Kicking the tires on MSC, better than NCL in the winter out of NYC?

[laudergayle]

31 minutes ago, JIMESOPUS said:

2 days to go !! Weather has been the topic lately, with Lee going between the US and Bermuda and now TD #15, which has yet to be named Nigel. 

Looking at Windy it appears that we may be able to get into the harbor on Wednesday but the ride back will be " bumpy ".

Yesterday we received a very nice email from Captain Maurizio Ruggiero. Can't remember how many times I searched for any information about senior leadership on the next cruise, but now at least I know the captain's name.

Wow, nice touch.  You’re going to have a fabulous cruise.

[DrSea]

On 9/7/2023 at 9:19 AM, JIMESOPUS said:

We normally sail out of NYC on NCL in January. We still “ love” them, we had our spats but we always enjoyed the “ Freestyle “ cruising. But change is in the air.

 

PreC, NCL would have two ships sailing, usually a Jewel class and an Away class ship. Most of the time the itinerary would be an eastern or longer southern Caribbean route, with an occasional special cruise such as a coast-to-coast itinerary.

 

PostC, NCL has started to trim down the NYC fleet and itineraries. Winter of 2024 has the Getaway and the Winter of 2025 has the Prima. All the itineraries have Bermuda as a stop. While I love Bermuda, a stop there in the winter doesn’t make much sense as the average daytime temperature is 68 degrees, warmer than NYC but give me something about 20 degrees warmer.

 

After two below-average cruises on the Getway, one being the Haven which was a nightmare because of the weather and open courtyard design we will never sail on her again. So we have decided to fly down to Tampa and sail on the Jade next January. Flying has become more of a challenge, maybe because I’m getting older. Parking is still cheaper at the pier than flying, barely and there is nothing like driving home after the cruise in under 90 minutes so we would love sailing out of NYC again.  

 

So after 24 cruises, all with NCL and ⅓ of them out of NYC in January is it time for a change?

 

First, this cruise isn’t in the winter, nothing special is planned. Just “ kicking the tires “ to see for ourselves how good or bad MSC is. 

 

Booking an MSC cruise is no walk in the park. With all the types of experiences and different names of decks I got lost, thankfully with the help of an experienced TA we found the best deal, we think.

 

Along with booking the cruise the deposit requirement caught me off guard, instead of the normal $250 refundable it was $398 nonrefundable.

MSC has this table based on the length of the cruise. 

$99 for less than 4 days, $199 for 5-14 days, and $300 for anything over 15 days.  

 

The cruise chosen was to Bermuda, a 6-day RT out of Brooklyn on the Meraviglia, on September 18. Balcony with the FANTASTICA experience.  No drink or meal packages, no internet, just something to get the feel of cruising with MSC. Besides Bermuda being a safe bet, we know a few places to get a meal and drinks just in case.

 

The cost per person,  $531.05 “ cabin fare “, $150 taxes and fees, and DSC for this cruise it’s $87 ( $14.5 per day)

They have another chart for different cruises and locations around the world for the DSC charge.

 

That’s about $128 per day per person.

 

I just checked the NCL site and found a 5 day on the Joy, sailing to Bermuda on September 20.

The cost for a sailway balcony is $2017.60 for the cabin, $512.58 for taxes and fees ( must cost more to sail out of Manhattan ), and $200 for the DSC.

 

The final cost would have been about $273 per day per person.

 

I went over the numbers several times and yes this MSC cruise is an additional day and night in Bermuda and it’s more than 50% cheaper, something is wrong here. 

 

Did someone say upgrade? Both NCL and MSC must use the same vendor, they look identical. 

We placed a minimal bid for the Yacht Club interior cabin, $350 per person. Was thinking about increasing the bid because so many have posted great reviews but we are steerage people. Eating with the masses in the MDR, at selected dining times sounds fun.

 

Guess what, we got the upgrade but here is the kicker it wasn’t for an interior cabin but a YC1 balcony cabin.

