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Reviews 1.7.

2,366 total

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Don’t get the drinks package!

Don’t get the drinks package. You spend half your night lining up for drinks and can’t get for anyone else in your party most of the time (sometimes it’s ok). Very few tables about too so you lose your seat if you get up to get a drink… Unless you pay extra, won’t get out anywhere near others in your group. We were opposite ends of ship and different floors. Overcrowded and understaffed.

Date of experience : September 23, 2023

What went wrong

What went wrong? Macia at the shopping event desk! She lacks training in public relations! The general staff is excellent however one bad apple can surely spoil everything! Training for Macia is necessary because being abrupt and discourteous can put a bad reputation on any business! My daughter and I waited in line to ask a question where your untrained worker slammed the information brochure hard on the desk with a cold abrupt “any thing else?” She proceeded to give further explanation after she saw the distaste but by then her attitude was already the elephant in the room! Please help her with courtesy and professionalism if she must deal with the public - this incident happened on 4/16 @ 6:54 approximately.

Date of experience : April 16, 2024

MSC was my worst cruise ever

MSC was my worst cruise ever, the food was very limited, mostly cold cuts and cold hot dogs, and cold burgers. I asked the pizza person to make me a fresh pizza with extra cheese, and I was told NO extra cheese. “ we don’t change the menu” said the pizza chef. Adding extra cheese changes the menu. I complained to customer service but to no avail. I asked lots of fellow cruisers if they liked the cruise and I kept getting the same answer No. everyone was complaining. Trust me. You will regret this cruise line.

Date of experience : April 02, 2024

MSC Orchestra

MSC Orchestra It was my first time and it was the best experience I ever had. First of all, I want to thank all the MSC staff, starting from the cleaning services. Our room was always spotless. The kitchen chefs: For the quality and the mindblowing variety of food available every single day, from breakfast, lunch and dinner. The waiters: For their amazing skill of waitering, friendliness and patience. The Actors, performers, entertainers, tour guides, Director: For all the unforgettable shows, dancing classes, laughter, happiness and comfort. The Captain: For our amazingly steady and safe journey. I have great respect for every MSC staff for the number of hours that they work. The patience they have for the rude clients and their hard work. Thank you so much for making my experience so special and unforgettable. I'm extremely grateful for the experience that I had. Wishing everyone all the best Great big hug

Never again, even if they pay me

As you can see from their non-answers, MSC clearly don't care about their customers. This is clear once you step in one of their old, dirty, overcrowded ships, but also when you wait in line for about 90 minutes check in. Long queue at the buffet and not enough food or places to seat. Mediocre food. Poor entertainment for adults and children. Unable to manage rude and noisy passengers. Unable to help you in any little request. You and your family will feel helpless and trapped. From day 2 I tried, without luck, to find flights and disembark early.

Date of experience : April 08, 2024

Haven't even left on our cruise yet

Haven't even left on our cruise yet. Added our son onto our booking in February with what the agent told us was the last day to book to take advantage of the Kids Sail Free promotion. She told us since my husband and I had the drinks and wi-fi package he must also have it and there was a fee of $459 for the total cost to include port charges and taxes. At the time the horrible app did not show a cost for minor drinks package or wi-fi so we took her word for it. Now that we are under the 30 day mark we checked in online. It was at this time that the wi-fi did not show up on my son's booking and that the cost of wi-fi and minor drink package were finally showing the costs of both of these services individually on the app. It was then that we also finally received a break-down of what we paid for him. it showed a cabin fare of $319 which wasn't correct since it was Kids sail free promotion and we were only suppose to be paying for a minors drink package and wi-fi that we apparently aren't getting. Well the cost of the drinks package for him is $144 and the wi-fi is apparently $111.93. But because he is under 20 he does not get wi-fi unless I individually pay more for it per the representative that I spoke to today. But per their booking agent I already purchased it for him. I called last week to discuss because of the incorrect amount and they kept telling me that it was not a kids sail free eligible cruise and could not give me a credit/refund. I asked for a supervisor to call me, which they never did. Called again today where the representative told me that I must have miss understood the booking agent. It upset me and I said, I absolutely DID NOT misunderstand her and that she just didn't know how to do her job correctly and misquoted me and that it wasn't my fault, it was MSC's fault and that I am due back the overpayment of $175 for the difference between the drinks package and WIFI package that I'm not receiving. He was adamant with an attitude of that's too bad, so sad, can't help me. Sorry that she did that to you. Not good enough... so I escalated it to a supervisor. He kept saying a supervisor will call me back and I insisted that I don't want a call back because they never returned my call last week! Finally about 20 minutes later I got a supervisor. She basically repeated exactly what he said over and over. I explained that I don't even care if they give me cash back but at least give me an on board credit for the $175. She was completely useless and could not help me at all with the exception of giving me some fruit in my room (that I can get at the buffet), a bottle of champagne (that my fare level already includes), a continental breakfast that is already free to me. She did mention I could get a $25 room credit after going round and round. WOW! $25 for a $175 MSC mistake! I asked her to speak to someone above her and she said there is no one above her that I can talk to about my problem. I explained that basically your agent did a bait and switch on me, overcharged me, had no idea how to do her job and now I was made to pay the price. I find it BS that in a corporation as large as MSC that she is the end all, be all for conflict resolution! I finally said, so if your website shows something costs $20 but when I book it, it charges my credit card $200 then there is nothing you can do to help me and change it??? She said, well each situation is different. I took that to mean, you can help me with this discrepancy but you won't! Complete waste of my day! Can't cancel all together as my cruise is just 10 days away and I already have flights, hotel, rental car, excursions, etc... paid for. I have been on 17 cruises before and this is by far the worst experience I have ever had, the worst customer service I have ever experienced, the worst website and phone app I have ever experienced and I haven't even stepped foot on the cruise yet! This cruise will have to be absolutely the best, most phenomenal cruise I have ever been on in order for me to even consider booking another cruise with them! I already want to run the other direction! If you haven't booked with them, DON'T. If you have and you still have plenty of time before you cruise, CANCEL AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!

Date of experience : April 24, 2024

Very poor customer service staff are r…

Very poor customer service staff are rude and arrogant. My whole experience was very bad from start to end it felt like I'm in a jungle not on a cruise ship. over crowded no places to sit people reserving sunloungers from early morning without using them so you can't use the facilities because it was very Crowded horrible food too. Pay a bit more and look elsewhere

Date of experience : March 17, 2024

Really poor service

Really poor service. MSC. Have travelled with you several times before but this will be our last. We get a better service from other cruise companies. Accommodation is awful dripping taps, bed stains etc. paid a lot of money to be on this cruise. Complained and yet nothing has been done. Made formal complaint to head office and basically got told tough…. Fair enough won’t be back then…..

Date of experience : March 12, 2024

My 4th great MSC cruise, amazing value

I have just returned home after my 4th cruise to interesting ports with MSC Cruises. As always, the cabin and ship generally were clean with excellent facilities, the service very good by staff who were always polite and friendly, the wide range of food was very tasty, (I ate plenty of it!), many areas of the ship had a choice of live musicians, and the theatrical entertainment which changed every night (including singers, dancers, jugglers, acrobats and on a previous cruise the whole of the opera Madame Butterfly, all in changes of very attractive costumes with stunning backgrounds) was excellent. The value was amazing, and I have recommended MSC to a number of friends, and very much look forward to the next cruise.

Date of experience : April 15, 2024

Extremely poor customer service

Extremely poor customer Service. It doesn’t feel like anyone there knows what they are doing, I have been told conflicting information by different members of staff and had some of the most useless and unhelpful responses I have had from any company. I would strongly advise you book your cruise with another company. I only wish I had seen some of the reviews here before I booked. Shoddy.

Looking for a retirement cruise, MSC is the place for you!

So here’s the things about MSC Orchestra experience. The staff is friendly just like every other ship, the rooms are nice and comfy, and the place is clean. As for everything else such as food, experiences, entertainment etc is a total ZERO! The main restaurants are only open for a very short time and with hours that change and don’t fit for people on vacation. But there’s a Buffett you say…. Well, let’s talk about that and wish I could upload pictures. The dry flavorless, tasteless pizza that’s out as their main staple is worse than eating cold Taco Bell. The breakfast they serve nothing sis warm everything is cold and dry, bacon undercooked, eggs as rubbery as a bouncy ball, and the pasty’s are as hard as a brick. They have cut every corner when it comes to meals that the only way I would take any MSC cruise from this experience would be if I needed a diet plan to lose 30lbs. This is also no cruise for night life. By 11:30/12am it’s a total ghost ship. My first night I thought the reckoning had happened because I was the only one walking around except for the one staff member manning the desk. So if you are looking for a diet cruise and are over the age of 75 MSC is the place for you! Welcome to the shady pines retirement home of the sea with no flavored food, Geriatric entertainment that can be done from a seat or your walker and early to bed for be up for you breakfast because they close at 9am. What a mistake coming on this cruise, NEVER WILL BE BACK!

Date of experience : April 18, 2024

Currently on MSC Poesia world cruise

Currently on MSC Poesia world cruise. MSC Customer service has been appalling…. No response to written correspondence prior to embarkation (due to multiple itinerary route changes - some of which were due to the Red Sea conflict, others due to yellow fever, others due to, well who knows!!). Complaints made to the CS manager whilst on the ship also gone ignored. Replacement ports poor, food below standard, entertainment terrible. Currently 900 passengers have signed a petition as a result of their dissatisfaction to the sailing = 40% of the ships passengers which shows how bad it is. Threats are now being made by the ships staff (including Captain) to retract complaints, AVOID, AVOID, AVOID!!!! One saving grace is the fabulous hospitality staff on board who MSC are unbelievably lucky to have.

Date of experience : March 19, 2024

Terrible. Any other line is better. Cattle barge. Canceled our port to Ocean Cay, their private island to let another unscheduled MSC ship take our spot on the dock. Spend a little more and book a real cruise line. Big mistake trusting MSC.

Date of experience : March 27, 2024

Overcrowded, overpriced excursions, travel to and from cities on the shuttle bus extortionately priced when p&o was free. Food average but very busy around the buffet area. Euribia only used EU plug sockets but didn't clearly make this aware to us before hand. Also charged us an authorised payment and when challenged they said it was for their charity?? Yet thisnwas not discussed or agreed with us, and was not clear if this was written down anywhere before being taken out. Really long queues for the shows which extended uncomfortably close to people sitting in restaurants nearby which felt tacky and poor for a luxury establishment. Similar complaints looking at the previously review. I'll stick to P&O in future.

Date of experience : February 23, 2024

Euribia 9-16 Feb 2024

NEVER NEVER NEVER again will i cruise with MSC over crowded, under staff, repetitive food, poor quality food, unhappy staff , ridiculous excursion costs Basically a floating holiday camp third time with MSC , previous 2 where satisfactory this one with Grand children, they loved it , kids club people where excellent . constantly running out of this running out of that in the restaurants , MSC in not interested in calls on my feedback , im just making potential customers aware , think twice next year ,back on P&O or Royal Carribean

Date of experience : February 09, 2024

Don't make a mistake and book with MSC Cruises

For last experience with MSC cruise Bellissima (Japan & South Korea), as usual we paid all excursions in advance. First day scheduled excursion (SAKURAJIMA Sightseeing -KAGOSHIMA) was cancelled due weather condition. They promised to refund the amount within 60 days. After 6 months and many follow ups from us with them, they rejected to refund the amount. Besides, MSC cruise is wasting of money and time. Zero quality in everything.

Date of experience : August 16, 2023

We won’t cruise with them again!

We were supposed to leave for our cruise in 16 days but a family member has just been diagnosed with cancer and we are unable to go now. When we called to cancel or they kept $900 out of the $1200 we paid, including our drinking package. We will never cruise with MSC again and I will make sure I tell everyone I can about this, every chance I get.

Date of experience : March 05, 2024

This company comes across as homophobic,and i would not recommend anybody to book a cruise with this company

Date of experience : April 07, 2024

MSC Seaside is beautiful ship and I…

MSC Seaside is beautiful ship and I enjoyed the facilities, destinations and entertainment. I did not enjoy the restaurant evening meals as the food was bland and unappetising. Some of the pasta dishes for an Italian ship was inedible and the same bland vegetables were served every evening. The buffet however was excellent but a bit crowded at times.

The worst cruise ever!

