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MSC Euribia Cruise Review to Europe - Northern Europe
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 2-3 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 12
13 Night Northern Europe (Hamburg To Kiel)
Sail date: April 14, 2024
Ship: MSC Euribia
Cabin type: Suite
Cabin number: 13291
Traveled as: Family (older children)
Reviewed: 5 months ago
Review summary
It was not a fun experience! We should have spent our money on something else. Three days before the cruise, we discovered they do not allow drones and will confiscate them. Since we were coming from Thailand and not going home first, I asked if we could store the drone on the ship with security and collect it when we disembarked. They would not allow this, so we had to spend $200 to ship it home. We also discovered that, unlike many other companies, they do not allow adults to bring limited alcohol on the ship, nor are you allowed to buy bottles of alcohol on the ship to drink in your room. The only way to get drinks in your room is to bring them in from the bar or order room service. The drinks and packages are outrageously priced. We wanted to purchase the drink package for my husband and me, but we were told we had to buy drink packages for everyone in the cabin. So my children who only drink water, milk, and Sprite, would be charged $400/kid when they didn’t need it. The drink packages would have cost us $3700!!!! In addition, when I wanted to order a specialty drink, an espresso martini, and pay the normal price, I was told I would be charged for each individual shot! The first three days on the ship were fine, but we quickly became bored. We met with the activities manager and expressed our displeasure with the engaging, fun activities, including activities for kids. She was supposed to follow up, but she never did. The activities never improved, and we spent the rest of the cruise either in our room or at the Sky Lounge playing Uno (which we had brought). There were very few activities for our kids. We found that the kid's lounges were closed often, and the teen's lounge would open at 3 pm on sea days. The ship needs to be better designed, and many areas become highly congested. In addition to the congestion, up to 10 photographers sometimes harass you in the main areas nightly. The boat was brand new and very clean. The staff was great, including our stew. He was very attentive and the best part of the boat. The beds and pillows were very comfy, but the ship had a slight rocking motion (not from the waves) back and forth the entire trip. The buffet food was okay, but after several days, it became repetitive. The drink service was slow, and sometimes, we finished our meal before we were ever greeted. The restaurants were terrible, so we tried to eat as much as possible off the boat. The boat was very cold, and many people wore winter jackets inside lounges and restaurants. Most of the ports were shipping yards, which were not pleasant to look at. Multiple times, we were told that we had to take a shuttle bus from the boat into the town. The information we received was very confusing. Sometimes, they said that we would be charged 14 euros/adult or 12 euros/child to take the shuttle bus, and sometimes, it was free. In Bilao, Spain, there were only two shuttle buses, and the line to get on was wrapped around the building, so we walked instead. Several times, we also opted to take an Uber instead of paying outrageous bus prices, and it waited for us as soon as we got off the boat. For our family of four, an Uber only costs 12 euros, depending on the port and where we were going. We will not be taking an MSC cruise again in the future because of this poor experience. I wish we had disembarked sooner.Embarkation
Getting on the boat was fine. The line was really long but it went fast.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
I only gave it one star because the buffet food was okay. But after 13 days, we got very sick of it. Every day, we had to ask for ketchup.
The restaurant food could have been better! Our restaurant was Il Campo, and we only ate there once because the food was so bad and they didn't have anything for kids.
We attempted to eat lunch at one of the other restaurants, but it was just as bad. My husband ordered the hamburger that came with an egg. The service was slow, and his hamburger looked like the thin frozen patty they served at the buffet the day before.
We ate at a Mexican restaurant once. My daughter had the street tacos, and the meat was so tough she couldn't bite into it. I had the tamales, and there was very little meat. It was very disappointing. The bean dip and salsa were good.
We ate at the sushi place once and were disappointed again. The miso soup and pot stickers were good, but the sushi was terrible. They put truffle mayo on sushi. The wait staff was super nice and friendly.
The drinks were outrageously overpriced. We didn't get the drink package because they charge everyone in your room for a drink package. We explained that my son only drinks water and milk, and my daughter only drinks water and Seven-Up, and they do not need a drink package. They would not make any concessions, and we would have been charged $3700 for the drink package and then the discounted price of drinks on top of that!
One day, I went to order an espresso martini and was told that since I didn't have the drink package, I would be charged for each individual shot!
Also, know that this is the only cruise company I have been on that does not allow you to bring a bottle or two of alcohol. Nor do they allow you to purchase a bottle on the boat for your cabin. You must buy only their 8-25 euro drinks. So you can only enjoy drinks on your balcony in the evening if you get them or call room service.
Onboard Activities
This should be a zero star!
The activities were lacking so severely that I even talked to the activities manager about how boring the boat was!
For example, they listed a corn hole tournament. Their idea of a tournament and fun was to have only one board (not the complete set with two boards facing each other) where people lined up and threw the bags at the hole, and then they added up the points for people. There was no tournament!
One night, they had named that tune. We walked in after it started, and the room was dead silent except for the host on the stage. Participants sat quietly, writing their answers down on a sheet of paper. That was it again: very boring, unenthusiastic and non engaging.
They would also have music, but it was all easy listening, “beautiful melodies,” lounge music, and big band jazz.
