long-time Carnival cruiser taking first MSC cruise

[IntrepidFromDC]

I liked the status-match and the Black Friday offer was good so I'm trying MSC, Divinia out of Miami to Ocean Cay for two days.  I have three questions, mainly for anyone who has cruised both Carnival and MSC because the first question is the most important to me...

 

1. What are the main differences between the on-board and port experiences between Carnival and MSC?

2. Are the casino-comp cabins in MSC a thing like they are on Carnival?

3. What didn't I ask that you think would be great to know for a first-time MSC cruiser?

 

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

 

[Essiesmom]

The main onboard experience difference is that the entertainment is mainly musical - no comedy.  Your fellow guests will be 40-50% non-North American and English will not be their first language.  I can’t talk to a short cruise so I don’t know what the atmosphere would be.  
I have no idea what casino comp cabins are like on Carnival but I would assume on Divina they would be Bella experience.  If you can tell us what your cabin number is, we can give you a better idea.  Or even cabin category.  EM

[IntrepidFromDC]

38 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

The main onboard experience difference is that the entertainment is mainly musical - no comedy.  Your fellow guests will be 40-50% non-North American and English will not be their first language.  I can’t talk to a short cruise so I don’t know what the atmosphere would be.  
I have no idea what casino comp cabins are like on Carnival but I would assume on Divina they would be Bella experience.  If you can tell us what your cabin number is, we can give you a better idea.  Or even cabin category.  EM

Thanks for the reply!  I think my wording on the casino-comp cabins was not clear.  What I'm asking there is, if I gamble four or five hours all three days on the cruise, is there a chance I'll be offered a free or deeply-discounted cruise by MSC, like Carnival does?

[def0715]

I seem to recall the requirement for a free cruise is 9,999 points (regardless of cruise length). I was on a short sailing on the Meraviglia this month (first time on MSC) and was approached by a casino host the first night. I earned a few thousand points and received a certificate for 30 percent off and some OBC on a future sailing. 

Edited November 22, 2022 by def0715

[Georgia_Peaches]

12 hours ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Thanks for the reply!  I think my wording on the casino-comp cabins was not clear.  What I'm asking there is, if I gamble four or five hours all three days on the cruise, is there a chance I'll be offered a free or deeply-discounted cruise by MSC, like Carnival does?

The short answer is YES!  I am just off a 4 night cruise and needed 900 points, which I accumulated pretty quickly 😎 and was offered a 30% off voucher for my next cruise in any stateroom category.  This can also be combined with the 5% off loyalty perk, so a sweet deal IMO.

 

To @Essiesmom point regarding the international crowd, we did not find this at all (to my disappointment) on our 4 night cruise but did so in a big way on our 7 night cruise.  In fact, announcements were only given in English on our 4 night sailing.  It makes me think that shorter cruises may be less of a draw to international cruisers but I'm going to have to book several more short cruises to properly test my hypothesis 🍹!

[cellfree]

14 hours ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

I liked the status-match and the Black Friday offer was good so I'm trying MSC, Divinia out of Miami to Ocean Cay for two days.  I have three questions, mainly for anyone who has cruised both Carnival and MSC because the first question is the most important to me...

 

1. What are the main differences between the on-board and port experiences between Carnival and MSC?

2. Are the casino-comp cabins in MSC a thing like they are on Carnival?

3. What didn't I ask that you think would be great to know for a first-time MSC cruiser?

 

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

 

Realize not answering your questions but wanted to tell you our experience - we cruised Carnival almost 100% until 2017 when we tried MSC for the first time - now we cruise between Carnival and MSC - different experiences - enjoy both - have been on Divina and Seaside and Armonia and Meraviglia and Seashore all several times - in January doing a   B2B on Mera and in February doing a Side2Side on Seascape and Celebration - so my suggestion is to try MSC (well you are) and enjoy the cruise.

[Essiesmom]

3 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

The short answer is YES!  I am just off a 4 night cruise and needed 900 points, which I accumulated pretty quickly 😎 and was offered a 30% off voucher for my next cruise in any stateroom category.  This can also be combined with the 5% off loyalty perk, so a sweet deal IMO.

 

To @Essiesmom point regarding the international crowd, we did not find this at all (to my disappointment) on our 4 night cruise but did so in a big way on our 7 night cruise.  In fact, announcements were only given in English on our 4 night sailing.  It makes me think that shorter cruises may be less of a draw to international cruisers but I'm going to have to book several more short cruises to properly test my hypothesis 🍹!

I think folk are not likely to fly from Europe for a four day cruise unless they have other vacation plans here also, or are doing a B2B.  EM

[sammee]

I'm mostly Carnival too. I did my first MSC on Divina when it was in Port Canaveral this past August. I managed to get that 30% offer about midweek on my 7 dayer. Only 1200 people onboard, so we pretty much had the run of the ship.

 

Pizza knocks the hell out of Carnival and Royal. Buffet seemed to have more choices. Main dining room, similar to the others, but a few different items.

 

Watch the pools if you use them. I didn't pay attention and kind of jumped in from sitting on the side. Had my glasses on, so they got a wash down when I went under, yes the pools are deeper.