The worst cruise ever! It’s like a zoo- so crowed and not enough room and the food my dog wouldn’t even eat. The shoes and entertainment are disgraceful!!! Never any seats, and when you do get one, people stand in front of you. Everyone heated and upset. Claustrophobic and sad- and stressed. This is no holiday It’s making me and my boyfriend feel so poorly that our days are ruined! Staff treated terribly Do not travel with MSC!!! Pay more and go elsewhere whatever you do!!!! The staff are so overworked it’s disgusting to see. All so lovely but so disorganised. The Drinks are also disgusting I am So poorly from the pina colada!

Date of experience : March 28, 2024

Best MSC Cruises

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MSC Euribia

MSC Euribia, named after the Greek goddess of mastery of the sea, launched in June 2023. MSC Euribia stands out with its commitment to sustainability (the ship runs on liquid natural gas, or LNG) and art-filled aesthetic (with original works of art throughout the ship and a "Save the Sea" motif on the hull).

Entertainment options abound, with an immersive gallery, a sports center, a theater, a casino and seven rooms dedicated to kids and teenagers. Five pools and a water park are also available. The Galleria, the main promenade featuring a dazzling LED sky dome, is a hub for shopping and dining.

With MSC Euribia's 10 dining venues, passengers can choose from formal Italian, fast-casual tacos, a sushi bar, a buffet, a crepe shop and more. What's more, the ship offers 21 bars, including a British pub, a wine bar and upscale cocktail lounges, as well as the Carousel Lounge, where passengers can dance to music of varying genres.

MSC Euribia holds up to 6,327 guests and 1,711 crew members. Staterooms range from the 129-square-foot Interior Studio to the 420-square-foot Grand Suite with a whirlpool and terrace. MSC Yacht Club Suites, which offer access to exclusive perks like butler service and a dedicated sun deck, are also available.

Most MSC Euribia itineraries sail through northern Europe, particularly the Norwegian fjords and destinations including Amsterdam ; Paris ; Hamburg, Germany ; Copenhagen, Denmark ; and Bruges, Belgium . Cruises to the Middle East, including ports like Doha, Qatar, and Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, will also be offered. 

U.S. News Insider Tip: If you’re dead set on cruising in the MSC Yacht Club, you’ll want to be selective with the vessel and itinerary you choose. Many older MSC ships do not offer a Yacht Club section, including the Poesia, Armonia, Lirica, Musica and Opera. – Holly Johnson, Contributor

MSC Bellissima

Boasting a 5,100-square-foot LED screen in the ceiling of its promenade and accommodations for more than 5,600 guests, the MSC Bellissima (debuted in 2019) aims to impress. Guests can relax in cabins ranging from cozy Interior Studio staterooms to large suites with balconies and espresso machines. Each room comes equipped with Zoe, a voice-enabled virtual assistant capable of making restaurant reservations, answering questions about the ship and more.

Members of MSC Yacht Club (an exclusive amenities program) who sail on MSC Bellissima can receive benefits such as dedicated priority check-in and check-out, 24-hour butler service and concierge room service, complimentary access to the Thermal Suite in the MSC Aurea Spa, one free cruise change and a discount on prepaid restaurant packages as well as spa packages and treatment. 

Outside of their rooms, travelers can try for a strike at the ship's bowling alley, zip down a waterslide at the Aquapark or play games in the TV Studio & Bar. At night, cruisers can grab a drink at one of the ship's 20 bars and dine at one of 12 restaurants, which offer sushi, tapas and more. After dinner, passengers can catch a live show in the state-of-the-art, 1,700-square-foot Carousel Lounge. Kids of all ages will enjoy their time on the ship as well, as Bellissima boasts separate spaces for infants and toddlers, kids and teens to hang out all day.

MSC Bellissima sails throughout Asia. 

MSC Meraviglia

Launched in June 2017, the 5,642-passenger MSC Meraviglia is one of the largest vessels in the fleet. In fact, it is among the largest cruise ships floating on the seas today.

Some of the ship's most impressive features include a promenade equipped with a 5,200-square-foot LED screen dome, a 108-square-foot main pool, and two Formula 1 virtual reality racing simulators. 

MSC Meraviglia also features nine dining venues, ranging from a buffet open 20 hours a day to a teppanyaki and sushi restaurant to an authentic Italian eatery.

Equally impressive, more than 60% of the ship's staterooms offer balconies. Accommodations range from Interior and Ocean View cabins to Duplex Suites and Yacht Club suites. Those who splurge on Yacht Club category cabins receive additional perks, like 24-hour butler service, access to exclusive venues like the One Pool Deck (a secluded pool and sun deck) and a private restaurant, plus unlimited access to the spa's Thermal Area.

MSC Meraviglia sails through the Bahamas and the Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada and New England. It visits MSC's private island, the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, on select cruises. 

U.S. News Insider Tip: If you’re looking for a ship with an “open feel,” the MSC Meraviglia is worth checking out. This vessel features a large open-air promenade lined with bars and dining venues that leads to a multi-deck central gathering area. – Holly Johnson, Contributor

Introduced in 2012, MSC Divina is among the largest ships in the fleet. It can host up to 4,345 passengers and 1,388 crew members. Some past cruisers noted that the disproportionate staff-to-guest ratio translated to slow service, especially in the dining rooms.

Still, MSC Divina offers plenty of activities to keep guests entertained. Standout facilities include a 4-D theater and four pool areas, including a 22,507-square-foot Aqua Park. Dining is on just as grand a scale: The ship contains eight restaurants, including a sushi eatery. On top of that, there are 12 bars and lounges.

Members of MSC Yacht Club (an exclusive amenities program) who sail on MSC Divina can receive benefits such as dedicated priority check-in and check-out, 24-hour butler service and concierge room service, complimentary access to the Thermal Suite in the MSC Aurea Spa, one free cruise change and a discount on prepaid restaurant packages as well as spa packages and treatment. 

Suites in this exclusive area feature floor-to-ceiling windows. For MSC Yacht Club members, MSC Divina also includes the Sophia Loren Royal Suite on deck 16, which was designed with the help of Loren and includes a replica of her dressing table. More budget-friendly accommodations include Interior and Ocean View staterooms, which come equipped with TVs and minibars. 

MSC Divina offers sailings around the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. 

MSC Grandiosa

Debuted in mid-November 2019, MSC Grandiosa hosts a whopping 6,334 passengers and 1,704 crew members. On board, travelers can take advantage of two different pools, a water park, the Sportplex amusement park and a fitness center. Those seeking a thrilling, albeit less strenuous, entertainment option should check out a live show in the evening.

Grandiosa also boasts an especially large Yacht Club – a private section of the ship that offers exclusive amenities to members, such as a private pool and 24-hour butler service. Meanwhile, entertainment options for kids include seven different rooms (each designated for a different age group), a gaming room for teens and a Lego movie maker studio for children.

Guests can choose from a variety of staterooms, including standard Interior, Ocean View and Balcony rooms, as well as Family Cabins (perfect for up to six guests) and an array of Suite-category options. Each stateroom – regardless of size – comes equipped with Zoe: MSC's voice-activated assistant who can answer any questions cruisers have about their ship.

In addition to the main dining room and the Marketplace Buffet (which is open 20 hours a day), cruisers can choose to dine at several specialty spots, including Butcher's Cut for sumptuous steaks and HOLA! Tapas Bar.

Grandiosa sails through the Mediterranean and South America on upcoming voyages.

MSC Seascape

Sister ship to MSC Seashore , MSC Seascape sailed its maiden voyage from Rome to New York in December 2022. The 5,877-passenger, 1,648-crew-member vessel features the latest technology for energy efficiency. Its design pays tribute to New York City with a replica of the Statue of Liberty and an entertainment space called Times Square. 

Seascape measures a whopping 1,112 feet long and features 139,930 square feet of outdoor space. Enjoy panoramic views from the Infinity Pool, walk over the glass-floored Bridge of Sighs or swim in the Marina Pool, featuring a 360-degree water fountain island and lounge. 

On board, guests can ride the ROBOTRON, a thrill ride providing 360-degree views 175 feet above the sea. Families will love the enlarged MSC Kids Club, which provides 98 hours of live entertainment. Adults can spend time at the theater, casino and disco. The ship has an F1 racing stimulator for all ages to enjoy.   

For accommodations, cruisers can choose between 11 types of staterooms and suites. Fifty suites include an extended balcony and 32 suites include private outdoor whirlpools. The ship features two Owner's Suites within the MSC Yacht Club, measuring 1,055 square feet. 

The ship boasts 11 eateries, including three main dining rooms and five specialty restaurants. Enjoy Mexican cuisine at HOLA! Tacos & Cantina or Asian dishes at Kaito Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar. Seascape also boasts 20 bars. 

MSC Seascape sails to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. The ship also offers MSC Grand Voyages itineraries. 

U.S. News Insider Tip: The MSC Seascape is identical to the MSC Seashore except for one detail. The Seascape is outfitted with a Robotron thrill ride that flips, dangles and turns cruisers through the air on a dedicated platform toward the backend of the ship. – Holly Johnson, Contributor

MSC Virtuosa

The MSC Virtuosa, which set sail in May 2021, holds 6,334 guests and 1,704 crew members. It's one of the largest ships in the MSC fleet (along with its sister vessel, the MSC Grandiosa ). There are 2,421 cabins to choose from, ranging from Interior Studio rooms (around 130 square feet) to MSC Yacht Club Royal Suites (600-plus square feet). Family Cabins offer adjoining rooms, while the MSC Yacht Club Duplex Suite offers two levels, a master bedroom and walk-in closets. All accommodations offer Wi-Fi access (which may cost an extra fee) and minibars, while some include additional features like private whirlpools and balconies. 

Five pools and a massive water park (by cruise ship standards) make for fun afternoons at sea, no matter your age. Young passengers may also enjoy the Lego Group kids club areas and various athletic courts. Adults can spend time in the MSC Aurea Spa, the Red Gem Casino, the Attic Club or the theater. Eleven boutiques spanning 12,500 square feet of retail space ensure guests have everything they want at their fingertips. The shops line a long promenade in the center of the ship, which previous cruisers say is fun to stroll through even if you're not a big shopper. 

Once you work up an appetite, enjoy a meal at one of the ship's 11 dining venues, which feature Vietnamese, Mexican and Japanese cuisine, in addition to other global flavors. The ship also stands out for its attention to sustainability: Virtuosa features a safe wastewater disposal system that protects marine life and offers energy-saving equipment when it comes to heat and air conditioning. 

MSC Virtuosa also features 21 bars; 16 indoors and five outdoors. The ship also features Rob, the first humanoid robotic bartender at sea, which is part of the MSC Starship Club. The MSC Starship Club is an interactive experience featuring over 40 ingredients to create your own recipe, 16 signature cocktails and mocktails, personalized cocktail options, 3-D holographic projects and a souvenir glass.

The MSC Virtuosa sails to an array of popular destinations, including ports in Northern Europe and the United Arab Emirates.  

MSC World Europa

Debuted in December 2022, MSC World Europa holds a maximum of 6,762 passengers and 2,138 crew members. Propelled entirely by liquefied natural gas (LNG), this sustainability-focused cruise ship boasts a futuristic panorama lounge and a kinetic dome ceiling that integrates movement into its design. It also comes equipped with a water park, bumper cars and a record-breaking 11-story-tall slide (the tallest of its kind at sea).

With 13 dining venues ranging from Mediterranean to Latin to American-style cuisines, guests will have ample options to choose from. Plus, there are several bars, lounges and cafes where travelers can enjoy a cocktail or a cup of coffee.

Studio interior rooms start at 108 square feet and feature comfortable beds, minibars and spacious closets. But if you can swing the steep prices, book your stay in a MSC Yacht Club Suite, which includes luxuries like large balconies, whirlpool baths, floor-to-ceiling windows and walk-in closets.

MSC World Europa sails to destinations throughout the Mediterranean.

U.S. News Insider Tip: If you want to cruise Europe with the most restaurants to choose from, check out the MSC World Europa. This ship has 13 dining venues overall, including specialty dining options like Chef’s Garden Kitchen, a fresh seafood restaurant called Pescaderia, a Latin street food restaurant and more. – Holly Johnson, Contributor

MSC Seaview

The 1,413-crew member, 5,079-passenger MSC Seaview is one of the newer ships in the MSC Cruises fleet. Sailing since June 2018, this ship offers Interior, Ocean View and Balcony staterooms, plus a variety of suites. Standard features include single or queen-sized beds, minibars and interactive TVs. Upgraded MSC Yacht Club suites boast extra privileges and amenities, such as gourmet in-suite chocolates, 24-hour butler service and access to an exclusive lounge, pool deck and restaurant with all-inclusive meals and drinks.

