Dreadful Cruiseline

MSC Meraviglia Cruise Review to Europe - Northern Europe

JonathanGardine

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 3

Overall rating:

3.3 out of 5

14 Night Northern Europe (Copenhagen Roundtrip)

Sail date: June 09, 2019

Ship: MSC Meraviglia

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 12216

Traveled as: Large Group

Reviewed: 4 years ago

Review summary

MSC sells premium cruise packages and then fills the ship with people travelling on €300 vacations. The result is that they are constantly chasing revenue by trying to sell things. I was down graded from my original restaurant “Olivio Oro” to “Waves” which was an absolute gong show. Our server was in over his head and offended everyone at the table by pre pouring the house wine under the assumption we had no drinks packages. Then when we asked for other wines told us we couldn’t have them. The food was horrible. Indescribably bland and his service so slow that they were flashing the lights on and off to hurry us along as we received our main course. Olivio Oro was a vast improvement once we were moved back two days later. Even at Dinner they’re trying to sell you specialty drinks (even though my package covered them). Photographers herd you towards their cameras while you politely decline until you actually have to say NO loudly, even at dinner. Staff members couldn’t speak English and refused to find me someone else to speak to, I am multilingual but don’t speak Italian. I asked for a manager and was told “she’s busy.” I ended up spending two days trying to rectify a problem that could have been fixed in minutes. Surly staff and incorrect room service orders, and overcrowded public areas, chaos at ports of call and a litany of other irritations just added up to a very poor experience.

Embarkation

3 out of 5

Slower than others around us.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

We changed restaurants as the wave restaurant we were assigned to was crowded, ugly and the service and food terrible.

Onboard Activities

2 out of 5

There are too many people for the facilities on this ship.

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Cirque du soliel kept cancelling

Service and Staff

2 out of 5

Only met three charming personable staff. Most staff were exhausted, desperately trying to sell things to earn commission and so not focused on service at all.

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

The common areas were beautiful but horribly overcrowded.

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

Cabin was a reasonable size but I was assigned an adjoining room and no matter how I tried they couldn’t switch it. I tried in advance of travel but MSC customer service is horrible. The agents in the USA actually bark at you and are very unfriendly.