We chose this cruise because it was close to my wife's birthday. On the Sunday prior to the cruise our President announced the strict measures for gatherings and movement of people - we thought our cruise was cancelled and tried to contact MSC for confirmation not possible. MSC eventually notified us that the cruise was going ahead. On arrival at the terminal at 10.30 a.m we found that disembarkation was still taking place and with the confusion could not find the allocated wheelchair assist station. I left my wife in the queue with the luggage and went to find a wheelchair. I went back to my wife and an MSC employee kindly took our luggage and indicated where we should go bearing in mind we had a wheel chair he led us to a queue where we ended up with a flight of stairs to navigate - very interesting - all told we were on board by 11.20 a.m. The cruise we thoroughly enjoyed apart from all shops being poorly supplied but one had to appreciate Covid 19 which we were advised were causing the problem. However we tried on no less than 5 separate occasions to purchase some gold chain and each time we were either too early - too late - I am closed (but the doors were open) we just gave up in the end we were also hard pushed to purchase gifts from the MSC logo shop. We were on second sitting but had no problem changing this to first and what a wonderful dining experience we had a great waiter Sanekia who really looked after us. We unfortunately had purchased the oriental restaurant package without realising, through lack of explanation, that this was a set menu consisting mainly of sushi which we both do not like so were very disappointed but made the best of a bad situation. The cabin was fabulous no complaints atall the room service at breakfast was very efficient and housekeeping excellent. But MSC need to update their brochures on room service and prices as it clearly states that only pizzas carried a charge but this is not so there is a charge for room service other than breakfast but you have to look at the television to see this - ours was not working for two days until I realised there was a plug not connected at the back to the tv. Then the disembarkation what a farce that became and seriously MSC you need to read up on Wheelchair Assist and what it entails when we arrived at the designated area there was one person allocated to all people needing wheelchair assistance to disembark but he disappeared before assisting anyone and after the first hour never to be seen again. I managed to secure a wheelchair for my wife and proceeded to disembark only to arrive at the checkout with stairs and did a magical mystery trip of the Orchestra with a great MSC employee who managed to get us through the crowds to the goods entrance where there was a ramp all in all very exciting!! On a brighter note congratulations are in order to MSC staff and crew to getting clearance for us to disembark on the 20 March 2020 under extremely difficult times. Read Less

We choose different destination from previous years, te cruise was lovely despite the harvoc we are going through in the world one thing that was so so horrible is that I booked 2 cabins and to be placed at 14007 another ar 12019 when later the next day after having requested that we are placed in the same floor then the is a cabin available when we have already unpacked-now that was not nice at all at all..food was lovely, but this time is was not so clean, the lifts were forever dirty,finger prints on mirrors on the rails etc....rooms were made but not as neat as with Musica - staff not so friendly especially on the last days you could swear that they were frustrated, didnt portray full willingness except for the ones that working at the dining rooms - it felt as if the customer care downgraded a bit - please, at reception woow you just do not find any friendliness just people with a straight face no friendliness at all - please do encourage your staff as much as possible because we takr these trips for relaxing, to be away from all the stress-either than that all went well.thank you Read Less

We joined the cruise with friends. Just a weekend away ... and wanted to relax and have some fun. Everything is extremely overpriced. As we were paying in the region of R2000 pppn... we do expect quality. We paid for ALL our photos and got home to find most missing .. we were shocked. They were already horrendously overpriced.. then missing loads. The staff were obviously overworked as they were pretty miserable towards us and I commented more than once that waiters and reception staff were rude. Our dining waiter was friendly.. but the wait for drinks etc was very long. I feel I was made to feel unwelcome. My daughter went to be entertained and was forced to watch a movie .. very boring. She complained that the lady working there was impatient. Are the crew overworked maybe? Played in casino and just lost ... no entertainment in just losing all the time. Drinks were not cold on the island.. warm and unpleasant and Qs always long We paid for a KYKNET cruise and saw 3 singers the whole time ... hardly the faces on the advertisement. It was dismal. The 3 tried their best, but quite honestly that was not what we were expecting from KYKNET cruise .. it was a poor show. Where were the rest of Kyknet??? We are going again in December as we've booked already. I took 4 years between this one in March and the last time in 2015. Things deteriorated and I remembered why I originally said I wouldn't cruise again. I hope in December we have a better experience. Please could we be treated as though we there for a holiday and not just there to make MSC and the staff more money. It is theoretically not a cheap holiday!! We go to have a holiday ... not to line your pockets ... please work on making cruisers feel welcome... I totally felt the irritation from 80% of the crew. Read Less

