MSC Cruises Reviews 

I am very disappointed with MSC Seaside regarding the premium alcoholic beverage package because the system and all bartenders are programmed to charge for double shots and extra drinks—thereby deducting from the 15-drink allowance down to 8—and all the bartenders (including those taking orders at the Ipanema restaurant) use these same tactics. The supervisors are aware of it, too; it is a scheme designed to rip off guests who have purchased the alcoholic beverage package.

The whole issue with the bartenders went on from my first day on the cruise until the very end. It all started on day one when I was going for my 11th drink and the bartender told me I had no drinks left in my package; I explained that I had only had 10 and that it wasn't fair. I went to Guest Services and spoke with the supervisor, Alex; he checked the transactions and found two extra drink charges from the Ipanema restaurant that I hadn't actually consumed, as well as a record at one of the bars showing I had ordered two double drinks—which counted as four drinks—even though I had never asked the bartender for doubles.

So, the supervisor removed those four drinks and credited the amount back to my account, promising a refund if the charge had already gone through. It happened again on the second day: Supervisor Alex at the Ipanema restaurant charged me for two extra drinks I hadn't consumed, and at the other bar, I was charged for two double drinks—even though I hadn't ordered them, nor had the bartender asked if I wanted them. I spoke to Alex's supervisor, and those four drinks were put back on my bill.The Italian supervisor told me to ask the bartenders for receipts to verify that I wasn't being double-charged or billed for extra drinks.

The third Day I decided not to order at the Ipanema restaurant; instead, I brought a drink with me—one I had ordered at a different bar—after leave Ipanema restaurant I bought two single drinks (one for myself and one for my sister). However, when I checked the receipt from the bartender, I found that I was being charged for 5 drinks instead of the 3 I actually had. So, I was being cheated on my drink count again. I went back to Customer Service, but Alex made excuses to avoid helping me; another employee and her supervisor claimed they didn't know where those two extra drinks came from, and they kept falling back on the "ask for receipts" excuse to cover for the bartenders and the scam scheme they have going on.

I asked to speak with a supervisor, so Alex’s supervisor came over along with another supervisor—a liquor supervisor named Balhi. They kept telling me to ask for the receipts—claiming the system showed I had 10 drinks left instead of 12—and making excuses to cover up the bartenders' scam by saying the system had a glitch, as if I were an idiot; they just kept repeating the same thing—that I should ask for the receipt—so they wouldn't have to do anything about it.

My recommendation for those who have purchased—or are considering purchasing—the premium alcoholic beverage package is this: to avoid unpleasant situations and the bartenders' deceptive tactics, either skip the package entirely or insist on a receipt for every drink. Check the bottom-right corner of the receipt for the number of remaining drinks so you can keep track of what is being charged to your account. Many bartenders refuse to provide a receipt—claiming the machine isn't printing—to hide the scheme MSC uses to charge you for extra or double drinks you never ordered, causing your 15-drink limit to drop rapidly to 8. Due to this negative experience with the bartenders' deceptive practices—along with other issues—I do not recommend MSC Cruises as a good or reliable cruise line.

Recent cruise on the Magnifica. The ship looks dated, but was clean. The itinerary fit our trip perfectly. The ports stops were great!
The negatives:
Everything is an upsell. including: iced tea. soft serve iced cream. Water at the lounges????
Tours were very inconsistent. Excellent in Gransk!. So So bike tour: they guides we had travel with the ship and new nothing about the city, Riga. If you want to learn anything about the area, this tour is NOT for you. Terrible tour guide in Stockholm, The worst I have ever been on. We left the tour as the guide had a bad attitude and could not be heard,. Her response was she couldn't do anything. Several others also left the tour. We talked to 2 couples who stayed for the whole tour, they wished they had left, it did now get better. Trying to Get a refund from the cruise was more contentious and time consuming than it should have been, but ultimately they refunded the money.
Last and most important. The food was uniformly TERRIBLE..We had heard that the food was questionable but believed that those posts were outliers or exaggerated. They were not. Bad cafeteria food.
Overall would I book on MSC again?
Absolutely not.

