Seaside Reviews

[susan1957]

Help me out here, cause I am missing something.  I've been reading reviews of the Seaside...the last one posted was HORRIBLE...Said the food was terrible...etc. etc.  Next review...FOOD WAS AMAZING...Come on people ...I understand that everyone has their own taste buds...but how can 2 reviews be sooooooooo far apart....

[CarolnLarry]

Different people different opinions.  Cruise and enjoy.

[FireEMT978]

I cruised Oct.13-20th. Horrible experience. Food, etc... I posted a review.

 

[Até]

22 minutes ago, FireEMT978 said:

 I posted a review.

For those interested it wasn't via the normal CC review process.  It can be found here.

[shipgeeks]

All the reviews of all the cruises (different cruiselines, different itineraries) seem to have a wide range of awful/excellent responses.  Sometimes the details give it away; "the pizza wasn't anything like my pizza at home", "they didn't play any Taylor Swift music".  I take them all with a grain of salt.

[kodesthemoose]

It's entirely reasonable that two people could eat the exact same meal and have wildly differing views about it.  Here's my thoughts, and I haven't even sailed MSC yet.  Seaside is a ship for 5,000 people.  Food is mass produced.  It's unlikely to be comparable to a michelin starred restaurant.  Food in the buffet is likely to be of the lowest quality given that it sits out longer and is picked over by many.  Food in the MDRs is likely to be of better quality, though probably still somewhat hit and miss given that the kitchen still cooks for hundreds at one time.  Food in the specialty restaurants is likely to be better still.  I look at it this way: a) it's a cruise of thousands, so the food is never going to be unbelievable; or b) it's a cruise, so any food you don't have to cook or clean up after is better than being at home.  Others look at it differently.

[asctony]

24 minutes ago, kodesthemoose said:

It's entirely reasonable that two people could eat the exact same meal and have wildly differing views about it.  Here's my thoughts, and I haven't even sailed MSC yet.  Seaside is a ship for 5,000 people.  Food is mass produced.  It's unlikely to be comparable to a michelin starred restaurant.  Food in the buffet is likely to be of the lowest quality given that it sits out longer and is picked over by many.  Food in the MDRs is likely to be of better quality, though probably still somewhat hit and miss given that the kitchen still cooks for hundreds at one time.  Food in the specialty restaurants is likely to be better still.  I look at it this way: a) it's a cruise of thousands, so the food is never going to be unbelievable; or b) it's a cruise, so any food you don't have to cook or clean up after is better than being at home.  Others look at it differently.

I do appreciate your reasoning. However, I am not comparing the MSC just on the Seaside (5,000 passengers.) I am also comparing the MSC food on the Divina and the Sinfonia. Then I compare MSC food to RCI, Celebrity, NCL, Princess, etc. We were on the Harmony OTS 2 weeks then went directly to the Seaside. Food on RCI was much better than the Seaside and Harmony has ~6,500 passengers.

I still believe that MSC needs to improve on their food in the MDR and buffets. MSC food is very bland, never hot when served and poor selection. The breakfast in the MDR is really good all around. That is the real short coming of MSC. Other wise they are a very good cruise line. That is why we cruised them 3 times this year on three different ships. We still book MSC and have done so already for next year. Happy Cruising!! 

[kodesthemoose]

This is where it gets subjective, though, because I've also read many reviews complaining about RCCL's food, and frankly every cruise line has its negative reviews.  I have read reviews raving about the food on DCL, the last line I was on, yet I would call it solidly average.  Food is subjective. 

[twoflyers]

9 hours ago, kodesthemoose said:

It's entirely reasonable that two people could eat the exact same meal and have wildly differing views about it.  Here's my thoughts, and I haven't even sailed MSC yet.  Seaside is a ship for 5,000 people.  Food is mass produced.  It's unlikely to be comparable to a michelin starred restaurant.  Food in the buffet is likely to be of the lowest quality given that it sits out longer and is picked over by many.  Food in the MDRs is likely to be of better quality, though probably still somewhat hit and miss given that the kitchen still cooks for hundreds at one time.  Food in the specialty restaurants is likely to be better still.  I look at it this way: a) it's a cruise of thousands, so the food is never going to be unbelievable; or b) it's a cruise, so any food you don't have to cook or clean up after is better than being at home.  Others look at it differently.

