Reviews - Ignore or not?

[rrraydon]

When I booked my first MSC cruise this past February, my thought process was: for this amount of money for a cruise, even if I have to eat pizza for week, it will be worth it.

To my surprise, I enjoyed it so much I sailed 4 more times over the summer months.

I have another cruise booked in April and 2 YC sailings booked for the end of next year...one on Seaside and one on World America.

 

Go on the cruise, you'll have a great time.

[morpheusofthesea]

48 minutes ago, amurray88 said:

I'd definitely be going with Explora, Seven Sea, Oceania or similar... Is YC really better than these? 😲

You are doing yourself a great disservice not trying YC at least once. YC is better than Explora and Regent Seven Seas...will let you know in March 2025 about Oceania Vista. Now I am comparing an Explora Residence with butler. Regent Grandeur with butler, and Oceania Vista Owners Suite with butler. I have NO experience in steerage on these ships.

[kad56]

33 minutes ago, rrraydon said:

When I booked my first MSC cruise this past February, my thought process was: for this amount of money for a cruise, even if I have to eat pizza for week, it will be worth it.

To my surprise, I enjoyed it so much I sailed 4 more times over the summer months.

I have another cruise booked in April and 2 YC sailings booked for the end of next year...one on Seaside and one on World America.

 

Go on the cruise, you'll have a great time.

I did eat pizza everyday, but that's due to lack of self-control. It's soooo good! And MSC is my favorite for evening entertainment. I've had better service on premium lines, but also payed a premium price. MSC is fun. There's a great atmostphere on board. My ports were great, and we stayed for a long time and I never felt rushed. Great memories from my trip and looking forward to the next one.

[rrraydon]

5 minutes ago, kad56 said:

I did eat pizza everyday, but that's due to lack of self-control. It's soooo good! And MSC is my favorite for evening entertainment. I've had better service on premium lines, but also payed a premium price. MSC is fun. There's a great atmostphere on board. My ports were great, and we stayed for a long time and I never felt rushed. Great memories from my trip and looking forward to the next one.

 

I agree!

 

I thoroughly enjoyed my MSC cruises. Were there some meals I didn't care for? Sure! But, that's the case on every line. Every line there have been times I left the MDR and had to go up to the buffet and grab something there, it happens sometimes... no biggie.  🤷‍♀️

 

As someone else said, I've never left a cruise hungry....there is always something to eat somewhere.

[showingdiva]

14 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

These low prices attract the lowest class to steerage.

 

Please could someone reassure me I'm reading this sentence all wrong.

[MonsterJoe]

6 minutes ago, showingdiva said:

 

Please could someone reassure me I'm reading this sentence all wrong.

You are meant to read it with "flare."

 

 

[perakcruiser]

16 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Cruise Critic survey found the 3 worst cruise lines by tallying all their reviews. The worst is Costa, followed close behind MSC

These two are the lines with the most affordable prices, both provide a very good product that is great value for money. They are not the "worst cruise lines", but the people who do the reviews are probably not qualified to do a review. I guess these people are not only not qualified to review a cruise, they are already not qualified to book a cruise. Yes, all cruise lines give you the chance to overpay them dramatically, if you are clueless. The reaction then is of cause a negative review. 

 

I am cruising mainly Celebrity and MSC, when it comes to food and entertainment I certainly have higher expectations when going with Celebrity. Which are usually not unjustified and yes, I am looking a little bit more forward to my next Celebrity cruise compared to my next MSC cruise, but that does not at all mean that MSC is "worse" than Celebrity. 

 

 

[CruisnDeb]

On 9/21/2024 at 7:47 AM, Georgia_Peaches said:

I always read the reviews but take what I read with a grain of salt. It’s good to go in with eyes wide open but most anything will be exactly what you make it!  

Totally agree with this.  I like to read the reviews and when people "gripe" about their cruise, I look for the why as this will usually give you a good indication if this issue will bother you or not.  If they don't give details as to why the experience was less than good, I just ignore and move on.

[chrisgp999]

On 9/25/2024 at 2:54 PM, morpheusofthesea said:

There is a grain of truth to this statement. MSC has the lowest prices to cruise in the industry. It cost most US cities more to house and feed their homeless populations. These low prices attract the lowest class to steerage. Cruise Critic survey found the 3 worst cruise lines by tallying all their reviews. The worst is Costa, followed close behind MSC,

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcSnC9wihD4

This poster got stuck with the "old maid" playing card. Sure a great many of us get tables for two, and only have to watch out at the buffet.