We arrived in Southampton and was expecting a warm reception for our 7 day cruise, what we received was no welcome just there is an outbreak on board. However it's free to see our medical team. Now that's how you sell your cruise. Both my cruise neighbours were in quarantine. Try and get your money back.

Booked three suites in Yacht Club including Owners suite two years in advance.
It was practically impossible to get in touch with them, they kept denying any of it happened (luckily I had screenshots of everything), then said oh well the rooms are still available but price went up and they wanted an extra 10,000 dollars. So I just cancelled everything (never got my deposit back btw) and went on a Florida vacation.

Went from loving MSC to hating them and their terrible service.

I booked a cruise with MSC at a cost of £4866 paying a deposit of £200 the next day two travel agents quoted £3847 for exactly the same cruise i.e. a reduction of 21% . MSC refused to match the price or return the deposit. Moral of my experience DON'T BOOK DIRECT WITH MSC.

Worst Cruise ever. Where do I begin? 1) Bait-and-Switch Pricing & Hidden Fees. MSC disabled personal internet access upon boarding, forcing passengers to purchase overpriced internet packages while inflating excursion prices onboard compared to the island. 2) Allergies not properly recorded causing multiple (daily) issues with onboard dining. Despite creating an MSC account and listing all of my allergies, none of those Allergies were communicated to the ship causing issues with dining options and daily selections. This coupled with Cross Contamination put me at an increased risk for a severe allergic reaction. 3) Cross-Contamination Multiple staff members in the dining families onboard and on the MSC island confirmed with me directly that there was a high likelihood of cross-contamination due to lack of protocol and measures to ensure separate kitchens, reusing the same utensils for food with know allergies and using the same containers/serving tools for various foods that should never be combined (pork, nuts, meats in general, seafood/shellfish etc.). One managerial staff member insisted that I do not eat at all on the MSC island because it is worse and he couldn't guarantee my safety. He ensured I returned the food and did not consume anything on the island. This caused my dining options to be severely limited and I did have a reaction onboard. At times, I couldn't eat at all without fear of having another reaction. 4) Miscommunication with initial MSC reps about fees and and drink packages. MSC Guest Services began blame shifting and took no responsibility even when I provided email proof to the staff that the fees promised should be honored. 5) Undercooked meal at dining I requested my meal be cooked well done and it was served to me pink - medium rare. Despite ensuring me it would be cooked properly, it was brought back to me 4 times pink/rare. Then, I was told my seating time expired and would have to eat somewhere else and pay for the premium options. When I asked for a manager, I was allowed to eat at the second seating but they brought the same dish undercooked a 5th time. It was 9 pm and I was unable to eat that evening because it was too late and I wasn't paying for premium meal or dining. They wouldn't even comp me a premium meal at dinner so that I could eat something that wasn't a known allergen for me. I spent 3 hours that evening between managers and Guest Services. I was told I was being picky and that it was my fault the allergies weren't listed. Then they said the meal couldn't be well done no matter how many times I sent it back. This was insulting because had they said the meal could not be prepared well done, I could have at least had time to adjust and go to the buffet. I insisted on escalating the matter through Guest Services to no resolution. It took the VP of Kitchens to finally offer a $20 credit for me to eat the following day. 6) The Dining room food was bland and subpar. The fish and meat were not seasoned and the chicken and pork chops were very dry. The meat/dinner selections were horrible. You had to pay the upgraded premium dining selection (yet another fee) to get decent food. I shouldn't have to pay extra to eat a decent meal on a cruise. 7) MSC is anti-customer. I have never seen people go so much out of their way to avoid being customer centered. There was a constant line for guest services that was extremely long on a daily basis. I was at guest services daily due to numerous issues I experienced onboard. Speaking with management was like talking to a robot - no emotion, no problem solving and impersonal. There were no customer friendly solutions or accommodations. 8) MSC Island was a bust. MSC docks 2 days at their own island. Yet again, forcing you to spend more money that directly enriches their own pockets. Instead of docking for 2 days in Nassau, you have to make the most of a very limited island and pay more for excursions and be underwhelmed. There was not a lot do and we found it to be a waste of our time after day 1. 10) The Pool deck was disastrous (slippery and can lead to serious injury). Most shows were constantly overbooked and the quality of shows was mixed. The arcade is way too small for a ship this size. They had 4 actual arcade games for the whole ship (air hockey, motorcycle driving, etc.). There were 2 VR experiences and 1 small bowling alley (2 lanes). Some arcade games options were overbooked. Some arcade games were not working and there were no refunds.