Add this to the equation:  5429 guests and 1,413 crew (many of them officers or not front line).  

We sailed for our 3rd time on MSC in September.  1st time great, 2nd time o.k., 3rd time awful.

We're done.

[darren42]

On 11/18/2018 at 4:16 PM, susan1957 said:

Help me out here, cause I am missing something.  I've been reading reviews of the Seaside...the last one posted was HORRIBLE...Said the food was terrible...etc. etc.  Next review...FOOD WAS AMAZING...Come on people ...I understand that everyone has their own taste buds...but how can 2 reviews be sooooooooo far apart....

The problem as I see it is that people are ill informed about the "experience" system MSC uses. You can get a balcony cabin in "bella" experience for about 500 per week and you will have to pay for everything except MDR and buffet. Sometimes even pay for the bottled water. The have to dine when they tell you to, 515,715 or 915 and sit at the same table each night.  So, although you got the cabin for a very good price, the "experience" left a bad taste in your mouth which ruined the entire vacation. But realistically, if you understood the "bella" experience you would realize you got more than you paid for. You went to the same ports as the Aureas and the Yacht Clubs. Saw the same shows, shops, bars, activities etc.

 

 

If you pay for an Aurea balcony, about $1200, and upgrade to premium drinks for $56 per person then everything is included. Drinks, gelato, chocolates, coffees, waters, beer, wine, milkshakes, everything and the bar service is good. The MDR is anytime dining with other Aurea class passengers so the water and the wine flows freely, and for free. So you are not hounded to pay more, then everything tasted better. You go home with a positive experience and are willing to overlook some of the crew and ships deficiencies. 

 

If you go all the way to Yacht Club, then the food, drinks, and service are excellent and included. Private dining area, lounge, pool, high quality buffet, 20 hours of snacks, pizza delivery to you cabin, minibar filled with whatever you ask for. Never more than 200 people anyplace you look in Yacht Club. But you will pay more. Much more. 

 

We were in Yacht Club in October/November and then moved into an Aurea class balcony with a private whirlpool on the deck outside. The service was great. The food was great in Yacht Club and quite good in the MDR in Aurea class, which is anytime dining. Never had to wait for a table. Same waiters each night. A very positive experience.

 

When reading a review, look to see what experience the reviewer purchased. Then you will understand the review better. 

[TheSoccerCoach]

On 11/22/2018 at 7:41 PM, darren42 said:

The problem as I see it is that people are ill informed about the "experience" system MSC uses. You can get a balcony cabin in "bella" experience for about 500 per week and you will have to pay for everything except MDR and buffet. Sometimes even pay for the bottled water. The have to dine when they tell you to, 515,715 or 915 and sit at the same table each night.  So, although you got the cabin for a very good price, the "experience" left a bad taste in your mouth which ruined the entire vacation. But realistically, if you understood the "bella" experience you would realize you got more than you paid for. You went to the same ports as the Aureas and the Yacht Clubs. Saw the same shows, shops, bars, activities etc.

 

 

If you pay for an Aurea balcony, about $1200, and upgrade to premium drinks for $56 per person then everything is included. Drinks, gelato, chocolates, coffees, waters, beer, wine, milkshakes, everything and the bar service is good. The MDR is anytime dining with other Aurea class passengers so the water and the wine flows freely, and for free. So you are not hounded to pay more, then everything tasted better. You go home with a positive experience and are willing to overlook some of the crew and ships deficiencies. 

 

If you go all the way to Yacht Club, then the food, drinks, and service are excellent and included. Private dining area, lounge, pool, high quality buffet, 20 hours of snacks, pizza delivery to you cabin, minibar filled with whatever you ask for. Never more than 200 people anyplace you look in Yacht Club. But you will pay more. Much more. 

 

We were in Yacht Club in October/November and then moved into an Aurea class balcony with a private whirlpool on the deck outside. The service was great. The food was great in Yacht Club and quite good in the MDR in Aurea class, which is anytime dining. Never had to wait for a table. Same waiters each night. A very positive experience.

 

When reading a review, look to see what experience the reviewer purchased. Then you will understand the review better. 