• We got the impression that the ship was over capacity, as it was almost impossible to get to the food stations or even get a table at the buffets at mealtimes, due to the sheer quantity of guests. • The embarkation and disembarkation processes were tedious and frustrating due to the number of people that had to be checked in and the added admin overhead of filling in health questionnaires because of the Corona virus. • Once onboard the ship after embarkation, there was a distinct lack of direction or guidance in terms of where to go while waiting for rooms to be readied and when the announcement came that the rooms where ready, it was difficult to find exactly where these rooms where. • The lock to our cabin was problematic and we reported it multiple times, but it wasn’t fixed. • We had to ask for toilet paper for our cabin numerous times, at the time that we arrived we had one roll which had been almost used up. It was only late that night that we were given additional toilet paper. • Our visit to Pomene unfortunately had to be cancelled due to low tide conditions and it was deemed unsafe by the Captain to ferry guests between the ship and the island. While we appreciate that this was outside the control of MSC, there was an announcement which claimed that alternative entertainment would be provided to guests. This never happened. It might have been a nice gesture, if MSC had provided guests with a couple of free drinks, perhaps free room service, or delivered on the promise of alternative entertainment, to make up for that cancellation. At least we did get refunded for our land excursions. • Noisy neighbours were a problem quite often – on the first day, shortly after arriving at our cabin, I had to ask a neighbour to turn down his loud music. We also had to deal with rowdy guests at ungodly hours in the morning, as they returned to their cabins – perhaps a more visible security presence would have discouraged people from contravening these rules. • At disembarkation, although our bags were labelled and tagged as instructed and placed in the corridor the previous night, one of our bags were temporarily lost as it was left outside building for some unknown reason. We missed the first shuttle to the airport because of this. Though there are many negative points, there are some positives too : • I thoroughly enjoyed the lounges, the bars, and the restaurants. The staff in these areas were a delight and the service in these sections of the ship was great. • The theatre shows were a highlight and very enjoyable. • The ship itself is quite beautiful and classy. Read Less

We love to cruise, we find it relaxing and love spending quality time with the family. We always enjoy the entertainment and love taking part. Its definitely easier on the 2nd cruise.. the food in the buffet it delish. Love the variety.. the evening restaurant dinner is lovely too. We loved our waitress, Jes on this cruise, so friendly and caring. My son enjoy juniors club a lot more this time. He also enjoyed the putt putt and tennis on the top deck. The theater shows were top notch. Looked forward to the shows every night. Didn't get to see Pomene , which was kinda sad. But found some entertainment and swam. The disembarkation took longer this time. I'm sure its because of the department health forms that needed to be filled out. We were very impressed with the sanitization on board .. going in and out of the buffet. Well done MSC.. we love to cruise with you Read Less

The cruise was great and exciting ... great activities. I loved the restaurants. I have been on 3 cruises with MSC I think they should improve the menus of the restaurants.... same food for all 3. And they must change deck 13 menu and add more meat food ie ribs and other meats etc. The crew members are great and helpful. They r so bad working. Please open the gym from 5, 6am is too late. When I went on my first cruise MSC musica there offered us a bottle of water. Overall great experience. The disembarkation process was not great. Long lines to get to emigration. I loved the entertainment team and Eric the cruise director. The price of the photos are expensive. The cabin was also clean and neat. They need to add more seating areas at the pool area to ensure that it’s enough for everyone at the cruise Read Less

Being a long time cruiser, and a gold msc Voyager club member, I know the exceptional service. But on this last cruise it was the most disappointing experience iv ever had. From the staff to the management, service just deteriorated terribly. It was as we got the ticket for free and it was a burden to them to provide any customcare. And as for the msc voyage club membership, almost all benefits has to be asked for and even then I didn't get most of them. Theres always some excuse that comes up. Cabin was ok but the cleanliness was sadly not a priority the the staff. We had to do most of the cleaning ourselves. To add the cherry on top, the disembarkation was a nightmare to say the least. Everything was chaos. And yes our luggage was damaged again. The miss handling on the bags are a huge problem, as Iv had a 3 bags damaged beyond use , only to not find no staff who could help. The staff in the front said the only do embarkation. Read Less

We chose this cruise as siblings to spend some time with my eldest sister who has cancer. It was a nightmare though because elevators is always busy and takes too much time to get to whatever floor you'd like to be. There should be a elevator for people with special needs. The food wasn't great in fact it was worst than hostel food, exept for dining room on deck 6 which had great service and food. The pizza on deck13 was floppy sheets of dough with veggies or leftover chicken curry. Cocktails on the cruis is overly sweet, in other words they serve you sugarwater. Please have a South African crew for South African cruises who can understand you. Cleaning services for Room 9118 was fantastic, couldnt fault anything. The cruise felt like I just stepped into a busy African marketplace with vendors trying to sell a million stuff to me all the time. Eric Eric Eric, if it wasnt for your entertainment skills and fantastic dance crew, I would've thrown myself overboard to end it all. No really guys your ship was overcrowded with the most unmannered guests and I say again... This was my 1st and last cruise ever. Msc cruises, thx for wasting my hard earned money and giving me the worst holiday I've ever had. Read Less