Both my wife and I are in our mid fifties and have never been on a cruise. This July 26 we went on our cruise and chose MSC. We travelled on MSC Meraviglia and without doubt was one of the best holiday experiences of our lives. We went on a Mediterranean cruise and from start to finish was an absolute joy. The ship is fantastic along with the food, drink and above all the wonderful staff. In particular what really struck me was the professionalism and curtesy we experienced when we arrived and throughout the trip. The excursions we went on via MSC were first class. The ship is absolutely pristine and we would highly recommend the aurea package. The only negative is the weight I put on!!! So much food and drink on offer. We would particularly like to thank Fred, Zamik, and Gene in the Anchor Bar and Paula and Jane in the Panarama restaurant. Can't wait for the next one in 2027 with MSC. Well done all. Cabin 13177.

We booked two premium Yacht Club cabins on MSC World America, expecting an exclusive, high-security family vacation. Instead, we experienced a parent’s worst nightmare and total corporate neglect. The Kids Club experienced a complete systemic breakdown in their secure chain of custody.

When we arrived to sign our minor daughter out, staff completely lost track of her whereabouts for 20 harrowing minutes. Security systems and staff could not verify her status, location, or who she was with.

This severe breach of basic child safety caused our family profound emotional distress, stripping away a major amenity we paid to receive and forcing us to self-manage childcare. Worse, onboard Yacht Club management and the Director completely ducked our meetings and ignored us while we were sailing.

Upon returning, "Escalations Agent Courtney" insulted us by offering a measly $200 future credit per booking for a missing child scare—expecting us to spend more cash with a line that compromised our family's safety.

After we rejected this, a Post-Cruise Escalations Manager promised a phone call to resolve the issue directly but completely ghosted us multiple times.

As Diamond Voyagers Club members who spent tens of thousands with this brand, we are completely done with MSC. They do not care about luxury service standards, and more importantly, they cannot guarantee the basic safety of your children.
Do not trust them with your family.

Angela from Guest Services on the MSC Seaside provided exceptional customer service. She was kind, professional, patient, and genuinely caring, taking the time to listen to our concerns and making sure everything was handled with a smile. Her dedication and positive attitude made a real difference in our cruise experience. Thank you, Angela, for going above and beyond—you are a true asset to MSC Seaside!

