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

[ISLANDCRUSO]

Yes you really do have to wonder about it.

[sidari]

Bea ... Over the past week or so I have read about a dozen reviews elsewhere that have been very good and not a mention of any smell, it is likely those who posted them do not use this site or if they do refuse to post their reviews here for obvious reasons.

[Beamafar]

Bea ... Over the past week or so I have read about a dozen reviews elsewhere that have been very good and not a mention of any smell, it is likely those who posted them do not use this site or if they do refuse to post their reviews here for obvious reasons.

 

Perhaps we're looking at this the wrong way, Dave. Maybe a lot of status-matchers will be put off by negative reviews and not bother trying MSC with the result being that the Black Card benefits don't get further eroded and Teppanyaki will be re-instated as a Speciality Restaurant of choice for the complimentary meal! :D :D :D

[Beamafar]

We are on MSC Seaside right now. I have been on cruise critic for years, see my signature. We have smelled a few “whiffs” as we have on every cruise we have ever been on.

We have even sought out the areas complained off, and not found a problem.

We are having a great cruise.

 

Delighted to hear that your cruise is going well for you! :)

[sidari]

Bea ... Interesting that you should mention Tepanyaki because I had a response from Mr S at MSC last week on this very issue, his reply was that he had heard back from the Head Office who told him that you can use your Black card meal at Tepanyaki if you choose to do so. I will be making sure that the Hostess is aware when we go to book in April, if they refuse then the Food and Beverages manager/director will be requested to ask why he is countermanding what the Head office say.

With regard to the Black card maybe you might be right.

 

Trina ... Good to hear you are enjoying your cruise like may thousands of others have done.

[TrinaLC]

Reporting back in, to answer the comment ... yes I strongly believe people are only posting on this subject because it has, well, become quite a subject. Look at the buttergate thread for example!! Who posts about butter patties? People are going around trying to find the smell! I have experienced some whiffs on virtually ever cruise, once horrifically in our own cabin and never posted on it. Luckily, the problem in the cabin was quickly fixed!

 

 

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[DCGuy64]

DCGuy..... As you know I was a naysayer early on (more from the disconnect on how they marketed the ship).... However you and others helped educated me on MSC and as you stated I do feel MSC is being unfairly bashed. However I still feel things are evening out. You can see alot more positive feedback about the ship which helps balance out the negative feedback. I put more merit in reviews except when people still try to over exagarate things I/we know are not true and/or the ship offers .

 

Well said, lcpagejr! Thank you, and I agree. I just posted on a different thread about how I don't mind negative feedback so long as I understand where the reviewer is coming from. :)

 

PS I wanted to say that I see your own cruise is coming up fairly soon and I wish you a safe, wonderful and most enjoyable cruise. I know that I for one will be looking forward to hearing your impressions after you return.

Edited March 12, 2018 by DCGuy64
Adding information about the poster's upcoming cruise

[sandpiper35]

Just keeping the post alive!.

 

Cheers.

[mafig]

Reporting back in, to answer the comment ... yes I strongly believe people are only posting on this subject because it has, well, become quite a subject. Look at the buttergate thread for example!! Who posts about butter patties?

 

 

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Actually.......

there was a very long thread on Princess recently about them limiting the amount of butter served in the main dining room.

[BermudaBound2014]

Do you have links to comment from the first cruise either T.A or Inaugural where the smell is mentioned ?

 

ISLAND: I almost hate to post these links because it has been inferred that the sewer smell is none of my business (because I have yet to book seaside). But you asked, so here you go. The rest of you can keep flaming away, my skin is thick :). Nothing will change my mind, this issue is important (to me and those considering Seaside) and it is fair game for discussion on this forum.

 

I just did a quick google search for seaside sewer inaugural, transatlantic, or Holiday sailing. What I find really interesting is that the first month of seaside reviews had more people complaining about blocked and overflowing toilets than sewer smell. As the toilets overflowing got corrected, the sewer smell became more frequently reported. I'd estimate well over 50% of the first month reviews mentioned overflowing toilet and/or raw sewage. I wonder if there is any correlation to the two, but I suspect we'll never know.

 

Anyway, here are the first three that came up in the search. Ironically, a video came up too that I have never seen. The video is brutal, but it is evidence of the sewer smell existing very early on (per your request).

 

1) "There weresome issues about sewage on this new ship - you could smell it in the mid shipsection most days. Truly horrible with zero acknowledgement by the cruiseofficers. " https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=604262

2) "When we arrived at our cabin we noticed astrong sewage odor, we didn’t complain hoping it would be gone in a while.Needless to say the odor got worse". https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=604233

3) "For several days therewas a foul smell in the corridors and cabin". https://***************/ship/msc-seaside/review/461321

4) This video is pretty brutal, but does discussthe septic issue:

[Formula280SS]

Week 2, not a wiff anywhere to date.

 

Did the zipline and slides 'at will again; port day, ride, walk up, go again. NO SMELL AT ALL (compared to post last week of a 25 rating out of 10 while there on a port day).

 

Very large number of families ship-wide. It's packed.

 

Lot's of little ones and teens in the YC. ZERO problems at all. Last night at 'elegant, 4-7 year olds and teen "dressed." Really nice to see.

 

YC menu has been upgraded a bit for more diverse offerings, more seafood variety, more vegetables (however, we can honestly tell all YC planners, if you tell them what you want the day before, or even in the morning, and if it is on the ship, you'll get it.

If I told you what my diet consists of, and how they have made it work for me to complete satisfaction, you'd be surprised. It is a complex lifestyle, Arthur, the waiter, and the Chef GET IT DONE. We are so thankful; were concerned the first couple of days. NO longer.

