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MSC Meraviglia

MSC Splendida

MSC Preziosa

MSC Poesia

MSC Divina

MSC Sinfonia

MSC Magnifica

MSC Opera

Ketchikan

The whole experience was fab! Visited Spain, St Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, st kitts, Antigua, Guadeloupe, st Maarten. Out of the places I really recommend Maho beach experience, nelsons dockyard, beaches in Guadeloupe! Food was great in the lobster restaurant, room was cleaned/checked twice daily. Wonderful shows every night. I particularly enjoyed watching dancers. Staff were just amazing - waiter Krishna, lifeguard Bruno and Rashid made our holidays. My partner really enjoyed dance classes with Alma. Entertaining team was brilliant- very engaging and friendly. The equator crossing and Tenerife goodbye parties were really fun. If I was to complain about anything I’d mention that gym was a bit overcrowded- as running machines were in demand by older people who leisurely walked instead of running on them. I found the 20min limit on machines too short. Overall great experience and I’d definitely book MCS AGAIN. Thank you x x x x x

Amazing holidays 

Boarded MSC Prezoscia in Barcelona had lunch explored ship then went to our Aurea experience room on deck 12 beautiful large balcony room plenty of space, spacious balcony such a comfy bed. Our steward Ryan was amazing so thoughtful and great at his job. We ate at The Golden Lobster restaurant our waiters Pula and Freedom looked after us so well they were amazing, we never wanted for a thing, food was great and plenty of it we never went hungry. Well done boys, there were 6 of us seated and we got on so well and thank you Peter John Angela and Gareth for your company every evening, we had such fun, you made our cruise evenings very special. We visited Malaga Tenerife 5 sea days ( that was very relaxing) saw whales on the way over, then reached Barbados we visited Antigua St Kitts and Nevis St Martin Martinique Guadeloupe St Lucia and back to Barbados for our flight home. It was a fantastic cruise made special by great people. A very happy ship great officers and crew interaction. White Nights were fun.

17 day Translantic cruise 

PART ONE - Horrendous

Our holiday got off to a terrible start. I had booked to go away with my mother and a few of her [elderly] friends. We booked early and chose our cabins so that we were all together and conveniently located to the facilities we planned to enjoy.  However, a few weeks before we were due to travel, one of our cabins was pulled and we were told we were going to be placed 3 floors higher and at the opposite end of the ship.  This was a big problem for us as we had all planned to convene on each others balconies to enjoy afternoon teas and coffee; also, to enjoy pre-dinner drinks.  I complained to customer services who did their best to get our original cabin back but to no avail.  Their 'allocation team' would not budge and neither would they locate our friends near to our new cabin. We were all gutted, as separating  the group prevented us from popping in and out of each others cabins and enjoying the usual camaraderie. As a compromise, they managed to find us another cabin on the same floor but still this was a trek and left us isolated.  To make up for it, we were given 50 euros onboard credit and Prosecco on arrival and although this did little to make things better, it was a gesture we appreciated.  That was, until we boarded the ship and discovered our newly-allocated cabin 9084. For anyone allocated this cabin, please note that even though it is classed as a Bella Balcony cabin, IT HAS NO VIEW WHATSOEVER UNLESS YOU ARE STANDING UP!!!  When sat on the chairs provided all you can see is solid white metal.  All the saving up to pay extra for a balcony on which we could relax and enjoy the views out to sea, was therefore wasted.  

The disappointment and upset was beyond words.  It was bad enough being parted from our friends but to be denied the benefits of our balcony too was just the final straw. We demanded a proper balcony cabin or to be refunded the cost. Unfortunately, this was not something the cruise staff could sort out as - any claim would have to be handled by UK admin staff - and there was no other cabins available to move us to!  All we could do was wait to see if anyone with a balcony cabin failed to show up at the next port and we could then have theirs.  

As suggested, we waited. We had embarked on a Sunday afternoon and waited until Monday evening to see if there was any change. Still nothing but we were told to check again another 24 hours later, after the next lot of passengers embarked.  We did so but by this time, and having lived out of our suitcase for 2 days, we had given up hope. At this point, we all felt our holiday had been ruined. It had put a complete dampener on it, especially as my mum was so upset she had burst into tears and said she just wanted to go home.  She was totally unsettled and could not bear having to rummage in her case every time she wanted something. We therefore decided to unpack and resigned ourselves to the isolation and having no balcony/view. 