To be completely honest, MSC is essentially Carnival’s slightly more sophisticated cousin who wore a collared shirt to the barbecue. You’ve gotta calibrate your expectations accordingly.
The Good
* Boarding was a breeze: The embarkation process was smooth as silk. Porters were ready, facial recognition worked, zero lines, zero struggle. Just a straight walk-on, no-fuss event.
* Top-tier kid area: Having been on plenty of cruises, I always inspect the kid zones. Usually, they’re geared toward infants—nothing exciting, nothing that makes me wish I was ten years old again. But the Seaside waterpark and play area are robust. They’ve got slides, a zip line (for an extra fee, of course), and easily the best splash setup I’ve seen on a ship.
* The Cabin: We booked a balcony room with a private jacuzzi that slept five, and for the first time in my cruising life, I had a walk-in closet. That was a major win.
The Bad
* Deployment nostalgia (not the good kind): The buffet food was intensely reminiscent of what we were fed on military deployments. I’m genuinely curious if MSC uses the exact same supply vendor. Outside of the pizza, everything was bland, lukewarm, and aggressively middle-school cafeteria.
* Fine dining? Debateable: On formal night, they rolled out a New York strip that I swear was sourced from the exact same freezer container as "Steak and Lobster Night" at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
* The Tactical Purge: Just like deployed rations, Montezuma’s revenge came as a package deal. After my first two meals on the ship, my digestive system initiated a complete force-clearance. I had to stop drinking alcohol entirely just to dedicate 100% of my intake to hydration and survival.
The Ugly
* The DIY Balcony Tub: While we did have a private jacuzzi on the balcony, time, salt air, and cheap plastic had clearly taken their toll. Knobs and handles were literally falling off in my hand. The digital touch panel still worked, so it was operational, but that poor tub was screaming for help.
* Shipyard at Sea: The moment we docked in Nassau, MSC apparently mobilized the local repair force. Suddenly, guys in full jumpsuits were everywhere—grinding metal, wielding power tools, and slapping on fresh paint. Who cares if you’re paying for a luxury vacation? Labor was cheap in port, so it was time to batten down the hatches and run a drydock operation around us.
* Birth Control on Display: My last cruise was on Virgin Voyages—a glorious, child-free paradise. This trip was a violent reminder of why that price tag is worth every single penny. Right next door, we had an infant performing a daily lung capacity test. The kids in the cabin directly above us were doing the full Cha-Cha Slide in heavy boots every morning at dawn. Not entirely the cruise line’s fault, but consider this a public service announcement: if your own kids are older, taking a family cruise will instantly make you feel like you have toddlers again.
The Verdict
The old adage always holds true: you get what you pay for. If you see an absurdly cheap rate on MSC, there is a reason. We bit the bullet on this one because we were traveling with a large crew, but my wife and I exchanged "the look" halfway through the trip. Next time, we’ll either save up extra cash or just leave half the group at home!

MSC seashore 4 nights starting 09/07/26

I travelled with my teenage son, we are first time cruisers and chose to do a cruise instead of the theme parks - the cruise was actually cheaper. We were pleasantly surprised by the buffet, the food looked appetising, was well presented varied, tasty and plentiful. There were some big queues in some areas, however, we were able to find alternatives we were happy with. Staff were hard working and pleasant. We really enjoyed the nightly shows, they were entertaining and a good length. We did not buy a premium drinks package, instead buying as we went. This made financial sense but my teenager was not happy with drinking water…. They had intelligent lifts but there were often long waits to use them, the boat does accommodate more than 5000 passengers, so this wasn’t a surprise. The ship was refurbed recently and was a very pleasant environment to be in. All in all we had a very positive experience and would recommend this cruise ship to others.

Awful problem solving and customer engagement.
Cruise staff engagement in Hub center (MSC Fantasia) and their attitude was very poor and unprofessional. Customer center doesn’t exist and not replying on mails. Bad reviews are not being handled at all. If you want a company that doesn’t care at all for customers choose this one.

How is this cruise still operating????
Our room had not been cleaned upon entering - and when they "cleaned" it, it took them 5 minutes. They left the same towels that had been there from the previous guests, we had to ask for new ones. My wife found hair inside her dessert. You see plates and cups in the hallway and elevators. Just such a HORRIBLE experience. First and last on MSC.

Reference to My Complaint Regarding MSC Euribia (11 July – 18 July 2026)

