I would first like to say that after reading the previous reviews, I was worried about the cruise my wife and I had booked. After spending a week on the MSC Poesia I can honestly say that except for some things that need definite improvement, this cruise was very enjoyable.

I would like to start by saying that our travel agent out did herself with getting a very good price on this cruise. For what we paid we could have cruised on a garbage scow and not had much to complain about. I knew what others before me had complained about but to address some of the concerns, first the complaint about the staff not being friendly. Back before the "Carnivalization" of the industry, staff was there to serve you and be seen and not heard. I found the staff on the MSC Poesia to be near but unobtrusive. There is nothing that I hate more than constantly being pestered while I am sitting by the pool, having dinner, enjoying the evening in one of the lounges, etc. with constant questions about if I would like a drink from the bar. On this ship I noticed the staff standing back remaining quiet but when you waved one over, they were there immediately with a smile and a how can I help you. That is how it is suppose to be done. I heard from some of the other passengers that I had conversations with that some of the service in the dining room was lacking. I can't comment on that as my wife and I had great service from our waiters Juliarta and Artawan. They learned quickly what or drink preferences were and had them waiting for us before we arrived. They also made sure that my wife had a container of milk waiting for her tea at the end of the meal.

All is not roses with this cruise though. First thing is that the food in the dining room was hit and miss; I had a couple of good meals and a couple of bad ones with a glut of mediocre ones in the middle. Generally the presentation was poor, the main course was exactly the same with only a different meat on the plate (I ordered a fish dish and my wife ordered a pork dinner and the rest of the plate was exactly the same, same vegetables same sauce and I am sorry but a plain boiled potato pealed with bits of skin still on is completely unacceptable for a dining room experience). Read more