Scared off by bad reviews, MSC Seascape

[Itchy&Scratchy]

3 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Usually for an hour and  1/2. 3:30- 5 ?

good to hear, but when I say - it's important to my family, I mean that my boys (not me) eat it from 11 am when it's usually available on other cruise lines until closing which sometimes is late (like 7 or 8 pm). So, this "free for one hour" business is not going to do, especially if we are still off the ship at the port.

[morpheusofthesea]

28 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

good to hear, but when I say - it's important to my family, I mean that my boys (not me) eat it from 11 am when it's usually available on other cruise lines until closing which sometimes is late (like 7 or 8 pm). So, this "free for one hour" business is not going to do, especially if we are still off the ship at the port.

That is why it is important to make a list what one wants in a cruise ship. I guess the kids did not have a vote in picking this cruise?

Edited September 23, 2023 by morpheusofthesea

[Itchy&Scratchy]

56 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

That is why it is important to make a list what one wants in a cruise ship. I guess the kids did not have a vote in picking this cruise?

only one of them is a kid, and, yes, he gets a vote too, but he usually votes for Princess.🙂 Princess, however, didn't have any suitable cruises during this Thanksgiving....     

 

He can't wait to ride the panoramic aft elevator on Seascape, though.

 

MSC has been changing things up so much lately that it is impossible to say whether something that is important to you on the cruise will still be available when you actually sail. We booked our first MSC cruise back in 2019 when they still had free soft serve available on Mera all the time... 

 

Edited September 24, 2023 by Itchy&Scratchy

[RD64]

To each his own but - if free soft serve 24/7 is a deal breaker for choosing a cruise, then never consider HAL, where there is no soft serve at all (at least on the Noordam last month), yet numerous family groups still managed to have a most enjoyable cruise.

[blueslily]

3 hours ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

only one of them is a kid, and, yes, he gets a vote too, but he usually votes for Princess.🙂 Princess, however, didn't have any suitable cruises during this Thanksgiving....     

 

He can't wait to ride the panoramic aft elevator on Seascape, though.

 

MSC has been changing things up so much lately that it is impossible to say whether something that is important to you on the cruise will still be available when you actually sail. We booked our first MSC cruise back in 2019 when they still had free soft serve available on Mera all the time... 

 

 

Hi there, What has MSC changed up recently? 

 

It's hard to know if I know all the changes. Man, all the lines have been making changes during 2023. One after another. Changes, changes, changes.  Most of those changes, the cruisers do not like. 

 

Thanks!

[perakcruiser]

13 hours ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

-long tender times, mere mortals get off the ship at 11-11:30 whereas YC and MSC tours get off the ship at 8-8:30.

This is not the norm, but true for some tender ports. As you know from other lines, every tender port is different, they all have their own rules the cruise lines have to follow. Because of this I did not experience that one company handles this better than others. Especially with same ship size. 

[morpheusofthesea]

1 hour ago, perakcruiser said:

This is not the norm, but true for some tender ports. As you know from other lines, every tender port is different, they all have their own rules the cruise lines have to follow. Because of this I did not experience that one company handles this better than others. Especially with same ship size. 

Here was my post on this situation:

How many gangways ? Sometimes depends on security linking computers to more than one gangway when docked. When we anchored, only one gangway. MSC hired 5 tenders to ferry guests to Grand Cayman. (these tenders are complimentary) All the MSC purchased tours would meet in designated lounges, no tender tickets needed. Tours and Yacht Club guests have priority getting off. All guests with private tours or on their own have to get tender tickets given out on a first come first serve basis at the Casino Bar or now at Sports Bar. Tenders for tours and YC began around 8-8:30 and tender ticket numbers were not called until 11:30 for everyone else. Getting back was another long wait. We also had another port change from Belize City to Cozumel. Something to look out for. Belize City requires tendering as well, only the ships must anchor farther away and regular tenders take an hour both ways. Our cruise, the ship got word from the tender company in Belize City that their larger capacity hydrofoils were having engine problems and could not reach speeds to keep the trip down to 20 minutes both ways. They could only provide tenders taking 1 hour both ways. We got a notice "Due to operational reasons, your cruise itinerary has been amended" and went to Cozumel instead. One time with over 5500 passengers, even our butler reported he had trouble butting to the front of the tender line with so many guests trying to get off. He said something about not being able to pick up a pencil should one be dropped.

[perakcruiser]

But Belize has the advantage that guests that have been their before in large numbers opt to stay on the ship, so less demand for tender tickets 😄

[shipgeeks]

12 hours ago, RD64 said:

To each his own but - if free soft serve 24/7 is a deal breaker for choosing a cruise, then never consider HAL, where there is no soft serve at all (at least on the Noordam last month), yet numerous family groups still managed to have a most enjoyable cruise.

And limited hours on RC.

[lcpagejr]

14 hours ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

only one of them is a kid, and, yes, he gets a vote too, but he usually votes for Princess.🙂 Princess, however, didn't have any suitable cruises during this Thanksgiving....     

 

He can't wait to ride the panoramic aft elevator on Seascape, though.

 

MSC has been changing things up so much lately that it is impossible to say whether something that is important to you on the cruise will still be available when you actually sail. We booked our first MSC cruise back in 2019 when they still had free soft serve available on Mera all the time... 

