MSC vs Celebrity?

[artistcleveland]

I've done 3 Celeb cruises, only recently heard of MSC.

Anyone able to compare the 2? We prefer Europe/mediterranean, outside/veranda cabins, and No Smoking (turned off by Holland Am).

[cruisingcanadian]

I've done 3 Celeb cruises, only recently heard of MSC.

Anyone able to compare the 2? We prefer Europe/mediterranean, outside/veranda cabins, and No Smoking (turned off by Holland Am).

 

I consider MSC the smokiest cruise line of all I had experienced (RCL,NCL, Celebrity and Princess). Even though there are some rules regarding where is smoking allowed they are generally not enforced-and Europeans sailing on MSC ships smoke a lot!:eek:

[Zambini]

Go here, count the one stars for MSC:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/msc-cruises/cl/

 

Now go here, count the stars for Celebrity:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/celebrity-cruises/cl/

 

Now go here, see what the Italians think:

http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=&to=en&a=http%3A%2F%2Fforum.crocieristi.it%2Fshowthread.php%2F3066-Miglior-compagnia-crocieristica%3Fs%3D72fa70dad7ce55bfd983e30bab9e343f

 

There is no comparison, it is a low class, low budget smokey cruise line.

 

No further questions...

[AndrewK]

Absolutely loved every aspect of our cruise on Celebrity Mercury.

In comparison, MSC Poesia was like spending 18 days in a giant floating ashtray.

[Capricruiser]

On our Poesia cruise in June 2010 we found the ship to be almost smoke free. Aside from the authorized smoking areas which did not affect us at all, the remaining areas were blissfully smoke-free. There is absolutely no smoking in the restaurants, theatre, spa, corridors, etc. One half of most bars and the outside decks was reserved for smokers but the smell did not penetrate the smoke-free areas. The casino of course was a smokers haven.

[PC168]

It smell pretty bad on the Musica casino (east med.).

[AndrewK]

@ artistcleveland, just do a search for "smoking" on these MSC forums and you'll get some idea of the reality of the situation. Smoking is a frequently raised topic here as well as in MSC reviews ... and there's a reason for that fact.

[lddam]

I've done 3 Celeb cruises, only recently heard of MSC.

Anyone able to compare the 2? We prefer Europe/mediterranean, outside/veranda cabins, and No Smoking (turned off by Holland Am).

 

My wife and I have cruised on Celebrity's Constellation (2Xs), Millennium, Solstice, and Mercury; and on MSC twice, most recently on Poesia to New England and Canada. Both lines do Europe and both have outside/veranda cabins, so those aspects are a wash. Although, you will have a greater variety of veranda/suite cabins from which to choose than on MSC. The biggest difference between the two is their respective smoking policies, and if you are turned off by smoking pax and/or the stale smell of lingering cigarette smoke, then MSC is definitely not the line for you.

 

On Poesia, for example, the venues for much of the entertainment and activities takes place in the bars. As an earlier poster has said, smoking is permitted in one-half of most bars on MSC. The logic of how this benefits the comfort of non-smokers is beyond me because no effort is made to contain the smoke/odor to the smoking side of the room. To expect the smoke and smell to not permeate the entire room is ridiculous and makes as much sense as saying that it's possible for a woman to only get half pregnant.

 

Our bottom line opinion is this: If you are offended by tobacco smoke/odor, then MSC is not the line for you.

[bennob66]

Based on my family who has recently been on the Splendida, MSC do not seem to restrict how much duty free cigarettes and alcohol is bought onto the ship. This in turn results in a lot of drunk europeans who smoke excessively on the ship. Needless to say my family had a balcony and mainly spent their time there or in the port. It was a week long cruise and few people spoke english on the cruise anyway. If you are happy to use MSC as a floating hotel and not use the public areas much then this is fine otherwise choose elsewhere!!

[artistcleveland]

Thanks for all the replies; that settles it for me!

[SWE-CRUISE]

I've done 3 Celeb cruises, only recently heard of MSC.

Anyone able to compare the 2? We prefer Europe/mediterranean, outside/veranda cabins, and No Smoking (turned off by Holland Am).

