Is it me is it msc or is it them? Bad reviews

[JamieLogical]

9 hours ago, perakcruiser said:

Good, because lobster at gala night is not something you can expect at MSC, I never had it from 2011 to 2023 and will not have it in 2024😄 I know that on some ships at some times MSC did offer it, I only believe because I saw the photos. 

 

I have had lobster in the MDR on every single one of my MSC cruises.... Though all of mine have been in the US and, as I understand it, it is less common on European cruises.

 

Edit: I should clarify that I have been on five MSC cruises so far.

 

Here's a photo from my February (last month) sailing on the Divina:

 

Edited March 12 by JamieLogical

[perakcruiser]

13 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

I have had lobster on every single one of my MSC cruises.... Though all of mine have been in the US and, as I understand it, it is less common on European cruises.

Probably, all my MSC cruises have been in Europe and Asia, one in the Caribbean (no US port, no lobster). And yes, even the upmarket European lines do not give out a lobster for free 😄

But I know the Lobster Night from Celebrity and have to say it is nothing worth writing a postcard to mom, had much better seafood on land. 

[elcuchio24]

We've had great cruises. Did World Europa recently in the Med. My only beef: they didn't know what a Mimosa was. Met with confused looks from servers every morning, hahaha, but I think its just because it must be an American thing. 

[Beamafar]

11 hours ago, perakcruiser said:

Good, because lobster at gala night is not something you can expect at MSC, I never had it from 2011 to 2023 and will not have it in 2024😄 I know that on some ships at some times MSC did offer it, I only believe because I saw the photos. 

There was an upcharge for it, P.   It was on the same offer card on the MDR tables as the T-bone steak.  Some time later, they dropped the lobster and only offered the steak (€18).  I’m sure if I went back through my photos I’d find one of it.  

[Beamafar]

4 minutes ago, elcuchio24 said:

We've had great cruises. Did World Europa recently in the Med. My only beef: they didn't know what a Mimosa was. Met with confused looks from servers every morning, hahaha, but I think its just because it must be an American thing. 

It’s called a Bucks Fizz here. 

[elcuchio24]

4 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

It’s called a Bucks Fizz here. 

 

Thats good to know! I figured us Americans just were the only ones to drink at breakfast...We just asked for a sparkling wine and glass of OJ and they accommodated that. 

[perakcruiser]

1 hour ago, Beamafar said:

There was an upcharge for it, P.   It was on the same offer card on the MDR tables as the T-bone steak.  Some time later, they dropped the lobster and only offered the steak (€18).  I’m sure if I went back through my photos I’d find one of it.  

I only remember that some day they changed the Bistecca Fiorentina to a T-Bone steak (maybe anyway the same) and the lobster pasta. And that I never saw somebody order something from these cards 🙂

 

1 hour ago, elcuchio24 said:

but I think its just because it must be an American thing. 

I was quite an active cocktail drinker during my student days, but the first time I heard about a drink called Mimosa was on cruisecritic. 

[perakcruiser]

1 hour ago, elcuchio24 said:

We just asked for a sparkling wine and glass of OJ and they accommodated that. 

But make sure you get a Prosecco and not Asti what the Italians usually use to mix with orange juice. Or maybe you will like Asti Orange, who knows :) 

[elcuchio24]

2 hours ago, perakcruiser said:

But make sure you get a Prosecco and not Asti what the Italians usually use to mix with orange juice. Or maybe you will like Asti Orange, who knows 🙂

 

Oh man we had some Asti/Orange....not a fan...

[cublet]

Hello,

 

When I ask for Prosecco on MSC, I get Prosecco - unlike on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

[mcoler181]

We completed our first MSC cruise in Feb, we had no complaints whatsoever. We had only done RC in the past (x4, with our last being 2019) and went with MSC purely on price, we did 14 nights with drinks and Wifi for pretty much what 7 nights on RC with no drinks was going to be.

 

We found the ship at certain times crazy busy (pool deck sea days, buffet at peak breakfast and lunch times) but managed ourselves to avoid these times, for example, sea days in particular we would go up to the upper pool deck about 9am (no one up there) find ourselves some beds, kids (9 & 13) took themselves off to the buffet, we would have a coffee or two and then at about 10.30 go for some breakfast, much quieter. Some days we would just skip breakfast and go for lunch at about 11.45, again much quieter, I appreciate doing what we did wouldn't work for everyone but suited us fine.

