msc vs costa

[cabrfam]

my husband and I are looking to book a cruise for our 10th anniversary. we are debating between the costa serena and msc poesia in oct 08. we are not too concerned with the language aspect as we figure that is all part of the experience when you travel to different countries. if anyone has any info about either of these cruise lines please feel free to comment.

[caviargal]

I have not sailed Costa since Carnival took them over and started building ships on the same design as Conquest, which is truly awful IMO. The things I have read about the new onboard atmosphere do not make me want to try them again.

I cruised with MSC two years ago and was very pleased overall. Other than there being a lot of badly behaved kids on board (it was July and if I cruised them again it would be no where near a school holiday) it was a great cruise. Lovely, understated decor, the best food on a mainstream line I have had in years in the dining room (cannot say that about the buffet), a classy and elegant ship in an understated way and a nice traditional feel.

The food in the Med was very Italian, not Americanized Italian and it was really a treat!

Front desk staff was aloof on good days, rude on others, not much different than other recent cruises except for HAL.

They have great itineraries and comfortable cabins. I liked the fact there were only a few dozen Americans on board. It is decidedly European.

Try MSC, my opinion.

[cabrfam]

thanks for your input. we actually just booked msc poesia for oct 11 2008!!! we are very excited to try something new. it will be our first cruise.

[deharry]

One additional comment on Costa Vs. MSC. As a two time cruiser on the Opera, I can say that CLEANLINESS will be one of the things that stands out for MSC. I sailed on the Opera in Dec.2004 and again in Feb 2007. The ship was the cleanest I have ever been on. Crew members were constantly polishing handrails and other metalic items. Rest rooms were very clean and of course, the kitchen, open house on one of their Buffets, was as clean as a brand new installation. One way to judge a ship is to inspect their public rooms windows. The Opera has crew members cleaning windows, while in port.

Costa on my 2002 Atlantica cruise, suffered from the rest rooms in total disarray, towels on the floor and filty.

[caviargal]

deharry, great point and I agree...Sinfonia was meticulously clean and perfectly maintained.