Ironically, we then received a telephone call in our cabin from reception.  They had found us a cabin - not near to our friends, but it had a glass fronted balcony so at least we had a view!  Of course, we then had to repack everything in order to move and it was a real pain, but considered worth it as we still had a number of days left. It took us a while but eventually we got settled and our holiday finally began!!!

PART TWO - fantastic

With only one or two exceptions, the staff on this ship simply could not do enough. They worked extremely hard to ensure passengers had a good time and the atmosphere onboard was a party one. 

Our waiter was exceptional and nothing was too much trouble.  We did not see much of the cabin steward but our room was always neat and tidy when we returned.

As for the food, it was much better than the last MSC cruise we went on. The menu choices were varied and appetising and portion sizes were also reasonable. The buffet restaurants (Inca and Maya) were always far too busy to be an enjoyable experience so we chose to eat breakfast and lunch in the restaurant or ice-cream parlour instead.  However, the choices there were very limited and in the ice-cream parlour/coffee shop we had to pay for our drinks but still it was the best option for us. To prevent the main buffets from being so busy it would have been better jf the coffee shop and Il Cappuccino lounge offered a greater selection of sandwiches or snacks - together with free tea/coffee/water (as in the main dining areas.) This would have evened things out so that certain areas were less crowded at any one time.  

In relation to the excursions offered by MSC, these were not so good.  I realise that they rely on outside companies to provide the service and they merely act as agent. Nevertheless, they need to take on board the feedback and get some of these companies to change how they do things. There were a LOT of complaints and the exclusion staff had to take the flak. We did the Casablanca/Rabat tour and had looked forward to it more than all the others we took but it was a terrible tour and a complete waste of a day's holiday.  Our tour guide was rude, disinterested, ill-informed and was incentivised only by taking us to venues where it was clear he earned a commission. On a 10 hour tour, he refused to let us stop for a coffee break (apart from the 1 hour lunch stop) and when a number of us asked about visiting a bazaar/souk, he said there was no time and took us instead to what can only be described as a 'junk souvenir shop' in a back street. The next such stop was at an argan oil factory in Rabat where we all had to sit through a boring presentation lasting about half an hour. We were all then handed a basket to purchase their products and take them to the till.  Needless to say, there were very few takers and most people on the tour were furious - especially as we had been denied any free time to explore either Casablanca or Rabat again due to 'lack of time.

When we reported back to reception the next day we were met by many others queuing there for the same reason and some were on other buses also part of the same trip.  It was a disaster and I felt sorry for MSC as it was really down to the tour operator.

Where MSC did excel was the entertainment.  All our party are avid cruisers and we agreed unanimously that this ship offered the best entertainment we have ever had. The theatre shows were second to none and were astoundingly good - standing ovations nearly every night.  The shows varied from musical performances, serious style opera, comedy, circus style acrobatics (within theatrical setting), to drama and plain fun evenings.  The variety and standard of performance was absolutely incredible and I'm worried we are seriously spoilt for the future!  Whoever the theatre production company is they deserve recognition and commendation for first-class entertainment.

So, all in all, a bad experience at the outset only turned round by the attitude and professionalism of Paula from customer services and the staff on board.  They saved our holiday from complete disaster, meaning we lost only part and not the whole of it.  I had already booked another cruise with MSC (2021) and had planned to cancel but they turned this fiasco around so I've given them a reprieve.

Appalling start but customer service & cruise staff turned it round.

I chose this cruise because of the ports it was visiting. The ship itself was lovely,  but they lacked in a few areas. Not enough staff.  I was ordering 2 drinks at a time because there was not enough staff. They did not offer coffee cards like other lines. Instead they try to get you to but a drink package. No water with dinner, you have to buy this in the restaurant.  No soft serve, have to purchase gellato. No tissues in bathrooms. You have to purchase a different level to get any. The entertainment was appaling. The staff appeared to be a new team, as no one had answers to basic questions about the ship areas etc. The tours were generally good, except for our Portofino tour. The boat showed up an hour late which ment we only had an hour and a half there, just time for a coffee and super quick shop!

Needs improvement to compete with other cruiselines

we choose this ship for the ports, the cruise included Lisbon, Marseilles, Casablanca, Malaga and Genoa, with three days at sea. we had sailed with MSC in September on the Poesia, and really enjoyed the experience.

from the outset, we were really impressed with the ship, and we had a really lovely holiday.

