MSC Cruise: College Dream Turned Nightmare

Cruises: 2-3 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 16

Review summary

Our much-anticipated Bahamas trip, a big deal for us college students who had saved up for it, turned into a mess at the last minute. They suddenly switched the plan to Canada, and that was a problem for one of us who was an international student and couldn't get a visa for Canada OVERNIGHT. The journey, which should have been a joyful 8-hour ride from different places like North Carolina and Pennsylvania to Washington DC, where we'd all meet and travel together, turned into a stressful ordeal. We spent the entire trip with our phones stuck to our ears, desperately trying to reach customer service since the night the itinerary changed. Unfortunately, the office closed at 9 pm, and our calls were left unanswered. It felt like even the robots were on vacation, leaving us stranded with worries and no updates about our cruise. Customer Care? More Like "Don't Care": Finally, a voice broke through the silence. But instead of sympathy, we got a slap in the face. "Go to port for info," they said, knowing full well that by then, it was too late for visa magic. HOURS wasted, hearts sinking, we hit the port. Thankfully, one port staff member actually cared. He couldn't fix the mess, but at least he had a pulse. The rest? Cold, robotic faces saying unhelpful lines like "future cruise credit." Future cruise credit for college students with empty wallets and no free semesters? Seriously?! There was a woman named Michelle, the customer care "angel" who promised a full refund? Poof! Gone by morning, replaced by other people who sang the "future credit" tune. We begged, we pleaded, we cried, but we were offered no help. The only refund we got came from the parking garage. They, unlike MSC, understood human tragedy. Apparently, their refund policy has more empathy than an entire cruise line. Speaking of policy, where's the fine print about itinerary changes that ruin your life? Or the clause promising robots instead of humans for customer care? This cruise wasn't just expensive, it was a masterclass in deception. We just want our money back, which wasn't a small amount – $145 for taxes and port fees out of the $350 we paid for the cruise was also not refunded (they promised to refund 145 dollars in a week) It might not be a big deal for MSC, but for us, six college students, it's like a whole semester surviving on just ramen noodles. Beyond the financial, this ordeal was emotionally brutal. Panic attacks, breakdowns, tears – you name it, we had it. The trauma doesn't wash off with ocean water. The Bottom Line: If you're looking for a relaxing escape, avoid MSC Cruises. They're not in the vacation business, they're in the heartbreak business. Save your money, your sanity, and go build sandcastles somewhere else. This was, without a doubt, the worst vacation experience of our lives. And to MSC: Shame on you. You may have our money, but you'll never have our forgiveness. Your robots have hearts of ice, and your policies are written in invisible ink. You may sail across the ocean, but you'll never escape the stain of six broken dreams.

Embarkation

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Ports of call

Brooklyn, New York

Port Canaveral, Florida

Nassau, Bahamas

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas

Disembarkation

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