No matter which accommodation you choose, you'll have your pick of 10 dining venues, including a buffet-style eatery, multiple main dining rooms and several specialty restaurants that dish up everything from fresh seafood to French bistro fare to prime cuts of meat. Two Asian-inspired restaurants helmed by award-winning chef Roy Yamaguchi are available as well.

What's more, MSC Seaview offers various ways to pass the time on board. For kids, there are age-appropriate clubs, a two-lane bowling alley and a water park with five different slides, among other facilities. Meanwhile, adults can watch Broadway-style shows, grab a drink in one of 19 bars and lounges and enjoy a treatment at the MSC Aurea Spa.

MSC Seaview sails to destinations in the Mediterranean and South America; it also offers MSC Grand Voyages itineraries. 

MSC Seashore

MSC Seashore – which debuted in the Mediterranean in August 2021 and began sailing out of Miami in November 2021 – can hold 5,632 passengers and 1,648 crew members. It features redesigned bars, restaurants, entertainment venues, shops, staterooms and outdoor areas. Measuring more than 1,100 feet in length, the ship is one of the largest in MSC's fleet. Despite its impressive size, the ship's environmentally friendly design allows it to reduce air emissions, such as sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide, by 98% and 90%, respectively. Seashore also uses smart heating, air conditioning and ventilation to save energy on board.

Meanwhile, Seashore's variety of onboard offerings are designed to please passengers of all ages. The ship boasts three pools, the Pirates Cove Aquapark and the fleet's largest kids area, which is fitted with age-specific clubs for everyone from babies to teenagers in a whopping 7,500-square feet space. Adults can enjoy the Balinese-inspired Aurea Spa, a disco, a casino, a theater and the expansive ship-within-a-ship concept, the MSC Yacht Club. And if you're a fan of Formula 1 racing, make sure to stop by the ship's unique simulators. 

Accommodations on board include Interior, Ocean View, Family and Balcony categories. There are also nine suite categories available, including the MSC Yacht Club Owner's Suite, which features a balcony large enough to fit a whirlpool and an outdoor living area. 

Outside their cabins, sailors will have 11 dining venues to choose from, including three main restaurants, a buffet, five specialty dining spots and venues associated with the spa and yacht club. There are also a whopping 19 bars. Spend an evening dining alfresco at Butcher's Cut, one of the ship's specialty options, and end the night with cocktails at Sky Bar, which offers views of the ship's Bridge of Sighs, a glass-bottom walkway.

Upcoming itineraries on the MSC Seashore include trips to the Bahamas , the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. The ship also has MSC Grand Voyages itineraries. 

U.S. News Insider Tip: If you like the features on a certain MSC ship but want more flexibility in terms of departure ports or fare costs, keep in mind that some MSC ships are a mirror image of others. For example, the older MSC Seashore and the newer  MSC Seascape are nearly identical ships, and so are the MSC Meraviglia and the MSC Bellissima . – Holly Johnson, Contributor

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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MSC Cruises Review — Ships, Destinations, Dining, and More

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Mediterranean Shipping Company has been in business since 1970. It started as a cargo shipping company and branched off into the world of passenger cruises in 1988 with its MSC Cruises division.

Today, MSC is the world’s largest privately-owned cruise line — the fourth-largest overall — and is a leader in Europe, South America, and southern Africa cruises.

Even though it might not be the most well-known among cruise ship industry leaders like Royal Caribbean or Carnival , it has big plans for expansion — expect up to a dozen new ships over the next decade.

Name: MSC Cruises

Parent Company: Mediterranean Shipping Company

Number of Ships: 17 (2 more coming by 2021)

Destinations: 150+

Loyalty Program: MSC Voyagers Club

Credit Card: None

MSC operates 17 ships with 2 more on the way. MSC Virtuosa will debut in November 2020 and MSC Seashore will debut in 2021.

• MSC Armonia
• MSC Bellissima
• MSC Fantasia
• MSC Grandiosa
• MSC Magnifica
• MSC Meraviglia
• MSC Orchestra
• MSC Preziosa
• MSC Seaside
• MSC Seaview
• MSC Sinfonia
• MSC Splendida

MSC Cruises sails to 69 countries across 6 continents from 52 departure ports.

MSC’s private island, located in the Bahama s, is called Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. This private oasis has 8 beaches, a Bahamian shopping village, local cuisine, massage huts on the beach, and so much more.

Your day at Ocean Cay can include any of the following activities, some of which come with an additional fee:

• Beach picnics
• Beach soccer and volleyball
• Ceclo luxury electric pedalo
• Deep-sea fishing
• Evening lighthouse show
• Latin dance classes
• Luna Libre Party
• Ocean Cay Olympic Games
• Scuba diving
• Stand up paddleboarding
• Stingray adventure
• Sunset Champagne cruise
• Waverunners

There’s plenty to eat and drink at Ocean Cay, too. You can grab lunch at Seakers Foodcourt or one of the many food trucks located around the island.

These locations serve up traditional buffet food as well as Bahamian specialties. If you need a drink or a snack like ice cream, stop by Lighthouse Bar, Springer’s Bar, The Smiling Fish Bar, or one of the many beach bars.

Hot Tip: Curious about award travel on cruises? Check out our guide to booking cruises with points and miles.

Onboard Activities

There’s a lot to do onboard an MSC ship. In addition to cruise ship staples like pools, a casino, and Broadway-style shows, MSC offers plenty of other unique activities.

Here is some of what you’ll find to do on an MSC cruise (not all activities are available on every ship; extra charges may apply):

• Arts and crafts
• Carnival party
• Dance classes
• Dancing shoes dance contest
• F1 simulator
• Fitness classes
• Flower Glory Party
• Himalayan Bridge sky walk
• Hollywood Stars
• Kelly and Kloe Onboard
• Kid’s Clubs for all ages (babies to teens)
• King and Queen of the Sea
• LEGO Experience On Board
• MSC Factor talent contest
• MSC’s Little Italy
• Officers and Gentlemen dance
• Oktoberfest
• Rock Star Tribute
• Sports tournaments (tennis, soccer, etc.)
• Stardust dance contest
• Virtual World
• Waterslides

Casual wear is acceptable onboard an MSC cruise during the day. On Gala Nights, formal wear is required in restaurants — this means suits and ties for men and cocktail dresses for women.

You’ll want to leave some room in your suitcase to bring outfits for your ship’s theme parties. Bring your 60s and 70s floral gear for the Flower Glory Party, white clothing for the White Party, and red, white, and green to celebrate MSC’s Little Italy.

Hot Tip: If you need some help deciding what to pack, use our handy printable cruise packing list.

Dining and Beverages

Like most other cruise lines, MSC offers both complimentary dining as well as specialty restaurants that come with additional charges.

Complimentary dining onboard an MSC ship consists of main restaurants and an extensive buffet.

You’ll also find restaurants on MSC that come with an additional charge. However, you can save up to 40% if you book before your cruise.

• Asian Fusion Restaurant
• Butcher’s Cut
• Chef Yamaguchi’s Asian Market
• Cirque du Soliel at Sea
• Galaxy Kaito
• Hola Tapas Bar
• In-room pizza delivery
• La Piazzetta
• L’Atelier Bistrot
• Kaito Sushi Bar
• Kaito Teppanyaki
• Ocean Cay Seafood Restaurant
• Oriental Plaza
• Room service
• Sea Pavillion Hot Pot
• Surf & Turf
• Venchi Gelateria

Look for these bars and lounges on your next MSC cruise (not all locations available on every ship):

• Alchemist Bar
• Martini Bar
• Wine & Beer Bar

If you’d prefer to purchase your beverages ahead of time, you can opt for one of MSC’s beverage packages.

These packages are available at all onboard bars, the self-service buffet, and included restaurants.

Premium Plus Package: $79 per person per day

This package is for adults 21 and older and includes all drinks by the glass. It’s valid onboard including the specialty restaurants and at Ocean Cay.

This package includes drinks from the minibar and room service as well. You’ll also get a 30% discount on bottles of wine and Champagne.

• Cocktails, spirits, liquors, wine, and beer
• Soda, juice, bottled water, energy drinks
• Classic and premium hot beverages

Premium Package: $62 per person per day

This package is for adults 21 and older and includes drinks up to $12 each. It’s valid onboard including the specialty restaurants and at Ocean Cay.

• Cocktails, spirits, liquors
• Wines by the glass
• Draft and bottled beer
• Classic and premium hot drinks

Easy Package: $35 per person per day 

This package is for adults 21 and older and includes drinks up to $6 each. It’s valid onboard and at Ocean Cay.

• One brand of draft beer and/or bottled beer
• Selected spirits and cocktails, including non-alcoholic cocktails
• Classic hot drinks (espresso, cappuccino, latte, hot tea, hot chocolate)

Non-Alcoholic Package for Adults: $29 per person per day

This package is for adults and children ages 12 and up.

• Non-alcoholic cocktails
• Soda, energy drinks, juices
• Bottled and flavored water
• Premium coffee drinks, hot chocolate, tea
• Soft-serve ice cream

Non-Alcoholic Package for Children: $17 per person per day

This package is for children ages 3-11 and includes everything available in the Non-Alcoholic Package for Adults.

Drink packages must be purchased for the duration of your cruise. If 1 person buys a drink package, everyone else in that stateroom also needs to purchase a package .

If you purchase your package onboard, you’ll be charged a 15% service fee on top of the package price. To avoid this fee, purchase your beverage package ahead of time .

Bottom Line: The Premium Plus, Premium, and Easy beverage packages will transfer to Ocean Cay. Guests who purchase these packages will be able to use them on the island.

Accommodations

No matter what type of stateroom you choose on your MSC cruise, you’ll enjoy some standard amenities to make your voyage as comfortable as possible including a Dorelan mattress and pillows, widescreen TV, air conditioning, and a safe.

Here are some of the MSC stateroom highlights (not all stateroom types are available on every ship):

An Interior Studio is perfect for the solo traveler. Each small room has a single bed that can be converted into a sofa during the day.

If you’re traveling with a large group, check out the Family Stateroom options. This category of room consists of 2 or more adjoining staterooms and can sleep up to 10 people.

Hot Tip: Bring the kids because MSC is considered one of the best cruise lines for families .

If you want a stateroom that doesn’t feel like a stateroom, try the Duplex Suite. This 2-level suite features a master bedroom on the second level along with an additional double bed on the first level.

There are 2 bathrooms, 2 walk-in closets, and a large balcony with a private whirlpool tub.

A Two-Bedroom Grand Suite can accommodate up to 5 people. These rooms have 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms plus a large balcony.

For a luxurious experience, try a Suite with Private Whirlpool. These suites come with a queen-size bed and a large balcony with a private whirlpool bath.

For the ultimate in luxury, choose an MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite . These luxurious rooms have a bedroom with a king-size bed, separate living room, bathroom with tub and shower, refrigerator, coffee machine, fully stocked mini-bar, and a large balcony with a whirlpool tub.

Plus this room comes with all MSC Yacht Club benefits.

By choosing your stateroom on an MSC cruise, you’re also choosing your personalized MSC experience. Each experience comes with a set of perks and bonuses.

Bella Experience: Comes with Balcony, Ocean View, Outside with Partial View, Interior, and Interior Studio rooms

• Your dining time will be assigned according to availability
• Access to the buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Use of ZOE on select ships (voice-enabled virtual cruise assistant)
• MSC for Me app

Fantastica Experience: Comes with Suite, Balcony, Ocean View, Interior, and Staterooms for Families

• All Bella Experience benefits
• Ideally located staterooms with better views
• Assigned dining times, but with priority over Bella Experience guests
• Free 24-hour room service

Aurea Experience: Comes with Suite, Duplex Suite, Grand Suite, and Suite with Whirlpool and Balcony

• All Fantastica Experience benefits
• Complimentary Easy Drink Package
• My Choice Dining so you can select your dinner times
• Spa package that includes 2 50-minute massages per stateroom
• Access to private sun deck (adults only)
• Priority embarkation
• MSC for Me Wristband: a waterproof wristband you can use to make purchases, book services, and unlock your stateroom

MSC Yacht Club Experience: Comes with MSC Yacht Club rooms

• Luxury suites located on the top decks
• Access to Top Sail Lounge
• Private sun deck with pool, whirlpool, solarium, and bar
• Private restaurant with a choice of dining times
• Priority check-in and check-out
• Dedicated concierge and 24-hour a day butler service
• Unlimited drinks in MSC Yacht Club areas
• Selected complimentary beverages in all onboard restaurants and bars
• Access to Thermal Suite
• Premium internet package

Hot Tip: Kids ages 11 and under travel free on most MSC cruises .