As from our membership numbers, and even prior to us being members, you will see that we are frequent cruises (MSC Only) MSC cruises have in the past being our "thing"to celebrate our yearly anniversary. We celebrated our 26th year this year. I absolutely love going on cruises, I find MSC super value for money and your facilities are normally outstanding. Our latest cruise however and I need to mention a view concerns: 1. The security control over certain passengers was not strong enough, there were alot of people excessively noisely on the top deck. I am all for passengers enjoying themselves, however, certain guest go "overboard" and in chatting to other passengers who felt the same, it is sad to drop your cruise prices in order to fill cabins, but get lower caliber of passengers who cannot behave themselves. The cabin next to ours on the last cruise, the passengers in their brought along their own music box, and we had constant loud dance music playing in their cabin till early morning hours. We had to eventually request security to ask them to turn it down. 2. This particular boat, needs some attention, as with the the previous ships we have being on, the Orchestra needs a little TLS. The jacuzzi needs upgrade, the seating chairs and tables weaving is coming apart and constantly hooked either my towels or my clothing. 3. We ate breakfast in the restaurant which, as always the MSC excel in their food and beverage facilities. However on this morning, my husband ordered kippers from the plated breakfast menu. We were horrified when he chewed on a fish hook! We did inform the waiter who in turn informed his manager. Both were most apologetic and a tray of fruit was sent to our room. I do feel that given the consequence of what may have happened had my husband swallowed this wire fish hook........ a don't think a tray of fruit was the best apology. 4. The Pomene exclusive loungers, we as you will see with all our previous cruises, book the loungers for the purposes of more privacy. WE did book the loungers at Pomene, but the area is not closed off, we have other passengers continuously walking through the lounger area, the actual A frames need some TLC as well as the actual aluminium loungers themselves. Notwithstanding all of the above, we still love cruising with MSC and we are planning to visit my son in the USA in June 2020, we are planning on booking a cruise with MSC from Miami and hope to do many more cruises in the future. Read Less

I started cruising in February 2019 and this was my second cruising Since then I enjoy cruising with MSC The ship is so big it has everything inside like a shopping mall a hotel you name them I enjoy every-minute the cabin you sleep like a King and a Queen I enjoy my drinks in the balcony is so cool you relax watching the sea and it was raining nice The staff members they are so friendly and the service 100% Restaurants are the best in the world the food is of first grade you enjoy the buffer in the morning and in the afternoon you eat to the best of ability there is no time to diet you enjoy your holiday Entertainment and activities some people sleep late because of nice things the Ports are the same well prepared and everyone likes it unfortunately I don't travel with children but they also get good treatment they look after them check their safety good work the embarkation and disembarkation was all good everything went well flight to and from OR TAMBO to KING SHAKA all went smooth Yes 2021 Feb here we come Thanks MSC we love you Read Less

I chose this cruise based on the advertisements and need for a holiday. The idea of a cruise is great and all that it promises but it seems idea has fallen through the cracks and this now has become transport to Mozambique Island and back to pick up another lot take it back and bring it back and no longer about making each trip an experience the passengers will never forget. Remember that in the ship there are those that are going for the first time and those that have done it many times and for each of these people it should be an unforgettable experience and not just a trip. For an example for some reason the embarkation was delayed by a good 2 hours which we couldn't catch up on and that became a ripple effect because some of us just touched the island and we had to come back to the boat as the time was not enough for the offshore experience. even the food in the island was not enough for everyone. I personally had to wait for 3 hours to go to the island and by the time I got there it was time to come back no food and no ice-cream even the music had died meaning no longer fun. and some people were already queuing to go back. That day for me was Just wasted and for many other people that I spoke to. Coming back to the the boat the dining for dinner was not good either, we had to wait for an hour to get the main course and the waiter told us everyone had to wait.... my advise is to announce for people to go for buffet if that particular sitting is full. Otherwise in general the ship was clean at all times, cabin as well and the service was good from housekeepers to waiters. Entertainment and activities were also good but could improve. One of the friends I made told me some things are repeated or similar so he is never coming again. I traveled with a friend and we are planning to come back and hopefully to a cruise experience and not a cruise trip. The disembarkation back in Durban was easy and quick which was good because I was tired but I still cant help but think this was on purpose so that the cruise could be ready for another trip on Monday. This makes me think the cruise is selling a trip to the Portuguese Island and not a cruise experience. One of the staff members even told us in confidence that the ship would travel through the night and stop closer or cruise slower when approaching to Durban so that we can get there early enough to disembark and take the the next trip avoid delays.:-( we did get to Durban at 04:00. Please consider to stick to the idea of selling an experience and not a trip because a trip I could do by flight. Again it might be a routine to the staff but give me an experience of my life whether it is my first cruise, my second or my third. It was average and I am hopeful hence I will be going back. Read Less