 

So now the cost per person has increased to $186 per person per day, about $87 less than the Joy, and now we have a drink package, meals in the Yacht Club, and internet.

 

I think my toe just broke. 

 

To be continued, 

 

 

 

 

I personally couldn't be loyal to a single cruise line. My strong recommendation is to check all the lines out. I like NCLs product a lot,  but brand loyalty is expensive

 

With that said, I just can't do MSC with their food and customer service.

 

Disclaimer: never sailed with MSC before and don't intend to for years

[Laszlo]

On 9/7/2023 at 12:19 PM, JIMESOPUS said:

We normally sail out of NYC on NCL in January. We still “ love” them, we had our spats but we always enjoyed the “ Freestyle “ cruising. But change is in the air.

 

PreC, NCL would have two ships sailing, usually a Jewel class and an Away class ship. Most of the time the itinerary would be an eastern or longer southern Caribbean route, with an occasional special cruise such as a coast-to-coast itinerary.

 

PostC, NCL has started to trim down the NYC fleet and itineraries. Winter of 2024 has the Getaway and the Winter of 2025 has the Prima. All the itineraries have Bermuda as a stop. While I love Bermuda, a stop there in the winter doesn’t make much sense as the average daytime temperature is 68 degrees, warmer than NYC but give me something about 20 degrees warmer.

 

After two below-average cruises on the Getway, one being the Haven which was a nightmare because of the weather and open courtyard design we will never sail on her again. So we have decided to fly down to Tampa and sail on the Jade next January. Flying has become more of a challenge, maybe because I’m getting older. Parking is still cheaper at the pier than flying, barely and there is nothing like driving home after the cruise in under 90 minutes so we would love sailing out of NYC again.  

 

So after 24 cruises, all with NCL and ⅓ of them out of NYC in January is it time for a change?

 

First, this cruise isn’t in the winter, nothing special is planned. Just “ kicking the tires “ to see for ourselves how good or bad MSC is. 

 

Booking an MSC cruise is no walk in the park. With all the types of experiences and different names of decks I got lost, thankfully with the help of an experienced TA we found the best deal, we think.

 

Along with booking the cruise the deposit requirement caught me off guard, instead of the normal $250 refundable it was $398 nonrefundable.

MSC has this table based on the length of the cruise. 

$99 for less than 4 days, $199 for 5-14 days, and $300 for anything over 15 days.  

 

The cruise chosen was to Bermuda, a 6-day RT out of Brooklyn on the Meraviglia, on September 18. Balcony with the FANTASTICA experience.  No drink or meal packages, no internet, just something to get the feel of cruising with MSC. Besides Bermuda being a safe bet, we know a few places to get a meal and drinks just in case.

 

The cost per person,  $531.05 “ cabin fare “, $150 taxes and fees, and DSC for this cruise it’s $87 ( $14.5 per day)

They have another chart for different cruises and locations around the world for the DSC charge.

 

That’s about $128 per day per person.

 

I just checked the NCL site and found a 5 day on the Joy, sailing to Bermuda on September 20.

The cost for a sailway balcony is $2017.60 for the cabin, $512.58 for taxes and fees ( must cost more to sail out of Manhattan ), and $200 for the DSC.

 

The final cost would have been about $273 per day per person.

 

I went over the numbers several times and yes this MSC cruise is an additional day and night in Bermuda and it’s more than 50% cheaper, something is wrong here. 

 

Did someone say upgrade? Both NCL and MSC must use the same vendor, they look identical. 

We placed a minimal bid for the Yacht Club interior cabin, $350 per person. Was thinking about increasing the bid because so many have posted great reviews but we are steerage people. Eating with the masses in the MDR, at selected dining times sounds fun.

 

Guess what, we got the upgrade but here is the kicker it wasn’t for an interior cabin but a YC1 balcony cabin.

 

So now the cost per person has increased to $186 per person per day, about $87 less than the Joy, and now we have a drink package, meals in the Yacht Club, and internet.