MSC Voyagers Club is a loyalty club that you can join if you’ve sailed with MSC in the past or if you have an MSC cruise booked.

There are 5 levels of membership that offer perks based on points earned. You’ll earn points each time you cruise, book an onboard service, and make onboard purchases.

Here are just some of the benefits and perks you can earn as an MSC Voyagers Club member (benefits are cumulative):

MSC Voyagers Club membership is valid for 3 years. If it has been more than 3 years since your enrollment date or the day of disembarkation on your last cruise, your membership will expire and you’ll lose all Voyagers Club privileges.

Hot Tip: MSC offers a discount of up to 10% on select sailings to all current and retired U.S. or Canadian military personnel and their families as well as all current and retired government employees including teachers, police officers, and firefighters plus their families.

Martha Stewart Partnership

MSC Cruises has partnered with Martha Stewart to bring passengers special excursions and experiences. Whether you want to send a gift or try a new shore excursion, you can do with Martha Stewart style.

Plus, if you’re sailing on MSC during a holiday, you’ll get to experience a special Martha Stewart 3-course holiday meal. These are available during Easter, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve .

Send a special gift to someone on your MSC cruise that represents Martha Stewart’s values — good food, good company, and commemorating achievements and adventures. These are available on Caribbean sailings leaving from Miami and Tampa.

• Includes a personalized letter from Martha Stewart plus a special dessert and recipe card
• Includes a personalized letter from Martha Stewart, a special dessert, recipe card, and a bottle of wine
• Includes a personalized letter from Martha Stewart, a special dessert, recipe card, a bottle of wine, a free photograph taken by an MSC photographer, a 5×7 picture frame, and a canvas beach bag

On select cruises, you can experience a specialty excursion inspired by Martha Stewart. These activities celebrate each destination’s local flavors and traditions.

• Tastes of Belize — Street Food, Artisanal Cheese & Jungle Delights
• St. John Hike to Watermelon Cay & Snorkel Trip
• Bacalar Lagoon Kayaking & Pineapple Farm
• The Perfect Margarita Mixology Session
• Swimming Horses of Cayman Experience
• Historic Homes Walking Tour & Key Lime Pie
• Jamaican Flavors Tasting Tour & Craft Market
• Bush Medicine Gardens & Tea Tour
• Bahamian Cooking & Cocktail Class
• Konoko Falls & Murphy Hill Farm Tour
• Flavors of St. Maarten Culinary Course
• Exploring Roatan’s Fishing Villages
• Savor San Juan’s Culinary Delights

Hot Tip: Not sure where to get the best deal on your cruise? Dive into our guide on the best websites to book cruises at the cheapest prices.

The MSC for Me mobile app is available on select MSC smart ships including MSC Bellisima, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview, and MSC Splendida.

This mobile app is designed to help your onboard experience be fantastic. With the app, you’ll be able to save time, keep track of your onboard activities, and stay connected with options including:

• Mobile check-in
• Interactive map of the ship
• Displays of onboard events and activities
• MSC for Me Wristband
• MSC for Me Chat
• Family and Friends Locator (available for an extra charge)
• ZOE (virtual cruise assistant)

Hot Tip: Are you using the right credit card? Consult our guide to the best credit cards to book cruises to make sure you aren’t leaving any benefits on the table.

MSC Cruises might not be the most well-known brand in the industry, but it is still one of the biggest cruise lines, with plans to expand even more. Keep an eye out for plenty of new MSC ships over the next decade.

MSC will appeal to many different types of cruisers since it has lots of different types of activities onboard. If you’re traveling with kids, you’ll appreciate the pool, waterslides, and waterpark.

If you’re a foodie, you’ll enjoy the specialty restaurant options, and if you’re looking for luxury, you’ll adore the MSC Yacht Club Experience!

If you’re a frequent cruiser, you’ll love the MSC Voyager Club perks like cruise discounts and priority boarding.

Whether you’re looking for a laid back getaway to the Caribbean or an exotic voyage to South Africa, you’ll find it on MSC Cruises.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is msc a luxury cruise line.

Yes, you can definitely get a luxury experience on an MSC cruise. If luxury is what you’re after, check out the Aurea Experience and MSC Yacht Club Experience. These levels of cruising come with Suites, Duplex Suites, Grand Suites, and Suites with Whirlpool and Balcony plus MSC Yacht Club Rooms. With these 2 levels of experience, you’ll enjoy luxury benefits like complimentary drinks, My Choice dining, spa packages, access to a private sun deck, a private restaurant, and more!

What is the best MSC cruise ship?

MSC Bellissima is often cited as the best ship in the MSC fleet. Debuting in 2019, it’s the newest MSC ship and, like its sister ship MSC Meraviglia, is one of the fleet’s biggest. It features an aquapark, waterslides, the “Himalayan Bridge” sky walk, 4D cinema, and more.

How much is the drink package on MSC Cruises?

MSC Cruises offers multiple drink packages that range in price from $17 per person per day for a kid’s drink package to $79 per person per day for a package that includes all drinks by the glass (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic).

What is included on MSC Cruises?

An MSC Cruise includes the main dining rooms and an extensive buffet. Entertainment, onboard features like pools and waterslides, and kids’ activities are also included. You’ll pay extra for specialty restaurants, alcoholic drinks, specialty non-alcoholic drinks, shore excursions, and some onboard activities.

What is the dress code on an MSC cruise?

Resort casual wear (like shorts and t-shirts) is acceptable on an MSC cruise except for Gala Nights. On these nights, formal wear is required in the restaurants — suits and ties for men and cocktail dresses for women.

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About Katie Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

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MSC Meraviglia review: What it's like to cruise on MSC's 1st New York-based ship

For the first time, MSC Cruises has based a ship in New York. Given that the vessel, MSC Meraviglia, is the fifth-largest in the line's fleet of two dozen ships in terms of tonnage and the sixth-largest by passenger capacity, the ship's presence in the Big Apple is a big deal. As one colleague astutely pointed out, when it's docked there, it's the largest hotel in the city .

I recently sailed on MSC Meraviglia out of its Red Hook homeport in Brooklyn, and I have mixed feelings. Overall, the ship is lively and aesthetically beautiful. Its specialty restaurants and nightly shows are some of the most consistently superb on any vessel, and it offers one heck of a luxury product in its Yacht Club suite enclave .

However, passenger flow is an issue, with many public spaces so crowded they're uncomfortable, and service is painfully slow in some bars and restaurants. You'll likely end up paying a lot more than you originally planned because some of the most enticing things to do come with added fees. And, as my travel companion so succinctly put it, I've never been told "no" so many times on a cruise.

Here, I'll take you through some of the activities I tried, the places I ate and the experience I had so you can better determine if MSC Meraviglia is right for your next voyage.

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Overview of MSC Meraviglia

MSC Cruises' Meraviglia was the first in the line's Meraviglia Class of ships. When it debuted in 2017, it became the line's largest vessel, with space for up to 5,655 people at capacity (4,475 at double occupancy). It has since been overtaken, in terms of passenger capacity, by subsequent vessels in the Meraviglia Class, as well as those in the World Class.

The ship exudes the same glitz that's typical of other MSC vessels, despite its mass-market appeal and penchant for attracting budget travelers. Lavish artwork, chrome accents and bold jewel tones convey a sense of opulence throughout public spaces, and no ship in the fleet would be complete without an atrium staircase adorned with thousands of Swarovski crystals.

Like MSC's other modern ships, MSC Meraviglia has an extra-fee chocolate shop on board — this one through a partnership with chocolatier and pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury — where you can purchase chocolate, macarons, candy and specialty coffees.

There's also a sizable water park on the top deck, a shopping mall-style promenade area and several decks of cabins that are part of the line's Yacht Club, which affords passengers exclusive access to a dedicated restaurant, lounge, bar and pool deck just for them, as well as butler service.

What I loved about MSC Meraviglia

Largely, my onboard experience was great. Crew members were friendly, my cabin was comfortable, and the daily activity options were plentiful, varied and fun. At night, most shows fell into the "excellent" category, and the food in every extra-fee restaurant and the Yacht Club was phenomenal.

Specialty dining

MSC's food consistently receives less-than-stellar reviews from passengers, particularly regarding the line's complimentary dining experiences. Much of the main dining room fare is indeed so-so — palatable but largely underseasoned and mass-produced, so that it often looks like it's been sitting under a heat lamp when it reaches you. Food in the buffet is varied and tasty, but it can also become repetitive after a week, and the space is frequently crowded and confusing to navigate.

So why am I including food under the "what I loved" category? I think that MSC's alternative, for-fee restaurants — including the ones on MSC Meraviglia — are some of the best. If you're willing to shell out the money, you can have a fantastic meal on this ship.

Of the ship's specialty restaurants, my favorites are Hola! Tacos & Cantina and Kaito Teppanyaki.

Even though Hola! levies extra charges, passengers have the option of paying a la carte for items individually priced as low as $2.95 or paying $17.99 for unlimited menu items. The salsa and guacamole are wonderful, the tortilla soup always hits the spot for me, and the tacos are small, so you'll be able to try several to find your favorite without feeling overstuffed.

If you know me, you know the fact that I'm recommending Kaito Teppanyaki is shocking. I'm notoriously not a fan of this type of cooking, particularly when it comes with a side of cringeworthy performances by the chefs. However, the food there on MSC Meraviglia was so great that I didn't mind the cook's jokes.

The MSC Yacht Club is a private section on select MSC ships that offers cabins across several categories, including suites. Passengers booked in those cabins have special keycard access to a dedicated guest services and concierge desk; an exclusive pool, sun deck, lounge and bar (with free drinks); and complimentary anytime dining at a special restaurant just for Yacht Club cruisers.

Cabins are outfitted with higher-quality materials and furnishings, and each comes with the services of a butler. Meri was mine, and she was the best. She was able to make dining and spa reservations for me, escort me to priority seating in the theater for nightly shows and have crackers and green apples delivered to my cabin when the second night's rough seas made me feel seasick.

I absolutely loved the special touches MSC provides to Yacht Club passengers, including a special afternoon tea service and a private, intimate final-night performance by Lorraine Crosby — the female vocalist from Meat Loaf's "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" — who sometimes makes guest appearances on board. (She also put on two larger shows for the entire ship earlier in the sailing.) Additionally, I had access to Yacht Club perks at private island Ocean Cay Marine Reserve , including dedicated trams, a shaded waiting area with cold water and access to a private beach and restaurant.

Although the Yacht Club comes at a premium — at the time of publication, rooms on MSC Meraviglia started at $1,199 per person for a Yacht Club inside cabin on a six-night Bermuda sailing — fares include drinks and tips, along with Venchi pillow chocolates, free room service and minibar selections, plus one round of in-cabin snacks and a choice of one bottle of vodka, gin or whiskey delivered to your room. (I normally drink rum, and they were able to substitute it for me, even though it's not one of the spirits normally offered.)

Above all, the most valuable component of the Yacht Club for me on this sailing was the ability to escape the general chaos that is the rest of the ship. Don't get me wrong: I immersed myself in the buzz outside of the Yacht Club as often as possible, but as an introvert who dislikes crowds and noise more and more the older she gets, I found it essential to have a separate area to which I could retreat.

Galleria Meraviglia

One of the most fun and flashy locations on MSC Meraviglia cruises is the Galleria Meraviglia, a central indoor walkway similar to the Royal Promenade on Royal Caribbean ships. It's a long space flanked by bars, restaurants and shops with a feel similar to a shopping mall. However, the highlight for me is the giant LED screen, which runs the length of the space and hosts what the line calls "dome shows."

During these shows, themed scenes — including deck plans for the muster drill, dinosaurs and volcanos during the "Jurassic" dome show and even famous ceilings — appear overhead. They're the metaphorical heartbeat of the ship, and you can't help but stop to watch.