Booking a suite gives one an easy onboard pass. After seeing the ques and listening to people tell how long they stood in ques i was glad of the easy onboard. From arrival to boarding took all of 20minutes. Our previous cruise to this had been on MSC Musica and although the ships are almost identical the Musica was in better shape. Room was excellent. i would prefer a full shower rather than a shower in the bath as i thought this was a bit of a safety issue on a ship. Room size and balcony size were perfect. A balcony was was done whilst we were out on day 2 and i would have expected the balcony to have been dried, which it wasn't We opted to eat in the restaurant, rather than on the 13th floor during meal times.This was due to seating as well as noise. Although buffet at lunch time is a better option on the 13th floor. Entertainment was good, we had a comedian on our 2nd night which was great. Deck entertainment kept people busy with a good balance of things to do. Our trip to the island was very enjoyable, transport to and from the island was well organised, A trip to Inchana is well worth the extra cost. Read Less

We did the CT to Dbn cruise for the 2nd time in 2 years. Our first trip was weather delayed and shortened in Jan 2019. MSC gave us a discounted rate for the next trip. So we decided to do same trip in Jan 2020. We purchased Easy on Board pass, so within 15 min we were on the ship. Excellent, relaxing holiday, food, drinks, cocktails and entertainment shows truely Top shelve. Staff is hard working , helpful and something to see, wanting to please all the time. We will be back, but different route wit shore excursion next time. We made use of the actaul restaurants more than the Buffet restaurant this time.i found the meals more balanced. However food in Buffet Restaurant is very good, just sad to see the wastage. Highly recommend pre buying drink packages. THANK YOU MSC ORCHESTRA, look fwd to planning our next trip Read Less

Value for money I must say its so comfartable, luxurious and fun a holiday well spend.Everything is awesome the people the vibe is extraudinary smiles everywhere entertainers really gives their best services is awesome the food so much to choose from I must say this is money well spend, cant wait for my next trip.The pools is crystal clear cleaniness thumbs up clubbing is awesome I really enjoyed the trip. Client service awesome as well. evrything is perfect if I must say so myself just here and there that I would add some more but the experience is awesome.The playing area and entertainment for the kids extraudinary,games play pins ect the kids even have a dancing club. Its even easy for people with disability to move around easily that is so nice as well. The whole set up from dining is excellent no long waits for your food waiters is so nice when they serving. Read Less

Before we embarked MSC and Bok radio knew we would not leave the port yet they kept us hoping. Luggauge was lost no toilet paper in rooms. Our Dining times was changed without notifying us. Now you offer us $25 to spend on the ship per cabinr that costed us R21 000.00 without the drinks. . Food was almost the same everyday. Bar and restaurant staff rude and unhelpful all drinks was served in paper cups. The staff on certain levels was not able to assist us if we wanted to know something or even if we just asked a normal question they would just say we don't now. Never again. We hope that this problem would kindly be sorted out and that we would be rectified for all the inconviences. We came here to have fun and we did not experience any of that we can't even recommend this cruise liner to anybody Read Less

Experience of a lifetime, high level of professionalism and excellence. Planning to do it again in 2020. Food was fresh at all times, cabins and bathrooms clean and very well maintained and the level of hygiene is very high. The entertainment and onboard DJ's were always on point. The island was also awesome, well maintained, safe and secure and the shore boats were just another addition to the fun and experience. The only concern was the level of communication for some crew members and maybe if they can improve on the cut off times for the dining hall as I personally feel that fifteen minutes is not enough to accommodate everyone. And the drinks packages are a bit expensive and the parking area was very dirty and dusty and also very expensive for rate that they are charging per vehicle per day. But either than that it was an experience of a lifetime. Thanx! Read Less

This was my 3rd cruise with MSC and I hope there is still allot to come...Everything was excellent, cabins, food and entertainment. The staff was friendly and helpfull and we realy enjoyed the shows. Out of my view there is no option for improvement. The embarkation was quick and easy. Everthing was quickly available on the boat. My kids enjoyed all the daily activities on the deck and we as a family enjoyed the shows. The food at the buffet was excellent and there was a allot to choose from. We also enjoyed the breakfast and supper in the restaurants. The kids enjoyed the nightclub and we enjoyed the casino and lounges on board. Pomene was a great expierience and the beaches is nice and clean. The food on the Island was to die for. Allot of evert was put into it and it was easy accessable. The disembarkation went to quick and before we opened our eyes we were safe back in Durban. Thank you MSC Read Less

