Sewage smell and buffet??? Large group ready to cancel!!!

[LakeWobegon]

When we booked NCL's Escape we read all sorts of terrible reviews about the food and the service. The food was very good. And the service great. We went a second time in fact. The most vocal people on boards are often the complainers who chose to focus on minor issues. Which is unfortunate. I've never sailed Seaside but looking forward to it and from experience, often find such claims typically exaggerated.

[DCGuy64]

Sorry to hear that your plans might implode regarding the comments about "sewer odor" on this particular ship. There have been 5,000 passengers a week on Seaside; for perspective the count of those noticing such should be taken into consideration. We are going B2B in a couple of weeks and are not concerned at all, but will duly note such if apparent.

 

 

 

I don't have a comment on the buffet at all; didn't eat at the buffet on the MSC Divina last year B2B "other than getting the fresh made pizza's" (THE BEST at sea we believed). We looked around and, honestly, it was packed with a lot of passengers eating a lot of food.

 

 

 

Back to the sewer smell, and I know it doesn't make it better, is that ALL of the cruise lines and most of the ships experience "sewer odor" issues at one time or another. A quick 'google search reveals the following (I stopped, the list could literally go on and on).

 

 

 

OASIS OF THE SEAS – RCCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1700862

 

ALLURE OF THE SEAS – RCCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1379514

 

DISNEY MAGIC – DCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2460740

 

MAJESTY OF THE SEAS – RCCL

 

http://www.cruisemates.com/forum/royal-caribbean-international/348223-bad-experience-board-majesty-seas.html

 

SERENADE OF THE SEAS – RCCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1268029

 

MILLENIUM OF THE SEAS – CELEBRITY

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2420073

 

RADIANCE OF THE SEAS – RCCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2284708

 

SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS – RCCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=152006

 

CROWN PRINCESS – PRINCESS

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1401320

 

ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS – RCCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1363452

 

GRAND PRINCESS – PRINCESS

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=290314

 

VOYAGER OF THE SEAS – RCCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2501277

 

EXPLORER OF THE SEAS - RCCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1610382

 

CARNIVAL ECSTASY – CCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1014202

 

GRANDEUR OF THE SEAS – RCCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=254577

 

CARNIVAL DREAM – CCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1214469

 

RHAPSODY OF THE SEAS – RCCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2449231

 

CARNIVAL MIRACLE – CCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1206788

 

LIBERTY OF THE SEAS – RCCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=763975

 

CARNIVAL MAGIC – CCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2448495

 

ZUIDERDAM – HCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1631932

 

PACIFIC EXPLORER

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2537797

 

ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS – RCCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1581936

 

NORWEGIAN EPIC – NCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1827860

 

EQUINOX – CCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2036545

 

ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS – RCCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1852210

 

SUN – NCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1900559

 

PRIDE OF AMERICAL – NCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2358280&page=2

 

DISNEY DREAM – DCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1117233&page=4

 

CARNIVAL SUNSHINE – CCL

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2308972

 

CORAL PRINCESS – PRINCESS

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2359747

 

 

 

Formula: thanks for doing the homework on this and showing how MSC is hardly alone in having some unpleasant smell. Amazing, isn’t it, that for weeks some on these boards have been trashing MSC and implying that basically every other cruise line in history has never had this kind of a problem. Glad to see they’ve finally been proven wrong. Will they retract what they’ve said? Doubtful...

 

 

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[Homosassa]

Formula: thanks for doing the homework on this and showing how MSC is hardly alone in having some unpleasant smell. Amazing, isn’t it, that for weeks some on these boards have been trashing MSC and implying that basically every other cruise line in history has never had this kind of a problem. Glad to see they’ve finally been proven wrong. Will they retract what they’ve said? Doubtful...

 

 

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This. I have been cruising for over forty years and I don't think that there hasn't been a cruise where I haven't had a whiff of sewage at some point. Sometimes it can be a problem because someone has clogged a line somewhere or it could be caused by the wind and sea conditions (Chengko recently posted an explanation about wind conditions and the smell of sewage).

[BermudaBound2014]

This. I have been cruising for over forty years and I don't think that there hasn't been a cruise where I haven't had a whiff of sewage at some point. Sometimes it can be a problem because someone has clogged a line somewhere or it could be caused by the wind and sea conditions (Chengko recently posted an explanation about wind conditions and the smell of sewage).

 

 

Ridiculous. I can not find one post suggesting a sewage smell is unique to seaside.

 

What MSC has admitted is that a faulty ship design is drawing in sewage fumes and pumping them through the ship through the air conditioning system. Now that IS unique to seaside.