However, we have decided never to sail with MSC again for several reasons.

the first is that, there are too many ports of embarkation and disembarkation, on our cruise, people boarded in Barcelona ( us ), again in Marseilles and again in Genoa and Lisbon.

this led to a chaotic environment, with sections of the ship closed off to passengers on each occasion, with bars and restaurants closed, fire drills every time , naturally, and general mayhem.

Secondly, we were appalled to see tiny babies in the Jacuzzi every day, as a nurse, i couldn't believe this practice was allowed, very dangerous for young children to be in such hot water.

also, these children were naturally in nappies, which we saw people remove, and then dump at the side of the Jacuzzi. what a way to spread infection.

Lastly, and unforgivable, there was no emphasis on hand hygiene, with no enforcement by staff, when boarding the ship , or in the restaurants. 

all the time, people were entering the restaurant without applying the antibacterial lotion, any never once, did we see staff enforcing this

so although we had a great holiday, we were really glad we did not get sick, and wouldn't risk it again, .

Beautiful Ship but Hygiene Questionable

This is our 2nd cruise. Our first was with Celebrity. 

The itinerary means that guests are disembarking at many of the stops, and new guests are getting on. 

We had a balcony room on deck 12 with an allegresimo drinks package. The cabin was great, very comfortable, plenty of storage. The balcony got soaked most days as they washed the windows of the restaurant on deck 14. So beware if you are leaving anything out on the balcony. There was a fridge which was handy for water. Safe, plenty of towels, shampoo and body wash. 

We booked all our excursions through MSC~ efficient and well organised. All the guides were excellent and we enjoyed all of them.

The ship is very clean, and the decor is very glam. We didn't feel there was much sales pitching as celebrity with photos and selling, which was nice. The staff and guest services were all very friendly, we did come across the odd grumpy one. 

The smoking in the bars and casino was not great, we avoided these areas because of the smoking. 

The shopping was good. Pandora charms available which was nice. 

This was at Easter time and the ship was very busy. There were a lot of children, and a school trip but they were all very well behaved. 

Food- great choice in the buffet. All hot, clean and plentiful. The buffet was very very busy, not a very calm place to eat as expected. We did eat breakfast in the Golden Lobster 2 mornings, much calmer but not as good a selection. 

We also ate in the speciality restaurants. One night in the Italian. This was good food, but we couldn't use our allegresimo drinks package, so it was expensive. It is not a supplementary price just a menu, like a regular restaurant. 

Galaxy Fusion was our favourite. Great service and the food was excellent. A few menu options, such as €30 for 4 courses each. We were allowed to use our drinks package in here. So felt it was good value. Would definitely recommend. 

The main dining for was was in Larabesque, this was also good, be it noisy. We had second sitting dining option ,which was 9pm. The idea was to go to the show at 7.30pm then to dinner. 

We also had the tapas in La Locanda, this was a nice idea in the early evening. Once you order a drink the waiter would just bring a plate of different tapas. 

Dress code- all very relaxed. 2 formal nights, we did see a few tuxedos but mainly jackets and trousers for the guys, and dresses for the ladies. A white night, a Italian flag colours night and a 70's themed night. The decor was mainly in one of the bars in the evening, the Safari lounge. Good fun and the entertainment team work hard. 

Too cold for the pools for us, but all looked very clean.

The weather changed our itinerary so that we went to Malloroca instead of Malta, we had a roughish day at sea, but the crew were very efficient. 

We only went to one show, not our thing on this cruise. A Queen night. 

We paid for wifi. €59 for 24 hours. This was for a total of 24 hours, and just one appliance. Worked well, speed was okay. 

In summary we would definitely use MSC again, a different experience than Celebrity, but still a great cruise. Hope this helps.

First time On MSC

From start to finish the staff of MSC were very friendly and helpful.

The food was excellent in the L' arabeque restaurant as were the waiters.

The variety of food in the buffet was excellent especially at breakfast.

The children's club, 7-11 yrs were wonderful with our granddaughter, she loved every minute that she spent with the staff and her new friends.

The entertainment in the theatre was excellent as were the various quizzes in the different lounges.

Overall, the ship was very clean and comfortable.

We would recommend MSC to our friends and family.

Our Cruise to Italy with MSC Preziosa

Ended our cruise on MSC Preziosa today and have mixed feelings. Took the Aurea package and was on deck 12. The ship is beautifull and very clean. Staff were friendly. Embarkation in Barcelona was a dream, I think we were the first on at midday and our cabin was ready at 1pm. The spa and gym are beautifully appointed although I did find the products push somewhat wearisome (no girl wants to hear 3 times over that she has cellulite!). I had a blow dry which came in at 45 euros but was supposed to be 15. Too much in my opinion. 