This is one of the best things I have read here on CC. Thank you for having common sense! It is so very rare these days. We have cruised three times with MSC and have booked a fourth for next New Year's. We did two Fantastica experience cruises, which were lovely. We just experience Aurea and have booked another...and Aurea is even more lovely! 

 

For anyone to book Bella and expect a YC experience is, sadly, naive. 

[BellaWave]

I just got off the Seaside.  Food wasn't horrible.  It was bland!   Not a lot of any seasoning.  The portions were very small.  You could order more then one.  They have a main menu with same items nightly and a small selection of different items each nightly.   The two buffets always had same items.  Make sure you walk all the way around, it appears that there is just a pizza and cold cut section - keep walking.

There is also free sit down breakfast and lunch (Seashore)  it isn't open for long time, but it has different items then the buffet.

[Two Wheels Only]

On 11/22/2018 at 7:41 PM, darren42 said:

The problem as I see it is that people are ill informed about the "experience" system MSC uses.

 

I agree. Many people complain about things that are caused by their "experience" choice.

 

Can't go there? You picked the wrong experience.

Don't want to eat at that time? You picked the wrong experience.

You want that included? You picked the wrong experience.

 

MSC is different. Prospective guests need to learn the differences before booking and definitely before sailing.

 

Some complaints are valid and MSC can improve on certain procedures but far too many complaints are "...it was different, we prefer what we're used to...".

 

[sidari]

Not just passengers to blame for choosing the wrong experience, many travel agents do not understand them and advise clients wrongly. Those who do look into them usually make the right choice for the price point they wish to pay.

[Two Wheels Only]

49 minutes ago, sidari said:

Not just passengers to blame for choosing the wrong experience, many travel agents do not understand them and advise clients wrongly.

 

Even in those cases, some guests will still blame MSC instead of blaming the travel agent. Even worse, guests will still be loyal to that travel agent and will vow to "...never sail MSC again...".

 

It's a shame.

[sidari]

Two ... I agree with what you say, sadly many travel agents have their favourites and as we saw some time ago many went out of their way to try to stitch MSC up. 

Luckily there are those who can see the wood for the trees.

[GOLDENBONNY]

On 11/18/2018 at 7:16 PM, susan1957 said:

Help me out here, cause I am missing something.  I've been reading reviews of the Seaside...the last one posted was HORRIBLE...Said the food was terrible...etc. etc.  Next review...FOOD WAS AMAZING...Come on people ...I understand that everyone has their own taste buds...but how can 2 reviews be sooooooooo far apart....

We did back to back cruise on Dvina once . It was like 2 cruises on two different ships or even two different companies . I would put two different reviews 

[janineallison]

If we had listened to all the reviews about the Seaside, we never would have gone. Instead, we booked it and decided to form our own opinions. Guess what? We loved it! Honestly, it was right up there with our Royal Caribbean cruise and we would book another MSC cruise in a heartbeat. It helped that we knew about some things beforehand (thanks to reading reviews!) but we went in there with an open mind and had a great experience. Though I don't know that there's any such thing as a bad cruise (in my opinion).

[asctony]

1 hour ago, janineallison said:

If we had listened to all the reviews about the Seaside, we never would have gone. Instead, we booked it and decided to form our own opinions. Guess what? We loved it! Honestly, it was right up there with our Royal Caribbean cruise and we would book another MSC cruise in a heartbeat. It helped that we knew about some things beforehand (thanks to reading reviews!) but we went in there with an open mind and had a great experience. Though I don't know that there's any such thing as a bad cruise (in my opinion).

Glad you enjoy it. We did, too. We also booked for next year, too.

Like any ship/cruise line - there were pluses and minuses.

[psmarkle]

On 11/27/2018 at 1:27 PM, janineallison said:

If we had listened to all the reviews about the Seaside, we never would have gone. Instead, we booked it and decided to form our own opinions. Guess what? We loved it! Honestly, it was right up there with our Royal Caribbean cruise and we would book another MSC cruise in a heartbeat. It helped that we knew about some things beforehand (thanks to reading reviews!) but we went in there with an open mind and had a great experience. Though I don't know that there's any such thing as a bad cruise (in my opinion).

