Has anyone got an opinion on the MSC Cruise line?
My wife is looking at booking a package holiday for us in 2024 and one of those under consideration includes a 7-day (I think) cruise around the Med on an MSC ship (one of the newer ones).
We have never cruised before and it looks pretty good. Does anyone have some post-Covid cruising experiences or advice about MSC to share?
Med on an MSC ship
Yes, they would all have a doctor onboard.
Yes I have plenty of feedback… way too much to write down here. Feel free to message me if you have and specific questions.
I am in my late 20's and have been on 4 cruises in my life.
I recently went on 2 cruises with MSC (June 2023) - one on the MSC World Europa (im assuming this is probably the ship you want to go on) around the western med, another on the MSC Lirica (older ship) in the eastern med.
MSC cruises will try and charge you like 12 euro per day per person as a service fee to cover the cleaners cost - go to guest services and argue that you never agreed to it (because I guarantee that you wouldn't have known about it if I hadn't have told you about it). They will remove the charge no questions asked. Ends up being a lot of money for essentially nothing. It ends up being like $250AUD..
MSC World Europa was like a floating 5 star hotel. Entertainment is 10/10. It is however overwhelming how many people are on the ship… getting breakfast can be complete anarchy. Dinner and lunch is always easy. Plenty of food options on this ship. Food is good. I would recommend a balcony room because when you have an 'at sea' day its hard to get a daybed because everyone just goes out at 6am and dumps their towels on the chairs and never come back.. which leads me to my next point - the culture on the ship has significant impact on your experience. I found this cruise frustrating because it was full of arrogant right Spanish people. I have been to Spain many times, and have never experienced this type of spanish person but they were not great.. you will also be hassled to upgrade to specialty restaurants on this ship.. which is annoying.
MSC Lirica was a smaller ship, but not way smaller.. but it only had 1800 people (vs the 6500 on the World Europa). Getting food was easy (selection was less), getting a daybed was easy even on the at sea day, the ship was a bit dated, entertainment was poor in comparison, but the overall culture of the ship was way better. It was full of Italians and they were a great vibe. I was not hassled to upgrade anything on this ship.
On both ships they will clean your room multiple times a day. Staff were friendly on both ships.
Disembarkation and embarkation is easy. Its a much better way to see Europe compared to flying (although i'd say trains are very easy).
Both ships give you a dedicated time slot for dinner - you can choose whether or not you actually want to use it, if you dont use it then you can just go to one of the many buffets. I probably used it 30% of the time.
Being in the Mediterranean you wont feel any wave movement on the ship, its flat as.
Make sure you book a flight into the city of embarkation either the day before or on the morning of departure.. even if the itinerary says that the ship departs at 8pm, they will want you to board by 1pm… I had to rebook a flight because of this factor..
As I said, message me if you have any specific questions - happy to help!
Both ships give you a dedicated time slot for dinner
Like 10pm ?
You either get an early or late seating. Late seating is generally 9:45pm..
Late seating is generally 9:45pm..
A bit too late for dinner I think…
@jv: Depends on the country/society.
For example, for many Spanish that would be a perfectly normal time for dinner.
It's as if they schedule it to suit their customer base of the area.
@jv: It's a thread about a cruise line operating in the Mediterranean . Seems entirely appropriate to add some geographical context to the information.
But hey, whatever helps you get that daily post count up.
It's a thread about a cruise line operating in the Mediterranean
How many people from Spain would be on that ship wanting to eat dinner at 10pm?
Why not let people choose which dinner session they would like to attend?
Brilliant stuff, many thanks. Will msg if the Mrs has any Qs (and she will!)
MSC cruises will try and charge you like 12 euro per day per person as a service fee to cover the cleaners cost
Outside of Australia, yes every cruise does this. Its called daily gratuity. Don't be that guy and remove it because you don't understand 'tipping' culture outside of Australa.
Ends up being a lot of money for essentially nothing
Oh really? as I thought you said
On both ships they will clean your room multiple times a day
Sounds like you are getting 'something' for your money.
Why not charge upfront if its non-negotiable?
I definitely understand tipping culture, but I don't appreciate being charged without warning.
Why not charge upfront if its non-negotiable?
Because its not Australia, that is how it 'works' in other counteries. Bit like countries that the price doesn't include taxes in the price listed but added at the point of sale. Do you jump up and down and demand the price includes taxes as that is how it is in Australia?
I definitely understand tipping culture
I'm not sure you do.
but I don't appreciate being charged without warning.
Its a 'tip', you pay them everywhere in the USA without a 'warning'.
Regardless, did you read your before you cruise documents? As its listed in there. You had the 'warning' you wanted, but failed to read the documents.
https://www.msccruisesusa.com/manage-booking/before-you-go/s…
I took a Med cruise in 2019 on one the largest MSC ships. It was my first cruise and I'd read plenty about the poor service, poor food etc. But I just didn't find that at all. It's what you make it, and the perspective you take on things.
I loved that it's a very European/Italian cruiseline. Lots of nationalities on the ship, fresh mozzarella made onboard for amazing pizza, and a late night party vibe if you want it.
There were some service oddities around drinks package inclusions but that was the only issue. Staff were lovely, helpful and mixed some great cocktails.
Food in Main Dining Room was perfectly decent, as was the casual food onboard. I tried a few tapas at their 'spanish' themed speciality restaurant and it was actually really good!
Entertainment was amazing - though at the time they had a Cirque du Soleil collaboration that was genuinely top-tier. I've not seen anything even close to it on 4 cruises since.
Ship is modern, beautiful and comfortable. There's truly nothing like the views from the top deck. Cocktail in hand looking over Naples at Mt Vesuvius, or sailing into the massive walls of Valletta, Malta. There's no building that high - so it's totally unique!
It's worth remembering that they are a lower-cost cruiseline. The dining isn't going to be Michelin star, the staff-passenger ratio is higher than a premium line. But go in with realistic expectations and it's a great way to see the Med. I had a moment sailing from Messina, late at night in the middle of the ocean looking out at the stars and thinking that 2000 years Carthaginians, Romans, Greeks had sailed these same seas…was really cool!
poor food
Normally americians who find the food 'bad' as its not all burgers, pepperoni pizza and fries.
take lots of imodium.
I don't, but these people do….