The activities sheet listed things like free skin analysis, Meeting Friends of Bill W and Dr. Bob (whoever they are), and free foot analysis. Again, these are not activities that are fun and entertaining.
We couldn't use the outdoor pools and adventure parks because it was too cold outside, they were not heated, and the indoor pool was too cold to enjoy.
I have a nine-year-old and a fifteen-year-old. They were the only kids on the boat for the first eight days. My daughter and son wanted to go to the teens' club and play video games together, but they wouldn't let them.
We also had an issue with the clubs being closed frequently. Sometimes, the teens' club didn't even open until 3 p.m. on a sea day!
Many games in the game room were inconsistent or didn't work. For example, my son and I played skee ball. His machine didn't work, nor did it put out any tickets. It also only gave him 60 seconds, whereas mine was 90 seconds. I brought this up to them and they gave us a free ride on the virtual reality game.
One of the paddles on the pinball machine would get stuck. And the air hockey table was curved so the puck wouldn't glide.
They were very bored on the ship, especially since the kid's activities were at poor times or they were not interested in them.
The casino was entertaining for my husband and I in the evening.
Entertainment
We went to several shows. The best one was Rock On, and the magician. The singers and choreography for the other shows were just ok.
Children's Programs
I have a nine-year-old and a fifteen-year-old. They were the only kids on the boat for the first eight days. My daughter and son wanted to go to the teens' club and play video games together, but they wouldn't let them.
We also had an issue with the clubs being closed frequently. Sometimes, the teens' club didn't even open until 3 p.m. on a sea day!
After the first three days, we spent most of our time in our cabin because there was nothing to do on the boat. We would go to the Sky Lounge and play cards that we brought on the ship. We were told that there were board games we could check out, but they only had one of each, and they closed at 5 pm, so that you couldn’t check them out in the evenings. People would check out the games in the morning and keep them all day. So we were never able to play them.
Many games in the game room were inconsistent or didn't work. For example, my son and I played skee ball. His machine didn't work, nor did it put out any tickets. It also only gave him 60 seconds, whereas mine was 90 seconds. I brought this up to them and they gave us a free ride on the virtual reality game.
One of the paddles on the pinball machine would get stuck. And the air hockey table was curved so the puck wouldn't glide.
They were very bored on the ship, especially since the kid's activities were at poor times or they were not interested in them.
Service and Staff
Our room stew was the best part of the entire boat! He was so attentive and kind. He always made sure we got everything we needed.
Most of the staff was very friendly and we had now issues with them.
Ship Quality
The design of the ship could be better laid out! Because the ship was commissioned in 2023, it was brand new and clean.
There is no central bar/entertainment area that brings people together. On deck five, there is customer service and an excursion desk (rarely open). In that lobby, there is a piano, and a few chairs, and tucked away off to the side is a small bar.
The most popular lounge/bar was near the theater. This bar is where they would hold most events like dance lessons, cornhole “tournaments,” etc. Many of the chairs would end up pushed out into the gallery, which caused congestion when the shows would get out.
Another popular spot was the Sky Lounge. It was lovely sitting up there, having drinks, and playing cards. This was the only inviting place where you could get a drink because several of the bars near the other seating areas were not open. The view overlooks the outdoor pool and the front of the boat, where the yacht club members are.
There are two jewelry stores, two souvenir stores, and a huge high-end purse and watch store. There is also a whisky and bourbon store, but you cannot buy alcohol to consume on the boat. You can purchase it to collect when you disembark only, which makes such a large store pointless.
Many of the areas on the boat became very congested because of the photographers. Sometimes, up to TEN photographers in the central area would hassle you to take pictures with them. It became uncomfortable to continue to tell them we did not want pictures.
Because the ship was commissioned in 2023, it was brand new and clean.
Cabin / Stateroom
Our cabin had the perfect layout for us. We had a large, comfortable bed and pillows. My kids loved their bunk beds. There was plenty of closet space, and it was bright and clean. Our stew was great! Very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed.
Ship tip
Spend your money on a different company and ship!
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
We did not do an excursion but we did go to the fort and walked around the area. It was ok but not a lot to do. We also found out that all restaurants and most stores in that area close at 2pm for several hours.
We were dropped off by the shuttle bus at the square. There are several shops and a large church that was beautiful. We walked down the street towards the other port. There we were able to go in to a few towers and had a nice lunch.
We didn't do an excursion because they didn't not interest us and they were expensive. There was supposed to be a shuttle bus to take us from the ship to the square, however they only had two buses and the line was very long. So we walked it instead. I'm glad we walked the town because we got to see the gondola, and we stumbled upon people making a human tower.
We did not do an excursion because of the cost and because they did not interest us. The port it's self was ugly. As with most of them, they are shipping yards. This is also why they offer a shuttle bus. However they charge for the shuttle bus, 14euro/person. Instead we got an Uber for 12 euro total.
There wasn't anything to see or do in the town it's self.
Again, another shipping yard. We did not do an excursion. However, we took an Uber to a car rental place where we picked up a car and drove to the Harry Potter Studios.
KIEL (LUBECK), GERMANY
Disembarkation
From the ship we had to walk a long way in the cold. Then we stood in line at immigration with no heat.
Traveler Photos