 

There is an issue with YC dining 'waiting for food. It is clear that the early diners 5:45 are down almost 50% from last week. Hence, the 7:30 and later diners overwhelm. I don't have a solution; but it is real. A family from Australia (we are told) on a B2B has had some real tough wait time luck and aren't happy. Very understandable. Watched after we dined and sat in lounge and it was clearly packed to the gills up in the restaurant and it did appear some didn't get anything by drinks, wine and bread for a really, really long time.

Having an ABSOLUTE BLAST. Plan on some "bowling" and "simulator racing" after lunch (ship empty) and take another deck by deck tour.

 

The YACHT CLUB GRILL is again a big hit in week 2 for the new cruisers as well. Not well known in advance. Very well designed, top menus and great execution.

[lcpagejr]

Well said, lcpagejr! Thank you, and I agree. I just posted on a different thread about how I don't mind negative feedback so long as I understand where the reviewer is coming from. :)

 

PS I wanted to say that I see your own cruise is coming up fairly soon and I wish you a safe, wonderful and most enjoyable cruise. I know that I for one will be looking forward to hearing your impressions after you return.

 

 

Thanks DCGuy!!! You can rest assure you will hear a "balanced" review. Although I am in YC.... I am a wanderer and can't sit still for too long (lol)...so while my wife suns at the pool I will be walking the whole ship several times throughout the cruise to observe all areas as well!!

[sidari]

BB ... How do you know that the smell is important to those considering Seaside ? many people are not bothered by it and have said so openly, I understand your concern for you.

[scottygirl]

Smelled the sewage odor as soon as we were dropped off at the ship. It was pervasive in the atrium for the first night and then mainly smelled it while using the water slides. So yes it does exist, did it ruin my trip? No, but it kept me away from the water slides.

[JAGR]

I'll weigh in on this after last week. As some have mentioned, there was a slight odor on deck 6 as our butler escort led us to elevators taking us up to the YC reception area. Noting really nauseating, but I can understand how others may have a more violent reaction. The ones who find it totally disgusting have most likely never been on a ship before, IMHO. Smells happen. We encountered it once more during the week as again a slight odor on deck 16 by the stairs going up to the zip line (Oh yes, it was of course, on one of the notorious "port days" that people with sensitive noses should not venture out into public areas or risk keeling over)!

 

I know we were safely ensconced in the Yacht Club, but I'm a wanderer by nature and so I spent quite a bit of time exploring the public areas of the ship, in a vain search for offensive smells. Because I put my financial resources into paying for YC, I did not purchase a NeOse, or any other portable device that will detect up to 150 odors. I relied on my ample manual smelling device.

 

I know it is personal preference and personal differences that give rise to the myriad comments, but I don't really feel it is a deal breaker, nor should it be! All other aspects of the cruise were a delight for me and my young bride of 40 years. Service was excellent, food quality was superb, and interaction with an international variety of guests was a delight. My only complaint was no touch base with my butler or the assigned steward early in the cruise. I would have appreciated the ability to let them know about preference in room servicing (e.g., ice not needed, a firm pillow desired, etc.), but that was not a major travesty to me or DW. We go on a cruise to relax, and we bring aboard simple expectations and a desire to find fun while aboard. We have never been dissatisfied, I can honestly say. This last week, however, we were elated and now a new bar has been set. We changed our booking from one week to two for our next Seaside cruise. I know that this will sound self-centered, but am hoping along with the logic of Bea and Dave that some more people shy way from MSC and that will allow me a better option on room choices.

[Beamafar]

John ... delighted to read about your very positive experiences on Seaside. Thanks so much for putting this "smell" issue into perspective! :)

[BermudaBound2014]

BB ... How do you know that the smell is important to those considering Seaside ? many people are not bothered by it and have said so openly, I understand your concern for you.

 

Should have added "some".... but the feedback here on the forum is clear I'm not the only one :).;

 

Jagr: Thanks for sharing your perspective. I wish everyone was only getting a sniff here and there :(.

[JayceeP]

On Seaside currently. Have not noticed this smell except for on the top deck waiting to use the water slide. I’ve noticed lots of rude old people on board though. Lots of very nice ones too though! Lol. Some people have no respect for a person with a baby and stroller.

[TrinaLC]

Same here, a whiff here or there, and we have been looking for it and super aware. Onboard now.

 

 

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[lcpagejr]

Sorry...but I can't help but chuckle. I'm just visualizing current and past cruise critic members walking around the ship "sniffing"...then calling on their spouse/partner to come over and verify......LOL!!!

[suzyed]

Sorry...but I can't help but chuckle. I'm just visualizing current and past cruise critic members walking around the ship "sniffing"...then calling on their spouse/partner to come over and verify......LOL!!!

LOL! We didn't have to sniff!

[nikkiw60]

Sorry...but I can't help but chuckle. I'm just visualizing current and past cruise critic members walking around the ship "sniffing"...then calling on their spouse/partner to come over and verify......LOL!!!

 

 

 

Actually that was what I was doing!

And Matt saying no there wasn’t a smell..

Except the by the jungle pool.!

 

 

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[TrinaLC]

Sorry...but I can't help but chuckle. I'm just visualizing current and past cruise critic members walking around the ship "sniffing"...then calling on their spouse/partner to come over and verify......LOL!!!

 

 

 

That is exactly what we did [emoji3]

 

Did not find anything but later a small whiff or two that disappeared

 

 

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[SnowManBob]

The smell was there on my seaside cruise. I did not think too much about it. We would just walk until the smell dissipated. My wife was more bothered by it than I. I would say that if you need 100% assurance that you would never have to smell the sewage smell, you should choose a different kind of vacation in general. From what I have read, some people never actually came across any odor while other did, like my wife and I. I do recall an instance on a past cruise with sewer odor.

[sidari]

SMB ... what date did you cruise ?