We’ve taken 14 cruises. This was our first time on MSC. Tales from my Bella experience.

[Momto3girlsintheCarolinas]

We’ve taken 14 cruises. This was our first time on MSC.  Tales from my Bella experience - PART ONE OF THREE.

 

I had a few people on the Boards ask if I would write a review following my trip.  There are many posts about YC – so I thought I’d provide the view from the cheap seats.

 

Please remember this is my opinion.  I am just one person who took one cruise.  I am entitled to my opinion, and you are entitled to disagree with it.  However - please play nicely.

 

We are a couple in our fifties with three grown children.  We took this trip because our thirtieth wedding anniversary is coming up, and MSC is one of the few lines that go to South America – for a much cheaper cost.  We decided to try MSC to see if it would be a good fit for our anniversary cruise.

 

Here is what we’ve done so far (Please see my signature for more details):

 

Disney – 1

Carnival – 2

NCL – 3

Royal - 7

 

Now, I must say that our comparing Royal to MSC is categorically unfair.  We have taken 7 cruises on Royal and only 1 on MSC.  If I were to judge Royal only by a cruise we took on RCI Serenade in 2021, I’d never go back.  However, Royal is currently our second favorite line after NCL.

 

Seven nights on Seashore in May 2024.

 

Before we left:  We booked an inside stateroom because the whole point was to take this trip “on the cheap”  to test out MSC.  That doesn’t mean we can’t afford it better – it means we have our oldest daughter’s wedding to pay for, a graduation trip to take with our youngest daughter, and a thirtieth-anniversary trip – all in the next two years.

 

We were upgraded by MSC (for free) to a balcony stateroom.  That was nice.  So, we were assigned a balcony on the fourteenth deck – at no additional charge.

 

Getting on the Ship:   This was surprisingly easy and painless.  It went very quickly.  One of the best experiences we’ve had.  We had our digital boarding pass and zipped right through.  The person who checked us in was very friendly.

 

The Ship:  This is the newest ship on which we have ever sailed.  It is beautiful and very clean.  It’s a big ship.  We have done NCL Getaway and RCI Symphony, but we also like smaller ships.

 

It took me a few days to figure out why this ship might seem so small.  It might be because so much room is taken up by Aurea and Yacht Club.  There were entire parts of the ship that were dedicated to the “ship within a ship” concept, and it made the Seashore seem tiny.   I wasn't a fan of feeling like Jack, walking around amongst the Roses (see what I did there?).

 

The décor was very elegant.  Much less brash than Carnival.   The ship was laid out well.  There were hardly any “you can’t go through there” situations where you had to go up a deck or two to get across the ship and then back down. 

 

We did have to go up to 8 and then walk up two flights to get to 10, where we could get the elevator furthest back in the ship.  It was the least crowded elevator and close to our room.  More about the elevators later.

 

I did miss the fish on the carpet of NCL. I have zero sense of direction, and those fish swimming in the direction of the bow of the ship are very helpful. 

The ship was also less loud than Carnival.  Also, much less rowdy.  Less of a “party atmosphere” – and more subdued. 

 

The Muster:  We watched the video in our stateroom and then showed up at our muster station to be checked in.  Easy peasy.  It beats standing in the heat and sun on an outer deck in a full life vest lined up like sardines while they wait for everyone to get there.

 

The Elevators:  The elevators irritated me.  Everyone seemed to wait forever for an elevator because you knew what floor you wanted, and a car was sent to get you.  If you got on an elevator that you didn’t “call,” – it would not stop at your floor.  Which means you had to get on the one you called.

 

It makes sense that this would be more effective because you would be in a queue, but was it?  My husband says we waited just as long on other ships, but there was something irritating about multiple elevators passing us by while we waited for ours.

 

The Food:  The first night’s dinner was a huge disappointment.  So much so that I asked my husband if he would sail MSC again based on our experience thus far.  He said “No,” and I agreed with him.

 

Luckily, the food thing got better.  Also, I was feeling grumpy because my accommodation for disability was not honored after MSC sent multiple emails promising me that they would be once we got on the ship (More about that later).  So, in fairness, I was uncomfortable for that first meal and that’s going to have an impact on my opinion.