Is one of these the "old maid" you are referring to?

 

[chrisgp999]

22 hours ago, amurray88 said:

I have only ever done budget cruising (well, NCL and RCCL quite alot, MSC or P&O for the rest) and typically inside cabins (one free upgrade to outside and one free upgrade to balcony). BUT if budget was no option I have to admit I wouldn't even be tempted with YC - I'd definitely be going with Explora, Seven Sea, Oceania or similar... Is YC really better than these? 😲

IMHO, it appears that one cruise line luxury experience may have better food than the YC, another may have more upscale furnishings than the YC while yet another may have some amenities not included in the YC.  That said, the Yacht Club has the most complete combination/amalgam of al the elements that make up the luxury/upscale/not-for-the-masses cruise experience.  

[chrisgp999]

21 hours ago, rrraydon said:

 

I agree!

 

I thoroughly enjoyed my MSC cruises. Were there some meals I didn't care for? Sure! But, that's the case on every line. Every line there have been times I left the MDR and had to go up to the buffet and grab something there, it happens sometimes... no biggie.  🤷‍♀️

 

As someone else said, I've never left a cruise hungry....there is always something to eat somewhere.

Hitting the buffet before/after dinner has become SOP for me, and it's not due to lack of food in the dining room. Funny that I only get the urge to do that whenI'm on a cruise ship.

[kad56]

22 hours ago, amurray88 said:

I have only ever done budget cruising (well, NCL and RCCL quite alot, MSC or P&O for the rest) and typically inside cabins (one free upgrade to outside and one free upgrade to balcony). BUT if budget was no option I have to admit I wouldn't even be tempted with YC - I'd definitely be going with Explora, Seven Sea, Oceania or similar... Is YC really better than these? 😲

 

I think it depends on what you value. A lot of peole love luxury and great service, and want the amenities of a larger ship, and YC offers a great value. I like all that stuff, but I really cruise for the ports, and I frankly think that the MSC itineraries on new ship are kinda boring... so if I were spending that kind of money, I'd got for a smaller luxury line.

[amurray88]

9 hours ago, perakcruiser said:

These two are the lines with the most affordable prices, both provide a very good product that is great value for money. They are not the "worst cruise lines", but the people who do the reviews are probably not qualified to do a review. I guess these people are not only not qualified to review a cruise, they are already not qualified to book a cruise. Yes, all cruise lines give you the chance to overpay them dramatically, if you are clueless. The reaction then is of cause a negative review. 

 

I am cruising mainly Celebrity and MSC, when it comes to food and entertainment I certainly have higher expectations when going with Celebrity. Which are usually not unjustified and yes, I am looking a little bit more forward to my next Celebrity cruise compared to my next MSC cruise, but that does not at all mean that MSC is "worse" than Celebrity. 

 

 

2 years ago I would never have considered P&O. I've just booked my 2nd P&O and I think it's better value foroneu than MSC. That's solely based on my most recent MSC where the food was nothing short of a disaster. Didn't have the same issue with MSC in 2022 when we sailed.... different days now though (or just a bad week)

[amurray88]

38 minutes ago, kad56 said:

 

I think it depends on what you value. A lot of peole love luxury and great service, and want the amenities of a larger ship, and YC offers a great value. I like all that stuff, but I really cruise for the ports, and I frankly think that the MSC itineraries on new ship are kinda boring... so if I were spending that kind of money, I'd got for a smaller luxury line.

For a few years I did mega ships (Symphony, Epic, Seaview). I thought I was done with smaller boats...then sailed on Azura (which for some would still be classed as big) and actually really enjoyed it. I then sailed on Virtuosa in July and didn't care for it....so we've decided to go smaller now and have booked Britannia. I get that for some, Britannia would still be too big but I think it offers a happy medium 

[amurray88]

45 minutes ago, chrisgp999 said:

IMHO, it appears that one cruise line luxury experience may have better food than the YC, another may have more upscale furnishings than the YC while yet another may have some amenities not included in the YC.  That said, the Yacht Club has the most complete combination/amalgam of al the elements that make up the luxury/upscale/not-for-the-masses cruise experience.  

