Your favorite thing about cruising with MSC?

[CoasterGuy]

I've been researching different cruise lines, and I'm honestly not sure what to make of MSC. There seems to be a decent amount of people who enjoy sailing with them, but I just can't figure out what they offer that's better or unique compared to other lines.

 

Those who have sailed MSC, what do you enjoy the most about them?

[morpheusofthesea]

36 minutes ago, CoasterGuy said:

Those who have sailed MSC, what do you enjoy the most about them?

Here is our list for those that might have missed it, that Yacht Club has all of them.

Never sailed on a MSC ship in a cabin outside the Yacht Club. But we can list now all the things to look out for when booking any cruise ship.

#1 E muster drill is better

#2 Two cabin cleanings per day

#3 No % charge for gambling unless using cash

#4 No extra charge for can sodas vs fountain drinks

#5 Reserved seating in the theatre for all shows

#6 Complimentary bottled water

#7 Reserved or ability to reserve pergola/cabanas on pool deck

#8 'Cushioned' pool lounges

#9 Escorts on and off ship avoiding long lines

#10 First to use tenders off the ship at ports that tender

#11 Dedicated restaurant that is so good one need not book Specialty Restaurants

#12 Service that does not involve 2 hours to complete a meal

#13 An attentive butler not hard to find when needed

#14 Cabins ready upon embarkation/ key cards in hand at checkin

#15 Dedicated restaurant OPEN port days

#16 Dedicated buffet to only suite guests

#17 Dedicated pool and sun deck only for suite guests with ample lounges

# 18 All the advantages of a mega ship with the exclusivity of a gated community

#19 walk-in shower not low profile tub/shower combo

#20 No non-suite paying Pinnacle/Zenith/Diamond passengers taking up prime real estate in the Yacht Club

#21 Elevator over-ride key cards for suite guests

#22 Pristine out island with NO bugs crawling all over cabanas

#23 short distance between cabin and restaurant decks

#24 At least a 100 sq ft balcony accommodating a cushioned lounge chair

[shipgeeks]

The passenger mix.  At least when we sailed, Americans were definitely in the minority.  It really felt like being "away" rather than our usual cruises with 2,000 of our neighbors.  The food, beverages, and entertainment continued this feeling of being away from home, all in a good way.

Unlike the poster above, we sailed in Bella level, the lowest level of booking.  We were bowled over by the amount of positive attention we got from senior officers and other crew members.

Oh yes, the private island is a paradise; totally unlike the islands crammed with thrill rides and adventure parks.

[indstate3333]

We have only sailed once with MSC (2019) but our 2nd cruise is on the Seascape 9/24.  What we loved about MSC:

Entire staff was super friendly

Ship (Seaside) was beautiful

Embarkation and disembarkation

Aurea experience (anytime dining, separate sundeck and bar)

Butchers Cut specialty restaurant

The passenger mix 

Price (easy plus drink package and wifi included)

Food quality in the MDR

Starwalker show (Michael Jackson)

 

we had zero complaints!!!!

[perakcruiser]

After 12 years of cruising with MSC (all cabin types except YC):

 

.) Price-performance ratio is in general unmatched by the other lines

.) Mix of passengers and international vibe, I remember a cruise with guests from almost 50 (!) nationalities on board, all income levels and ages, not just rich old folks.

.) International vibe, but also a holiday in Italy on the sea (which of cause has some downsides also, but I can easily accept)

.) The opera nights, unfortunately almost disappeared, but still the one night with the short version of La Traviata is unique and unmatched by all other lines entertainment

.) Friendliness towards kids on the whole ship and kids often really sail free or at least much cheaper

.) Italian food and food quality and diversity, especially the improvements after Covid when others reduced

.) No nickel and dime-ing. Almost everything is included

.) Option to choose from many embarkation points and option to disembark at a different port

.) The ships and the cabins are more beautiful

.) Friendliness of the staff

.) Voyagers Club

.) The threadmills on the newer ships

[Ryan82]

I booked the Preziosa for October 2022 just a few weeks before sailing. Reading reviews on tripadvisor I thought I'd made a huge mistake. On board I found:

1. I absolutely loved the sounds, smells and styling of the ship. The effort spent to keep the ships public areas and cabins looking good rivals any experience I've had on land.