 

The food was okay.  Sometimes it was pretty good; other times, it was not.  We never add salt to our plates at home, and MSC food needs salt and pepper.  It was often not warm, and it was under-seasoned.  Any meal tastes better when it’s hot. 

 

My husband loves French onion soup, and the man kept trying.  It was cold all four times he tried it.  The shrimp was excellent.  There were several dishes that were quite good.  Overall, the food was passable.

 

The coffee at breakfast was always hot, but the eggs and pancakes were often cold.  The food was inconsistent, and that was stressful.  You just didn’t know if it was going to be worth it. 

 

We went to late-night pizza several times because we were still hungry (neither of us is overweight).  Portions were smaller and more appropriate, as is the European way, but often something was not enjoyable, so it wasn’t eaten.  The pizza in the buffet was always excellent.

 

Edited May 26 by Momto3girlsintheCarolinas

[newmil]

Thank you for your review, we just booked our first MSC cruise, Bella level, inside cabin😮. 
We’ve always cruised on RC and Norwegian (always balcony) and enjoyed them both. Carnival was once and done! I’m a bit nervous about an inside room, but it’s a short cruise and we’ll be fine.

 

 

[Essiesmom]

2 hours ago, newmil said:

Thank you for your review, we just booked our first MSC cruise, Bella level, inside cabin😮. 
We’ve always cruised on RC and Norwegian (always balcony) and enjoyed them both. Carnival was once and done! I’m a bit nervous about an inside room, but it’s a short cruise and we’ll be fine.

 

 

Let me give you my theory/practice/experience on booking cabins on MSC.  We had two cruises on Divina before we had the opportunity to sail Seaside.  I perused the deck plans, and discovered that there were 80 OV cabins, and 1300+ balconies.  At the time, the OV cabins were half Bella, and half Fantastica.  I wagered that if I booked a Fantastica OV gty I would get a balcony.  That happened.  Fast forward to 2023 and I booked Seaside again.  I did the same, and got a balcony.  In Dec I booked late on Seashore and took a Fantastica OV.  Chose my cabin, no upgrade.

  I am now booked on Seashore again, OV gty.  No choice, only Bella offered.  Free upgrade to balcony.  Look at the numbers:  Seashore balcony 1425, OV 100, inside 519.  
Meraviglia balcony 1282, OV122, inside 657.  Virtuosa balcony 1354, OV 173, inside 249.  
I could go on, but I hope you get the idea.  EM
 

[newmil]

Essiesmom, 

I get it! 

We booked yesterday on Seashore, didn’t really think about the numbers as we have always chosen our cabin when booking - this time was different.  I’ll check the numbers and hope for a possible upgrade! 
thanks!

[Momto3girlsintheCarolinas]

PART TWO

 

The Cabin:  The cabin was nice.  We had a deluxe balcony toward the back of the ship.  It was a very nice room. There was more storage space than in other balcony staterooms on other lines, and our suitcases fit under the bed, so they were not in our way all week.

 

The Room Steward:  He was very gregarious and friendly, but by day #3, I was worried he wasn’t vacuuming or changing the sheets.  I marked the bed sheets to see if they were being changed; they were not.  He also didn’t always wipe down the bathroom or vacuum the floor.  He did do a nice job of not moving our stuff, although I do my best to put everything away so their job is as easy as I can make it.

 

The Other Passengers:  Our experience with the other passengers was that they were very warm and friendly.  Fewer snobby people than NCL and much more gentile and civilized than Carnival.  I did see one woman waving her gold ship card around to get a waiter's attention and then being unnecessarily rude to him.  She seemed to think she should be treated differently in the buffet than others because she was waving that card.  We also saw the usual rude behavior occasionally, but it was better than most ships/times we’ve been on. 

 

We made friends with a big family on the ship.  Madison was about six, and she was just the best.  Thanks for talking with me, kiddo.  It was nice to have my own fan club that shouted greetings each time they saw us around the ship. 

 

Accommodations for Disability: Okay, this one made me mad.  It’s law in the United States that one MUST provide accommodations to guests, but not so in other countries.  For example, every hotel you stay in must provide closed captioning on your in-room television by federal law.