The drinks package is good value for money as although I'm not a big drinker, the cocktails were great, no cheapo brands or short cuts. Food very good but the buffet is a bit mad.  Now two big no nos. The ship had at least 100 teenage cruisers who had no adult supervision whatsoever. Aged from 15-18 they literally dominated the ship. They filled the whirlpools from dawn till dusk. Ran riot in the corridors in the evening and many lacked manners. I do not expect this on a Spa level? Think it was school trips? Weird....never experienced the like before. 

My main reason for this cruise was for some time with hubby sans child as we never get this at home. But it wasn't to be. There is nothing for young children on this ship. There is NO KIDS POOL??!' The shallowest pool is 5'3". Too deep for even me to stand and hold my wee one! There is a freezing cold outside Doremi 'display'. For decoration only. The children's club is boring. Only suitable for tiny babies or over 7s. They also take them out around the ship. My 3 year old is an escape artist, this is the last thing I need to relax!!! There is no lock on the door to the club so he was trying to get out. The only toys are for babies and the staff did not like that he was playing with them. Well don't leave them lying out! No 3 year old wants to sit peacefully doing art n crafts with older kids and watching cartoons in Italian! So, we did not get the break we really needed after all.he was in the club a total of 6 hours over 7 days:(.  Good cruise if u do the Yacht Club and have no kids, otherwise I would give it a miss.

Not for Kids.

My experience aboard preziosa msc has been fantastic.

Despite going completely full, he did not give the feeling of massification and other shipping.

Fantastic food in the buffet much choice, and even a children's menu with minibuffet.

If something I lacked, has been more activities and more holidays, but winter cruises are usually quieter.

The kids club has all kinds of activities for children from 3 to 12 years, and can even have dinner there, and youth club for young people ages 13 to 17 years.

Great service, I traveled with two small children 2 and 3 years and has not lacked anything, hot milk at night etc ...

I wanted to comment that decided to remove the daily tips, we thought it was better to give a sum of money from room service and waiters who usually served us. You can do reception and do not put any excuse.

The output port was Barcelona, and ports of call, Roma, Marseille, Genoa, Palermo and Malta, but to bad weather and Malta was changed to Palma de Mallorca.

Excursions with the shipping company were a little pricey so on other occasions decided to hire them with http://www.shoreexcursionsforcruisers.com/en/ company. They are very professional and make good deals for families with children.

In short, the msc shipping company has not disappointed me without hesitation would return to board with them. 

I recommend reading every day the logbooks. In other boats announced by public address tematicas- activities and celebrations But in the logbook it is detailed everything that is done on the boat and the appropriate attire for each occasion.

Reviews on board MSC Preziosa

Even before we got on board we were bombarded with staff asking us to book excursions, spa treatments etc. Embarkation itself was speedy, this is the one and only time! The ship is stunning, our cabin at first glance was nice. Then we saw the dirty shower room floor, the dirty carpet, the dirty mirrors!

The buffet was manic, the "hot" food was cold, if you are lucky enough to find a table, well done! Then you search for waiting staff to get a drink or, in our case walk all the way to the bar to get one, you get back to your table to eat your, by now, freezing food.

Now onto The 20.30 second sitting,  "posh" evening dinner, not, we had to wait a wee while to be shown to our table, but even the waiter didn't know where he was going! We found our table and sat down and waited, and waited, and waited a bit more. Eventually at 21.20 I was offered a drink and the waiter wondered away without even asking my boyfriend what he wanted!! Our waiter was not pleasant, no conversation. We chose our meal from the menu and waited. We were offered a nice piece of bread and then our starter arrived, nice.  Then we got our soup, just Luke warm! Then our main meal arrived, 2 little bits of pork escalope, a little handful of green beans and a measly dollop of mash! Pudding was yummy.

Our first port was Marseille, it was lovely.  But getting on and off the ship was a nightmare. Sometimes had to walk the length of the boat as the "security guards " would close the gangplanks! They are obnoxious, rude and arrogant, which goes for most of the staff.

Costa cruises, I can't believe I'm saying this, but they are far better and nicer!!

The entertainment is ok, but the lead guy needs to get singing lessons.

We couldn't wait to get home

Dreadful

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