I am writing with reference to my complaint regarding my experience aboard MSC Euribia during the voyage from 11 July to 18 July2026. This was not my first cruise. I have sailed with other internationally recognized cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean and Holland America, which has given me a clear understanding of the standards that passengers can reasonably expect.On this voyage, there were multiple ongoing issues across almost every aspect of the experience. Upon entering our cabin, we were met with a very strong gas-like smell that caused dizziness. I reported this to Guest Services and was advised that it would disappear once the ship sailed. Although the initial odor reduced, it was replaced by a persistent sewage smell from the bathroom, which spread throughout the cabin. A similar smell was also present in the corridors on Deck 12.
On the second day, I was unexpectedly asked to give up my cabin for another passenger. The alternative offered was of a lower category than what I had booked and paid for, which I found unreasonable and disappointing.
The dining experience was the greatest letdown. Breakfast was consistently overcrowded and chaotic. Food quality and presentation were poor, and even the main dining room was disappointing, with bland meals and uninspiring presentation.
Basic cabin amenities were missing, including facial tissues, hand soap, and slippers. At times, even hand soap was not available.
My sister and I reserved seats for a theatre performance and arrived on time, but there were no seats available, leaving us standing.
When I required minor medical assistance, I was told the medical center would open at 4 p.m. and that all costs would need to be paid upfront, which felt transactional and lacked empathy.
Customer service was also concerning. On a cold sea day, indoor venues remained closed until late afternoon. When I asked to speak with a manager, I was told, "The manager is busy and has no time for you." This response was unacceptable, and left me feeling dismissed.
Before concluding, I would like to sincerely thank the housekeeping supervisor and her team. After I raised my concerns, they responded with care. We returned to find robes, slippers, tissues, fresh towels, a room deodoriser, as a goodwill gesture only given for one day.

My complaint is not directed at those who made genuine efforts, but rather at the broader operational and managerial shortcomings that need to be addressed.

I was extremely disappointed with my experience on the MSC Seaside. Unfortunately, almost every aspect of the cruise fell far below my expectations.

The food was by far the biggest disappointment. It was old, bland, and had an almost plastic-like taste. Even after paying extra on the last day to dine at Butcher's Cut, hoping for a better experience, the meal was terrible. My friend and I ordered the exact same steak, cooked to the same temperature. One arrived almost raw, while the other was completely overcooked. The crab cakes tasted like they had been stored in a freezer absorbing odors from other frozen foods. The flavor was awful, and I sent the entire meal back.

The buffet quality was equally poor. The yogurt was clearly spoiled and had separated. The banana slices on top were thin, dark brown, and looked like they had been cut days earlier. The ground beef used in the pasta dishes was honestly some of the worst I've ever tasted. There are no words to describe how bad it was.

The buffet was also poorly managed. The food stations were arranged in a way that forced everyone into one long line, creating constant congestion and making it difficult for people to move around. It was loud, chaotic, and stressful instead of enjoyable. There were frequently no bowls available for cereal because they ran out so quickly, and guests had to wait for staff to wash more before they could eat.

Cleanliness was also disappointing. When I first entered my cabin, there was a drinking glass sitting there half full of water. That immediately told me the glasses had not even been checked or replaced after the previous guests left. We also found trash underneath the bed, and the room had a constant damp, musty smell throughout the cruise.

The crew members were friendly but, unfortunately, many seemed unfamiliar with the ship. Whenever we asked for directions or information, they often appeared confused and were unable to guide us properly.

Ocean Cay was another disappointment. There were not enough golf carts or transportation available to get around the island, so guests had to walk long distances, including to the restaurant. The food offered on the island was essentially the same as on the ship, which was disappointing. It also happened to be the final day of the football championship, yet there wasn't a single television anywhere on the island to watch the match. We ended up returning to the ship around 2:00 p.m. because there was nothing else we wanted to do there.

The entertainment was also below expectations. Most of the shows lacked quality and were forgettable. The one exception was the jazz performance. The singer was absolutely fantastic, and that was by far the best entertainment of the cruise.

The swimming pools were far too small for the number of passengers onboard, making them overcrowded most of the time.

Honestly, I spent most of the cruise eating only bread, butter, and cheese because I simply couldn't enjoy the food being served.

The only day I truly enjoyed was Saturday in Nassau. Instead of staying with the ship's activities, I had booked a day pass directly with a resort. I took a taxi there and spent the day enjoying the hotel's all-inclusive amenities. That ended up being the highlight of my entire trip.