 

We have sailed NCL, RCI, Disney, and Carnival.  I had always emailed them before our trip and asked for accommodations; they have always been in place in the dining room for us when we boarded the ship.

 

I tried the same with MSC.  I sent several emails asking for these same accommodations.   I asked on the Cruise Critic boards about this and was assured that MSC is great about accommodations.  When MSC told me I would have to wait until I boarded the ship to ask for accommodation in the dining room, I figured it would be fine. 

 

On the first night, we did as MSC instructed and asked for our usual accommodations.  We were told it was “too late” because our seating (7:15) was full.  We’d have to try the 9:30 seating, and even then – no promises. 

 

I was not happy.  So much for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.   I was very nice, but I assured the dining room manager that I had done as MSC had instructed and waited to request accommodation.  I also mentioned that their competitors all did this without a glitch.

 

When it was clear to him that DEI is protected in the United States and that I was going to make this a “thing”, he offered to have us come each night at 7:30 pm, and he would make sure our accommodations were in place.

 

He did as he promised, and when we arrived each night, he hurried over and escorted us to our table.  He was very professional and friendly. 

 

For all of you think I was being a “Karen” – I just have to tell you that you have no idea what it is like to live in this body.  All I want is the same privacy, dignity, and respect that others are granted without question.  We wanted to enjoy our cruise, and with this man’s help, we were able to.  I think that’s reasonable. 

[PTC DAWG]

I don’t think I have ever had sheets changed daily on any cruise..20+ cruises.. 

[Essiesmom]

1 hour ago, PTC DAWG said:

I don’t think I have ever had sheets changed daily on any cruise..20+ cruises.. 

Totally agree.  I think it is standard for the sheets to be changed once on a 7 day cruise, usually day 4.  50+ cruises over 50 years.  EM

Edited May 27 by Essiesmom

[NewWestwardbound]

8 hours ago, Momto3girlsintheCarolinas said:

All I want is the same privacy, dignity, and respect that others are granted without question.  We wanted to enjoy our cruise, and with this man’s help, we were able to.  I think that’s reasonable. 

I totally agree. 

[rrraydon]

1 hour ago, Essiesmom said:

Totally agree.  I think it is standard for the sheets to be changed once on a 7 day cruise, usually day 4.  50+ cruises over 50 years.  EM

 

2 hours ago, PTC DAWG said:

I don’t think I have ever had sheets changed daily on any cruise..20+ cruises.. 

 

 

Ditto...I certainly don't at home either. 

[JamieLogical]

I was going to say... I have no recollection of sheets being changed that frequently. I will say I dye my hair crazy colors with temporary hair dye (easily washes out of sheets, towels, clothing, etc.) and there have been times that during the night, my hair color has bled onto my pillow cases on cruises. Whenever that happens, the room steward does usually change my pillow case out even if they don't change all of the sheets. This has happened on ever cruise line I have sailed, including MSC.

 

Edited May 27 by JamieLogical

[Two Wheels Only]

17 hours ago, Momto3girlsintheCarolinas said:

All I want is the same privacy, dignity, and respect that others are granted without question.  We wanted to enjoy our cruise, and with this man’s help, we were able to.  I think that’s reasonable. 

 

This seemed like a (common for MSC) communication issue. The left hand (land customer service) and the right hand (ship customer service) didn't coordinate properly. 

 

The service onboard isn't always perfect but it is considerably better than the lip service that you get on land.

Edited May 27 by Two Wheels Only

[Morgsmom]

@Momto3girlsintheCarolinas  without fully disclosing can you give us some more indication of what accommodations in the dining room you were requesting?  I'm curious as I often deal with all sort of "service dog" issues in the restaurant industry, but not other "accommodations" other than food allergies.  As far as DEI being protected in the US....... this is an Italian Flagged cruiseline.  (not even sure that DEI is proected in the US; have you been to Florida?)

[Homosassa]

OP, did you contact the Special Needs people as instructed on the MSC website (go to the bottom of the main page and there is a link for special needs)?

 

I have traveled on MSC with fellow passengers that have dietary restrictions or mobility requirements and in each time, accommodations have been available as requested through special needs. 

