MSC vs Royal,Celebrity and Princess?

[messengerc21]

Hi, I am considering MSC as they now match my Status on these 3. What are the differences on MSC and how do you rate them? Thanks, Mark

[bthom70]

We just booked on MSC Davina after I was ticked off at current highway robbery prices with Royal and Celebrity. We and another family are excited to try a more European experience. And yes they acknowledged our Diamond/Elite status without question. Plus the kids free is a HUGE bonus.

Good luck.

[missminnie]

Hi

 

We sailed MSC a few weeks back for the first time. Only sailed on RCI and mainly Celebrity before but fancied a change as was getting bored of the ships and dining menus as they never changed.

 

We loved it! Very different and more family orientated but the choice of venues onboard ship was what we liked the most. The variety of bars was great the atmosphere was brilliant. It was the first time we had also shared a table at dinner and had a table of 6 allocated to us. We all got on very well and ended up going for drinks and dancing after dinner.

 

We liked the prices of the drinks package and was never bored. This was a winter med cruise though so not sure what it would be like in the summer and could imagine the fight for a sunbed may be an issue. The food was good.

 

The only thing we didn't really like was that the housekeeping wasn't up to the same standard as Celebrity and we didn't see our cabin steward once let alone know his name. We also didn't like the smoking in the casino on both sides. Oh and the getting on and off the ship at each port - there were always long lines which was a shame and if they only opened up more exits and had more people working on them it wouldn't have been an issue.

 

But overall for the price and variety of people you mix with etc, we wouldn't hesitate to sail again. We have even booked the new Seaside ship for 2018 and thinking of doing at least 1 other before then. We have 2 more Celebrity cruises booked but that will prob be it as the price and variety of MSC is very appealing.

 

Have a great time and go with an open mind.

[Iluvcruising2]

Follow my other thread on MSC Yacht Club experience! We sailed on the Preziosa a couple of weeks back and loved it, though I must say there are some differences between MSC and Royal. But MSC's pricing is very competitive.

 

Here is the buffet lunch on our embarkation day. We embarked in Genoa, Italy.

[YOUTUBE]XTNNERCn8Go[/YOUTUBE]

Edited December 25, 2015 by Iluvcruising2

[Iluvcruising2]

Hi

 

We sailed MSC a few weeks back for the first time. Only sailed on RCI and mainly Celebrity before but fancied a change as was getting bored of the ships and dining menus as they never changed.

 

We loved it! Very different and more family orientated but the choice of venues onboard ship was what we liked the most. The variety of bars was great the atmosphere was brilliant. It was the first time we had also shared a table at dinner and had a table of 6 allocated to us. We all got on very well and ended up going for drinks and dancing after dinner.

 

We liked the prices of the drinks package and was never bored. This was a winter med cruise though so not sure what it would be like in the summer and could imagine the fight for a sunbed may be an issue. The food was good.

 

The only thing we didn't really like was that the housekeeping wasn't up to the same standard as Celebrity and we didn't see our cabin steward once let alone know his name. We also didn't like the smoking in the casino on both sides. Oh and the getting on and off the ship at each port - there were always long lines which was a shame and if they only opened up more exits and had more people working on them it wouldn't have been an issue.

 

But overall for the price and variety of people you mix with etc, we wouldn't hesitate to sail again. We have even booked the new Seaside ship for 2018 and thinking of doing at least 1 other before then. We have 2 more Celebrity cruises booked but that will prob be it as the price and variety of MSC is very appealing.

 

Have a great time and go with an open mind.

 

Agree with your observations! We are also looking at future MSC cruises!

[riclop]

I would put X last as once was enough for us.

[urc12]

We just booked on MSC Davina after I was ticked off at current highway robbery prices with Royal and Celebrity. We and another family are excited to try a more European experience. And yes they acknowledged our Diamond/Elite status without question. Plus the kids free is a HUGE bonus.

Good luck.