 

I think my toe just broke. 

 

To be continued, 

 

 

 

 

I can't agree more, its pathetic what NCL has sailing out of NYC in the winter. I stop in Bermuda..... crazy. I remember being at the meet and greet back in January. I number of people ask the officers why the stop in Bermuda. None of them could answer the question and from their looks they were not thrilled about it. We have cruised on NCL out of Tampa a number of times. From PHL Tampa is easy, its a short drive to the pier. We always fly in the day before and stay at the Tampa Marriott Water Street. Plenty to do all around that area and its a 2 minute ride to the cruise port

[JIMESOPUS]

Under 24 hours and we should be there in Brooklyn, Waze has it at 2.5 hours, could be the traffic today with the Tunnel to Towers run. Looks like Tropical Storm Nigel will travel far enough East of Bermuda, so my final pack will be for Bermuda.

Rain is forecasted for Monday, based on previous reviews we will line our luggage with plastic.

 

Jim

[Laszlo]

3 hours ago, JIMESOPUS said:

Under 24 hours and we should be there in Brooklyn, Waze has it at 2.5 hours, could be the traffic today with the Tunnel to Towers run. Looks like Tropical Storm Nigel will travel far enough East of Bermuda, so my final pack will be for Bermuda.

Rain is forecasted for Monday, based on previous reviews we will line our luggage with plastic.

 

Jim

Have a great time!

[ready2cruzagain]

On 9/16/2023 at 12:35 PM, DrSea said:

I personally couldn't be loyal to a single cruise line. My strong recommendation is to check all the lines out. I like NCLs product a lot,  but brand loyalty is expensive

 

With that said, I just can't do MSC with their food and customer service.

 

Disclaimer: never sailed with MSC before and don't intend to for years

I have sailed 12 times on MSC and their food is awesome. MSC's food is quite better than  NCL's IMO but we have not sailed NCL since right when the pandemic (Breakaway for 3 weeks).  Getting ready to hit Sapphire on NCL in January when we have 3 weeks booked on the Epic. We quit sailing Carnival years ago due to their food going to meatloaf, fried chicken, etc. 

 

On our last MSC cruise this past Feb. in the MDR we had Lobster, Prime Rib, Steak Dianne, Rack of Lamb, Veal, Coq Au Vin, Fillet Mignon, and Grouper to name a few items that we enjoyed in the MDR. We do not sail Haven or YC as we usually sail 3 to 4 weeks at a time and can do that amount of days for the price of 1 week in either YC or Haven.

 

CS on MSC, now that leaves a lot to be desired on land. I usually make a reservation and do not have a need to call and change things though.

 

I do agree with you, I am loyal to no brand. We sail for ship, itinerary and price.

[laudergayle]

2 minutes ago, ready2cruzagain said:

On our last MSC cruise this past Feb. in the MDR we had Lobster, Prime Rib, Steak Dianne, Rack of Lamb, Veal, Coq Au Vin, Fillet Mignon, and Grouper to name a few items that we enjoyed in the MDR

Last month MSC made significant changes to the US sailings MDR menus.  They added a $5 charge for second entree, and the everyday menu choices were whittled down.  Now offering Meatloaf and Fried Chicken, Mac & Cheese.  I guess they don’t see us US cruisers as having a very refined palette. 

[ready2cruzagain]

Just now, laudergayle said:

Last month MSC made significant changes to the US sailings MDR menus.  They added a $5 charge for second entree, and the everyday menu choices were whittled down.  Now offering Meatloaf and Fried Chicken, Mac & Cheese.  I guess they don’t see us US cruisers as having a very refined palette. 

Oh great, I really would be happy with that.  Guess I will have to go and check those menus. Not to worry though, I have 6 NCL cruises booked right now.

[Two Wheels Only]

33 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

Now offering Meatloaf and Fried Chicken, Mac & Cheese.  I guess they don’t see us US cruisers as having a very refined palette. 