 

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/manage-booking/special-needs?_gl=1*16kzuiq*_up*MQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3o2R_IWxhgMVCKhaBR2kLg22EAAYASAAEgL5B_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[broberts]

1 minute ago, Homosassa said:

OP, did you contact the Special Needs people as instructed on the MSC website (go to the bottom of the main page and there is a link for special needs)?

 

I have traveled on MSC with fellow passengers that have dietary restrictions or mobility requirements and in each time, accommodations have been available as requested through special needs. 

 

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/manage-booking/special-needs?_gl=1*16kzuiq*_up*MQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3o2R_IWxhgMVCKhaBR2kLg22EAAYASAAEgL5B_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

On 5/26/2024 at 7:49 AM, Momto3girlsintheCarolinas said:

Also, I was feeling grumpy because my accommodation for disability was not honored after MSC sent multiple emails promising me that they would be once we got on the ship (More about that later).  So, in fairness, I was uncomfortable for that first meal and that’s going to have an impact on my opinion.

 

[BazingAu]

Not sure if you did this, but MSC has a form you have to fill out for any special needs or accommodations and they don't accept email requests without the form: https://www.msccruisesusa.com/manage-booking/special-needs

[Homosassa]

broberts: Did you read the link I attached which gives the information on how to submit any special needs and the time frame for submission before sailing to have the accommodation in place upon embarkation?

 

It would be nice to have the complete story of the procedure used and the time frame for the request in order to evaluate the OP's experience. 

[broberts]

2 hours ago, Homosassa said:

broberts: Did you read the link I attached which gives the information on how to submit any special needs and the time frame for submission before sailing to have the accommodation in place upon embarkation?

 

It would be nice to have the complete story of the procedure used and the time frame for the request in order to evaluate the OP's experience. 

 

Surely if the initial query regarding special needs was directed incorrectly the respondent would have returned an appropriate link rather than an assurance of compliance. I know that is what other cruise lines do.

[nferr]

On 5/26/2024 at 10:29 PM, PTC DAWG said:

I don’t think I have ever had sheets changed daily on any cruise..20+ cruises.. 

 

Me either. Imagine a cruise ship changing thousands of rooms every day with new laundered sheets? 

Edited May 29 by nferr

[Essiesmom]

On 5/26/2024 at 12:59 PM, newmil said:

Essiesmom, 

I get it! 

We booked yesterday on Seashore, didn’t really think about the numbers as we have always chosen our cabin when booking - this time was different.  I’ll check the numbers and hope for a possible upgrade! 
thanks!

Just to update…on the 30 day when I could check in, my cabin was assigned…a balcony.  A person on my almost non-existent roll call also got a balcony for his OV gty.  EM

[sfaaa]

What about the cruise price? How does MSC stack up against other cruise lines? 

[ray98]

I'm really surprised after all those cruises you thought they changed the sheets daily.

[ray98]

On 5/28/2024 at 11:57 AM, Morgsmom said:

@Momto3girlsintheCarolinasAs far as DEI being protected in the US....... this is an Italian Flagged cruiseline.  (not even sure that DEI is proected in the US; have you been to Florida?)

DEI isn't even protected in the US.  It is an organizational policy at best.

[Momto3girlsintheCarolinas]

1 hour ago, ray98 said:

DEI isn't even protected in the US.  It is an organizational policy at best.

 

 

DEI is not protected, but some accommodations are protected by federal law.  Please see this link:

 

https://adata.org/learn-about-ada

 

Yes, I realize that this Italian cruise line has no such mandate.  However, my point to MSC was that they are doing business in a North American market, where it is protected, and every other cruise line I have dealt with has provided them. 

 

It seemed to be an effective argument because the dining room manager went from "There is Nothing I Can Do" - to going out of his way to ensure that he handled my accommodations nightly.

 

[Momto3girlsintheCarolinas]

PART THREE

 

The Shows:  We have a daughter who is a “theater kid,” so this is an interest.  We booked NCL for her in the past so she could see their shows.  I even booked the week that there was a specific show onboard – Hairspray.  It was fantastic. 

 

My husband argues that RCI and NCL shows are so “over the top” that anything else pales by comparison.  I agree with him.  I think the shows on MSC were good.  They were entertaining.  But if you are looking for that “WOW” factor – MSC didn’t have it.  At least not on the cruise we were on.

