It was our first MSC cruise and we had high expectations but were disappointed in the food quality and selections and ship layout/decor. No soda package for kids or grilled cheese. The entertainment was very good and the embarkation and disembarkation process was excellent.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
very quick and easy
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
1 out of 5
The buffet had poor choices and it was the same food every day for every meal. Pizza and french fries were very good. You can't buy a kid's soda (non-alcohol) package ($200) without buying the package for everyone in the cabin. Specialty restaurants were very pricey. We were stuck with a 5:30 dinner seating. They should offer MyChoice Dining to everyone.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
They offered a zip line, formula one simulator, bowling and a theater but all cost extra money. Pools were very small and scattered on the ship.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The nightly themed variety shows featured very talented artists and they were only about 30 minutes.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Room steward was very accommodating.
Ship Quality
2 out of 5
The ship was very segmented and compartmentalized. It felt smaller than it was and the decor was dark. Restrooms were often out of soap or the hand dryer did not work. Hand sanitizing stations were often empty or not dispensing properly.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
The closet and shelf space was not adequate for three people. The closet doors would not slide open all the way and it was inches from the bed. The shower is tiny inside. TV is small. Have to have room card in a slot for the electicity to work. We noticed the tissue dispenser in the bathroom was empty and when we asked for tissues, we were told that they no longer provide them unless your at the Yacht Club Level! Really?!
Ship tip
It's a nice ship and the staff tries hard but it's not at same level overall as Royal Caribbean. Expect a lot of foreign languages being spoken onboard by fellow cruisers from all over the world. Many announcements are made in five languages.
We only went to Margaritaville because we had no desire to go on an excursion due to past bad experiences in Jamaica. The locals there accost you aggressively at the port trying to sell you something or take you somewhere. It's unnerving.
Best port of the trip. Went to Chankanaub Park via taxi and the beaches were not crowded and very beautiful. Plenty of lounge chairs and shade. Excellent snorkeling.
Got off the ship for half hour. Only walked around the port area. Was not interested in excursions due the U.S. State Dept. warnings about crimes against tourists there.
Seems like you wanted a more American cruise rather than a diversified European cruise. I on the other hand am looking forward to the diversity and meeting people from other countries as well as the different food.
Sorry you had such a horrible cruise and let your fears keep you from experiencing ports.
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