We were VERY skeptical when it came to booking a cruise with MSC. We had heard all about the shows being short and lacking depth, the food being substandard, and the service or lack there of being a major issue. Quite honestly our lowest expectations were for the theater shows, which really soared above the rest of the ships entertainment. The theater team has shied away from interpretive dance and visual storytelling to a much more engaging vocal performance, entirely in English. This was a major barrier for North American cruisers, and while the set design was fairly basic, the performance was well designed and rehearsed. The same can’t be said for the shows in Le Cabaret Rouge, where the same magician (who does a good job interacting with the audience) juggler, and singer Kallie perform the same show every night alongside the headliner. The music sung in Le Cabaret was butchered, the juggler repeated an identical act, and none of the “themed” parties made any connection to their theme… other than Latin night.

There has been one MAJOR issue going on particularly in the Yacht Club area of the ship during this sailing. A prominent and strong smell of sewage has overtaken most of the yacht club area, with the exception of the lounge and restaurant. This has made it unbearable to sleep, and management has seemingly done nothing to address the issue. I would strongly caution anyone thinking of sailing in YC to avoid this ship for the near future… the price paid is not worth the headache. It was nice having priority embarkation and being whisked onboard the ship, but that has been where the fun ended. Our disembarkation processes have been nothing shy of chaotic, even in the YC with “dedicated” gangways things are very slow and disorganized.

Some other noticeable things, butler service in the YC has been very hit or miss. It seems we have seen and interacted with every butler organically except for our own. We’re not picky, nor are we demanding of white glove service, however it is interesting to hear from fellow passengers the level of attention they are receiving in comparison to ourselves. Additionally, the food in the YC is nothing to write home about. MSC lives up to its reputation of having pretty decent pasta, but everything else is forgettable. The wait staff are always at your side ensuring you have exactly what you want, but after a few dinners in the YC we found ourselves looking to specialty dining for something decent to eat. (The sushi left a lot to be desired but Hola Tacos really surprised us in a good way). Read more