The week as a whole did not start well flew ok from Gatwick arrived Genoa husband collected in wheelchair as we had planned but then things went wrong the wheelchair assistance disappeared as soon as we reached the coach - the coach driver refused to allow my husband to sit on the Coach even though other passengers were already on the Coach and he was left standing for over 20 minutes unable to sit down with the Coach doors locked the MSC rep just ignored the problem. On reaching the ship we were faced with me having to look after my husband as no help was provided and managing 3 suitcases - 2 of which I finally got the handlers to relocate to the delivery cage for delivery to the cabin leaving me with 1 suitcase and still no help. On reaching the escalator a MSC guy said take the lift and he would help to get us on board still no wheelchair so we walked very slowly husband using his sticks and by this time very tired to the embarkation desk and finally getting through all that not a seat to be seen so we had to plod on. Caught by the person selling Tours we queried if my husband could go on the stadium tour in Barcelona and the Harbour tour in Malta and was advised no even though you say the Tours are disabled friendly she could not find one that was suitable- so your advertising as disabled friendly leaves a lot to be desired so we decided we were going to be stuck on board as no other options were suggested. Finally having got to the ship we then were told the cabin would not be ready for a further 90 minutes minimum so we were left feeling very tired having left home at 4am and no means of sitting and relaxing and having a nap. Went to the Piazza and having to buy a soft drink as we were told we could not use the vouchers pre purchased before leaving the UK - finally got to cabin at 3.30pm and then told drill at 5pm it was a no win so husband slept and we had no bags so could not change as the one bag we did have held all his medication. Wheelchair arrived at 5pm and off we went for the drill- shame said wheelchair did not appear when we really needed it as we had requested. Then having had dinner and seen the child size portions came to a rapid conclusion that unless we wanted to starve we would have to find another source of food and resorted to Room Service

That was a seriously bad decision on reflection - the Room Service Team spoke little or no English both of us tried and over the period of the cruise the following was delivered we ordered the following everyday for breakfast English Tea with cold Milk for 2 + Rice Krispies for 2 + Toast with Marmalade and Bread Rolls and Strawberry Jam and Danish Pastries and orange juice for 2 you would have thought this was simple................this some of the combinations received from them below :-

Cereal with no spoons and no milk barely enough for tea. Teabags and Sugar but no cups and spoons this happened twice. Toast cold everyday marmalade finally appeared on Friday after we sent back the order as it was so wrong that day we had no Teabags, no milk, no sugar, no cups, no spoons, no orange juice and tepid hot water. I do not think we had one day except after we sent it back that was right! also overnight we requested Tea with cold milk for 1 and Pepsi Light - Tea arrived with hot milk and no Pepsi, or sugar and spoon. Read more