just erica

Can some expand on "everything" is an upcharge issue?

What I mean is that outside of the buffet and MDR, all other food and beverage options are an upcharge.

Other than the pool deck, some machines in the gym, and public spaces, all other activities have an upcharge.

We are a group of 10 sailing on MSC Seaside on April 28. I have been reading comments here on cruise critic and other sites about experiences on early cruises of this ship. Overall they tend to be negative. We will be on approximately the 15th or 16th sailing of this ship. I hope by then they have worked out all the kinks. Our group is not too critical. We do expect a clean ship, good service and good food (not gourmet, just tasty). So I will be following all future reviews closely. Thanks for all your comments.

We were not a critical group either. We are a fun easy going group and very low maintenance. No special requests at all. But, when things keep happening and piling up through your week of vacation, even the most easy going person is going to get annoyed and frustrated. This ship is simply understaffed and very poorly trained. There is no supervision to speak of. I feel quite badly for the dining room staff as it is clear they are in way over their heads.

I truly truly wish for you and your group that you have a great cruise and hopefully some of the issues will be resolved by then.

My first cruise with my family was Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas and it still remains my favourite cruise!

Its been an absolutely freezing Canadian winter...hope you are staying warm! I'm ready for spring now.

We were on the Jan. 06 sailing of Seaside. We had the Fantastica Experience with the 12 drink coupons.

 

We tried to use them for hot chocolate in Venchi, and they told us they were only valid for coffee drinks.

 

Nevertheless, the server suggested we get "mochaccino" (coffee with chocolate) and he would put extra chocolate in it, which he did. It was good, but we were disappointed we could not get gelato or gelato sodas like we could with our drink coupons on Divina in November.

Wow, you were lucky! We could not get anything from them except a plain cup of coffee. Perhaps the policy was changed after the first few cruises.

Interesting....

Well they would not accept them in Venchi coffee bar when we tried. We were Fantastica experience with the 12 drink tickets. This was frustrating since we could order alcohol drinks (under $7.90) and use our tickets but yet we could not use them for a coffee that cost $4.50.

When we went to Guest Services to ask about it, that is when we were told that it is a franchise within the ship and therefore could not use them there.

I do not know about coffee cards etc. It is hard to get accurate info from them for sure.

With our Fantastica "experience" we get 12 beverage coupons. Has anyone that has been on Seaside tried using these coupons at Vencchi for hot chocolate or specialty coffee, or gelato shakes?

Yes, we tried using them but they don't take them. You can only order a regular coffee from them.

Venchi is a franchise on board, similar to Starbucks on Royal Caribbean ships.

Booked on Seaside YC Jan 2019. Reading reviews like a champ. I am going back and forth whether to keep the cruise or not, luckily I have time to keep researching. I get that there are issues with new ships, but some of the issues sound pretty bad, like the smell on deck 5 - is that even healthy? Obviously there's a problem. No service - that's another problem. I have been on a cruise where I had a butler - didn't need him - but I do like my cabin cleaned daily, and not by myself. I go on a cruise so I don't HAVE to clean! I booked MSC YC because the price was way better than NCL Haven ( have not been on.) Even though I would be in YC, I don't like the thought of being on a ship where outside the YC it's overcrowded and smells bad - because we will of course venture out of the YC. That is more a place where we can escape the crowds - but I don't want to feel like I can't even leave it. At the same time, I am hesitant to cancel because I think the opportunity to be in YC for the same price as say a Celebrity cruise would be nice. Decisions! Thank you to fellow CC members who give such informative reviews.

I think you may be ok as a YC cruiser. The whole ship seemed to cater to that group. I can't speak to the level of service you may receive there as I wasn't YC.

I actually never had a problem finding a seat in any of the buffets (inside or out). The crowding seems to be more with the inside parts of the ship. As for the fecal/sewage smell on deck 5, unfortunately, it was there all week and quite strong at times. I smelled it other places too (never in my room or pool decks) but not as strong as deck 5.

I truly hope that you have a great experience and a great cruise!

Can someone on a recent Seaside cruise explain any upcharges for activities.... e.g. zipline, aquapark, etc.

It's $10 for a single ride on the zipline or $50 per cabin and its unlimited. There is a fun pack pass you can buy but I cant remember how much it was. Just be aware that absolutely everything on this ship has an upcharge.