 

Ports are similar, except Ocean Cay is different from the others. We rented a cabana, but preferred HMC cabana. 2nd day, we just grabbed a free umbrella/chairs.  The lightshow was fantastic. 

 

Ssshh, don't tell anybody. I liked Divina better than Mardi Gras, lol. I liked it so much I used my 30% for Meraviglia out of Brooklyn in May.

 

[Georgia_Peaches]

4 minutes ago, sammee said:

Ssshh, don't tell anybody. I liked Divina better than Mardi Gras, lol. I liked it so much I used my 30% for Meraviglia out of Brooklyn in May.

What was the process for using your 30% off voucher?  Did you book direct or through a TA?

[sammee]

9 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

What was the process for using your 30% off voucher?  Did you book direct or through a TA?

I booked through the casino. The letter they give you instructs you to email the casino.  They will ask you for a copy of the letter, instruct you to book you cruise and than they will take over from there. There was a problem with my sailing date and the expiration (coded 3 weeks short, oops on them), but it worked out after they figured out what was wrong.

 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

On 11/21/2022 at 9:51 PM, IntrepidFromDC said:

I liked the status-match and the Black Friday offer was good so I'm trying MSC, Divinia out of Miami to Ocean Cay for two days.  I have three questions, mainly for anyone who has cruised both Carnival and MSC because the first question is the most important to me...

 

1. What are the main differences between the on-board and port experiences between Carnival and MSC?

2. Are the casino-comp cabins in MSC a thing like they are on Carnival?

3. What didn't I ask that you think would be great to know for a first-time MSC cruiser?

 

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

 

 

Looks like I'll find out a couple/few weeks before you! (already I can tell you their website is the pits - but you may already know that)

 

Tom

[IntrepidFromDC]

3 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Looks like I'll find out a couple/few weeks before you! (already I can tell you their website is the pits - but you may already know that)

 

Tom

LOL, Tom, fancy seeing YOU here.  I agree about the website, it's like it's still being tested or something.  Can't believe it passed verification phase and was rolled out.  Please share about your MSC experience - oh, it'll be here, not our usual hangout, huh.

[ready2cruzagain]

On 11/21/2022 at 9:51 PM, IntrepidFromDC said:

I liked the status-match and the Black Friday offer was good so I'm trying MSC, Divinia out of Miami to Ocean Cay for two days.  I have three questions, mainly for anyone who has cruised both Carnival and MSC because the first question is the most important to me...

 

1. What are the main differences between the on-board and port experiences between Carnival and MSC?

2. Are the casino-comp cabins in MSC a thing like they are on Carnival?

3. What didn't I ask that you think would be great to know for a first-time MSC cruiser?

 

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

 

Have around 20 Carnival cruises and 10 MSC cruises. I have not sailed Carnival since I started sailing MSC and NCL.  I have sailed 32 days on the Divina.  MSC ships are beautiful compared to Carnivals.  Last ship I was on with Carnival was the Sunshine. Even though it had been refurbished it was in bad shape with paint chipping, tiles missing, hot tubs not working.  You will not find that in MSC ships, they take pride in the care of their ships.  The Divina is older but still my favorite ship, just wish it had a thermal spa like the newer ships. 

 

Not sure what you are wanting to know about the differences. Food would be one thing. I left Carnival when their menus cheaped out and went to meatloaf, chicken, etc (things I could get at Golden Corral). MSC is an Italian Cruise Line and you can tell it in their menus. We love the food, others hate it.

 

The different experiences (Bella, Fantastica, Aurea, Yacht Club) are totally different than Carnival also. Just depends on what you booked.

 

You will not find a nicer crew than what is on MSC.  They go out of their way to make you happy.  At least that has always been our experience. I see people complaining a lot but maybe if they would take a breath and be nice the crew would help them get their situation resolved.  Kindness goes a long way.

 

Entertainment is totally different as far as the theater. Carnival went to a stage of let the guests entertain each other (Hasbro for one).  No thanks. MSC has 30 to 40 minute theater shows that are unique. You could have an acrobat at the same time as an opera singer. We love the shows.  

 

I don't gamble so no idea about the casino.

 

 

[asalligo]

On 11/21/2022 at 10:05 PM, Essiesmom said:

Your fellow guests will be 40-50% non-North American and English will not be their first language.  

Wait, but everyone understands they need to speak English on the ship right? Hate when people from other countries pretend they don't speak English so I have to start talking louder so they understand. 

[Essiesmom]

1 hour ago, asalligo said:

Wait, but everyone understands they need to speak English on the ship right? Hate when people from other countries pretend they don't speak English so I have to start talking louder so they understand. 

Are you asking about passengers or crew?  The crew, yes, thought they may not be as fluent as you would like.  Passengers?  Would you expect to have to speak/understand Italian if you sailed MSC in Europe?  EM

[asalligo]

4 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

Are you asking about passengers or crew?  The crew, yes, thought they may not be as fluent as you would like.  Passengers?  Would you expect to have to speak/understand Italian if you sailed MSC in Europe?  EM

Yes, passengers too! Don't fall for the I don't speak English bit. This is 2023, they speak English. They just don't want to. 

 

 

 

 

 

I am totally kidding by the way.