Extremely disappointing, MSC shops have glitz and glamour but underneath all that they don't really care. They distressed and endangered passengers on this cruise with there incompetence to manage the Customs situation. They do get some aspects right, this was a glitzy beautiful ship, but a little less glitter and focus of its passengers not just the Yacht clubbers, and would be a better if not as profitable route to take.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
Not too bad, but they always manage to have queues longer than any other company, not sure why.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
Main Dining rooms are served by one Kitchen, that also cooks for crew so over 7 thousand people. If you are in MDR on level 5 it may be slightly better and warmer fare but don't count on it.
Portions are meagre and uninventive, most things we'll overdone and sometimes inedible.
Evening dining is meant to be an occasion, it's not.!!!!
Buffet is limited, breakfast OK if you can find a table, lunch you have to work hard, I often started at one end and ended at the other with nothing.
Nothing inspires you but you have to eat.!!!!
Speciality, Buthchers Cut was very nice but penny pinching, you can only have one side then you pay again. , pricey to start with , so consequently under occupied despite the Hard sell throughout the cruise.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Theatre shows varied and ok, heavily reliant on same performers not enough new faces through the cruise. Venues throughout the ship not big enough to support the event adequately.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
Expressed in last comments
Service and Staff
2 out of 5
Not great, some staff were super, but some bar staff were quite sharp and lazy.
The Sky Lounge waiters basically clicked off at 1130 pm and congregated behind the bar for a social. The area went to full lighting and the hoovers came out. Glasses were cleared and cocktail units washed down. You got a nuisance look if you dated to go to the bar!!
It officially closed art 0130.!!!
One evening the Drinks manager appeared it was hilarious to see them jump to attention and floor walk, alas, I only saw him visit once.!!!
Room steward Great.!!!
Buffett, it just seemed to overwhelm them, not enough staff up there.!!!
Ship Quality
2 out of 5
Design, well documented in this review. Spotlessly clean but vacuuming around passengers at peak times unnecessary and irritating.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Nice cabin, bed OK but not much wardrobe space, draws very small and no nooks and cranny for those little things you bring along.
Ship tip
This ship seems designed for week about cruises in the sunshine. Your comfort and space is reliant on Top deck being full of sun seekers if its not then you are struggling.
Beautiful decor throughout emphasis is on number of cabins and numbers of seats are compromised to achieve that. What seats there are, are mainly heavy modern and uncomfortable, it really is Bling over practicality.!!!
Evening events are inaccessible in the body of the ship for most but they do have a booking system for the theatre.
If there was a nought I would use it !! Hang your head in shame MSC for the complete destruction of our one full day in New York.
Both will blame each other but between MSC and US Customs we lost the day.
MSC issued numbered tickets for the compulsory customs check before leaving the ship for a day in New York.
They made it clear that they would mot allow Re entry onto ship until everyone had passed through customs.
Of course people who booked an MSC tour were prioritised and proceeded punctually, then it started to go wrong.
By 11am we were on number 2 tickets for priority, there were at least 12.!!!!
By noon it was 3.!!!! Passengers were disgruntled and congregated at the checkout point.
Rather than employ someone in the Customs Hall to liaise with the ship and send people down in a controlled manner, they opted to clear the ship with rapid number calls.
This resulted in the being full of frustrated passenger stumbling through countless roped rows on a concrete floor like sheep for up to two more hours.!!
Cruisers are predominantly older people and I witnessed distressed and people who were really struggling.
US custom staff as ever had a compassion bypass and the whole situation was desperate. We heard of a gentleman who collapsed and was wheeled over to have his fingerprints taken before being taken to the medics.
It was now 230 pm, we were tired and elected to rejoin the ship, that process took another hour and a half, truly unbelievable.
No apologies from either party.
And to compound that, rather than arrange a tax system for drinks as docked in USA as all other cruises do, they opted to serve only wine and beer whilst in USA despite pre paid drinks packages !!!
They are eager to get you off so no shortcomings here. Breakfast upstairs good, they were always genorous with dining times and will run past to accommodate.
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