 

The air conditioning turns on and blows stench into your cabin, how is this even remotely related to a plugged toilet system. Deflection.

 

And please don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been hopeful that MSC will fix the issue eventually. But there were people claiming it was fixed back in January. How is that remotely helpful to those of us thinking of booking seaside?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[BermudaBound2014]

Hoping those recently off Seaside can add their experiences.

 

 

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[BermudaBound2014]

Formula: thanks for doing the homework on this and showing how MSC is hardly alone in having some unpleasant smell. Amazing, isn’t it, that for weeks some on these boards have been trashing MSC and implying that basically every other cruise line in history has never had this kind of a problem. Glad to see they’ve finally been proven wrong. Will they retract what they’ve said? Doubtful...

 

Sigh....No one ever remotely implied that "basically every other cruise line in history has never had this type of problem." Such melodramatics. I recommend you read the threads more critically. If, in fact, it was ever suggested (by anyone, including me) that any type of sewage smell is unique to Seaside I will gladly retract my statement and admit to being proven wrong.

 

What I have said is that the faulty design leading to the a sewage smell being blown into interior parts of the ship through air conditioning vents IS unique to Seaside. If you can find any evidence where this has happened before in a new ship build, I will gladly retract my statement once again.

 

However; since you seem so hell bent on people being 'proven wrong' and 'retracting statements', lets take a stroll down memory lane. Back Mid-January, It was you who flooded the forum with fake news about the Seaside smell being 'entirely gone'. Didn't you also (jokingly) suggest a neon sign be made to flash across the forum telling members that it was safe to now book Seaside because the "problem was fixed?" Here is but one of 6 posts where you ignorantly recommended people not be concerned. If needed, I can easily supply the other posts to jog your memory.

The buffet issue is definitely down to personal preference. I generally despise buffets and enjoy being waited on in the MDR, but again, that is my preference. Regarding the smell, that has been taken care of, according to reviews of people just off (or currently on) the ship, so that shouldn’t worry you.

 

It's over a month since you made these claims. Please tell me again, who should be "retracting what they have said?"

 

For those with future cruises on Seaside, I do think MSC will get the issue under control. My point is that the issue is not a typical run of the mill sewage smell aboard another cruise ship.

[#1TravelMom]

Reporting an update. I called to cancel the group. I was transferred to someone in a supervisory position. She said that the sewage smell issue has been corrected. We have been on 55+ cruises and I have smelled sewage now and then on many. We may briefly take notice and just move on. I have never given it an extensive amount of thought or concern. It had only become a concern to this group because it was continually mentioned. I'm hoping future comments will confirm the situation is rectified.

 

As for the buffet. The "supervisor" said that some very important MSC officials were on the ship last week, seeking comments on the food. She said that they are vigilantly monitoring Cruise Critic comments. She said this ship was to be geared toward the American market and they are determined to make it as pleasing as possible. She said to keep watching reviews for changes. She feels the buffets will be brought to standards that meet our expectations. Many in our group enjoy formal dining. After many cruises, we are content(6 out of 7 nights) to enjoy leisurely buffet. Hopefully the buffet will improve. We have more than 6 months until our sailing, but everyone is eager to book something else if we are cancelling this one. Hopefully. changes will come quickly.

[lcpagejr]

Ridiculous. I can not find one post suggesting a sewage smell is unique to seaside.

 

What MSC has admitted is that a faulty ship design is drawing in sewage fumes and pumping them through the ship through the air conditioning system. Now that IS unique to seaside.

 

The air conditioning turns on and blows stench into your cabin, how is this even remotely related to a plugged toilet system. Deflection.

 

And please don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been hopeful that MSC will fix the issue eventually. But there were people claiming it was fixed back in January. How is that remotely helpful to those of us thinking of booking seaside?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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BB...He does have a point. I would say on half my cruises...there has atleast been 1 day where I have smelled sewage on my cruise. Granted...it didn't last throughout the week....but there were times this odor was very apparent

[Formula280SS]

Ridiculous. I can not find one post suggesting a sewage smell is unique to seaside.

 

What MSC has admitted is that a faulty ship design is drawing in sewage fumes and pumping them through the ship through the air conditioning system. Now that IS unique to seaside.

 

The air conditioning turns on and blows stench into your cabin, how is this even remotely related to a plugged toilet system. Deflection.

 

And please don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been hopeful that MSC will fix the issue eventually. But there were people claiming it was fixed back in January. How is that remotely helpful to those of us thinking of booking seaside?

 

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Do you have a link for that? I read somewhere where someone said "MSC" indicated what the problem was "in construction," (versus faulty ship design, not sure) but can't find it.

 

Anyone, actually. What MSC official statements have been made and where can we get a look at them.

