with them, there non-smoking policy on verandas & having only one lounge for smoking is unique in the industry. I just got off HAL Eurodam & the balcony below me had a guest smoking a cigar that was choking me, the front desk informed me they could do what they like. But why say anything else, Bonnielass as anyone else has there own opinion.

[Signor John]

My wife and I were on the same cruise as you, apparently (the October 3 cruise out of Venice), and we had a great time. Mind you, we're familiar with Europe, and we don't expect an Italian cruise line to emulate the customs or policies of American cruise lines. If you insist on a pitcher of tap water at every meal, don't go on an Italian cruise line (or to Italy). And if a constant supply of free coffee is essential to your enjoyment, forget about MSC POESIA and look for the maritime equivalent of a pancake house.

[woodofpine]

We're slated for Magnifica's third sailing in March. We're going with relatively inexperienced cruisers whom I've been indoctrinating with what I've learned. Actually, relative inexperience might be an advantage - no preconceived notions of what 'should' be provided... Basically, it sounds like MSC simply keeps to the more restricted, defined, a la carte style of European restauranting rather than the American "All 'Ya Can Eat" cruise norm. MSC would earn a much greater passenger base by offering a few beverages between meals and tap water at meals. It seems this chaffs a lot of pax. Witholding tap water at meals is NOT "European"; it's against the law France for instance. I know the price point argument on this issue, but given the myriad product cost factors - this is quite insignificant relative to the 'good will' market share sacrificed...

[Signor John]

>> MSC would earn a much greater passenger base by offering a few beverages between meals and tap water at meals.<<

 

Tap water IS available in the cafeteria, which serves breakfast and lunch. As for the law in France, we aren't talking about a French ship, we're talking about an Italian ship. And to judge from the numbers on our October 3 POESIA cruise, MSC isn't having any trouble attracting a multinational audience--including about 520 guests who were categorized as "English-speaking." (How did I get that number? Easy: I asked. The original poster might be surprised to learn how helpful receptionists, hostesses, etc. can be when you ask polite questions instead of adopting an accusatory tone.)