MSC Armonia Review

Our first and last cruise. Such a disappointment

Review for Canary Islands Cruise on MSC Armonia
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RamFam
First Time Cruiser • Age 50s

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Sail Date: Dec 2014
Traveled with children

We were looking forward to our MSC Armonia Cruise having never been on one before and knowing it has been recently refurbished. We thought we had done our research and made enough enquiries to ensure a happy and memorable family holiday . We were assured that there would be enough space for our family in the Balcony Stateroom for 4 and were told we also had a large balcony (it was not). There was no spare space at all. Also this cabin had not been refurbished (despite the website saying that all balcony cabins had been). Also the floor in the tiny shower room the four of us had to share was a health and safety risk, with stagnant water underneath the lino that squelched every time it was walked on. We reported this on 3 occasions to be looked at and repaired but nothing was done about it. Our itinerary changed while on board, we didn’t go to Agadir (one of the reasons we chose the trip), due to weather allegedly. We didn't understand that if the weather was going to impact that much why would they choose to go to the place furthest away (Casablanca) a day later than planned? The sea swell was never going to be avoided in that timeframe – Therefore the trip was long and arduous (kids bedded down, feeling ill and unable to function for 24 hours). We had an additional stop at Forte Ventura which was a waste. When we arrived in Casablanca the port was very industrialised and bleak. It was not a pleasant site, neither was the port area and when we disembarked the taxi drivers that awaited cruise customers were unpleasant and frightening. No warning from MSC Cruises prepared us for that. There was next to nothing for the children to do on board. The Teen Room was a mini arcade room with game machines in that had to be paid for and there was also an empty room with a table football (without a ball), an ice hockey table (without a disc), four tv screens not working or connected to anything and a Guitar Hero machine that had to be paid for to be played. The two swimming pools were tiny and inadequate to swim in. There was a real variance in staff quality, the overall tone had impact particularly when dealing with reception and administration issues was very dismissive and not remotely attentive. That said those that served us in the allocated restaurant (The Pergola) were very good. In fact, The Pergola restaurant was the only luxury we experienced in the whole of our cruise. We were unaware and not advised by MSC that there was a safe in our cabin (behind a mirror), but it was only us and the cleaner who had access so we felt re-assured of the safety of our contents. Unfortunately on the second to last evening we returned to our cabin after dinner and realised our daughter’s iphone 5s was no longer there. We reported this and followed MSC's procedure for Lost and Found but felt it was not taken seriously and left utterly dumbfounded by the lack of interest regarding this. No further information materialized and no further action was taken. This was more of an endurance course than a holiday and we are in-debted to our children for forgiving us for bringing them with us on this family week away which they will remember for a long time for all the wrong reasons. This was supposed to be a treat for us all! How wrong that turned out to be....... never again!

Cabin Review

Cabin 10

Cabin 9117 was not refurbished, was far too small for a family of four and the tiny shower room floor was faulty, having stagnant water seeping through the lino. Also the security of our room was breached.

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