The good and bad, a truthful report

Item: MSC Seaside
Rating: 2.8
Author: jonh26

MSC Seaside Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

jonh26

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Reviews: 2

Helpful Votes: 58

Overall rating:

2.8 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Caribbean & Bahamas (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: April 06, 2019

Ship: MSC Seaside

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 10218

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

I can't stress this enough! Make sure of who is traveling on the ship before you commit. Our voyage had more Europeans on it than Americans. These people were so rude and obnoxious it was not funny. They constantly cut in the food lines, bumped into you, cut across you and were belligerent. I was tripped 3 times as they cut right in front of me, had them bump into me while I was carrying coffee 5 times and ended up wearing half the coffee on my shorts and shirt. It was the worst cruise I have ever been on as frustrations grew higher every day trying to get food and drinks. The Europeans on board did not follow any directions, the staff placed some barriers at only some of the food lines saying "Enter" and Exit" but this did not matter to these people, they constantly went into the exit side and out the enter side of the buffet. When waiting to eat in the main dining room, they would show up 2-5 minutes before the doors opened to let you in and cut right to the front of the line. They do not have any manners or sense of politeness. If you place your towel on a lounge chair, they will move your towel and take your lounge chair and this happened many times during our trip. When you asked them to move because they took your lounge chair, they just look at you and put on a face like they want to fight. AND these were people in their 50's and 60's, not just the young people. They constantly would walk in front of my wife when I was trying to take a picture and would block the stairs and aisles (aka: Walmart shoppers) and then call you names when you asked them politely to please move so you could get by. It was a very frustration cruise and was not calming or relaxing because of these people.

Embarkation

4 out of 5

Getting on the ship was a great experience, there was hardly no waiting.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

2 out of 5

The dining rooms are bland to say the least, no chandeliers, pictures or festive atmosphere. The buffets were the same every day, no changes in any of the foods, no variety, just the same foods from day to day. You did not get advanced notice if a certain night had required dress codes, for example, they had a white night, a cowboy night, a Gatsby night, etc. If you did not bring a white outfit or a corresponding outfit, then you were stuck.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

The gym was up to date, they had a zip line that was never put to use. The pools were nice but the hot tubs were always filled with the same people that never left them so you could not use them.

Entertainment

2 out of 5

There were hardly no announcements for activities, you had to read each day what was planned and then try to remember if you wanted to be somewhere at a given time. They had the same singer or DJ every day, not a huge variety of things onboard.

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

The service was good and the staff was fine. Be aware of the packages though as they are not forthcoming about what is included and not included. For example, I bought the drink package. I was told that it included beer, wine and drinks. When I got onboard I asked for a Michelob Ultra Light and was told that it was not included in my package. The only beer included in my package was Miller Light and Heineken on draft. My wife wanted a Sangria wine, not included on my package, only house red, white or rose. My wife wanted a strawberry daiquiri, not included on my package, only a virgin daiquiri but I could get a shot of house rum to put into the daiquiri but because it was just the two of us, I could not get a beer, a strawberry daiquiri and a shot of rum at the same time, only two drinks at a time.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

The ship was great, clean, new and fresh.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

The room was the same size as other rooms I have cruised on. The bed was very stiff and the pillows were very soft, too soft for my taste.

Ship tip

Make sure of who is traveling on the ship before you commit. Our voyage had more Europeans on it than Americans. These people were so rude and obnoxious it was not funny. They constantly cut in the food lines, bumped into you, cut across you and were belligerent. I was tripped 3 times as they cut right in front of me, had them bump into me while I was carrying coffee 5 times and ended up wearing half the coffee on my shorts and shirt. It was the worst cruise I have ever been on as frustrations grew higher every day trying to get food and drinks.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Ocho Rios, Jamaica

3 out of 5

This was a very rustic port of call. It was fun but rustic as I mentioned.

Thumbs Up 1

George Town, Grand Cayman

1 out of 5

The excursion was over an hour late getting started, then we had to wait an additional 20 minutes for the provided transportation. The excursion did not last the 4 hours promised and we could not shop the port of call because of this. I complained and was given a bottle of wine for my efforts and a note saying "sorry for the inconvenience". Not a great exchange in my view, the excursion should have been refunded and frustration money to recompense the trouble.

Thumbs Up 0

Cozumel, Mexico

1 out of 5

Again, an hour late to start the excursion. They extended the excursion for the hour so you had the full four hour excursion but again, no time to shop the port of call because of the delay.

Thumbs Up 1

Nassau, Bahamas

5 out of 5

This was a great excursion, they allowed you the time to visit and to shop.

Thumbs Up 3

Disembarkation

4 out of 5

They got this right for a change.

12 Comments

Gwbigdog 2 years ago

Thanks for sharing your cruise with us.

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AmyElizabeth 5 years ago

Well ... That is what you should have expected when booking with an Italian Cruise line. 🤔

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destination1 5 years ago

I agree 100% with you..i was on this ship last year and there was a mixture of europeans and usa..i never once had a problem with ques..or did i witness any situations...maybe the person complaining went out of his way for a situation..by the way im european..

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Hdamgaard 5 years ago

Well - don’t go to Europe then - it seems like you think every person from Europe is rude because you met a few rude Europeans. Maybe you should try and be more open-minded. People from Europe are different from country to country - and there will be rude people en Europe - as well as there will be rude people in USA.

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tarajk 5 years ago

As I European i most definitely am not like this and neither are my family or friends, perhaps you should not paint everyone with the same brush! Maybe you had one or two small incidents would this really ruin your whole cruise?? Sounds like you're hard to please.....

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jadmiral 5 years ago

Thanks for the info John26. I will be sure to ask for the "Passage Manifest" next time I book a cruise!

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TheIceman 5 years ago

Troll

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TheIceman 5 years ago

Troll

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robinscruise2106 5 years ago

Time to get out of your American bubble and see the world Jonh. You missed an opportunity during your cruise and I feel very sad for you. I am booked on Seaside for a second cruise because I absolutely loved the diversity and culture of my fellow passengers... even "those Americans" 😁 Respectfully, a Canadian

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crusin4gramma 5 years ago

Wow, first off- pretty sure the cruiselines don't keep a running tally on the nationality of the passengers. I was just on MSC and had no issues at all. Sounds like maybe you should stay home as and enjoy your own company.

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MrCodieJoe 5 years ago

I’m sorry but this is the most ignorant review. You blame the cruise line because of the guests? If you did your research like you’re telling others then you’d know that MSC is a Mediterranean cruise line and liked by many international cruisers. If you’re looking for Americans only then cruise Carnival. I hear they have chandeliers too. 😒

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ChrisB66 5 years ago

By "Europeans"you mean the people from the whole 51 Countries of different Nationalities, Cultures and Traits which make up the continent of Europe?

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Other reviews of this sailing

This was my first, it was wonderful. Looking forward to my next cruise.