So interesting...I just think if I was spending that money (which I don't plan to do any time soon.... although that doesn't mean never) I think I'd go for a ship where it was all luxury rather than a ship where a small area is luxury. Will need to give this serious consideration when the time comes.

[morpheusofthesea]

17 hours ago, amurray88 said:

Will need to give this serious consideration when the time comes.

That is the key.   We waited 50 years and our first pandemic, covid, before we jumped from two lower beds on inside cabins to only suite class. Now we started suite class with our once favorite RCCL and expected royal treatment, but found non-suite Pinnacles came before us. Had a dinner reservation and a non suite Pinnacle  got it. Key cards are in cabin, but cabin corridors are closed, concierge not on post to let one into suite lounge without keycard to access. Third, found casino suite passenger are allowed emotional support dog in baby carriage into Coastal Kitchen. 

  Celebrity Retreat is nice. Have a list of things we liked better with Yacht Club, like reserved pergola. Better and more varied food in YC than NCL Haven. Got more perks with YC, like complimentary bottled water. I guess it is time for my list again.

  One will learn that Yacht Club is the only way to cruise. A lot has to do with which ship in the MSC fleet one has chosen. Next is who the Hotel Director is, followed by Yacht Club Director, Head Butler, Maitre d' and Chef of the YC restaurant. Our latest cruise was April, June and is now July 2024 on the Seascape and these last 3 are the best cruises we have had in 50 years of cruising. Never sailed on a MSC ship in a cabin outside the Yacht Club. We can list now all the things to look out for when booking any cruise ship.
#1 E muster drill is better. Seascape was to take elevator, scan any time after 11:30, watch video, call#.
#2 Two cabin cleanings per day
#3 No % charge for gambling if using credit card
#4 No extra charge for can sodas vs fountain drinks, all included.
#5 Reserved seating in the theatre for all shows
#6 Complimentary bottled water (not ship distilled with unsanitary reusable bottles)
#7 Reserved or ability to reserve pergola/cabanas on pool deck (avoiding chair hogs)
#8 'Cushioned' pool lounges
#9 Escorts on and off ship avoiding long lines. Group or personal escorts.
#10 First to use tenders off the ship at ports that tender
#11 Dedicated restaurant that is so good one need not book Specialty Restaurants
#12 Service that does not involve 2 hours to complete a meal
#13 An attentive butler is not hard to find when needed to be escorted to the front of ANY line (queue). Depends on the guest ($).
#14 Cabins ready upon embarkation/ key cards in hand at check in
#15 Dedicated restaurant OPEN port days
#16 Dedicated buffet to only suite guests
#17 Dedicated pool and sun deck only for suite guests with ample lounges
# 18 All the advantages of a mega ship with the exclusivity of a gated community
#19 walk-in shower not low profile tub/shower combo
#20 No non-suite paying Pinnacle/Zenith/Diamond passengers taking up prime real estate in the Yacht Club
#21 Elevator override key cards for suite guests
#22 Pristine out island with NO bugs crawling all over cabanas
#23 short distance between cabin and restaurant decks
#24 At least a 100 sq ft balcony accommodating a cushioned lounge chair
#25 A reserved table for 2 for all meals in a dedicated restaurant with the same waiters for 'most' every meal
#26 More options for nightly entertainment besides theatre show productions, Loft Cafe, Uptown Lounge, Le Cabaret Rouge, Atrium, Dueling Pianos Times Square, and Top Sail Lounge.
#27 The complimentary WiFi, Premium Drink Package, mini bar and full bottle of your choice liquor. 9-12 bottles in RS & OS to take home. (Thanks Fissues)
#28 A price for a Yacht Club Royal Suite cabin that is 1/3 the price of Regent Grandeur GS without being treated like steerage and NOT a butler that escorts one to the END of any line but to the front like YC butlers.
#29 Option to book exclusive excursions

 

 

[chrisgp999]

23 hours ago, amurray88 said:

So interesting...I just think if I was spending that money (which I don't plan to do any time soon.... although that doesn't mean never) I think I'd go for a ship where it was all luxury rather than a ship where a small area is luxury. Will need to give this serious consideration when the time comes.

An "all luxury" cruise still has several classes of luxury, with different amenities offered.  These can be stark differences. To quote George Orwell "All Animals Are Equal but Some Animals Are More Equal".  Once you're in the Yacht Club, you're part of the club.  The differences between amenities for different cabin levels are very subtle.