This was our 3rd Cruise with the MSC, having cruised on the Sinfonia and Musica 2017 and 2018. The ship was clean, first class entertainment both for adults and my 4year old. We always book the balcony cabin and it never disappoints, big and spacious. The room service was so efficient in delivering our breakfast as we had 2 sea days so we preferred to have breakfast on our balcony. One night my daughter was found wondering on the ship crying within seconds she was brought back to us without causing a scene (had left her sleeping in the room for dinner) The kids club is really addictive as my daughter would wake up and couldn’t wait for us to take her there.... I really wish I were a kid again to experience what she feels. Overall, our vacation was more than worth the money we had spent...and are planning our next cruise for 2020! Read Less

I loved the 5 night cruise. The xtra day is worth it. We were on the ship Sunday at 10h00 which gave us almost a full day on board. We were fortunate to get off at both islands which was awesome. Very hot though so take precaution. The pool at Pomene is great and very enjoyable. The locals at PI offer anything for sale. From Cigarettes to Loacal Rum, clothes and more. The food in buffet area was a bit dissapointing but you definately will not go hungry and you have the dinning room as an option. Entertainment was excellent. We loved late nights on the deck. We met new friends and enjoyed different cultures. The teatre entertainment was fantastic and Eric brilliant. We part taked in Masterchef, Bingo and various quiz nights. We enjoyed the entertainment every night in Savannah Lounge. We spent time in the Library and Casino. A bit dissapointing is the photo prices but not forced to buy it. All in all a great ship and memorable cruise. Booked our next cruise 10 Feb 2020 and 26 Dece 2020. Looking forward to the 14 day cruise Read Less

I had an awesome time indeed!! It's such a luxurious experience and it's not even expensive, it's worth every penny. From the friendly staff, to cleanliness of the rooms, passages each corner is extremely well taken care of. I don't know how they do it. The entertainment is extremely exciting and for everyone to part. The food is fresh and there was a wide variety of meals to choose from. OMG the club!! Dj was the bomb from Thursday to Saturday night. Yoh hai shame I had a blast and I want to do it again soon. The island was such a beautiful and private place the boats pick up and drop off on time. Infact everything regarding time on the MSC is prompt, no delay the queue must go on. Staff have lots of respect, our cabins were clean on time. Personal belongs kept in the same spot where you it. Overall I want to say the trip really depends on the type of crew you are with. The group of friends I went with were so awesome, which made the stay even more excellent for me. Read Less