Overall, this was one of the most disappointing cruise experiences I've ever had. Between the poor food quality, inconsistent specialty dining, lack of cleanliness, overcrowded facilities, disorganized buffet, disappointing entertainment, Ocean Cay experience, and the crew's lack of knowledge about the ship, I cannot recommend MSC Seaside. I left feeling that the cruise simply did not deliver the quality or value I expected.

We had a cruise with MSC lines to the Dalmatian shores from June 28 to July 5. It was a very good experience for us,far above our expectations.
The cabin beautiful and spacious, the food plentiful and tasty and the staff kind and helpful. We especially would like to mention our cabin attendant Santosh whose service was excellent and very obliging.

I rarely leave reviews, but after how this situation was handled, I feel like people deserve to know what they’re signing up for.

The cruise itself was fine. My issue isn’t with the ship—it’s with how MSC handles damaged luggage and the complete lack of communication from its employees.

When we disembarked, I found my suitcase with one of the wheels completely broken off. It was obvious the damage happened while my luggage was in MSC’s care. I was directed to a desk where I was told to fill out a luggage damage form because my suitcase would be replaced. I filled out the form, handed it to the employee, and he kept it. He never gave me a copy, never mentioned that I needed one, and never explained what I was supposed to do next.

I stood there for around 20 minutes waiting because he never said another word to me. Eventually, my mom asked what the next steps were, and we were told that someone would reach out to me. That was it.

After I got home, I decided to look on MSC’s website myself because I hadn’t heard anything. That’s when I discovered that I was apparently supposed to keep a copy of the luggage damage form and email it to MSC in order to process my claim. That information was never given to me by any employee at the port. In fact, the employee took my paperwork without ever telling me I needed a copy. I specifically asked what the next steps were, and no one told me the one thing that would determine whether my claim could even be processed.

Now MSC is refusing to help because I don’t have a copy of a document that THEIR employee collected without telling me to keep it.

To make matters worse, I spoke with three different employees that day and received three different answers. None of those answers turned out to be correct.

I’m a college student living paycheck to paycheck. The only reason I was even able to take this cruise was because my mom paid for it as a gift. I did not budget for a $300 suitcase because I already owned one that had lasted me for years. Now I have a large suitcase with broken wheels that I can’t realistically use for the frequent travel I have to do between home and school, and I cannot afford to replace it because of rent, insurance, tuition, and every other bill that comes with being a college student.

What frustrates me the most is that none of this would’ve happened if your employee had simply said, “Keep a copy of this form. You’ll need to email it after your cruise.” That’s a 10-second conversation that would’ve prevented this entire situation.

Instead, your employee took my paperwork, told me someone would contact me, and sent me on my way. Now I’m being denied because I followed the instructions your staff gave me.

MSC damaged my luggage, failed to properly explain the claims process, and is now refusing to take responsibility because of information that your own employees failed to provide. That is unacceptable customer service.

I expected a company this large to stand behind its customers when its employees make mistakes. Instead, I’ve been left with a damaged suitcase, no resolution, and an experience that has completely changed my opinion of MSC Cruises.

Failure to Credit MSC Voyagers Club Points After Three Consecutive Cruises

I have been a loyal MSC Cruises customer and a member of the MSC Voyagers Club for several years. I am currently at the second-highest loyalty level (Diamond), and I have always monitored my points carefully because, under the Voyagers Club rules, missing points from previous cruises may no longer be claimed after a certain period.

Between April and May 2026, my sister and I took three consecutive cruises on the MSC Poesia. We traveled together on all three cruises, sharing a cabin on each voyage.

My sister received all of her Voyagers Club points correctly. I did not receive any of the points for the same cruises.

I first contacted MSC on April 25, 2026, immediately after the first cruise ended. After receiving no response, I contacted them again on May 4. On May 18, MSC informed me that an internal case had been opened to investigate the missing points. On that same day, I had already completed my third consecutive cruise and requested that the points for all three cruises be credited.