2. The food was plentiful and well cooked and presented.

3. The drinks package was incredible value for money

4. The entertainment is varied enough to keep it interesting 

5. The mix of passengers made it feel like a very inclusive environment 

 

 

I loved it so much I've already done three MSC cruises this year and have two more to go.

 

I'll sound narrow minded.. but I wouldn't book another cruise line now.

 

[Cruiseforever11]

A lot of why we like msc has been said. By the end of next year 15 cruises with them.

 

We've been on the smaller ships, the larger ships and will be on the biggest in October the World Europa.

We've done all grades of cabin from Bella to Yacht Club.

 

I love their ships so stylish and I don't know if it's me but they seem to sparkle, they are very clean and looked after. 

 

The staff, we've never had an issue with. They always say hello if you passing them by in the corridors. We've had some good laughs with some of the staff.

 

The food never had a problem with what's on offer, but I don’t go on cruises for the food aspect.

 

Entertainment, from my very first cruise on Msc there has been a massive improvement. 

 

I might be the only one but love the different languages and amazed everytime how many languages one person can speak on the announcements. I feel ashamed that I can only barely speak my own language😄

 

Price value for money, although Yacht club has increased massively.

Drink Packages are really good.

 

Msc are not perfect, but we are chilled out people and go with the flow. They are different from your Carnivals, Royals and Norwegians. Msc is very European and the culture is different and I guess goes against the grain of what a lot of people expect. We like the fact that they are different.

 

If anything now after sailing on their biggest ships Virtuosa, Europa in October and Seascape in Dec we are downsizing as we do prefer the med range ships. Our favourite we think is the Magnifica. Going back on the Orchestra next year.

So would we sail with anyone else now? Not at the moment.

[Heartgrove]

14 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Here is our list for those that might have missed it, that Yacht Club has all of them.

Never sailed on a MSC ship in a cabin outside the Yacht Club. But we can list now all the things to look out for when booking any cruise ship.

#1 E muster drill is better

#2 Two cabin cleanings per day

#3 No % charge for gambling unless using cash

#4 No extra charge for can sodas vs fountain drinks

#5 Reserved seating in the theatre for all shows

#6 Complimentary bottled water

#7 Reserved or ability to reserve pergola/cabanas on pool deck

#8 'Cushioned' pool lounges

#9 Escorts on and off ship avoiding long lines

#10 First to use tenders off the ship at ports that tender

#11 Dedicated restaurant that is so good one need not book Specialty Restaurants

#12 Service that does not involve 2 hours to complete a meal

#13 An attentive butler not hard to find when needed

#14 Cabins ready upon embarkation/ key cards in hand at checkin

#15 Dedicated restaurant OPEN port days

#16 Dedicated buffet to only suite guests

#17 Dedicated pool and sun deck only for suite guests with ample lounges

# 18 All the advantages of a mega ship with the exclusivity of a gated community

#19 walk-in shower not low profile tub/shower combo

#20 No non-suite paying Pinnacle/Zenith/Diamond passengers taking up prime real estate in the Yacht Club

#21 Elevator over-ride key cards for suite guests

#22 Pristine out island with NO bugs crawling all over cabanas

#23 short distance between cabin and restaurant decks

#24 At least a 100 sq ft balcony accommodating a cushioned lounge chair

 

Your #19 and #23 entries are incorrect for the YC on Fantasia-class ships. But ... we actually prefer them as they truly are a ship within a ship.

[Elkins45]

My first MSC cruise was after the Covid restart. I picked them because they had a great rate for a solo cruiser, but mostly for curiosity. I had very low expectations for the price, so I was quite pleasantly surprised by my Divina experience.