I agree!  We sailed the Seaside back in July...and out of 30 cruises, this was my FAVORITE experience (minus the casino staff, but not a show stopper). We were in the YC and I found the attention-to-detail way above the Haven on NCL.  Bringing cocktails to our suite while getting ready for dinner, to the butler escorting us off the ship in ports, to newspaper delivered to our room, to our waiter looking over the railing in the YC dining room down to the lounge to say "Hi, you coming up for dinner?". Absolutely luv's this ship!  The quality of the shows were top-notch, too!  Luv'd it so much, we're booked on the Seaside again for July 2019!

[#1TravelMom]

We just returned from the Seaside back to back with the Harmony.  The Seaside(Fantastica Experience-2nd from the bottom tier) - inside cabin / Harmony - inside cabin.  I rate the Harmony slightly higher in food selection.  However, the buffet on the Seaside had LOTS to choose from in my opinion and definitely had better pizza.  The Seaside was super clean.  The staff was very friendly.  The price for the Seaside Thanksgiving week was $100 less per person that the Harmony the following week.  The Harmony was almost $400 per person more Thanksgiving week, which is why we chose the Seaside.  The Seaside GREATLY exceeded our expectations and we will most certainly return!

 

This was cruise #58 for us, so we have an extremely wide range of experiences from Celebrity, Princess, NCL, Disney, Carnival, RCCL and now MSC.  RCCL Harmony is currently our favorite ship, but, price for value - Seaside wins!

[janineallison]

3 minutes ago, #1TravelMom said:

We just returned from the Seaside back to back with the Harmony.  The Seaside(Fantastica Experience-2nd from the bottom tier) - inside cabin / Harmony - inside cabin.  I rate the Harmony slightly higher in food selection.  However, the buffet on the Seaside had LOTS to choose from in my opinion and definitely had better pizza.  The Seaside was super clean.  The staff was very friendly.  The price for the Seaside Thanksgiving week was $100 less per person that the Harmony the following week.  The Harmony was almost $400 per person more Thanksgiving week, which is why we chose the Seaside.  The Seaside GREATLY exceeded our expectations and we will most certainly return!

 

This was cruise #58 for us, so we have an extremely wide range of experiences from Celebrity, Princess, NCL, Disney, Carnival, RCCL and now MSC.  RCCL Harmony is currently our favorite ship, but, price for value - Seaside wins!

 

Glad to hear this! Harmony of the Seas is our next cruise and my fiancé was actually worried he would be let down after the Seaside.

[susan1957]

On 11/27/2018 at 1:27 PM, janineallison said:

If we had listened to all the reviews about the Seaside, we never would have gone. Instead, we booked it and decided to form our own opinions. Guess what? We loved it! Honestly, it was right up there with our Royal Caribbean cruise and we would book another MSC cruise in a heartbeat. It helped that we knew about some things beforehand (thanks to reading reviews!) but we went in there with an open mind and had a great experience. Though I don't know that there's any such thing as a bad cruise (in my opinion).

What "experience" did you book...I think alot has to do with that...

[Hobby3333]

On 12/3/2018 at 7:27 PM, psmarkle said:

I agree!  We sailed the Seaside back in July...and out of 30 cruises, this was my FAVORITE experience (minus the casino staff, but not a show stopper). We were in the YC and I found the attention-to-detail way above the Haven on NCL.  Bringing cocktails to our suite while getting ready for dinner, to the butler escorting us off the ship in ports, to newspaper delivered to our room, to our waiter looking over the railing in the YC dining room down to the lounge to say "Hi, you coming up for dinner?". Absolutely luv's this ship!  The quality of the shows were top-notch, too!  Luv'd it so much, we're booked on the Seaside again for July 2019!

We were on the Seaside last July in YC  and booked again for July 2019 before we even got off the ship.   Best cruise and overall experience that we have ever had.  Can’t wait

[LakeWobegon]

I have dined at Michelin star restaurants for work when entertaining clients. One that had two stars in London was a delightful experience. But the food wasn’t that extraordinary in terms of variety or taste. It was more that every item was prepared perfectly and the exceptional service that went with it. The experience. 

 

Many negative Seaside reviewers are likely expecting perfection in terms of food and service. Unrealistic expectations on a large cruise ship, regardless of the package you choose.