I have to say I was overall disappointed with this cruise line and the ship itself. Perhaps my expectations were too high going into it as I had incorrectly made the assumption that the price was set low as a tactic to compete in the market with the other big cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, Princess, etc (all of which I have sailed with many times). Unfortunately, I was wrong. The price was low as we got what we paid for. Thank goodness kids under 12 are free as I would not have wanted to spend one penny more for what we experienced. 

MSC matched my loyalty status from another cruise line so I was granted "Gold Status", which is one level under the highest status possible. This gave me a fruit basket, a picture with the captain on a particular night only (which we were never able to find out how to get as no one knew), one hour in the steam room/sauna area (a $20 value) and an invitation to a cocktail reception one night of the cruise. I at least appreciate their willingness as a company to match status as other cruise lines will not do that. 

To start off, the ship is in complete disrepair. It's is, frankly, filthy. The carpets are so dirty that most of the ship has this dingy smell to it. The carpet in our room, and many places, is this burnt orange color, like from the 1970s. I almost want to say it's from the 1970s as it was so filthy!!!! I know this can't be the case but it was gross. It had stains everywhere and smelled like a “highway motel”.  I wouldn't let me daughter sit on the ground to play with her toys in the room. It was awful. Continuing on with the room, the first night we turned in, we found the pillows were all lumpy and falling apart. And I mean they were LUMPY. Like the kind you throw away and would be embarrassed to give to a guest in your home. Oh wait, that's right, you wouldn't have them for a guest as you would already have thrown them away! I couldn't believe it. We called housekeeping and our room steward came. He apologized and said they make them put out those pillows and he knows they are bad and can only change them upon request. Ya, so in other words, they are putting out a crappy product to cut corners and know it but will only change it out if someone calls them out on it. Very professional MSC. Unbelievable. Then, there are the bright orange towels in the room that are for the pool. Not only are they all tattered and fraying but you can only change them out once a day for new ones and it needs to be done in the room. What a way to cut corners, again. You wouldn't want your guests to have a dry towel at the pool, let alone one that is not ripped. Read more