From memory I don't think the MDR food is as good as RC but from what I have read all cruise lines standards have gone down in that area and to be honest I couldn't say we ever had a bad meal in the MDR. Not huge portions, maybe a little on the small side, particularly appetisers and deserts, but never left hungry.

 

All in all, we had a fantastic cruise and have two more booked on MSC, in fact one next year is with a big family group of 13, my mother and father in law are seasoned RC cruisers so hopefully they like MSC 😂

 

I can totally understand why some people wouldn't enjoy MSC though, busy, noisy ships with a very varied passenger demographic, not for everyone.

 

For us though, we loved it and no one can come near their prices so its a no brainer, oh also the ship, Seascape was stunning, one of the best if not the best we have been on. 

[DCGuy64]

On 2/13/2024 at 3:20 AM, Ryan82 said:

I nearly cancelled my first MSC cruise booked in October 22 reading the horrible reviews and seeing comments on the book of faces.

 

7 cruises in - I love MSC to the extent they now take most of my disposable cash like a nagging teenager. I refuse 100% my partner's suggestions that we try a new line...

 

It genuinely puzzles me when I read comments and revies of itineraries I've recently completed like "the staff are rude", or 'impossible to get a drink" , "all the food was terribl" when that's not my experience at all.

 

What do you think the underlying cause is for the bad reviews?

 

1. MSC over-sell their experience

2. Some passenger's have unrealistic expectations?

3. Some people innately like to whinge

4. Something else

2 and 3.

[3DogDay]

4 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

On 2/13/2024 at 3:20 AM, Ryan82 said:

I nearly cancelled my first MSC cruise booked in October 22 reading the horrible reviews and seeing comments on the book of faces.

 

7 cruises in - I love MSC to the extent they now take most of my disposable cash like a nagging teenager. I refuse 100% my partner's suggestions that we try a new line...

 

It genuinely puzzles me when I read comments and revies of itineraries I've recently completed like "the staff are rude", or 'impossible to get a drink" , "all the food was terribl" when that's not my experience at all.

 

What do you think the underlying cause is for the bad reviews?

 

1. MSC over-sell their experience

2. Some passenger's have unrealistic expectations?

3. Some people innately like to whinge

4. Something else

2 and 3.

If things like no soap in the public restrooms and not having to sit at a table full of some else’s dirty every day (wish I had taken pictures) are unrealistic expectations and me just being someone who likes to whine then I’ll own that. I can forgive the mediocre food or the outlier rude staff member, but I should have to be constantly praying that I make it off the ship without contracting norovirus. If I can go to McDonald’s and not have to face these issues, shouldn’t be the same on a ship? I’ve been other lines which all had their pros and cons but I can say that these issue were only present on MSC. 

[JamieLogical]

28 minutes ago, 3DogDay said:

If things like no soap in the public restrooms and not having to sit at a table full of some else’s dirty every day (wish I had taken pictures) are unrealistic expectations and me just being someone who likes to whine then I’ll own that. I can forgive the mediocre food or the outlier rude staff member, but I should have to be constantly praying that I make it off the ship without contracting norovirus. If I can go to McDonald’s and not have to face these issues, shouldn’t be the same on a ship? I’ve been other lines which all had their pros and cons but I can say that these issue were only present on MSC. 

 

Funny, I was literally JUST reading a review today of the Enchanted Princess and someone was complaining about the hand soaps always being empty in the public restrooms. Not that there is any excuse for that on any line, but it certainly doesn't seem to be unique to MSC.

[3DogDay]

5 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

Funny, I was literally JUST reading a review today of the Enchanted Princess and someone was complaining about the hand soaps always being empty in the public restrooms. Not that there is any excuse for that on any line, but it certainly doesn't seem to be unique to MSC.

I’ve never cruised with Princess and now that I know this it’s very unlikely that I ever will 

[PTC DAWG]

On 2/21/2024 at 1:29 PM, no1talks said:

 

While there is video camera coverage in cabin passages, would not unattended and activated key cards on the doors create an opportunity for mischief, if not outright criminality?