 

Unfortunately as cruising has crept back toward normalcy the fantastic single rates seem to be fading. Now my favorite thing is Ocean Cay.

[JAGR]

15 hours ago, CoasterGuy said:

I've been researching different cruise lines, and I'm honestly not sure what to make of MSC. There seems to be a decent amount of people who enjoy sailing with them, but I just can't figure out what they offer that's better or unique compared to other lines.

 

Those who have sailed MSC, what do you enjoy the most about them?

Can't add much to the others.  Your handle and state caught my attention.  Can I hope Cedar Point Amusement Park is number one on you list of parks with coasters?   To my mind, MSC of late is like Cedar Point.  They may take away some perks or toys (like a true open bar in your cabin in YC), but they still seem to be adding a replacement (one full bottle of liquor instead of the minis).  Change is a part of the operation.  Goodbye Top Thrill Dragster, hello Wild Mouse!

[Homosassa]

Like Shipgeeks we are very experienced cruisers and have only traveled in Bella cabins on MSC (that will change because of Bella now being a "guaranteed" cabin class).

 

While many are confused by the lower fares on MSC and expect the mediocre cruise experience of Carnival, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian and are disappointed that MC does not meet their expectations, the on board experience is better for food, entertainment and service than the US based big three. We appreciate the fact that this Italian family owned Europe based cruise line that sails internationally  with international crew and passengers has not changed to meet the expectations of those afraid of new food and experiences on their US based itineraries.

 

We love the international clientele and staff. We have been wowed on Gala night when some of the non-American guests dress  in apparel wore to a formal occasion in their countries (examples, gorgeous silk kimonos  and saris with luscious embroidery, the well turned out Scot in his kilt).  

 

The Italian food is actually Italian and not quasi "Olive Garden" offerings (reminds me of the cooking done on the Italian side of the family that has never been downgraded to "Italian-American" fare, i.e,; sugar in a heavy tomato sauce sauce, meatballs with the spaghetti, garlic bread).

 

PIZZA!!!!!!! 

 

The food offered for the other international clients are a delight and browsing the different offerings on the buffet is fun and delicious (LOL at the recent cruiser who posted she was upset with the "foreign" food in the buffet).

 

We have found the food in the buffe and main dining room to be of a quality and selection that there is no need to book a specialty restaurant (and this may be why there isn't many specialty restaurants on MSC).

 

The staff is European and professional in the manner one would find in Europe. They are not there to be obsequious and your best friend. They are discreet and will help you with any reasonable request or problems (do not start your visit to Guest Services with "On Carnival...." You are not on Carnival). 

 

We , too, even as "Lowly" Bella passengers, have had positive interactions with the crew and senior officers.

 

Love the entertainment in the theater - especially the mini opera that is performed on seven night cruises.

 

We appreciated the fare that MSC cruises are not alcohol driven. While they do offer drink packages, the majority of the passengers are not booze cruise driven. 

 

We also appreciated that MSC is not "Freestyle."  There is no need to stress about  prebooking  dinners and entertainment before  setting foot on board ship.

Edited July 5, 2023 by Homosassa

[JT1962]

Lower rates for solo cruisers. Even with the low (0-20-%) solo supplements gone on most itineraries now, the solo rates are still substantially below most other cruise lines. The downside is they now seem to be tightening the limits on solo cruisers allowed on each sailing.

[Jeal]

Homosassa - your post about the international food, clientele and staff is exactly why we loved our first MSC cruise in June. It was a pleasure to be offered tomato sauce that actually tasted like tomatoes. We loved the more European vibe on the ship and enjoyed seeing and hearing the different nationalities onboard. 
 

[CoasterGuy]

Excellent replies so far. Thank you all.

 

One question, how is the service in the NON-yacht club MDR. Does the meal there take two hours? 