The nearby chocolateria, Jean-Philippe Chocolate & Cafe, is an excellent place to grab a cuppa, and the adjacent Meraviglia Bar & Lounge is home to trivia, live music and more. Mix in a shore excursion desk; shops that sell high-end jewelry and purses; a counter serving for-fee gelato, crepes and smoothies; and Hola! Tacos & Cantina (one of the best Mexican restaurants at sea), and Galleria Meraviglia feels like the place to be.

There's little I enjoy more than a relaxing arcade day , and MSC delivers with its Sportplex gaming complex. It features a small traditional arcade with air hockey, alien shooter games and first-person driving games, as well as prize machines; several immersive virtual-reality pods (most of which were down for maintenance during my sailing); two Formula One racing simulators; a 4D cinema where several players attempt to take out zombies and killer clowns; and a sports court that hosts basketball, pickleball, dodgeball and other activities.

But my ultimate favorite was the bowling alley. My travel companion and I inexplicably wound up in Sportplex after dinner on formal night. We played for half an hour — enough time for two games if it's only two people and you move quickly — and were ultimately joined by the Yacht Club director, Craig (who won easily). It was a ton of fun, but I don't recommend bowling in a ballgown.

The drawback is that, like lots of other cool pastimes on MSC Meraviglia, it all costs extra (except for sports court use). The arcade charges per game with the tap of your keycard. The simulators can be purchased on a per-ride basis, and bowling is charged in chunks of either 30 or 60 minutes.

To save money, passengers can purchase packages where you get a certain dollar amount free. (For example, if you prepurchase $150 worth of gaming credits, your card will be loaded with $220.)

What I didn't love about MSC Meraviglia

As with all things, in travel we take the bad with the good. While most experiences on this sailing fell in the latter category, it wouldn't be a fair review without calling attention to the things that I think the line needs to address.

The departure port

When MSC first announced that MSC Meraviglia would be sailing from New York, the ship's homeport was Manhattan. I groaned when I heard its docking spot had changed to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Brooklyn's Red Hook neighborhood.

Brooklyn's terminal is difficult to reach, particularly if you don't have a car. Anyone venturing to the port from Manhattan will need to take the subway, followed by a ferry — not an easy feat if you're toting luggage. Park-and-ride-style buses also seemed to be an option, according to several passengers on my sailing who arrived from outside of the city. If you're like me and decide to drive to the port, know that parking is at a premium, and fees are steep. (At $45 per night, I paid $360 to park there for eight nights.)

Waits on embarkation day are another concern. When I arrived, lines snaked outside the terminal and down the sidewalk in front of the building. I had multiple passengers throughout my voyage tell me that they waited between two and three hours in line to board the vessel.

It's unclear whether the terminal is ill-equipped to deal with passenger flow for such a large ship or if MSC hasn't quite brought its embarkation processes up to speed, but if you don't have priority boarding privileges, either through a high loyalty status tier or a Yacht Club booking, expect the process to take a while.

On the plus side, you'll have great views of the Statue of Liberty as you sail away, assuming the weather isn't rainy or foggy.

At 19 decks, MSC Meraviglia is huge. On my voyage, the ship was only sailing at about half capacity (about 3,000 passengers out of a possible 5,655, or 53%). However, a perfect storm of events converged to create a situation that was less than pleasant for anyone not booked in a Yacht Club cabin.

A large group booking of about 1,000 people overtook many of the public areas on a daily basis, which drew complaints from cruisers who weren't in the group. For example, trivia was standing-room-only on several days, and the buffet was so continuously crowded that I ate there only twice on the entire voyage.

Additionally, it rained during our first two days on board — embarkation day and the following sea day — meaning that the ship's outdoor spaces weren't utilized. Because everyone was stuck inside, the ship felt even more crowded. (I shudder to imagine what it would have been like if the ship had been sailing completely full.)

Although the weather certainly isn't the cruise line's fault, it seems that the ship should be better equipped to deal with situations where passengers are stuck inside. I also thought that, perhaps, the large group booking was a one-off and that it wouldn't be the norm on other sailings. However, I spoke with one of the officers on board who told me that the cruise line is actively recruiting similar large group bookings.

One of the biggest contributing factors was the ship's layout and flow. Some areas lead to dead ends, while others force you to enter busy areas — like the massive Marketplace Buffet — to find stairs to go up or down a deck. In several bars and lounges in the main atrium, tables and chairs are scattered so close to the main staircase that it's difficult for two-way passenger traffic to move through the space.

The feeling of overcrowding was exacerbated by service inconveniences like long waits for drinks, meals and elevators.

Confusing policies and procedures

Some of the things MSC does truly confuse me, and they began almost immediately after boarding.

When cruises first returned following the 18-month COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, many lines decided to go digital with their muster drills. Passengers watched videos on their mobile apps or on their cabin TVs before reporting, at their leisure (to maintain social distancing), to their muster stations for verification. MSC has chosen to institute a bizarre version where all passengers watch a video and then report to their muster stations at the same time.

If everyone is going to the same place at the same time, why not do the muster drill in person? On the flip side, if you're going to make people watch a video instead of doing a live demonstration, why make everyone go to their stations simultaneously? The process creates a chaotic environment where, in my case, people were required to walk into the theater, do a lap around it (for reasons nobody ever actually explained) and immediately exit again.

Speaking of the theater, no drinks are allowed in there, which is odd, given that all other cruise lines allow passengers to order drinks during shows or at least carry them in with them to enjoy while they watch. We saw several surprised cruisers being told they had to dump their beverages or drink them before they'd be allowed inside.

The drink situation gets worse when you try to order cocktails in the ship's restaurants. When I did so in one of the main dining rooms, I was told that only wine was available. When I visited the alternative eateries, I was told I could only order from what was on the menu, some of which wasn't included with the beverage package. What's the point of selling pricey beverage packages (which can cost more than $70 per person, per day, for the most expensive) if there are so many exclusions?

Specialty coffee from the onboard chocolate shop also isn't included with the packages, nor are coffees on private island Ocean Cay, which leads me to my next head-scratcher. I had the single best coffee drink of my life when we called on Ocean Cay. The Coco-Nilla Latte is espresso, vanilla flavoring and coconut milk, and I loved it so much that I tried to have it replicated on board.

I went to three of the ship's regular bars, each of which is equipped to make espresso that's included in the line's beverage packages, as well as the specialty coffee bar at the for-fee chocolate shop. At each location, I was given some sort of excuse:

"We don't have vanilla syrup at this bar."

"We don't have coconut milk here."

"Oh, those are only made at Ocean Cay."

It's likely if this happened on a ship in any other fleet, the response would have been, "We don't have the ingredients, but let me see if we can find them."

The crew culture on MSC Meraviglia seems to be one that either doesn't encourage them or doesn't allow them to go the extra mile. My request wasn't a lavish one; vanilla syrup and coconut milk are standard accouterments at most cafes on land. The ship has a passenger-to-crew ratio of 3:1, which is better than that of other cruise lines with fares at a similar price point, so I don't feel like I'm asking too much from an affordable cruise line.

I must also mention some weird food-related practices I saw on board. Both times I ate at the Marketplace Buffet, I witnessed crew members stopping adults from taking food from a particular section of kid-friendly foods. "No, those are for children only," a crew member behind the counter told a parent who was trying to grab dessert for his son, who was outside by the pool.

"You mean I can't take this out to my kid?" the guy asked in shock. The crew member told him he would have to go to the pool, get his son, bring him inside and have him pick out the dessert, which he grudgingly did. But talk about a disruptive experience.

On the other occasion, I saw a couple of adults eyeing the chicken nuggets that were on offer. They were forbidden by a crew member from taking any. I have never seen something so absurd on a sailing in my life. Children aren't the only ones who enjoy chicken nuggets, nor are they the ones who pay the cruise fares. Adults, whether they have kids on board or not, should be allowed to eat whatever they wish from the buffet that they paid for — even if it comes from the children's menu.

Another head-scratcher is you might still have to pay a supplement to eat in certain restaurants, even if you booked a dining package that includes a set number of specialty restaurants for a set fee. It depends on what you order.

For example, I had a dining package, but when I dined at Kaito Teppanyaki, the waiter informed me that there would be an extra $10 surcharge to order the Geisha and Samurai options and a $30 upcharge for the Emperor option. Again, what's the point of selling dining packages if they don't cover what they're supposed to?

Additionally, on a ship of 3,000 people, MSC Meraviglia had only one of four main dining rooms open for lunch on a rainy sea day when everyone was stuck inside. It was open for one measly hour, from noon to 1 p.m. I saw the hours posted as I was passing by the line that was quickly forming, so I decided to eat there to evaluate the situation. Spoiler alert: It wasn't great.

Finally, MSC Meraviglia's sports equipment is kept under actual lock and key. You have to sign out everything from pickleball paddles to basketballs for use on the indoor sports court and volleyballs for the pits on Ocean Cay. However, when I tried to sign out a basketball during posted rental hours, the person working told me no and offered no explanation. When I checked with guest services, they told me that shouldn't have happened. But it did. Twice.

On a separate occasion, when my travel companion and I showed up for scheduled volleyball time, the attendant cut the game off at 45 minutes because he said he had to leave. When we asked if we could keep the ball to continue playing, he refused. There seems to be no flexibility, and staff members are not empowered to deviate from protocol on the fly, even when it makes sense.

Most cruise lines' ships have unmonitored equipment available for passengers to use when the courts are open. It's often stored in unlocked chests that passengers can access at any time. Sign-out, which seems like an unnecessary step, is not required with most other cruise lines, which brings me to this: To quote one of my TPG colleagues when she referenced an MSC sailing on a different ship, "I have never said, 'No other cruise line does it like this,' as much as I did on [my cruise]. And it wasn't a good thing."

MSC Meraviglia cabins and suites

MSC bookings can be confusing for first-timers because, in addition to selecting a cabin type (inside, outside, balcony or suite), passengers must also choose from one of three experience packages. Dubbed Bella, Fantastica and Aurea, they all come with different perks and inclusions, as noted below.

Bella: This is the most basic, bare-bones package. It includes accommodations, free meals in the main dining rooms and buffet, and free daily activities and nightly entertainment. Passengers with this package will be assigned to set-seating dining times after they board. They also will be charged for any room service orders, as well as changes to their cruise booking reservations.

Fantastica: This package includes everything listed under the Bella package, plus the ability to change sailing date reservations one time for free, complimentary delivery of room service breakfast and the ability to choose a preferred set-seating dining time for dinner prior to embarkation.

Aurea: Aurea comes with everything in the Bella and Fantastica packages, as well as free access to the ship's top-deck Solarium area, a welcome package that includes prosecco and chocolates, anytime dining (go whenever you want with no set seating time), a 10% discount on spa treatments, priority boarding and free 24-hour room service (not just at breakfast).

MSC Meraviglia houses 2,244 rooms in various types with several configurations, some of which sleep more than two passengers. Of those staterooms, 55 are accessible for cruisers with mobility issues. In those cabins, passengers will find additional space for maneuvering things like wheelchairs and scooters, as well as zero-entry door thresholds and shower grab bars. (Theaters and most public areas are also accessible, but unfortunately, I didn't see a single lift at any of the ship's four pools.)

Cabin types are the standard ones found on just about all cruise ships: inside or interior (no windows or balcony), outside or ocean-view (a window or porthole that doesn't open), balcony or verandah (a sliding glass door that opens onto a small balcony, usually with chairs and a small table) and suite (cabins with balconies and more square footage and/or special perks like those afforded in the Yacht Club).

On my Meraviglia sailing, I was booked in an MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite — a balcony cabin in the Yacht Club suite area — on Deck 18. At about 280 square feet, plus an additional 54 square feet of balcony space, the room felt generously sized for two people. (Note: Yacht Club has all types of cabins, from insides all the way up through massive Royal Suites and two-deck duplexes.)

The room was furnished with a king-size bed that converts into two twins on request, a couch and a desk/vanity area. It featured a closet and cabinet space for storage and an en suite bathroom.

Standard amenities included a hair dryer and a TV (with a random smattering of TV channels, for-fee movies and ship-created programs like jewelry and port seminars and navigational information). My cabin had several electrical outlets, including three 110-volt North American outlets, three 220-volt European outlets and one USB port at the desk/vanity area. One USB port is not enough, and there were no outlets near the bed, which was frustrating.

Special for Yacht Club guests, the suite was equipped with a Nespresso machine, free minibar drinks restocked daily (including bottled water, San Pellegrino, juices, flavored iced teas, soda and beer), one complimentary round of snacks (Toblerone chocolate, Pringles and mixed nuts) and a choice of one complimentary bottle of spirits (whiskey, gin or vodka).