 

Too many reviews complained that MSC didn't have the processed "comfort" food that many American cruisers wanted. 

 

As long as the Yacht Club menu doesn't follow suit, it's fine with me. 

[ready2cruzagain]

39 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

Last month MSC made significant changes to the US sailings MDR menus.  They added a $5 charge for second entree, and the everyday menu choices were whittled down.  Now offering Meatloaf and Fried Chicken, Mac & Cheese.  I guess they don’t see us US cruisers as having a very refined palette. 

I went back to look at our menus from last February and they are the new menus, the exact ones being offered now.  I did find the fried chicken and the meatloaf and included some of the menus below to show you how their menus are not inferior IMO. On Carnival, that was all they were serving was Golden Corral food, as you can see below, MSC has a wide variety of food.

[laudergayle]

33 minutes ago, ready2cruzagain said:

I went back to look at our menus from last February and they are the new menus, the exact ones being offered now.  I did find the fried chicken and the meatloaf and included some of the menus below to show you how their menus are not inferior IMO. On Carnival, that was all they were serving was Golden Corral food, as you can see below, MSC has a wide variety of food.

Sorry @JIMESOPUS for hijacking your topic.

 

We sailed Seaside 8/27-30 out of Port Canaveral and unfortunately these were not the menus. I wish I had taken a picture of the menus.  On the classic favorites, the Jumbo Shrimp are now Baby Shrimp, no more French Onion Soup, or Salmon, the only pasta was the Bolognaise, the chicken is now fried and the beef choice is meatloaf.  I knew about the menu modification so I purposely snapped a picture of my shrimp cocktail so I could have a little chuckle as a reminder.

Edited September 17, 2023 by laudergayle

[laudergayle]

I found a post on MSC board and here the newest menu for US sailings..at least those out of Florida.

[laudergayle]

44 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

Too many reviews complained that MSC didn't have the processed "comfort" food that many American cruisers wanted.

I think they went overboard.  But we still enjoyed MSC a lot and would sail them again.

Edited September 17, 2023 by laudergayle

[gizfish]

7 hours ago, laudergayle said:

Last month MSC made significant changes to the US sailings MDR menus.  They added a $5 charge for second entree, and the everyday menu choices were whittled down.  Now offering Meatloaf and Fried Chicken, Mac & Cheese.  I guess they don’t see us US cruisers as having a very refined palette. 

On Meraviglia now.  The classics section is basically the same as it was minus the strip steak.  However, strip steak was offered as a regular entree two nights in a row.  The chicken classic is still the rotisserie kind.  The shrimp cocktail is now "baby" shrimp.

[ready2cruzagain]

12 hours ago, laudergayle said:

I found a post on MSC board and here the newest menu for US sailings..at least those out of Florida.

I did find the new menus for the Seaside they are trying and that they did change the comfort classics sections which you are showing. At least the rest of the menu looks good. They still have the surf and turf from what I have read. Here is the rest of that menu for that day. 

[cruiseny4life]

19 hours ago, laudergayle said:

Last month MSC made significant changes to the US sailings MDR menus.  They added a $5 charge for second entree, and the everyday menu choices were whittled down.  Now offering Meatloaf and Fried Chicken, Mac & Cheese.  I guess they don’t see us US cruisers as having a very refined palette. 

Add some chicken fried steak and that menu sounds perfect to me. 🙂 We Millennials don't care for the fancified stuff...just give us good ole down home comfort food. I'm kidding, but only a little. 

[cruiseny4life]

17 hours ago, laudergayle said:

I found a post on MSC board and here the newest menu for US sailings..at least those out of Florida.

Oh my! I made my first comment befor eseeing the menu....you were serious. That's all that's offered. Wow!!!! I don't agree with that at all.

[ready2cruzagain]

15 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

Oh my! I made my first comment befor eseeing the menu....you were serious. That's all that's offered. Wow!!!! I don't agree with that at all.