 

We have done the exact same thing for this summer! We got a S1 Suite for the four of us with the drink package and a spa treatment for 4200.00. A comparable suite the same week on RCCL's Freedom was 11,900 without the drink package or spa treatment. MSC HERE WE COME!

[chong67]

I not yet cruise on this ship but MSC pricing looks nice. They are European brand, so expect more pasta.

 

Most bang for the buck is Carnival. I not get get on one too.

[Swann5]

We just booked on MSC Davina after I was ticked off at current highway robbery prices with Royal and Celebrity. We and another family are excited to try a more European experience. And yes they acknowledged our Diamond/Elite status without question. Plus the kids free is a HUGE bonus.

Good luck.

 

You stated MSC acknowledged your Diamond/Elite status... What perks or level did you receive from MSC? We too are looking at other cruise options.

 

Thanks.

 

Dianne

[messengerc21]

You stated MSC acknowledged your Diamond/Elite status... What perks or level did you receive from MSC? We too are looking at other cruise options.

 

Thanks.

 

Dianne

 

I'm waiting to hear back from them as they said it takes up to 3 weeks to process, but the person I talked to from MSC said Diamond and Elite get the Black Status. Mark

[danyelle]

I love that MSC offers the loyalty matching! We're only platinum on Royal but hopefully that equates to something good on MSC. We're sailing with the line for the first time in May.

[TORQ]

And that is the only good thing I have the say about my entire experience. And that's coming from doing 13 cruises. The crew was unaccommodating and rude the majority of the people on the ship were rude. Except the Americans that were traveling on the ship. In the evening at dinner the food and the presentation of the food was no better than the Pondarosa! And I don't eat there either. And at dinner you cannot order a drink! They will pour your water you might get a glass of wine but if you asked for any kind of a drink your going to have to get up and make it yourself at a bar. And that's another issue, I cannot count the times my wife and I went to a bar with no customers, just the person there working the bar. And they would ignore you! We were invisible, or if nothing else an inconvenience to them. I'm not kidding! Honestly I don't know how they can stay in business, don't expect a smile out of any of them or the words thank you. I will admit I was expecting that type of service based on reading all the reviews I had on Cruise critic and other sites but figured by the time my wife and I got on the ship they would've straighten there act up, I was dead wrong! I sincerely hope all you that are going to travel on MSC Divina have a way better experience than we did. But for us we're all done with that cruise line! However the ship was the most elegant ship I have ever been on the architecture throughout the ship the waterfalls the $30,000 step, each step on the grand staircase was $30,000 to build. I truly hope and I mean it, that you folks have a better experience than we did. Now if it's your first cruise you won't know the difference, but if you been around a while you'll pick up on it real fast!

[sfaaa]

I would not fault a cruise line for having rude passengers onboard. What is the cruise line supposed to do? Force everyone to say Excuse Me and Good Morning? Better staff training and guest service however would be something they can improve on.

[CairnsDragon]

Have sailed with MSC, RC and Princess loved them all.

[TORQ]

I would not fault a cruise line for having rude passengers onboard. What is the cruise line supposed to do? Force everyone to say Excuse Me and Good Morning? Better staff training and guest service however would be something they can improve on.

 

MSC has been cruising here in America for 2 year's, and one would think staff training is over by now and it's game time. Yet perhaps that would be asking to much. And a little common courtesy goes along way, but they fell way short. Along with the fact it's the customers, that pay there there bills. There was 2 days during our week, our room was never cleaned! Yep the room steward never came in the room. That is not normal at least in my past 12 cruises. We always have room service every morning, it works as our wake up call and I'm really looking forward to coffee every morning. And room service only showed up 1 morning of the 7 we cruised! I'm not use to that. And we had our tag hanging on the door by 9 pm every night. I mean they failed in just about every aspect. As far as the the rude customers that were cruising, you can't fit that. Just wasn't use to having people shove us into the back of the elevator, as were trying to get out. And while in the buffet line having people push you aside, and grab the food. It was a cruising experience I was not use to, and don't care to experience again.