MSC originally planned to have flexi-dining on Meraviglia and Seaside. It was disastrous on Meraviglia, so MSC scrapped the idea.

There is flex-dining but only for the Aurea and Wellness package people. If you are Bella or Fantastica then you cant do it.

same as . what time is early dining normally please

In the Seashore MDR the early dining is 6pm and late is 8:30

I'm pretty sure we already have the answer but did they serve any complimentary food in the sports bar? Also, what kind of offerings were on the buffet for late night options?

They serve tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole that are complementary. Quite good. Hopefully you get Sheryl, she was the only server we encountered that was wonderful and had a personality.

I am just off the Seaside and I wanted to let others know about a fantastic deal on board that doesn't seem to be advertised and few people know about.

We discovered it towards the end of the cruise and wish I had known about it earlier as we would have definitely taken advantage.

At the Champagne Bar (can't remember what deck) everyday starting at 5pm to midnight they offer a two level seafood platter that has everything you could imagine on it. If you are a seafood lover then you will love it.

Unfortunately by the time we discovered it they had run out of oysters and scallops and so we didn't want to do it.

It is $49 for the entire two level platter and I would say it would feed 2-3 people and maybe even 4-5 if using as an appetizer. That's $49 for the platter, not per person! You don't need to be any special level or order any champagne to get this.

I would go early, the first or second day so you can maybe be assured they are not out of anything. I really wish I had know about this earlier as there is no special menu for the formal night and I was looking forward to lobster which is usually served for dinner on formal nights.

Hard for me to believe there are alot (if any) bar height tables in larger buffet.... I've cruised on 5 different lines and don't recall seeing any in the other buffets on different ships

There are bar height tables in both Marketplace buffet and Biscayne buffet.

Would you elaborate a bit more on the lack of service regarding your room steward? What did they do/not do? There are certain things I expect and paid for, like my room being taken care of daily and good and attentive dining room service. If they are skimping on either of those services I will be one of the ones in line to remove my grats. Speaking of which how hard is it on MSC to remove them?

Basically, we didn't have a room steward. We saw him on the first day and that's it. He was only concerned about getting us to sign for our drink tickets and then he was gone never to be seen again. He didn't introduce himself to us or explain anything in the room etc.

When we arrived at the room on the day of embarkation, we actually thought our room wasn't ready because it was in a terrible state. The carpet had all kinds of debris on it. Dirt, large plastic clothing tags, M&M candy etc. It was gross. There was hair on the bathroom floor and grit in all the corners. Sticky substance on the nightstands. Both the hand soap and shower gel were completely empty.

He really only changed the towels everyday and that's it. I did the rest. I raided the cart everday and filled up my own shower gel and hand soap. Too many issues to report here...

There are no issues with removing grats at all. You just tell them you want them reversed and they do. No questions asked (which is kind of sad actually)

Many many people removed their grats.

I truly hope you have a better experience!

hi everyone so looking forward to sailing on the seaside and i am wondering what clothes to pack so wondered if anyone who has recently sailed could tell how many formal nights will we have during our 14 night cruise

There was only one during our one week cruise so probably only two for you. It is formal night in name only as there is nothing special about it. No special menu etc....

Thank you for your input.

Regarding MDR. Did you have any special requests? Did the wait staff seem eager to please and understand the dishes? Were you able to make substitutions? Did you have problems ordering drinks there?

Thank you for your help.

 

 

 

<><

We did not have any special requests. I cannot speak to the rest of the waitstaff but our waiter was not up to the task. There was a language barrier eventhough I understand Italian and one our group speaks a little Spanish. No service really to speak of. They did not talk to us and were not polished. It was a very rushed and frantic service. They need more training for sure.

They do not have a lot of things on the menu and drinks menu when you order. We were constantly being told that they did not have it or run out of it.

Perhaps it is time for a basic primer on cruising on a cruise line that maintains its Italian culture and customs.

 

Of course there is butter on the ship. It will probably be unsalted, but if you insist that the flavor of a salt preservative be present in the butter, there is a salt shaker available. Butter is offered because unlike Italians who know a good bread is savored unsullied, many feel that the taste must be adulterated with the addition of some flavoring.

 

This isn't Olive Garden, olive oil will not be on the table for dunking bread in (who the h@#l ever thought of that idea in the USA?)