Since then, I have sent several emails and made multiple phone calls. Every response has been essentially the same: “Your request is being handled by the responsible department.” No estimated completion date has ever been provided, and no effective action has been taken.

According to the MSC Voyagers Club Terms and Conditions, and considering the cruise categories, onboard bookings (which qualify for double cruise points), internet packages purchased before the cruises, and the bonus for updating my contact information before departure, I should receive at least 5,200 Voyagers Club points for these three cruises.

This is not simply a disagreement about points. The most frustrating aspect is that my sister, who traveled with me on all three cruises under the same conditions, had all of her points correctly credited, while mine remain missing despite months of follow-up.

It has now been almost three months since my first request. I have done everything MSC asked of me, yet the issue remains unresolved. I continue to receive only generic responses stating that my case is under review.

As a loyal customer, I find this level of service extremely disappointing. I respectfully request that MSC Cruises credit the Voyagers Club points to which I am entitled or provide a clear, documented explanation for refusing to do so.
I booked all three cruises directly with MSC, so there is no travel agency involved. The responsibility of correctly applying the Voyagers Club points is entirely with MSC Cruises.
I sincerely hope MSC will finally resolve this matter instead of continuing to send standard responses without any concrete action.

MSC Fantasia – Never Again

This cruise was supposed to be one of the happiest trips of our lives. My partner and I had just gotten engaged, and he was also celebrating his birthday during the cruise. We paid a significant amount of money expecting a romantic and relaxing experience. Instead, it turned into one disappointment after another.

The biggest disappointment was dinner. We were assigned a shared table with three other couples—complete strangers. We were never informed that this could happen when we booked. We are both very introverted people, and because we both have demanding jobs, the little time we get to spend together is incredibly precious. We were looking forward to quiet, romantic dinners together. Instead, we weren’t even allowed to sit opposite each other. We were seated facing strangers, and the table was so small that we were literally bumping elbows throughout the meal. Had we known this in advance, we would never have booked this cruise.

We specifically booked the second dinner sitting, but without any notice or explanation, we were assigned the first sitting instead. Again, no communication, no apology, nothing. Had we known this beforehand, we would have chosen another cruise line.

The same happened with our cabin. We deliberately booked this cabin category because it was advertised on a higher deck. Without informing us, MSC moved us two decks lower. Instead of enjoying the views we expected, our balcony mostly overlooked the lifeboats. Once again, there was no explanation, apology, or even a notification.

When we politely asked if it would be possible to get a table for two—explaining that we had just gotten engaged and wanted at least a little privacy and romance—the restaurant manager barely looked us in the eye and seemed completely uninterested in helping us. We also spoke to Guest Services, where we were told they would do everything they could. Unsurprisingly, nothing happened. In the end, we stopped attending dinner altogether because spending quality one-on-one time together was more important to us than eating in an uncomfortable environment. We were even willing to pay extra for another dining option, but no solution was offered.

The food onboard was mediocre at best. It feels designed to feed large numbers of people rather than to provide a memorable dining experience. There was plenty of food, but very little flavor.

The final disappointment came during disembarkation. We parked at the official MSC parking area and were taken to the ship by the MSC shuttle bus. Simple enough, right? When we returned to Trieste, we were told we were not entitled to use the shuttle back because we had not booked the parking through the MSC website—even though their website wasn’t working when we tried to book it. We still parked at the official MSC parking facility, yet no one was willing to help or show any flexibility.

Overall, MSC seems to care far more about appearances than about the actual guest experience. The ships look beautiful, the promotional videos promise exceptional service, but the reality is very different. You’re charged extra for almost everything—even a glass of water—and the friendliness and customer service shown in the advertisements simply don’t exist onboard.

I have cruised with Costa several times before and have never had such a disappointing experience. I decided to try MSC because so many people claim it’s better than Costa. Based on my experience, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Never again, and I would not recommend MSC to anyone looking for a special or romantic vacation.

Great experience, great service, great professionals, great food, great shows, all of this and much more on an amazing brand new ship