My cabin came with a pillow menu, which I only discovered after two nights of neck pain, thanks to mismatched pillows. The bed was topped with a memory foam mattress, which was like sleeping on a cloud.

Closets in my cabin were just the right size for two people. There were two, one with a bar to hang clothes and another with cubbies for shoes, intimates and the cabin safe. I did find the closets' location in a small enclave that led to the bathroom a bit awkward.

Underbed storage was perfect for hiding empty suitcases. Bathrobes and slippers were provided, and I made good use of both when I went for a massage at the spa.

Cabin bathrooms in the Yacht Club are stocked with MSC's own brand of toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, bar soap, a shower cap and sewing kit. Fluffy white towels and elevated fixtures like marble countertops and floors and showers with both standard and rainfall showerheads add to the air of elegance.

However, some of that was offset by the fact that the shower in my bathroom had no lip, so water leaked all over the first time I used it. Each time after, I put towels outside the door to sop up the mess. The toilet also often smelled like sewage, even when not in use.

The storage space for toiletries could also have been more generous. There were only two small metal shelves, which weren't enough for two people's things. The rest had to be stored inside cabinets where the garbage can was located.

Gratuities, room service and premium alcohol and Wi-Fi packages are included in all Yacht Club fares. You do not need to purchase add-ons or pay added fees like you would in cabins outside the Yacht Club.

A Yacht Club booking also entitles you to priority embarkation, disembarkation and tender access; 24-hour butler and concierge services; complimentary spa thermal suite access; luggage unpacking and repacking services; daily newspaper delivery and one free pre-cruise booking change.

I made good use of the free Wi-Fi inclusion (for two devices per person). The free room service was handy when I just had to order late-night pizza. Plus, the priority boarding perk meant we went from shore to ship in less than 10 minutes while other passengers waited two to three hours in rainy conditions to embark.

My butler, Meri, went above and beyond to help me make spa and specialty restaurant reservations, and she met us each evening to escort us to dinner and to the theater, where reserved Yacht Club seating was waiting. She did her job superbly, but I generally like to do things for myself. Having someone else handling the minutia felt frivolous and unnecessary; it took a few days for me to acclimate.

Concierge service was generally good. However, on the first day, when I had questions about dining, the person who assisted me waived me off in the face of a long line at the desk and told me to ask my butler. My interactions there improved markedly after the stress of the first day calmed down, and all of my subsequent questions were answered promptly and cheerfully.

The exclusive Top Sail Lounge was a great place to relax with a drink and view, read or get some work done. The Yacht Club sun deck was a lovely space, but it was often too hot for me, so I didn't spend much time up there. The area was home to a pool, a hot tub, tons of seating, solarium access and a daily outdoor buffet at the Yacht Club Grill. Although the food looked tasty, it was, unfortunately, often surrounded by flies.

The indoor Yacht Club Restaurant, however, was a dream. Everything I ordered was fantastic — flavorful, well prepared and cooked to order instead of looking like it had been sitting out for a while. I particularly enjoyed the breakfasts there and highly suggest the omelets and pancakes.

Overall, I found my Yacht Club experience to be a great way to escape when other areas of the ship felt overwhelming, which they often did.

MSC Meraviglia restaurants and bars

Included in the price of each sailing is free dining at the massive Marketplace Buffet, in one of four main dining rooms or in the Yacht Club Restaurant (depending on your booking). The four main dining rooms often felt crowded, and service was inconsistent. The buffet was even worse.

The quality of the complimentary food was unremarkable — not great but not terrible, either. Waiters in the dining rooms often seemed rushed and unwilling to fill drink orders. (I found out later it's because the galleys don't have bars, so waiters have to run all over the ship to fill drink orders, which often take an inordinate amount of time to arrive.)

Due to its size, MSC Meraviglia can offer lots of different cuisines. While the Marketplace Buffet has an "ethnic" section typically serving Asian and Indian fare, the largest variety and the highest quality come from the specialty restaurants. They include seafood, steak, Mexican, sushi and teppanyaki, and all cost extra.

MSC offers dining packages, which allow passengers to pre-purchase a set number of meals in alternative restaurants. When those meals are cashed in, cruisers can choose from a preselected list of menu items designated for package holders. Generally, if you're planning to eat at more than two or three specialty restaurants, booking a package will save you money.

There's at least one bar in every public space, so you won't have to go far to whet your whistle.

Restaurants

Free restaurants

Waves, Panorama, L'Olive Dorée and L'Olivo D'Oro are MSC Meraviglia's four main dining rooms, where passengers can eat dinner for free. (Specific restaurants will also be open on certain days for breakfast and lunch, depending on the day's schedule.) Menus, which change daily, are the same across all four.

Waves, on Deck 5, is the smallest. The largest — L'Olive Dorée and L'Olivo D'Oro, which are mirrors of one another — are found on Deck 6, across from one another and flanking the hallway that eventually leads to Panorama. All four dining rooms offer set seating, except Panorama, which also accommodates passengers with Aurea bookings who have anytime dining.

As mentioned above, I was booked in the Yacht Club and dined in either the Yacht Club Restaurant or one of the specialty restaurants for dinner each night.

However, I did try lunch in Waves twice, as it was the only main dining room open to the ship's 3,000 passengers for lunch. The first time, we were seated at a table for two that might as well have been a table for six; it was so close to the tables for two on either side of it that there were only about 2 or 3 inches separating them.

After we sat, it took 15 minutes for someone to bring us water. We never received bread. It was another 10 minutes until our waiter took our food order, and not once did anyone ask us if we'd like something other than water to drink. When my travel companion finally requested a beer, the waiter's response was, "Be patient, sir." My jaw dropped.

The pacing between courses was silly. Our appetizers arrived shortly after we ordered, which was great, but mine — spinach and artichoke dip — arrived looking dried out and crusty with five broken chips on the side. (The waiter obliged when I requested a few more.) After the starters were cleared, it was another 10 minutes until our mains were delivered. I thoroughly enjoyed my cobb salad, but my beef burrito was build-your-own style, and it was largely flavorless.

My companion never did see the beer he ordered. Eventually, we gave up and left, as did the man at the table next to us, who said he had been waiting half an hour for a dessert that didn't materialize.

The second experience was significantly better, with our waiter seating us at a table for two near a window and asking if we wanted drinks (which arrived quickly). The food was still just OK, and both experiences were crowded and exceptionally loud.

MSC Meraviglia's buffet, Marketplace, spans the entire aft of Deck 15. It has a decent variety of stations, but the food is often the same from day to day. The layout is confusing to navigate, too, with lots of nooks and crannies that can make it difficult to find what you're looking for. It was crowded beyond reason during mealtimes, so I avoided it whenever possible, only eating there twice during the voyage for research purposes.

Stations include bread; salad; soup and pasta; a rotisserie section with a carving station and sides like mashed potatoes, rice and baked beans; cold cuts and cheeses; an "ethnic" counter, which tended to serve Asian and Indian cuisine; and outposts for desserts and both hot and cold drinks.

The pizza was both a highlight and a pleasant surprise. It comes out hot and fresh, and it's available by the slice in several types from two separate counters in the buffet.

There are some other small complimentary food locations throughout the ship, too, including a poolside grill with burgers, fries and hot dogs and an ice cream counter with free soft-serve in cones or cups and optional toppings.

Restaurants that cost extra

Hola! Tacos & Cantina is the Mexican restaurant on MSC's newest vessels. It offers tapas-style small plates; I highly encourage you to order a few, as there's a lot on the menu that's delicious. My favorites are the guacamole, tortilla soup and cheese quesadillas. For tacos, I highly recommend the Chipotle Carnitas (pulled pork with chipotle, black bean salsa and cilantro), Barbacoa (ancho-chili beef, chipotle and red cabbage) and Ancho Tingo (shredded chicken, poblano peppers and pico de gallo).

You can pay a la carte if you're in the mood for something light or go with the all-you-can-eat option if you've worked up a serious appetite.

Margaritas are also a must if you're craving an adult beverage. Basic margs are included in the line's alcohol packages, but specialty ones — featuring frozen flavors like mango and strawberry and on-the-rocks selections with smoky salt or sweet berry sugar rims — cost extra, ranging from $11.99 for a single drink to $30 for a 1-liter pitcher. There's also a selection of Spanish beer, fresh fruit juices, spiked milkshakes and other fun concoctions. The service was so great there that I returned on a different night just to order drinks.

If you've done one teppanyaki restaurant, you've done them all. Or at least that's what I thought when I grudgingly made a reservation at Kaito Teppanyaki, another of MSC's extra-charge dining choices.

Yes, the cheesy jokes, singalongs, "catch this food in your mouth when I throw it" challenges and other performative cooking are standard, but the actual dishes are so much tastier than any of a similar variety I've had on land. Top-notch quality and expert seasoning make the dishes stand out. (For context, I usually skip meat when I order teppanyaki, but the sirloin steak looked so good that I ordered it. I'm glad I did.)

Every person who orders receives miso soup and a small salad as starters, along with sushi and sashimi with tempura vegetables. Then they choose from one of several prix fixe menu options: Geisha (sea bass fillet and chicken breast), Samurai (Scottish salmon, tiger prawns and sirloin), Emperor (yellowfin tuna tataki, scallops and half of a Maine lobster), vegetarian (egg wash roll and sesame tofu steak) and a kids menu (spring chicken teriyaki with vegetables).

I ordered the Samurai, and the salmon and sirloin were absolutely delicious. All options include egg fried rice and a dessert of caramelized pineapple, ginger ice cream and mint. The latter was underwhelming. Drinks are limited to what's on the Kaito-specific menu (Japanese beer, whisky and sake, plus a small selection of wine by the glass and Champagne by the bottle).

Kaito also has a separate sushi bar with an a la carte selection of sushi, sashimi, nigiri, tataki, yakitori and other items, including combo platters and desserts.

Butcher's Cut, MSC Meraviglia's a la carte steakhouse, is heaven for meat lovers, but vegetarians beware: As expected, there's not a lot on the menu for you to eat, with the exception of some of the starters.

When you arrive, your waiter will bring a breadbasket for the table. Ours included baguettes, raisin walnut bread and bacon cheese rolls, but what stood out to me were the smoked maple and paprika butters served alongside them. They were so good.

Appetizers include burrata and beet salad, Caesar and house salads, hearts of palm, a goat cheese tart, shrimp, crabcakes and oysters Rockefeller. Or, if you're feeling extra-spendy, try one of the featured starters, such as caviar, a shellfish platter, bone marrow, Kobe sliders and foie deviled eggs. For soups, choose between smoked tomato and lobster chowder.

Non-steak mains consist of roasted chicken, scallops Benedict, halibut and sockeye salmon. However, if steak is what you're after, you can choose from a 36-ounce dry-aged tomahawk for two, 24-ounce dry-aged T-bone, 12-ounce flat iron, 8-ounce filet mignon, 20-ounce rib-eye, 14-ounce New York sirloin, 16-ounce American bison and 13-ounce double lamb chops.

I ate there on one night of my sailing and decided to go big by adding jumbo lump crab to my filet mignon. However, I misread the menu and didn't realize it was actually jumbo lump crab Oscar, which meant it arrived mixed with hollandaise sauce. It looked like scrambled eggs, and I'm not a hollandaise fan, so I didn't eat it.

The steak, however, was phenomenal, particularly with the accompanying sauces (mushroom, peppercorn, chimichurri and bearnaise). Each steak comes with one side; additional sides cost extra. Choose from Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, French fries, asparagus, onion rings, macaroni and cheese, and more.

Among the dessert options, the best are the chocolate lava cake, the New York cheesecake and the peanut butter and milk chocolate cookie.

I'm not a huge seafood fan, so I avoided Ocean Cay, but I heard rave reviews from other passengers. This intimate restaurant, found on Seaside-class ships and MSC Meraviglia, offers a menu of fresh fish and seafood dishes, as well as a selection of wines for appropriate pairing.

For a between-meal treat or a caffeinated pick-me-up, snacks and coffee tied to chocolatier and pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury are solid options. The cookies-and-cream gelato at the Jean-Philippe Crepes & Ice Cream counter is to die for, as is the Green Goddess smoothie, made with coconut juice, spinach, fresh mint, banana, passion fruit and lemon sorbet. They didn't have the lemon sorbet when I ordered, but I asked to substitute mango instead. It was exceptionally good.