[CoasterGuy]

1 hour ago, Homosassa said:

The food offered for the other international clients are a delight and browsing the different offerings on the buffet is fun and delicious (LOL at the recent cruiser who posted she was upset with the "foreign" food in the buffet).

 

 

That seems to be a sticking point with some who have tried the mainstream lines and then try MSC. They don't like how different the food is. If and when I try MSC I'll just have to go in with an open mind and expect some things to be different than what I'm used to. 

 

1 hour ago, Homosassa said:

The staff is European and professional in the manner one would find in Europe. They are not there to be obsequious and your best friend. They are discreet and will help you with any reasonable request or problems (do not start your visit to Guest Services with "On Carnival...." You are not on Carnival). 

 

This actually sounds AMAZING to me, despite the fact I'm an american. I find it annoying that you can't walk into a store anywhere without being greeted within the first five seconds. 😁Hi! What can I help you with today.😃    So annoying. Can't you just let me browse for a few minutes and then if I need help I'll ask you?! for goodness sake. 

[perakcruiser]

31 minutes ago, CoasterGuy said:

One question, how is the service in the NON-yacht club MDR. Does the meal there take two hours? 

A couple of years before 2 hours where the minimum, usually it took longer. Then they made some changes in the process, now it is usually 90 minutes or even faster depending how many dishes you order. 

[Homosassa]

40 minutes ago, CoasterGuy said:

Excellent replies so far. Thank you all.

 

One question, how is the service in the NON-yacht club MDR. Does the meal there take two hours? 

MSC is culturally set up for dinner to be a time where one enjoys the company of others and leisurely enjoy the dining experience.

 

That being said, MSC does recognize the gobble and go mentality of some US cruisers. If one tells the waitstaff that one needs to rush through the meal service, they will accommodate you as best they can.

 

By the way, here are some other cultural differences in the MDR dinner service :

 

1. Bread will be offered as you sit down. There probably will not be a bread basket on the table and it may take a while to obtain additional bread later in the meal.  If offered bread at the start of the meal, take the amount you want at tat time. Butter may not be on the table.  Ask for it if you want it.

 

2. While wine is available in the Dining Room, bar service for hard liquor may not be available or may take a very long time to receive.  Some passengers have reported  that they were able to obtain hard alcoholic beverages before entering the dining room and carry them in for dinner. My experience has been that drinks  are not allowed to be  carried into the dining room. 

Edited July 5, 2023 by Homosassa

[CoasterGuy]

7 minutes ago, perakcruiser said:

A couple of years before 2 hours where the minimum, usually it took longer. Then they made some changes in the process, now it is usually 90 minutes or even faster depending how many dishes you order. 

 

Sounds good. It's not that I'm in a mad rush. I just happen to think two hours for dinner every night is a bit much. If it happens now and then because the staff got busy and things get backed up so be it. But ninety minutes to me is plenty of time to enjoy your food and the company of those you are with. 

[no1talks]

14 hours ago, perakcruiser said:

"The opera nights, unfortunately almost disappeared, but still the one night with the short version of La Traviata is unique and unmatched by all other lines entertainment."

 

Are the opera "shorts" being taken away from the European itineraries, too?!?

 

I had hoped the abbreviated operas would continue on the Med, Baltic, and North Sea routes, so I could enjoy those cruises even more than the US departures.

 

Oh, well.

[Homosassa]

Another passing thought about the passenger make up:

 

MSC targeted marketing demographic is family/affinity group cruising. It is international in marketing and the goal for any itinerary sailing is to have an international composition of passengers (Covid restrictions did skew this, but hopefully, things are returning to normal.)

 

This marketing affects the atmosphere on board ship.  When one are sailing from a US port, a high percentage of the passengers are from other countries.  That means they have the income to afford an international trip for themselves and their families.  They are not the booze cruise party cruisers where a cheap cruise fare is the important factor. Their behavior is not that of a booze  cruise passenger.