 

 

There is another part to that menu ... here it is 

[skittl1321]

Looking forward to continuing to read about your experience.

 

We went on MSC (not YC) this summer; and it was fabulous. We expected bottom of the barrel, and it was really phenomenal.  My first NCL cruise is in a few weeks, so I will see how it compares and which line we may want to go with more in the future.  Planning for NCL has been very stressful to me- freestyle seems to mean I have to make a lot of reservations and know what I'm doing ahead of time; and I am worried about the entertainment. The shows on MSC were a highlight, and while I know the broadway quality show on NCL will be amazing, I am still in a bit of shock that there is only a single production show.  MSC's main dining room was fabulous, looking forward to seeing how food on NCL does.  And MSC was the first time I've had a drink package included, and that spoiled me a bit from my typical water only. I wish NCL had a non-alcoholic option, I declined the FAS drinks because the tips are more than I pay for drinks; but did get a soda package.

[DrSea]

20 hours ago, ready2cruzagain said:

I have sailed 12 times on MSC and their food is awesome. MSC's food is quite better than  NCL's IMO but we have not sailed NCL since right when the pandemic (Breakaway for 3 weeks).  Getting ready to hit Sapphire on NCL in January when we have 3 weeks booked on the Epic. We quit sailing Carnival years ago due to their food going to meatloaf, fried chicken, etc. 

 

On our last MSC cruise this past Feb. in the MDR we had Lobster, Prime Rib, Steak Dianne, Rack of Lamb, Veal, Coq Au Vin, Fillet Mignon, and Grouper to name a few items that we enjoyed in the MDR. We do not sail Haven or YC as we usually sail 3 to 4 weeks at a time and can do that amount of days for the price of 1 week in either YC or Haven.

 

CS on MSC, now that leaves a lot to be desired on land. I usually make a reservation and do not have a need to call and change things though.

 

I do agree with you, I am loyal to no brand. We sail for ship, itinerary and price.

Food has gotten much better since the restart imo on NCL since the restart. I would agree that the food on NCL prior to the pandemic was very average at best. 

 

One caveat is that the epic and other NCL ships in the fleet may be trying fixed menus. If it sticks, I will promptly abandon ship

 

I would give MSC a try when it sails out of LA at a cheap price. So it will be many many years before I try them

[IrieBajan54]

22 minutes ago, DrSea said:

Food has gotten much better since the restart imo on NCL since the restart. I would agree that the food on NCL prior to the pandemic was very average at best. 

 

One caveat is that the epic and other NCL ships in the fleet may be trying fixed menus. If it sticks, I will promptly abandon ship

 

I would give MSC a try when it sails out of LA at a cheap price. So it will be many many years before I try them

IMO, it's the complete opposite. Food quality and availability (dining room & buffet) were much better before the pandemic.

[DrSea]

Just now, IrieBajan54 said:

IMO, it's the complete opposite. Food quality and availability (dining room & buffet) were much better before the pandemic.

Food is subjective

 

With that being said, I can't do pasta or pizza on a cruise, no matter how good it is

[IrieBajan54]

Just now, DrSea said:

Food is subjective

 

With that being said, I can't do pasta or pizza on a cruise, no matter how good it is

Agree on the bolded.

 

We all like different things. I don't eat at the Local/O'Sheehan's and some think that's where the best food is served.

[JIMESOPUS]

Whoosh, after a very long 3+ ride down having Waze as our guide we finally made it. About 15 minutes later we are on the ship and having a snack. Checkin process simply that fastest we ever had. Back to Bar for more drinks to relax.

 

Jim

[laudergayle]

19 minutes ago, JIMESOPUS said:

Whoosh, after a very long 3+ ride down having Waze as our guide we finally made it. About 15 minutes later we are on the ship and having a snack. Checkin process simply that fastest we ever had. Back to Bar for more drinks to relax.

 

Jim

Yay…let the vacation begin.  Really looking forward to following along.  I am pretty certain you will love your experience, especially since you got upgraded to YC.