I have just returned from a 4 day sailing of the MSC Mereviglia. This was my 11th Cruise, but the first on MSC. We were myself, 55 yr old mom and her 23 yr old daughter. This was overall the worse cruise I have ever been on., but of course- not all bad! We were informed via email ahead of time that we would not be going to Ocean Cay, as it was not ready to open as scheduled. A disappointment, but not that important to me personally. Our only other port was to be Nassau, Bahamas, but that was changed to Cozumel right before sailing. This fact is important, as this change was NOT communicated to guests ahead of time. I should mention that this sailing had a majority of guest that are Travel Advisors (including myself) . The only way some of us were aware of the port change ahead of sailing is because we emailed MSC and asked them. But the information was never put out FROM MSC. The port made no difference to us, but I spoke to many guests that had excursions planned and looked forward to Nassau. For these port changes, guests were given a $100 OBC per stateroom and 20% a future cruise. The MSC Mereviglia is a very very beautiful ship! The Atrium with its Swarovski stairs and the Promenade with its ever-changing LED dome are some of the indoor highlights, along with a spectacular display of wines/champagnes. There are many common gathering spaces, which were both comfortable and functional. The main pool, the Atmosphere Pool, was beautifully laid out, with soft cabana beds, and ample lounge chairs, as well as a theatre sized movie screen. The Horizon pool was also outdoors- very small with sunbathing deck. There was also a very nice indoor pool (which would be great to have in inclement weather). The main dining rooms (included) were completely unremarkable. As for the food, it was very bland and basic, as was the service. After the first night, I felt no desire to go back (but I did). These dining rooms are on set early/late times, which I personally do not like. I also do not normally eat at the ship buffet (except for a quick bite during pool time) but I did eat dinner at the buffet one night, and it was actually quite good. Fresh, well attended, clean. The pizza is excellent!! We did not try the specialty restaurants. However..... we “attempted” the Chef’s Table. Here’s the story (and I’m sorry it’s so long, , but it dragged on throughout our 4 days...). Immediately upon boarding I called and made a reservation for the Chef’s Table ($120 pp) for our Cozumel night. We made several attempts over the next 2 days to confirm this, but guest services could not help, and specialty dining didn’t answer. This involved us waiting in the guest services LONG line more than once, as well as numerous phone calls, all with promises to “call back” but no one ever did. We wasted so much time. By the Cozumel night, we finally learned that our reservation had been made for the wrong night (our last night). So here’s the kicker- by the 3rd night, I had become so sick with the flu (yes, I’m a nurse and it’s the actual flu) that I could barely get out of bed. So my daughter carried on with the saga. The reservation had been the wrong day AND now I was sick, so we were canceling. She went to the specialty restaurant in person, only to be told that they were starting a staff meeting and she would have to “get out”. She was literally pushed out the door by a Ukrainian woman. Back in the room, she looked at our account and found we had been charged $138 fee! This made me so mad that I forced myself to get dressed and go back to the restaurant with her. We spoke to the head of specialty dining, Mustafa, who was no less than completely dismissive and condescending to us. We found out that THEY had intentionally changed our reservation night to accommodate another group and NEVER TOLD US! And then still wanted to charge us for canceling, acted like they were doing us a favor to credit our account and waved us out. And I was so sick! Our cabin was 9109, deck 9, midship, B2 Balcony, typical, nicely done, with a nicer bathroom than most. Be aware the lifeboats are right there, but not obstructing. Only one US outlet. Our cabin steward, Pari, was exceptional, even allowing us to stay in the cabin late on debarkation day, as I was so sick I could barely move. We found the onboard music to be bland and lacking variety. Not bad, just repetitive and boring. Same singer in the atrium area each night, a stiff jazz trio elsewhere, it was like “dinner music” everywhere. I cannot comment on the onboard shows, as we didn’t go to any. We did go to the Cirque du Soleil cocktail show “Viaggo”. $18pp included one cocktail of a type of “tiki punch” of their choice. The Cirque shows were all sold out when we embarked, but we learned we were able to go on “standby”, and we were able to get in. The show was not the caliber of a full Cirque show, but was very nice and we thought worth the $18 ticket. We spent a lot of time at the pools, one day at Atmosphere, one at Horizon. In each case, I got up at 7am to secure a pool BED. We stayed there from 7am throughout the rest of the day, only leaving for lunch. Cocktail service was virtually nonexistent, so we had to go up to the bars. Bartenders were generally accommodating. We had the “easy” drink package, AKA cheap one. We had to be creative about ordering, which was a hassle. Example: a Pina colada was not covered in our package, but we could order a Virgin Pina colada plus a double shot of Bacardi, and just combine. All bartenders allowed this, some even just went ahead and mixed it for you. There was NO tequila included in this package, hence, no margaritas. MCS has 3 tier beverage packaging, but it’s really not well thought out. The next tier up is nearly double the price, so a hard sell, yet the easy package was really a reasonably priced disappointment. MSC should go to 2 tiers- regular and premium, and adjust their pricing. I cannot comment on the spa or spa services, or fitness areas in general, as I did not use. We did go up to the Aquapark to check it out. Lots of kids (of course) and all wet, slippery surfaces with children running and climbing. That sort of thing makes me too nervous to watch, and we did not see much for MSC employees monitoring this. We did not actually use the water slides, as there appeared to be a lengthy process of signing waivers and instructions first (20 min +), so we didn’t take the time. The ports: This sailing was a 4 day, scheduled for a sea day, Nassau day, and private island day. Prior to sailing, we were informed via email that the island “wasn’t ready” and as such, we would not be going. But then, a couple days before sailing, we found out (I called) that we would NOT be going to Nassau, but Cozumel instead. I personally have been to both enough times that it didn’t really matter one way or the other. However, it DOES matter to a lot of people, people who booked based on Nassau and made plans and excursion reservations. Also, we spoke to many people onboard who did not even know about the change until the were on the ship. That is BAD communication on MSCs part. All in all, I think I’d like a give MSC another try- probably on the Seaside. But this was a very disappointing sailing for many reasons. We made the best of it, and we still had a great time, even with blah food and the flu! My daughter and I have traveled together on cruises, all-inclusives , and across Europe, so we have realistic travel expectations. As my 11th Cruise, I think I have a fair idea of the good, the bad, and the ugly of cruising. After (only) 4 days, I was ready for this cruise to be over and not really sad to leave (I’m always sad to leave a cruise). So this was a very different experience for me. I’m confident the next will be better! Read Less