 

Also, I've read almost fifty posts of sewer smell issues on different ships (and excluding toilet, sink specific stateroom type posts) most were the result of "something that wasn't working correctly (broke)" or some "construction issue" not performed correctly.

 

Are you purporting that MSC has a "design flaw" and that "they can't fix it?"

 

Thanks. Hope you have some links that I could follow up.

 

If, as some have stated, the sewer smell is being diverted into the air system, I would think, with 5,000 passengers a week, there would be over 100,000 serious complaints and refund requests? :o

[BermudaBound2014]

Are you purporting that MSC has a "design flaw" and that "they can't fix it?"

 

 

 

o

 

 

 

No no no! I am not purporting anything of the sort :). I am very hopeful MSc can correct the issue. I think cheng hypothesized they would need to manufacture a diversion pipe system, but I’ll divert to his experience to explain. With today’s technology almost anything can be fixed, it’s just a matter of time.

 

I’m heading out right now, but will return tonight... in the meantime I’m hoping that the person reporting the issue on deck 15 last will will pop in and share his conversation last week with the captain on the issue.

 

To be extra clear, I’m NOT claiming other ships don’t have septic issues (I’ve been cruising since 87... the struggle is real). I’ve smelled sewer on more than half my trips. I am claiming that the problem being described is unique to seaside in both its severity and and timeline.

 

 

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[Debde]

Someone did post an official statement from MSC that was recent. For the life of me I can't remember what thread. :(

[just erica]

I don't understand the comments regarding the smell being blown in through the air conditioning. Granted, I find it hard to follow all the posts and info regarding this issue.

 

I can say that I was on Deck 5 and while the smell was super strong in the Atrium (where the main bar is) when we walked down to our cabin, it was not present in the room.

 

To me, it is not a sewer smell it is a fecal smell. But perhaps it is just semantics...

[Oppyguy]

I don't understand the comments regarding the smell being blown in through the air conditioning. Granted, I find it hard to follow all the posts and info regarding this issue.

 

 

 

I can say that I was on Deck 5 and while the smell was super strong in the Atrium (where the main bar is) when we walked down to our cabin, it was not present in the room.

 

 

 

To me, it is not a sewer smell it is a fecal smell. But perhaps it is just semantics...

 

 

 

Don’t know when you were there, but we just disembarked this morning, and not only did we never encounter any smell issues, we never heard anyone else mentioning them either. A few weeks ago MSC explained that there was an issue with a misinstalled ventilation unit that was being replaced in port Feb 3. It appears to have worked.

 

 

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[Oppyguy]

Someone did post an official statement from MSC that was recent. For the life of me I can't remember what thread. :(

 

 

 

Yes they announced that there had been a ventilation unit installed incorrectly that was causing the problem, and that it would be repaired in port February 3. We just got off the feb 10 sailing and neither smelled anything unwanted nor heard anyone else mentioning such. Great cruise.

 

 

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[DCGuy64]

Don’t know when you were there, but we just disembarked this morning, and not only did we never encounter any smell issues, we never heard anyone else mentioning them either. A few weeks ago MSC explained that there was an issue with a misinstalled ventilation unit that was being replaced in port Feb 3. It appears to have worked.

 

 

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Thanks, glad to hear! I’d heard some time ago that a fix was in the offing and it seems to have been implemented.

 

 

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[just erica]

Don’t know when you were there, but we just disembarked this morning, and not only did we never encounter any smell issues, we never heard anyone else mentioning them either. A few weeks ago MSC explained that there was an issue with a misinstalled ventilation unit that was being replaced in port Feb 3. It appears to have worked.

 

 

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I'm so glad that it's fixed. It didn't ruin our cruise but smelling it so strong everyday to and from our cabin was terrible.

[lcpagejr]

Thanks, glad to hear! I’d heard some time ago that a fix was in the offing and it seems to have been implemented.

 

 

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OK...1 down.... Now lets put the food issues to rest.... LOL

[Formula280SS]

Don’t know when you were there, but we just disembarked this morning, and not only did we never encounter any smell issues, we never heard anyone else mentioning them either. A few weeks ago MSC explained that there was an issue with a misinstalled ventilation unit that was being replaced in port Feb 3. It appears to have worked.

 

 

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Thanks for that update. :D

[BermudaBound2014]

OK...1 down.... Now lets put the food issues to rest.... LOL

 

 

Sorry, The problem is not fixed yet... but I do admit it seems to be getting better :).

 

There were people on the same cruise last week who had problems with sewage smell on both deck 13 and 15. According to them, the captain stated the jerryrigged solution broke in Cozumel releasing the smell again.