 

THE KEY - You get what you pay for! If you pay for coffe do not demand nor expect champagne.

 

If you try MSC do not expect it to be Celeb cruises, and you can enjoy.

It can be stiff and a bit borring on Celeb cruises as manny guest go to bed early. It can be more dance and more fun and more relaxed on MSC and Costa.

 

We have tried several cruiselines and love them all, for different reason.

 

You can find people complain for the most stupid things on this board. When I read what some people write, have thy been on the same ship, or have the lost all monny on black Jack.... why do the leave home, some should stay at home, the are not "fit" for travel among other people.

 

I can´t understand how it can be so hard for some people to find something nice to eat with al the alternative on menue and bare in

mind the option to request for next day.

This people must have the same problem with resturants on shore.

 

An open mind:cool:, a smile:), and I hope you will enjoy;), but If you

pay for coffe do not demand nor expect champagne.

 

Happy Cruise:)

[Capricruiser]

Regarding smoking, I just read through some threads on the smoking subject on the RCCL and Celebrity forums and found that evidently the smoking problem on those lines is very similar to MSC - all have strong smoking policies and all have problems with enforcement. I do however like Celebrity's policy of a $250 fine for passengers who chose to ignore the rules.

[AndrewK]

... I just read through some threads on the smoking subject on the RCCL and Celebrity forums and found that evidently the smoking problem on those lines is very similar to MSC ...

 

Having cruised on both MSC and Celebrity, my experience is that they're at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to smoking. On Celebrity we didn't encounter any sort of "smoking problem". We never noticed smokers and were never affected or restricted by smokers. In contrast, apart from the theatre and dining areas, there was barely anywhere on Poesia where we could go without being affected by smokers. This included most of the lounges and bars ... especially the large Pigalle lounge where many mainstream activities are held ... but which "welcomes smokers".

[Zambini]

Thanks Andrew, it is appreciated that you have also actually sailed both lines and are qualified to answer the question, rather than just postings suppositions and second hand reports.

[Capricruiser]

What lines have you cruised on, Zambini?

[MTL=CRUISEFAMILY]

Having cruised on both MSC and Celebrity, my experience is that they're at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to smoking. On Celebrity we didn't encounter any sort of "smoking problem". We never noticed smokers and were never affected or restricted by smokers. In contrast, apart from the theatre and dining areas, there was barely anywhere on Poesia where we could go without being affected by smokers. This included most of the lounges and bars ... especially the large Pigalle lounge where many mainstream activities are held ... but which "welcomes smokers".

 

I had issues with smoking too, the Lirica was much more controlled, the Poesia, not so much.

 

The large Zebra lounge, where most of the evening activities were held luckily did not allow for smoking, but to get to it you had to pass a few smoking lounges.

 

Off topic:

AndrewK, how is the situation in Australia, Re:Flood levels? I assume you are not in the vicinity of these?

[woodofpine]

Service style between X and MSC is very similar (friendly but less persistently gregarious than some lines). Food is better on X (IMHO) and less consistent on MSC.

 

Smoking - X is more stringently smoke free (or 'anti' smoking) than other North American big ship lines. MSC comes from the other end of the spectrum (Europe is about a decade behind North America in public smoking attitudes and policies [but catching up fast]) so MSC is NOT the choice if you're smoke sensitive.

 

On my MSC cruise in the Med the port side of the pool deck and one of the bigger aft lounges was open to smoking - it was apparent. Staff enforced smoking prohibitions elsewhere. For me the smoke issue wasn't terrible, especially if you recollected that 20 years ago smoking was virtually everywhere (I remember being on an Olympic airlines 707 at JFK in '68 delayed, no a/c, you couldn't see across the cabin - cough cough; think of that when folks pine for cruising like in the 'good old days'!).

 

MSC is an OK line, but its not the best choice for the smoke sensitive.

[Zambini]

What lines have you cruised on, Zambini?

 

Which ones haven't I? LOL!

 

When I first started cruising, I thought I would try them all( within my budget of course) and didn't really care for a loyalty program.

