MSC Poesia Review

4.0 / 5.0
501 reviews

Mass Tourism and Cost Cutting Measures

Review for the Baltic Sea Cruise on MSC Poesia
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flyingagathe
First Time Cruiser • Age 50s

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Sail Date: Aug 2010

This Northern Europe voyage was my second cruise with MSC. My first trip took place three years ago and since then I have noticed quite a few changes. For one, drinking- water seems to be at a premium. After lunch, water is only available at the bars, restaurants, and the cabin's mini bar at the cost of Euro 1.80 per bottle. The filling of bottles at the beverage stations is not allowed. For someone like myself who is used to drinking quite a few liters of water a day, the cost can add up quickly. The rationing of water is not the only cost cutting measure. Complimentary coffee/tea after lunch with your desert are no longer an option. In the dining room coffee or tea are not available at all.

Many other cruise lines offer a dinner buffet as an alternative option to the restaurant dining; not MSC, the buffet and its beverage stations shut down at 5PM. So be aware to pack a suit and or an evening dress if you like to eat dinner at the two formal nights. (Room service is available at a cost per item system.)

Breakfast is also an interesting experience. Be prepared to stand in line for your morning coffee where the waiters dish out a carefully measured cup at a time. Once you are in possession of your cup of luke warm and rather bitter java, your next quest will be to find a seat in the overcrowded room. If you get lucky and find an empty chair and you do not have to join the other passengers who had no choice but to eat standing up while balancing their plates on the bar counter, you can get back in line to get the rest of your breakfast.

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