At the cafe just across the way, you can buy chocolate replicas of the ship, chocolate bars with fun toppings like nuts and berries, macarons and candy by the pound, as well as gift boxes of sweets. It also sells coffee drinks that include espresso, cappuccino, Americano, lattes and spiked coffees.

If you're a coffee lover who's heading ashore at MSC's private island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve , you won't want to miss the extra-fee Coco-Nilla Latte, found at The Smiling Fish. A combination of espresso, vanilla syrup and coconut milk, either hot or iced, it's far and away my favorite coffee drink anywhere, ever.

A more affordable option than most alternative restaurants is room service. My pick is the pizza, which will be delivered to your room hot and fresh, with a variety of options available, including Margherita, vegetable, pepperoni, four cheese, marinara, MSC style (tomato sauce, ham, arugula, mozzarella, Grana Padano cheese and olive oil) and supreme. It's free if you're staying in the Yacht Club. A la carte pricing and delivery fees will apply to other cabin types, depending on the experience package you book.

As with most cruise ships, you don't have to go far to find a stiff drink on MSC Meraviglia.

My go-to was the Brass Anchor Pub, reminiscent of an English local where you can snag a bottle or a pint and some extra-fee pub grub. TVs throughout the space broadcast a variety of sporting events (subject to satellite availability), and trivia and live music take place there throughout the sailing.

I also spent some time at the Casino Imperiale bar, which was open on my sailing longer than any of the other onboard watering holes. It serves a selection of beer and cocktails.

The centrally located Meraviglia Bar & Lounge, found along Galleria Meraviglia (the ship's promenade) next to Jean-Philippe Chocolate & Cafe, is also home to trivia competitions, live music and dancing throughout the day. It's the bar often frequented by passengers before and after shows in the nearby Broadway Theatre.

Sky Lounge is the place to be for sweeping views through floor-to-ceiling windows. It provides a comfy and often quiet space to read, work or gather with friends.

If you're seeking the oft-missed cigar lounge, look for the entrance on the starboard (right, when facing forward) side of the Sky Lounge entrance, or enter the lounge and follow it around to the starboard side.

Edge Cocktail Bar is another centrally located place to grab beer, wine and specialty cocktails — including the delicious Purple Rain, a combo of vodka, white rum, blue curacao, gin, peach schnapps, sweet and sour, and grenadine that turns a shade of purple when you mix it. One deck above it is the Champagne Bar, which sometimes also serves seafood. One deck below is the Infinity Bar, so named because it's found at the base of the Infinity Atrium.

The ship's TV Studio & Bar is where you can find the cruise director filming the ship's daily morning show the night before. It's also the site of trivia competitions, several of which were standing-room-only.

There's a Sports Bar in the ship's Sportplex, but I never saw it open, even when the area was crowded. Three bars (Atmosphere Bar North, Atmosphere Bar South and Bamboo Bar) by the main Atmosphere Pool serve up classic umbrella drinks, as well as beer and other libations. You'll also find bars in the Marketplace Buffet, on the Yacht Club sun deck and in the Yacht Club Top Sail Lounge.

MSC Meraviglia activities

MSC Meraviglia hosts a variety of activities to keep you busy when you're not ashore. You might start your day with a free guided morning stretch or aerobics, or pop into the gym for a self-led session or a for-fee class like yoga or spin.

The daytime schedule features plenty of options for those with a competitive spirit. They range from golf putting, foosball, Ping-Pong soccer and pickleball tournaments to giant darts and trivia (visual trivia like airline logos and "name that place," as well as "name that tune" and general knowledge trivia).

If you'd rather get your groove on, keep an eye out for dance lessons and themed parties hosted by the entertainment team. My favorite was the Snow Party, when the crew blasted fake snow (which appeared to be suds of some sort) as we danced on the blazing hot pool deck.

Napkin folding, bingo, movie screenings, arts and crafts, and passenger talent shows (yes, you have to audition) round out the list of pastimes.

As you pass back and forth between events, don't miss the regularly scheduled dome shows along the Galleria Meraviglia promenade. You'll see the LED projections on the ceiling, covering topics like famous ceilings, dinosaurs, space and the changing of the seasons.

Beware of seminars on jewelry, health and wellness, and other topics that are thinly veiled sales pitches.

Feeling like a day of swimming or sunbathing? Pull up a lounge chair by the main Atmosphere Pool. If you're looking for a more sauna-like experience, head to the Solarium's covered Bamboo Pool; check out the aft Horizon Pool for better views and more peace and quiet. There's also a small pool on the private Yacht Club sun deck.

Looking to relax in a hot tub instead? You can find two of them one deck up from the Atmosphere Pool, as well as two at the Bamboo Pool and one on Deck 18's aft sun deck (behind Sportplex). There's also one at the Yacht Club Pool.

The Polar Aquapark on Deck 19 aft offers plenty of wet fun for kids and adults. Attractions include three slides — a bowl slide, where riders awkwardly end in the bowl and then exit via a flight of steps, and two twisty slides that require rafts — and a splash area with sprayers and dump buckets. There's no fee to use the space, but you'll need to sign a waiver and obtain a wristband before riding the waterslides.

Speaking of children, the ship has a dedicated kids club, called Doremiland (named after the cruise line's mascot, Doremi, as in the first three notes of a musical scale). The club is divided into Baby Club (infants and toddlers up to 3 years), Mini Club (ages 3 to 6 years), Junior Club (7 to 11 years), Young Club (12 to 14 years) and Teen Club (15 to 17 years).

Each group has age-appropriate activities scheduled, and all — except the tweens and teens, who can come and go as they please — are heavily supervised by qualified staff. Sample activities might include storytime, arts and crafts, and Lego playtime for younger children, while tweens and teens enjoy less structured pastimes like video games and dance parties.

MSC Meraviglia shows

As with most MSC ships, MSC Meraviglia's entertainment is stellar. From free live music, theater shows and promenade dance parties to extra-fee Cirque du Soleil-style performances, the options are varied and feature talented singers, dancers, magicians, acrobats and more.

Each production show is offered once per sailing, at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. in the Broadway Theatre. Some are staples, while others rotate.

"Born to Rock," "One Day More," "Cool" and "Journey" are the ship's recurring shows, which each appear once per weeklong cruise. They focus on popular songs in the rock 'n' roll and pop genres, Broadway hits, music from the '70s and '80s, and cultural favorites from Spain, Italy, France and more.

As part of a rotating selection of limited-time performers, English duo The Conjurors performed two shows during my sailing, featuring numbers games, mindreading and pre-show predictions that impressively came true by the end. The duo is scheduled for more than a dozen sailings. Other limited-engagement performers include comedians and pianists.

Speaking of limited-time performances, on the second-to-last night of the voyage, I sat in the theater unsure of what to expect from the headliner, Lorraine Crosby. "You might be thinking, 'She sounds like the lady who sings that Meat Loaf song.' Well, that's because I am the lady who sings that Meat Loaf song," Crosby joked. Her biggest claim to fame is that she rocked the female vocals in Meat Loaf's "I'd Do Anything for Love, But I Won't Do That."

What followed was a vocal performance that gave me chills. Crosby's range and ability to adapt to different genres are astounding. She belted out favorites by Queen, Tina Turner and Celine Dion and arguably did a better job of it than they did.

On the final night on board, she held an intimate performance for Yacht Club passengers in the suite area's private lounge. Again, I shivered as she took on the likes of Adele, AC/DC and others.

Another free entertainment option worth mentioning is daytime street theater that includes contortionists, roving musicians, magic workshops and flash mob-style performances by the onboard singers and dancers. If you happen to be passing through the promenade area when a flash mob happens, you're likely to see a punk rock-themed song-and-dance routine or, perhaps, one where the cast is dressed up like flowers, insects and birds.

Shows for a fee

Carousel Productions, MSC's own brand of Cirque du Soleil-style shows, are offered six days a week on MSC Meraviglia, with each of two shows — "House of Houdini" and "Rock Circus" — running three nights, on alternating days, with two performances each night (8 p.m. and 10 p.m.). Originally designed to house dinner theater, the Carousel Lounge is set up as a theater in the round and no longer serves food. (That ended when the cruise line shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the line has no current plans to bring it back.)

The for-fee performances levy a nominal charge for attendance and include a welcome drink for each showgoer.

"Rock Circus" is a mix of acrobatics, aerial performances, and song and dance to some of rock's greatest hits, including songs by Guns N' Roses and AC/DC.

"House of Houdini," which follows a clearer storyline than "Rock Circus," loosely tells the tale of Houdini's great underwater escape from a straitjacket and chains. A group of singers, dancers, acrobats and aerialists dressed as circus performers show Houdini the ropes as he prepares for his greatest feat.

MSC Meraviglia itineraries and pricing

Through at least September 2024, MSC Meraviglia is sailing seven- and eight-night voyages to Nassau and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve in the Bahamas from Brooklyn.

It also features six-night Bermuda cruises that spend three days docked at King's Wharf, as well as 10- and 11-night Canada and New England sailings that feature calls on Boston; Portland, Maine; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia; and Saint John, New Brunswick. The 11-night itinerary also visits Newport, Rhode Island.

A couple of 11-night Western Caribbean voyages visit Port Canaveral (the port for Orlando) and Miami in Florida, Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico and Ocean Cay.

MSC Meraviglia offers some of the lowest prices in the industry. At the time of publication, inside cabin prices were starting from $299 per person ($43 per person per night) for a seven-night Bahamas cruise, $379 per person ($63 per person per night) for a six-night Bermuda sailing, $449 per person ($41 per person per night) for an 11-night Western Caribbean voyage and $619 per person ($56 per person per night) for an 11-night trip to Canada and New England.

What to know before you go

Required documents.

As with a sailing on any ship, there's certain paperwork you'll need to cruise on MSC Meraviglia. If you're a U.S. citizen sailing from and returning to a U.S. port, you can sail with either an official copy of your birth certificate and a driver's license (both are required) or a passport. I recommend the latter, and it must be valid for at least six months.

MSC Cruises adds an automatic service charge of $14.50 per person, per day, to final bills on all sailings. For children 2 and older, the daily charge is half, or $7.25.

Also, a 15% gratuity is added to bills at bars for cruisers who do not have a drinks package. If you have a drinks package, you'll pay a 15% service charge when you purchase the package, but not on individual drinks. A 15% service charge is also added to items in minibars, salons and spas.

MSC Cruises' Wi-Fi, available through the MSC for Me app, is fast enough to be competitive with all of the other major cruise lines. But pricing varies, based on the number of devices you use and whether you're OK with simply browsing the web and checking e-mail or would prefer to use Netflix or other streaming services.

Expect to pay about $72 for one device with unlimited data on a basic package. A two-device plan for the same runs about $109. There's also a four-device plan for about $223. If streaming video is what you're hoping to do, you'll need one of the more expensive plans, which range from about $100 to more than $300.

Be warned that plans are tied to specific devices, and you cannot switch between them. For example, if you buy a one-device package, you cannot use it for your cellphone, log out and then log back in with your tablet. In that case, you would need to purchase a two-device package.

MSC's MSC for Me app allows passengers on the same ship to chat with one another for free without purchasing a Wi-Fi package. The app also lets you make dining reservations, check the daily schedule and view your onboard bill.

Carry-on drinks policy

MSC does not allow passengers to bring any of their own alcohol on board.

Smoking policy

Smoking (including e-cigarettes) is permitted in a few designated areas, including the port side of the main pool deck. It's also allowed on one side of the casino. Nonsmokers, beware: The separate sides do nothing to keep the smell from wafting. It was enough to keep me away from the area for the duration of my sailing. Smoking isn't allowed in cabins or on cabin balconies; violators will receive a $250 fine.

MSC Cruises does not offer self-service laundry facilities on any of its ships. However, passengers can send their clothing out to be washed, folded, pressed or dry-cleaned for a fee.

Electrical outlets

MSC Meraviglia's cabins all have a mix of 110-volt North American outlets, 220-volt European outlets and USB ports. In my Yacht Club balcony stateroom, I had three North American outlets, three European outlets and one USB port, all at the desk/vanity area — none near the bed.

The onboard currency for MSC Meraviglia when it sails from New York is the U.S. dollar.

Drinking age

You must be 21 to consume alcohol on MSC Meraviglia's sailings from the U.S.