It was my first time to Pomene island and the place was good except that i did not enjoy myself due to the beach which made my body to react to the water so bad. The place is so big. The service was so good, especially at the bars on deck 5, big ups to Putro from Bali who was not just the bar server but also became a friend. entertainment was on top at the disco, it was so much fun. The ship is so big and beautiful with so many bars to cater for all with the bar service to go an extra mile to assist. cabins were neat and up to a good standard. Dining was perfect and the food was mouth watering with a number to choose from, midnight snacks was also on point. I would recommend everybody to sail on MSC as its the best ship i have ever came across, this was my third time sailing with them and surely is not my last time. Hope to see you soon. Read Less

As a Diamond Club Card Holder and recently invited to the Launch Party for the MSC Orchestra on the 16th November 2019 and then Booked for the First 4 night cruise, commencing on the 17th November to say I was a Happy passenger would be nothing but further than the truth. We were so looking forward to this cruise, as we were going to celebrate our 55th Wedding Anniversary on Board this 4 day cruise. Initially I informed MSC that as I had already booked on the cruise immediately following the Launch Party, could they please link my Launch Party cabin to my Cruise cabin. (My cabin number was supplied to them) I received a email back to inform me that this was not at all possible. On the Saturday 16th November '19 I arrival at N shed my wife and were ushered into a marquee to wait boarding. Due to certain "circumstances" the Boarding time was delayed by almost an hour and a half. Diamond Card holders and other VIP Guest's were then herded into N Shed and joined a queue for Boarding. While waiting to board a chance chat to a MSC employer in the shed about the fact that when I asked to have my Launch cabin linked to my cruise cabin been denied, he promptly took our Cruise Booking letter plus those of at least 3 other passengers with the same problem and returned with our Cabin Cards all linked to our Cruise Cabins. Done in 5 minutes. The Launch Party went ahead with no major problems. In fact it was the highlight of our Holiday. However, the next morning the 20 or So Diamond Club Card holders, "Cruise Passengers" were informed that we had to disembark and re-board once we passed through Passport control. In the morning then 20 of us were formed up and were escorted off the the ship with a MSC Staff member. However once we were in the Terminal we were left to fend for ourselves. We had to join the queue for the "Fast Trackers" of the new Cruise passengers embarking, which took for ever to get through to Passport Control. Surely MSC could have arranged with Home Affairs before hand to process the 20+ cruise passengers on the Saturday and thus saved the hassle and inconvenience of seasoned Cruise travelers having to Disembark and back on again standing in long hot queue's?? Some I may add with chronic back problems. Once on Board our "Usual" well organised Gold Card / Diamond Card experience fell terribly short. There was No welcome back party for Gold Card/ Diamond card holders. No Chocolate Ship in Cabin. No Gowns in room, only slippers. No Dance Lessons, No free Sauna /Spar Invitation, No notification of a "Free" meal at the Specialty Restaurant. No Photo taken with the Captain. When I inquired at the Voyager Club Office and spoke to a Mary Ann as to why all the above had not been given as per previous cruises, she informed me that a lot of it was all explained in the letter sent out on the First day. I informed her that we did NOT receive such letter, but she promptly shifted the blame to Housekeeping department. While I was at the counter I was joined by no less than at least 5 other disgruntled passengers with similar "concerns". Mary Ann did however offer to give us each a MSC Backpack that evening. However when it didn't arrive at the given time, again she Blamed Housekeeping. For Dinner we were Booked for 2nd sitting with 5 other Diamond Card holders. Two of them I believe are pretty active on Social Media in South African circles under "Friends of MSC". All were very unhappy on how Diamond Card Holders were treated. Now are also questioning whether it is any incentive to cruise, in order for all passengers to up their status on the MSC Voyager Club Card incentive Rewards System. Of all the many times we've cruised this Dinner time experience in the L'ibiscus Restaurant must rate as the worst my wife and I have ever experienced on board any MSC Cruise liner. During the 4 nights we dinned there, we experienced the following: No Castle Larger Beer. (Hello, this is a South African Cruise season AND it is on the Wines List) The Liner docked Saturday so there was ample time to stock up on all the Required South African drinks and Food lines. Our waiter's English was poor and therefore service was lacking. At times we waited over 30 minutes just to get ice cubes. The delay between courses was far too long. On one occasion a fellow passenger at my table asked for the Indian/ Asian menu. Well it never arrived. ( NB! The Asian Menu was posted in a Glass cabinet at the entrance to the Dinning Room) Food presentation also fell short as we were not offered anything else when ordering Mutton Curry and Rice. That's all one got. No accompanying Sambal's or condiments were on offer. We were also highly disappointed that on "Italian Night" there was NO Usual singing and waving of serviettes as the Kitchen Staff raced through the Dinning Rooms as we all waived our Serviettes singing " Volare". As for our Cabin. Our room was only finished been cleaned at lunchtime on day 2. Plus the bed covers were not put on the bed until our last day. There were no tissues paper in the bathroom. Of the 2 dispensers in the shower, one was completely empty and the 2nd one wouldn't dispense. When I asked the gentleman to bring me his supervisor, he never complied. Besides the Tea/Coffee/Water stations positioned in the wrong areas, one could never find Hot water for tea or coffee, let alone find coffee sachets. One would have to wait until the gentleman taking care of these stations happened to pass by to get a coffee sachet from his pocket. As for the Duty Free shops, VERY few items were priced. When I asked the assistant as to why there were no prices? A very rude man replied that he was on his own and hadn't had time to put up the prices from Euro to Dollars. Every night I went back to check and by the last and 4th night there were STILL no prices up. I finalized my account the morning of departure and proceeded to breakfast. When I tried to disembark the Security Officer informed me that I had to report back to Reception as there was a problem with my account. When I joined the queue at reception I had to wait at least 25 minutes before I was served only to be told that it was a "misunderstanding" and I could continue to Disembark. In the meantime my wife who was in front of me was left standing at the bottom of the gangway on the dock waiting for me and not knowing what had gone wrong with me. So in closing. To say was this one of the worst cruises we've been on, I have to say, YES. Will I cruise again with MSC? Yes of course. But NEVER again on the first cruise. It was so sad, as this was not the way we wanted to remember our 55th Wedding Anniversary, but alas it will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. May I also add, that as I am on Social Media I see a lot of of other passengers gripes and complaints and the replies they in turn receive back from MSC Customer-care and it seems their replies tend to be a lot of "Cut & Paste" replies. Hopefully my concerns are forwarded to the MSC South Africa Director as well as the team in Naples, and the reply sent to me is not the usual, "Cut & Paste one?? Read Less