 

Itchy..we will be with you on this cruise.... I guess you could allow your kids to use some of your OBC at the ice cream parlour at back of ship.  Also...I notice your concern about Marketplace. I really haven't studied the floor plan of Seascape yet. However when we cruised on Seaside...I recall that ship had 2 buffet areas...Perhaps not on Seascape??  One was on deck 15?? A smaller version which was also used for afternoon and late evening snacks??  Eventhough we were in YC...I had my 9 year old grandson with me  and I recall taking him in after playing at Jungle pool and sports court

Edited September 24, 2023 by lcpagejr

[Itchy&Scratchy]

3 hours ago, perakcruiser said:

But Belize has the advantage that guests that have been their before in large numbers opt to stay on the ship, so less demand for tender tickets 😄

but we are going to be in Grand Cayman. All aboard is 2 pm, so if we can only disembark around 11 as people without privileges, then we'll miss our previously booked private tour leaving at 8:30 am and we'll only have 3 hours in port instead of 6.

 

The previous cruise lines handled Grand Cayman tendering just fine.

Edited September 24, 2023 by Itchy&Scratchy

[Itchy&Scratchy]

1 minute ago, lcpagejr said:

I guess you could allow your kids to use come of your OBC at the ice cream parlour at back of ship.

thanks. The kid will have a minor package, so he is taken care of. It's my husband that I am "concerned" about. 🙂

 

2 minutes ago, lcpagejr said:

However when we cruised on Seaside...I recall that ship had 2 buffet areas...Perhaps not on Seascape??

 

apparently, Seascape only has 1 buffet for regular people, and a separate buffet for YC.

[lcpagejr]

2 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

thanks. The kid will have a minor package, so he is taken care of. It's my husband that I am "concerned" about. 🙂

 

 

apparently, Seascape only has 1 buffet for regular people, and a separate buffet for YC.

 

2 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

thanks. The kid will have a minor package, so he is taken care of. It's my husband that I am "concerned" about. 🙂

 

 

apparently, Seascape only has 1 buffet for regular people, and a separate buffet for YC.

No...YC always has its own inclusive Pool buffet area ...Seaside had 2 buffet areas for anyone.

Edited September 24, 2023 by lcpagejr

[Itchy&Scratchy]

10 hours ago, blueslily said:

Hi there, What has MSC changed up recently? 

In my previous post I mentioned the two changes that affect us directly: the $5 additional entrees in MDR in the Caribbean after the first, and free soft serve only with the minor's drink package. 

 

Although I don't understand why it couldn't be included in the adult drink package.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

2 minutes ago, lcpagejr said:

No...YC always has its own inclusive Pool buffet area ...Seaside had 2 buffet areas for anyone.

again, we are going to be on Seascape, not Seaside, so I am only concerned with Seascape.

[blueslily]

9 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

In my previous post I mentioned the two changes that affect us directly: the $5 additional entrees in MDR in the Caribbean after the first, and free soft serve only with the minor's drink package. 

 

Although I don't understand why it couldn't be included in the adult drink package.

 

Ok. Thanks. I was wondering if there was something more. Thanks 

[lcpagejr]

11 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

again, we are going to be on Seascape, not Seaside, so I am only concerned with Seascape.

As I will too🙂....I think I misunderstood your response 

[boasman781]

sailing MSC seascape aurea suite with jacuzzi on balcony went to fill my jacuzzi and there were roaches not one but many crawling around the jacuzzi and balcony floor by the drains. gross! idk if I will ever sail MSC again. this is my 2nd time first time was great. I'm highly disappointed.. attaching a photo look at the rim of the jacuzzi trying to get under the crack before I snap a photo.. 🤮🤮🤮

[morpheusofthesea]

A video would be better. Just to see if it wasn't dead. It looks like a watermelon pit to me, left over from the last guest to use it. I see you are a regular poster ?

[boasman781]

oh don't worry I'm on the ship now 1st night plenty of time to get Vids.. there were not just one but many! big ones too. I just happend to catch a photo of a baby one when I turned the lights on they all scattered. there were at least 5 or 6.. im a licensed hood cleaning and inspecting technician I inspect and clean restaurant ventilation systems I see roaches often so I know exaclty what I'm seeing. but don't worry I will get better pics and vids. and im definitely complaining for sure I want at least half my money back as I'm definitely not using my jacuzzi.. 🤮

[morpheusofthesea]

9 minutes ago, boasman781 said:

I want at least half my money back

Now that would be newsworthy.

[boasman781]

yea either way there shouldn't be roaches in a private jacuzzi period. I can understand these things happen but they have to have an infestation going on that they either don't know about or they are not doing enough to get rid or minimize the issue. ive been on multiple cruises never had this bs happen. and I will get at least half my money back mark my words. 

[capriccio]

Did you bring it to the attention of the ship's staff before or after posting?  What was their reaction?

[Dunchues]

We had a bit of an issue with a cabin door on this ship last week. I must admit my first thought was not to share my problems on this forum but to rely on the staff to put us right ( it's a recurrent problem with door sensor design it appears). I am admittedly pretty forceful when I imagine I am slighted, but I didn't take your high ground of electing a sum that would be the amount I would be refunded, but I felt losing some use of our balcony deserved a sorry be shown rather than stated. I left it with the guest services team and I must say after 24 hours consideration they were very generous to us, and I was more than pleased with their attitude. 

I have no doubt if I'd taken a more confrontational stance, I would not have been so generously treated.

[Beamafar]

If you think the Seaside class ships are crowded, just wait til you see the World America, if World Europa is anything to go by (and the ship was only at about 70% capacity when we sailed, with just a few children onboard).