Ship experience not great.

Item: MSC Seaside
Rating: 3.5
Author: marygas

MSC Seaside Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

marygas

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 46

Overall rating:

3.5 out of 5

7 Night Western Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: September 08, 2018

Ship: MSC Seaside

Cabin type: Balcony

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 6 years ago

Review summary

This was our first MSC cruise. We got the status match for status on another cruise line and got the top status (Black). This definitely made the cruise a bit better. But even with this we had to pay a gratuity charge for our "complimentary" dinners at the specialty restaurant. Buffet was the worst of any we ever experienced. Except for pizza, and snacks no food was available in the buffet so if you wanted something else you had to call for room service and pay a delivery charge after 11 p.m. Food selections overall were poor. Based on this cruise, we will not take an MSC cruise again.

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Drinks on the Drink On Us package were very limited, primarily beers and wine and virtually no mixed drinks. Food at buffet same daily for breakfast and lunch.

Onboard Activities

2 out of 5

Not much to do on board for mature couples.

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Little variety. Same nightly except for stage settings -- opera type singing which we could not understand the words because the sound system made the singing sound like yelling. One great opera show during the day --condensed version of Madam Butterfly.

Children's Programs

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Dinner service was good at assigned dining, but no service at buffet dining. Room service was good.

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Not enough storage areas in small closet and only two drawers provided. Very difficult to get to closet since it opens right next to the bed.

Ship tip

Be prepared for extra add on charges such as tips on drink package (even if given as a perk) and specialty dining, room service charges after 11 p.m. We felt like we were nickled and dimed with added charges.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Miami, Florida Did not visit port

Thumbs Up 0

Ocho Rios, Jamaica

4 out of 5

Thumbs Up 0

George Town, Grand Cayman

4 out of 5

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Cozumel, Mexico Did not visit port

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Nassau, Bahamas

4 out of 5

Thumbs Up 0

Disembarkation

5 out of 5

2 Comments

DebDoesCruises1 6 years ago

We ate in the Specialty Restaurants and did not have to pay any additional gratuity but we did because we enjoyed the service! The buffets service, we thought was exceptional...especially the bar in the buffet on Deck 8. We were able to order mixed drinks with our Drinks on Us. If you book Bella, which is most economic, there is a fee for room service , but if you book Fantastica, you get free room service and better cabin location for just a few dollars more. We booked Fantastica and they upgraded us to an Aureu Suite with an extended balcony...very happy!

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Rwp5245 6 years ago

What buffet did you go to the buffet on deck 8 is endless if you did not venture beyond the entry to buffet you really missed out buffet goes almost around entire dining room I can’t understand these negative remarks

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Other reviews of this sailing

Amazing Experience!

Great trip to Caribbean

Beautiful Ship/Itinerary