I have never had an issue with it on Celebrity 

Edited March 14 by PTC DAWG

[no1talks]

35 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

I have never had an issue with it on Celebrity 

I'm no expert on typical Celebrity cruisers, but I'd wager the rowdies on MSC these days are more likely to indulge in mischief than the most rambunctious of Celebrity cruisers.

[mcoler181]

14 hours ago, 3DogDay said:

If things like no soap in the public restrooms and not having to sit at a table full of some else’s dirty every day (wish I had taken pictures) are unrealistic expectations and me just being someone who likes to whine then I’ll own that. I can forgive the mediocre food or the outlier rude staff member, but I should have to be constantly praying that I make it off the ship without contracting norovirus. If I can go to McDonald’s and not have to face these issues, shouldn’t be the same on a ship? I’ve been other lines which all had their pros and cons but I can say that these issue were only present on MSC. 

What ship was this on out of interest?

 

We never experienced anything like that in the full 14 nights. One thing we did have an  issue with was the room attendant not leaving spare toilet roll, a few times we had to go looking for some.  

[3DogDay]

1 hour ago, mcoler181 said:

16 hours ago, 3DogDay said:

What ship was this on out of interest?

 

We never experienced anything like that in the full 14 nights. One thing we did have an  issue with was the room attendant not leaving spare toilet roll, a few times we had to go looking for some.  

it was the Seaside out of Rio, and maybe that’s what made the difference. Giving credit where it is absolutely due, our cabin attendant was great. He even straightened the balcony chairs, which I had a bad habit or rearranging. 
 

I still owe @JamieLogical a full write up, and I’m going to get to that this weekend. 

[mcoler181]

7 minutes ago, 3DogDay said:

it was the Seaside out of Rio, and maybe that’s what made the difference. Giving credit where it is absolutely due, our cabin attendant was great. He even straightened the balcony chairs, which I had a bad habit or rearranging. 
 

I still owe @JamieLogical a full write up, and I’m going to get to that this weekend. 

Interesting, you would like to think a company would have standards across the board wouldn't you. 

[ray98]

We did the Seaside last year and I would rate our experience around a 5.  They had some things they did well but a number of things they flatly failed at compared to all their mainstream competitors. I understand it was cheap but my complaints were not over missing luxuries, it was simple things like serving hot food and not taking an hour to serve the entree in the dining room.  Those things should not be price dependent.  I really wanted to like it but they did not win me over as a customer, I would take a Carnival cruise over that experience any day of the week even on a Fantasy class relic.

 

We are giving it one more chance this summer on the Seashore. If our first cruise was a bad week then we will carry on, if it is a similar experience we won't be back.

[Jay Es]

I am sailing on MSC Seaview in 2 weeks. It will be my first time on MSC. I'm trying my best to keep an open mind.

 

The website has been a nightmare. I still can't sign up for the voyager club. I've emailed them multiple times. I called customer service and they said I had to send an email. 🤷‍♂️

 

But I will still try to keep an open mind when I get onto the ship.

 

One of the things people seem to complain about is the food. I've never been impressed with the food on any cruise. But that's because I'm not a foodie. For me, the difference between a 5-star restaurant and a burger joint is that one is a lot more expensive. So I think I'll be fine there. 😂

[JCOvergaar]

On 3/12/2024 at 10:04 AM, Beamafar said:

There was an upcharge for it, P.   It was on the same offer card on the MDR tables as the T-bone steak.  Some time later, they dropped the lobster and only offered the steak (€18).  I’m sure if I went back through my photos I’d find one of it.  

 

[JCOvergaar]

2 hours ago, Jay Es said:

The website has been a nightmare. I still can't sign up for the voyager club. I've emailed them multiple times. I called customer service and they said I had to send an email. 

The US website is indeed terrible, as is the app. Try signing up for VC without being logged in.  Try signing up logged into the European site or UK site. 
 

You can also email MSCVoyagersClub@msccruisesusa.com and after several days they will look into the issue and reply. Just got an email about fixing the second account (with no diamond status or vc membership at all) the casino agent booked me under. They figured out that she  had entered my DOB incorrectly, and that caused the divergence. Also my address (indan instead of Indiana, adv instead of ave) and a few other bits, but it was the dob that screwed everything up. 

good luck!

[Beamafar]

This is what I was referring to

 

 

 

This is the one for the T-bone steak