 

Here’s a quote from the post I’m referring to. This was posted two days ago. They had the smell until Thursday the 15th when they reported it was fixed.

 

So at least one person on last weeks cruise was still dealing with the smell a few days ago. I’m hoping Kyle Clark will join this thread to elaborate on his/her discussion with the captain.

 

The smell is all gone. The Captain said that the high winds while docked in Cozumel came in from the right side causing a problem with the outlets on the ship. He did say they had a temporary fix with long hoses but had broken while in Cozumel. Maybe the Chengkp75 can elaborate.

 

 

 

 

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[leos037]

they should cancel one cruise - dock the ship and fix it f

for good

[lcpagejr]

they should cancel one cruise - dock the ship and fix it f

for good

 

Do you have a cruise planned on Seaside?? If so tell them to choose your week.... Too many of us have cruises on her over the next few months!

[ginger123snaps]

We got off the Seaside sailing Feb 3-10th. We were in the yacht club. I would not recommend eating 3 meals a day at the buffet....you will be disappointed if you have sailed other lines. If you are open to trying the restaurants you will enjoy.

 

We never smelled anything on our cruise. We frequently explored the ship with no problems. Don't let this deter you from sailing.

 

Its a beautiful ship with so much to offer. Service is getting better with each week. We had a couple of servers speak to us about how they are trying their best to improve things and encouraged us to offer feedback before the sailing was over. They are aware of their small issues and are ironing things out.

 

With all the reviews we hesitantly boarded and now we are going again June 23. Go...have fun....don't worry...the ship is beautiful...service is good and improving....eat in other venues.

[TravelinGert]

I talked a large group into joining us on the Seaside. Everyone is reading reviews and wants to cancel. Any word if the sewage smell can be corrected. Also, this is a very casual group - all eat at the buffet 3 meals a day. If the dinner buffet does not start getting better reviews, I have no hope of saving this group. I really hope MSC is reading the reviews. I'd love to try this ship. We have been on more than 55 cruises. It would be nice to add another line to the list.

 

I don't know when your cruise is, but we're just off the ship.

 

We never smelled any foul odors except a brief period when we got back on board in Grand Cayman. The smell met us as we boarded and didn't smell like sewer to me. It smelled like trash. This odor was very strong around the elevators when we got off on the 12th floor to go to our room and we smelled it strongly again when we used the elevators to go back down to deck 8 after stopping off in our room to off load our day bags. We didn't smell it anymore a couple hours later when we rode up to the buffet on 16 for a snack to tide us over to dinner.

 

We were quite happy with the buffet. I would say the food we experienced was a solid notch above the buffet fare we've experienced previously on Royal ships but still buffet food. I'd say Royal's buffet food was solidly on par with nice receptions in the US and MSC's was like the couple of European receptions we've experienced. There was lots of choice, even at dinner when it was only the deck 8 buffet.

Edited February 18, 2018 by TravelinGert

[BermudaBound2014]

The fecal smell really does seem hit or miss. So far on last weeks cruise three people have reported the smell both inside and outside their cabins, while another 5 or 6 others have missed it entirely.

 

The garbage smell described above does appear to support the mechanics behind the letter MSc sent to travel agents stating the air intake systems were faulty. Hopefully Cheng can step in again.

 

Travelkngert- really happy you had a great vacation.

MSc is an exceptional value and you seem to have the right attitude to enjoy to the fullest. Welcome home and here’s to planning another vacation stat :).

 

 

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[lovelights]

I don't know when your cruise is, but we're just off the ship.

 

We never smelled any foul odors except a brief period when we got back on board in Grand Cayman. The smell met us as we boarded and didn't smell like sewer to me. It smelled like trash. This odor was very strong around the elevators when we got off on the 12th floor to go to our room and we smelled it strongly again when we used the elevators to go back down to deck 8 after stopping off in our room to off load our day bags. We didn't smell it anymore a couple hours later when we rode up to the buffet on 16 for a snack to tide us over to dinner.

 

We were quite happy with the buffet. I would say the food we experienced was a solid notch above the buffet fare we've experienced previously on Royal ships but still buffet food. I'd say Royal's buffet food was solidly on par with nice receptions in the US and MSC's was like the couple of European receptions we've experienced. There was lots of choice, even at dinner when it was only the deck 8 buffet.

 

You had a dinner at the Marketplace Buffet on the lower deck? When we cruised on Seaside, all we had was dinner at a small buffet on the upper deck with limited food choices. We were happy to see the last day of the cruise. This was a first for us to be looking forward to getting off a ship to go home. When I think about our Seaside cruise vacation, it makes me sick of my stomach, because I keep remember the funk that we had to endure during our entire cruise.