 

Now, I see others with lots of perks such as Diamond plus for cruising with RCCL and tend to get jealous, but then I remember I don't like RCCL that much and remember how much fun I like trying new lines so ~

 

CCL

RCL

HAL

NCL

MSC

Celebrity

Princess

Cunard

Viking

Azamara

 

Hoping to:

 

Oceania

Seaborn

Crystal

Costa

 

prolly never:

Disney

 

Up next

Azamara & Hal (two favorites)

[AndrewK]

... Off topic:

AndrewK, how is the situation in Australia, Re:Flood levels? I assume you are not in the vicinity of these?

 

Thank you for thinking about us.

I'm on the mid-north coast of New South Wales and we're not affected here. We have many cruising friends as well as family in Queensland but thankfully everyone is fine.

The situation is still very bad in many parts of Queensland and also in northern New South Wales. The situation is improving in the Queensland state capital Brisbane, but there will be a very lengthy and expensive cleanup required. The effects will be felt for years to come.

Some cruises depart from Brisbane (particularly P&O and Princess) but at the moment the port is completely closed to all shipping.

Our thoughts also go out to Sri Lanka and Brazil ... both are experiencing disastrous flooding with many lives lost. Kind of puts the antics on these forums into perspective doesn't it.

[Zambini]

Thank you for thinking about us.

I'm on the mid-north coast of New South Wales and we're not affected here. We have many cruising friends as well as family in Queensland but thankfully everyone is fine.

The situation is still very bad in many parts of Queensland and also in northern New South Wales. The situation is improving in the Queensland state capital Brisbane, but there will be a very lengthy and expensive cleanup required. The effects will be felt for years to come.

Some cruises depart from Brisbane (particularly P&O and Princess) but at the moment the port is completely closed to all shipping.

Our thoughts also go out to Sri Lanka and Brazil ... both are experiencing disastrous flooding with many lives lost. Kind of puts the antics on these forums into perspective doesn't it.

 

Carnival is on the way, no tipping!

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4311

[MTL=CRUISEFAMILY]

T Kind of puts the antics on these forums into perspective doesn't it.

 

Indeed!

The evening news covers it extensively, between the flooding and Haiti disaster it kinda makes you enjoy what we have and take for granted.

[AndrewK]

Carnival is on the way, no tipping!

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4311

 

Yes ... I read that article earlier this morning. More competition has to be good for the consumer!

Interesting to see that they've done their homework and are "adjusting" the product to suit the Australian market.

[Zambini]

Yes ... I read that article earlier this morning. More competition has to be good for the consumer!

Interesting to see that they've done their homework and are "adjusting" the product to suit the Australian market.

 

If I'm not mistaken, don't you Aussies pay a lot more for cruises than the rest of us and aren't you banned from purchasing thru a US website?

 

It will be interesting to see how the prices and bookings will be handled, if I'll book here or there, so to speak.

 

OP, I apologize for us hijacking your thread...

[Zambini]

Yes ... I read that article earlier this morning. More competition has to be good for the consumer!

Interesting to see that they've done their homework and are "adjusting" the product to suit the Australian market.

 

 

Maybe they read CC ;)

 

I'm sure they will bring you a good, competitive product; lots of value for the money in my opinion.

[AndrewK]

... If I'm not mistaken, don't you Aussies pay a lot more for cruises than the rest of us and aren't you banned from purchasing thru a US website? ...

 

My apologies also to the OP for the off-topic discussion.

 

Yes, correct on both counts. Prices are relatively higher here, but the lines which have ships positioned here have removed tipping so it balances out to some extent. It doesn't seem to have affected sales ... the cruise market is booming here.

 

I think the restrictions on purchasing through overseas web sites came about because local travel agents were being disadvantaged. It never affects us anyway. If we see something advertised which appeals to us we just go and ask our local T.A. about it and book through them if we decide to go.

 

My wife is elite on Princess ... owned by Carnival. It will be interesting to see if that transfers over to Carnival itself. Carnival will be joining P&O and Princess in running cruises out to the Pacific Islands as well as New Zealand. We really enjoy those itineraries.