I chose the MSC Orchestra because i have cruised with MSC Musica before, so i wanted to try something different for a change and it was a great experience after-all, i invited friends to join me this time and i was happy that they've also enjoyed, we are already planning our next cruise for 2020.the only thing that i was not impressed with was having to queue long lines for packages that we have already bought online before the cruise date, it would be very nice if whatever package you buy before the cruise you find it in your cabin and you don't have to queue long lines,The staff crew on the ship was very nice and friendly, the buffet was awesome, i never went hungry on the curies i was always full, but at-least before i went to bed i always made sure i burned some calories at the disco,It was always nice to come back to a clean cabin.we had fun fun fun, looking forward to my next cruise in 2020. Read Less

One reason I choose to Cruise was to have fun and try out new experiences, how is it like to be in a titanic a 5 star moving hotel. The first time you enter the ship the ship smells 5 star and looks 5 star all the way, the decorations inside are amazing you even forget That you are inside a ship. The embarkation que is horrible, you can't wait for a while before entering the ship, and didn't like the fact that they only open few service desk during embarkation. The stuff members are super great and friendly especially the man responsible for our deck 8, even when most of them didn't know how to communicate in English but they tried. MSC is one hygienic cruise hotel I ever seen, every corner you turn there is sanitation thats what I loved. The food is super Healthy and they don't compromise on taste, everything I ate I could taste that it's quality food. The dinning areas I loved them because you get the opportunity to dress up and be fine and finned, only problem is you have to buy soft drinks all the time, I don't mind them selling alcohols wish they could have gave us maybe complimentary soft drink for every fine dinning meal or 5 drinks per Cruz then the rest you purchase. I loved Eric the voice from above the program director all his shows were fun and entertaining. The parties organized by stuff were super great problem they only last for an hour. Deck 13 buffet area was home to most cruises and would like to give blow to the stuff there at deck 13 because they are forever working, especially the pizza guy 24 hours pizza. Our cabin was in front so every wave the ship cut through we felt it, and you couldnt stand straight which resulted in sea sickness, so would advice you to book balcony center cabin. The excursions on the island were expensive hence did not do them. I hated the fact that we did not go to Pomene Island and they could not take us to a different island like Maputo instead of Portuguese Island which had nothing to see the second day and the waters were unclean to swim at them. Pomene has been giving them a problem why don't they start looking for an alternative to island or take it out on your markets because when I booked I saw two island and wanted to visit two not one island. The disembarking program failed them a bit, stuff was not properly assigned to guide people were they should go,whuch made things to go slower. The photo package is expensive and it would be nice if the price could go down or be included as our take home package because we got nothing as complementary everything you have to buy. Despite all the negatives would still go and advice people to go is an experience you don't want to miss. Read Less