 

It seemed to be the same show each night, with slightly different costumes.  If you saw one of them, you were probably good for the week.  I’ve never seen so many people walk out of a theater halfway through multiple theater shows on board – which is rude. Don’t do that.

 

Other Entertainment: In my opinion, RCI does this the best.   There are numerous game shows and trivia aboard RCI ships all week.  There are movies, contests, and dance parties.

MSC was….”Meh.”  There wasn’t a lot of other entertainment. 

 

We tried a few trivia contests, and most of the room gave up playing because we couldn’t understand the host.  It was frustrating.  Everyone kept shouting, “Say it again!  We can’t understand you.” But they kept giving us the same host.  We even suggested putting the questions in multiple languages on a big screen.  They didn’t. 

 

The White Party was fun.  They did show a couple of movies.  I missed the energy of interactive entertainment. 

 

The Buffet:  Full disclosure:  I am not a fan of any buffet.   I don’t like crowds when I am eating, and I am no fan of food warmers. 

 

The food on the buffet on MSC Seashore was among the best of our 14 cruises.   It was tasty and hot.  There was a lot of variety. 

 

Kaito Teppanyaki:  This was a cool experience.  The food was great, and I was nervous because I am not a huge fan of Japanese food.  We had our Filipino chef make us Japanese food (hot and fresh) in front of us on our Italian cruise ship.  It was lovely.  He was funny and our whole table was laughing.  Dinner and a show.   It was a fun experience!

 

Butcher’s Cut:  We did the package where we got two specialty dining meals.  Butcher’s cut was our second pick.  I’d not go again.  A steak in the MDR was just as good (or not good) without the upcharge.  The steak lacked flavor and the food was just okay.  It was disappointing compared to the steakhouses on other lines.  Our server was very nice, attentive, and friendly!

 

The Crew:  The crew was very nice.  They were not “in your face” friendly like on Carnival.  They were all polite and would talk with you if you spoke with them.  It was definitely a more European atmosphere. 

 

Getting Off the Ship:  I like Port Canaveral, but this was an even more experience than most.  We were able to exit the ship quickly and efficiently. It was easy to find our luggage and a porter.  It was definitely one of the better debarkations we’ve experienced.

 

The Final Verdict:  So, if you are still reading – thank you.   If you remember, we took this MSC trip “on the cheap” to try out MSC for the first time and see if we wanted to consider it to go to South America for our thirtieth wedding anniversary.  MSC is one of the few lines that goes there.

 

So, will we?   No.  Based on this one experience (which is unfair because we are comparing one sailing on MSC to multiple sailing on other lines.  See my earlier comments about this), we would not consider MSC for our thirtieth-anniversary trip nor our daughter's graduation trip. 

 

Why?  It didn’t seem like there was enough to keep our daughter and her friend engaged for a week.  But, in fairness, that’s not MSC’s intent or market.  Carnival and RCI are much more geared to roller coasters and ziplining aboard.  If we are celebrating with two teenagers who just graduated from high school, we’ll likely choose RCI based on our experiences.

 

It also just isn’t as luxurious as other lines.  Yes, sure, if I wanted to book the Yacht Club, I am sure I would be very pleased.  But I feel like I can get the luxury I need on another line for a more reasonable price.  I’m not sure I need a white-gloved attendant or spa access, but I do need better food and entertainment. 

 

So, would we sail MSC again?  Yes.  If it were just my husband and I (No children or grandchildren) and we needed to get the heck out of Carolina for a week – yes.  We would consider MSC.  We’ve never taken a “bad” cruise.  I think you have to work at it to be unhappy on a cruise ship.  However, if it were a celebratory cruise of some kind, then, no, we’d go another way. 

 

Thanks for reading my review.  I hope it was helpful. 

[Momto3girlsintheCarolinas]

On 5/26/2024 at 10:29 PM, PTC DAWG said:

I don’t think I have ever had sheets changed daily on any cruise..20+ cruises.. 

 

You are right.  I guess I just never noticed.  I know they were changed more than one time, but no daily.  I think it was that this time, there was a small stain on the sheet that I made, and I noticed it stayed.

Edited May 30 by Momto3girlsintheCarolinas