 

Bread will be served as soon as you rear end hits the seat. It most likely will not appear again. (Don't be confused by the degradation of Italian food in the USA where bread if gooped up as garlic bread and is used as a cheap alternative to offering more expensive sides ). If you know that you will want several pieces of bread or more than one roll, take it when first offered.

 

Bread will not be served with pasta or pizza. Don't embarrass yourself by asking for the garlic toast.

 

If you want more water in you glass, ask for it. Of course your wait staff will refill the glass.

 

Perhaps others that are also experienced with different food customs and enjoy knowing that when traveling one does as local custom dictates can chime in.

This is a ridiculous and condescending response. I am Italian. I know Italian customs. I always use unsalted butter at home. And I also serve olive oil and balsamic vinegar with bread.

They did serve olive oil and balsamic with the bread but you had to ask for it. There were even small dishes that it was served in.

There is no butter on this ship, unsalted or salted, only margarine. Now perhaps it is available in the specialty DRs or higher class but not the MDR or buffets. The brand we got was called NONNO and it is margarine. I have never known Italians to eat margarine so it is crazy that an Italian cruiseship should not have it.

As for the water, good luck trying to get someone to the table to refill it. We had to beg for milk and cream for our coffee everynight and by the time we got it our coffee was cold.

But someone already posted a picture of some Lurpak on their table

Perhaps they were in a specialty diningroom or an upgraded class....there is no Lurpak in the MDRs or the buffets.

never saw pitcher of water on any cruise line. Same with bread ,they don't put it on table now, whats a problem to ask for more if you need? And sorry i will never believe that there is not butter on ship. :rolleyes:

there is no butter on this ship. I was on it for an entire week. Believe me, i looked and asked. They do not have it.

Did you get Lurpac?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

No.Never saw that until this thread. we got Nonno brand, which is margarine

There is no butter on this ship. Only margarine. I asked and asked and was told no, there is none.

They have olive oil but you have to ask for it.

Water glasses were never refilled. We were in the Seashore MDR at the 6pm seating.

I don't think its too much to expect something so basic as butter on a cruise!!

I was on deck 5 and I smelled it everyday. It never went away.

...oh I forget to mention that you have to pre-book all the shows. You do it once on board. I found it annoying since you can just walk in the theatre anyway. No one is there to check if you prebooked it, so what is the point?? I loved the theatre.

I just got off the Seaside on Saturday. I would agree with all the negative points from previous posters on this thread. I am not a complainer. I am actually quite easy to please and not high maintenance at all. I have done a number of other cruises so I know what to expect.

There is no service on this ship. It is non-existant. I love cruising because of the service you get. There is none here. These are not glitches, these are deeper issues.

Our room steward was non-existant. I cleaned my own room all week and got my own towels and filled up my own soap. Yup, me in my pyjamas down the hall at night raiding the cart!!

There is a sewage smell on deck 5. It stayed there all week.

The ship felt crowded and the common areas are not big enough for all the people on board.

There is absolutely nothing included in your cruise fare. You get your room, the MDR seating and the buffet. That is it. Do not believe other websites including MSCs that state that things are included. Nothing is. You have to pay extra for absolutely everything else.

Positive things: I found the food good. The breakfast buffet in Marketplace is excellent. The pizza is amazing!! Very authentic. Most of the food in the MDR is good (but the lack of service lets it down), the Italian night menu is excellent and the risotto is the best I've ever had.

The casino is great. Not smoke filled. We had fun there.

People are not complaining. These are the facts. People who have not yet cruised on the Seaside have no right to say negative things about people who have cruised it. We know. We were actually on the ship.

I did not talk to a single person all week who was having a great time. We all had the same issues. The last night of the cruise there was a huge line at guest services. Most people were removing their grats and/or had billing issues.

Make your own decision about whether you cruise with them or not. But people with negatives are not complaining or making things up. I love cruising so even a bad cruise is good to me. But if MSC does not fix these issues (the ones that are fixable) they are going to lose a lot of first time cruisers. I know for myself, I will never cruise on MSC again.

Hi there, I have never done this before...there are 3 couples going on a cruise in November and we all have MTD. How do I make sure that all 6 of us are at the same table? I am going to make the reservations online before we leave.

Thanks