This was without doubt the worst cruise we have ever been on. We have cruised the Caribbean on 7 previous occasions with other cruise lines, typically in balcony cabins or sometimes a suite, so do have a reasonable knowledge and comparative benchmarks.
On checking in we were informed that the cabin we had booked 18 months in advance and paid for, had been changed !!!!! We were allocated to a lower deck and an inferior forward cabin with a restricted view. MSC had clearly been overbooking with the cabin we had booked being occupied by somebody joining the cruise at an earlier port. This cruise is essentially 2 one week cruises starting in Guadeloupe or Martinique, on week going north and returning to the embarking port with the second week - from both back to back ports going south. This is essentially to board predominantly local indigenous passengers for a one week cruise to the other islands on the itinerary. These passengers were supplemented with passengers flown in mainly from France and some from Germany.
There were few UK passengers, all of whom we spoke to would never cruise with MSC again. The main restaurants food and service was fine. The buffet facility was reasonable but the staff service and replenishment was poor, inattentive and at times surly. At key times the facility was extremely overcrowded. requiring multiple walks around the seating to find somewhere to sit and eat your meal.
Cramped. Poor bathroom and shower facilities