 

Those international cruisers come prepared to dress according to the standards of their home countries. This means Gala night is special (as previously mentioned in a post above) and I have laughed with my husband that the casual wear at breakfast is nicer than what many US cruisers consider as minimally acceptable on Gala night.

 

Many other countries also expect children to behave and do not find it unusual to have their children sit at the leisurely dinner with the family. Those children will also be dressed up to the standard set by their parents.

[JamieLogical]

I have only been on two MSC sailings, semi-B2B, so I don't have a ton of experience, but the things I love about MSC:

 

• Two room cleanings a day
• Room service breakfast still included in Fantastica and above
• Ships are immaculately cleaned and maintained
• Amazing crew
• Hola! Catina!!!!
• Pizza
• Easy Plus drink package
• MDR food
• Ocean Cay
• Included wifi was best included wifi I have ever had and better than some upcharge wifi I have purchased on other lines
• Value for your money

 

Some things I found to be a little different:

• No drinks allowed in the theater
• Limited bar service in the MDR, though I never had trouble bringing my own drink in
• Difficulty of acquiring both toast and butter at the same time

[morpheusofthesea]

5 hours ago, Heartgrove said:

 

Your #19 and #23 entries are incorrect for the YC on Fantasia-class ships. But ... we actually prefer them as they truly are a ship within a ship.

That is why I call this my check list. Lucky to just be able to climb into bed nowadays. Cannot climb into a tub. And stopped booking a favorite Celebrity Equinox because the Luminae is deck 3 and suite deck 12.

[morpheusofthesea]

Some of these posts are from years gone by. At least the ones this past year in the Caribbean. One might still find the Europeans of high caliber and standing in the Yacht Club, but outside the YC are the local unsophisticated from the US. that over indulge, smoke and vape, play boom box music and tend to break things when impatient with elevators.

[amygutman]

21 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Here is our list for those that might have missed it, that Yacht Club has all of them.

Never sailed on a MSC ship in a cabin outside the Yacht Club. But we can list now all the things to look out for when booking any cruise ship.

#1 E muster drill is better

#2 Two cabin cleanings per day

#3 No % charge for gambling unless using cash

#4 No extra charge for can sodas vs fountain drinks

#5 Reserved seating in the theatre for all shows

#6 Complimentary bottled water

#7 Reserved or ability to reserve pergola/cabanas on pool deck

#8 'Cushioned' pool lounges

#9 Escorts on and off ship avoiding long lines

#10 First to use tenders off the ship at ports that tender

#11 Dedicated restaurant that is so good one need not book Specialty Restaurants

#12 Service that does not involve 2 hours to complete a meal

#13 An attentive butler not hard to find when needed

#14 Cabins ready upon embarkation/ key cards in hand at checkin

#15 Dedicated restaurant OPEN port days

#16 Dedicated buffet to only suite guests

#17 Dedicated pool and sun deck only for suite guests with ample lounges

# 18 All the advantages of a mega ship with the exclusivity of a gated community

#19 walk-in shower not low profile tub/shower combo

#20 No non-suite paying Pinnacle/Zenith/Diamond passengers taking up prime real estate in the Yacht Club

#21 Elevator over-ride key cards for suite guests

#22 Pristine out island with NO bugs crawling all over cabanas

#23 short distance between cabin and restaurant decks

#24 At least a 100 sq ft balcony accommodating a cushioned lounge chair

@morpheusofthesea I love this!

#25 +/- The super-clean shiny, mirrored hallways / doors. Love the cleanliness...hate the bruising from repeatedly smacking heads, arms and knees. 😇

Warmest, Amy

[Homosassa]

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Some of these posts are from years gone by. At least the ones this past year in the Caribbean. One might still find the Europeans of high caliber and standing in the Yacht Club, but outside the YC are the local unsophisticated from the US. that over indulge, smoke and vape, play boom box music and tend to break things when impatient with elevators.

Oh, my! 🫢

 

@shipgeeks, how do you feel about being riffraff? Another Bella unwashed would like to know....