Passengers on MSC Meraviglia's warm-weather itineraries from Brooklyn can be found in T-shirts, shorts, bathing suits and cover-ups during the day, when there's no set dress code.

The line's American clientele tends to dress more casually at night, as well, but the line suggests "smart casual" attire for dinner. That might include khakis with button-down or polo-style collared shirts for men and sundresses or nice pants with a flowy top for women. Dark, unripped jeans are also acceptable for both men and women.

On "gala" evenings (usually one per weeklong sailing), the dress code is more refined. Passengers might choose to wear tuxedos, suits, khakis with button-downs and blazers, cocktail dresses or sparkly ball gowns.

On my sailing, the ship also had "tropical" and "white" listed on the daily schedule as suggested attire. Pack accordingly.

Bottom line

MSC Meraviglia is a beautiful ship with great food, shows and public spaces, but it has a few pain points.

In addition to feeling crowded, the vessel charges extra for many things that will make your overall cruise better. If you're on a strict budget, either resign yourself to doing only the free activities and eating in the main dining room and buffet, or plan to sail with a different cruise line.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

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MSC Cruises Review

Thursday, April 25th

2024 Cruise Line Reviews

• MSC Cruises
• Best for budget-friendly, Mediterranean-themed, large-ship cruising in the Caribbean, Europe, and Mediterranean
• 23 ships in the fleet
• Private island in the Bahamas on some itineraries

MSC Cruises is a family-oriented cruise line that was founded in 1960 in Naples, Italy. The company is now one of the largest cruise lines in the world, with a fleet of 23 ships that sail to destinations around the globe. MSC Cruises offers a wide range of itineraries, from short Caribbean cruises to transatlantic voyages and longer world cruises.

Spring break in the Caribbean is a go

Caribbean sailings are MSC's bread and butter, and so we weren't surprised at all to find 35 itineraries in March of the next calendar year. These sailed from Miami, NYC, and Port Canaveral (Orlando), giving travelers plenty of options for their spring break vacay or winter escape. MSC's base fares on those itineraries were extremely budget-friendly: not counting taxes, fees, and port expenses, you could take a three-night cruise to the Bahamas starting at just $139 per person. Even the most expensive itinerary in that timeframe, an 18-night cruise to the Western Caribbean sailing in and out of Miami, still came in at just $1,389 per person for the lowest-priced stateroom. And, most Caribbean sailings include a stop at MSC's private island in the Bahamas, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

Tips are mandatory but removable

But, you'll need to factor in not just the taxes, fees, and port expenses (which are displayed in small print on each cruise listing), but also many other costs you might not be anticipating. For example, gratuities (described as a "Hotel Service Charge" ) are mandatory on MSC, usually $14.50 per person per night for guests 12 and over and half that for children ages 2-11. You can ask to have them removed at Guest Services onboard if you aren't happy with the service. (Also worth noting: unlike most cruise lines we're familiar with, MSC does not recommend tipping individual members of staff beyond the automatic gratuity.)

It gets spendy to drink anything besides water

Drinks and dining are another area where MSC guests often get taken by surprise, especially if they've sailed with another cruise line that is a little more all-inclusive. You'll get water, coffee, tea and iced tea with meals, plus juice at breakfast. Otherwise, you'll need to purchase a drink package, even if all you want are soft drinks, if you don't want to rack up massive a la carte beverage charges. Be aware that the packages are for the duration of the cruise, they can't be shared between guests, and all guests in a stateroom have to buy a package to get unlimited drinks (obviously this won't apply if one cruiser is an adult and the other is a minor; there are non-alcoholic and minor drink packages available too). Expect fees starting around $25 per person per day for the non-alcoholic options and around $70pp per day for the top tier wine, beer, cocktails and soft drinks package.

Pay extra for services that most rivals include at no cost

Finally, MSC has "Experience" packages you can apply to your reservation.

• Every sailing comes with the " Bella Experience " by default - which essentially just gets you on the ship and gives you the bare-bones services like main restaurant dining, use of the facilities, and so on.
• Upgrade to " Fantastica " to be able to request which dining seating time you prefer and get free delivery of breakfast to your stateroom.
• The top-tier package is the " Aurea " : complimentary access to the Top Exclusive Solarium, a welcome package with Prosecco and Chocolate, anytime dining, 10% discount on spa treatments, priority boarding, and free delivery of 24-hour room service.

If you've ever cruised elsewhere, you can see that MSC charges for services that many cruise lines just give you automatically, like letting you request a particular dining time or free room service whenever you wish. Plus, those "Experience" packages don't come cheap: our research indicates that you could pay an extra $50-$100 per person per day for the mid-tier upgrade and $100-$200pp per day for the highest upgrade.

Good option for families

On the positive side, MSC cruises are very family-friendly, with plenty of activities to keep cruisers of all ages entertained. Some travelers enjoy having a more international experience aboard as well, since many passengers are European (and specifically Italian, go figure ).

Worth doing some comparing before booking a cruise here

MSC definitely has its fans, especially among those who want to get away from the typical American cruise line environment and try something different. And, if you understand what you will and won't get with MSC, you could get a really low-priced cruise that reaches some top destinations. However, too many cruisers get drawn in by the low initial fare, only to find that by the time they've covered their taxes, fees, gratuities, drinks, and "experiences" , it's not so much of a bargain anymore. We encourage you to look at some of MSC's higher-ranked rivals (outside of the luxury categories, of course) before booking with this cruise line: you might be able to take advantage of a travel deal that would get you more for your money elsewhere.

More Cruise Line Reviews

• Royal Caribbean

• Disney Cruise Line

• Celebrity Cruises

• Virgin Voyages

• Viking Cruises

• Regent Seven Seas

• Norwegian Cruise Line

• Princess Cruises

• Holland America

• Carnival Cruises

The 15 Best Cruise Lines

Which cruise line is the best.

Cruising is a popular way of traveling for many people, offering a unique experience that combines the convenience of a floating hotel with the excitement of visiting multiple destinations in one trip. In an average year, over fifteen million people say "all aboard" and set sail on an amazing vacation.

There are many different cruise lines to choose from, and each one offers a different type of experience. Some are geared towards families, while others are more focused on luxury or adventure. What would you like to see and do while you're onboard? Is a casino a must-have or a rather-avoid? Would a Broadway-caliber show tip the scales for you? Do you need a wide range of activities to keep the kiddos happy while the adults live it up or relax? The onboard activities and amenities can really make or break your vacation, so be sure you know what you're getting.

Cruise Line FAQ

Which cruise line is the best, what is included in the cost of a cruise, what is the minimum age to cruise, what are the dining options on a cruise ship, are cruise ships crowded, do i have to dress up, are activities included at destination ports, can i bring my own alcohol onboard.

Continued from above...

Another factor that can influence which cruise line you choose is the itinerary. Cruise ships travel all over the world, but some cruise lines may not have destinations available where you're hoping to go. You should also consider the size of the ship: larger ships offer more amenities, but smaller ships can access ports that bigger ships can't.

Speaking of amenities, make sure you understand what you'll get as part of your fare and which extras will come with an additional cost. For example, most cruises offer drink packages for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, but a few have drink stations where you can get complimentary lemonade, coffee and tea. Other amenities that might be important to you are Wi-Fi, spa services, babysitting, fitness classes, and upgraded dining experiences. You can usually get a decent discount if you sign up for an amenities package before you sail, so keep an eye out for promotions in the months leading up to your sailing.

When you take a cruise, it's almost always expected that you'll tip the crew members who have attended to your needs while onboard: your cabin steward ( who probably leaves your towels folded into fun shapes every night ), your servers at your nightly meals, and the head waiter. Cruise lines have a recommended gratuity to cover all three of those staff members, usually $15-$20 per traveler, per day; the total gratuity amount may be charged automatically to your account, or you may be given envelopes to make cash payments.

While it usually isn't mandatory to pay those gratuities - you can ask to have them removed if they're applied automatically, especially if you've received poor service - it's typically considered in poor taste not to tip at the suggested levels (because crew members' salaries, much like servers at your local restaurant, are based on the expectation of tips paid by guests). And, if you receive service that goes above and beyond, adding to the recommended gratuity is always appreciated. Be aware that tips for bartenders, poolside servers, and professional services provided in the spa or elsewhere are not included in the daily suggested gratuity and may be charged automatically at the time of service.

Now that you have a good overview of the cruising experience, which cruise line should you choose? Beyond the points we already covered, here are a few additional criteria that might make it easier to pick:

• Embarkation port. You could get a great deal on a cruise, but what will it cost you to get to the port? That could involve airfare, an overnight stay or two in a nearby hotel (so that you're less likely to be affected by travel delays), and transportation from the airport or hotel to the port. This is especially true if you're taking a cruise that departs from an international destination.
• Perks for repeat cruisers. Like frequent flyer programs on airlines, most cruise lines offer benefits the more you sail. If you find yourself absolutely loving cruise vacations, it can be advantageous to put all of your eggs in one basket, so to speak. Rewards programs can include casino benefits, complimentary meals at the upgraded dining experiences, exclusive sail-away parties with free cocktails and tchotchkes, early-access booking on future cruises, and much more.
• Reputation. It's a really smart idea to see what other travelers have said about their overall experience with a cruise line before booking your trip. The ads on TV may make that private island look amazing, but someone who's been there might point out that you'll pay extra to get on that waterslide. Or, previous cruisers could tell you that despite having several formal nights on the schedule, a particular cruise line has no problem with people showing up to dinner in flip-flops and swimsuit coverups. Find out if the cruise line you're considering lines up in reality with what they advertise.

Here at Top Consumer Reviews, cruising is one of our favorite ways to travel and experience new things. And with so many different cruise lines to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. But, don't worry: take a look at our in-depth analysis of today's most popular options, find the one that's the best match for your vacation ideas and your travel party, and book that trip you've been dreaming of. Bon voyage!

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Is MSC a Good Cruise Line? (Are MSC Cruises Good?)

MSC Cruises, renowned for their affordability, offers a unique Mediterranean-style cruising experience that caters to a diverse range of travelers. 

However, do they offer a good experience or have they cut too many corners focusing on price alone?

Here we take a look at the pros and cons as well as third party reviews and experiences so you can work out if MSC cruises is a good cruise line for you.

It is for many.

Are MSC Cruises Good?

MSC Cruises are a good choice for travelers seeking an affordable, Mediterranean-style cruise experience.   They offer a unique blend of innovative facilities, diverse accommodation options, and multinational entertainment. 

While they have a higher passenger-to-space ratio and extra fees for certain services, they also provide value with their unique atmosphere, relaxed vibe, and family-friendly policies. 

However, like any travel experience, whether MSC Cruises are the right choice depends on individual preferences and expectations.

Beyond just cost-effectiveness, MSC Cruises stands out for its unique Mediterranean atmosphere, diverse facilities, and multinational entertainment.

Below are the key highlights that define MSC Cruises, providing a balanced view of their offerings. 

Unique Mediterranean Atmosphere

MSC Cruises is a family-owned Italian company that offers a distinctive Mediterranean atmosphere. This provides a unique cruising experience that sets them apart from other cruise lines. The company’s Swiss-based operations allow it to maintain a reasonable high standard of service and quality, while its Italian heritage is reflected in the ship’s design, cuisine, and onboard activities.

Innovative Facilities and Activities

MSC Cruises is known for its innovative facilities. For instance, the MSC Preziosa, one of their ships, features the longest single-rider body waterslide at sea. These unique features provide a variety of entertainment options for passengers of all ages, making the cruise experience more enjoyable and memorable.

Diverse Accommodation Options

With a total capacity for 4,363 passengers, MSC Cruises offers a good choice of accommodation options for everyone from budget-conscious families to couples who want to splurge with a stay in the exclusive Yacht Club. The cabins are designed to cater to different budgets and preferences, ensuring that every passenger can find a suitable accommodation option.

Multinational Entertainment

The entertainment on MSC Cruises is geared to appeal to multinational audiences.

This means you will find dancers, bilingual singers, and acrobats instead of comedians and similar acts that require a lot of speaking.

The entertainment options are designed to cater to a diverse audience, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the shows regardless of their language or cultural background.

Relaxed Atmosphere

Despite the ship’s surroundings and decor being glitzy and glamorous, MSC Cruises has a relaxed atmosphere. This makes it a great choice for families, younger couples, and the young-at-heart. The relaxed atmosphere allows passengers to enjoy their cruise without feeling pressured to participate in formal activities or dress up for dinner.

Diverse Passenger Base

One of MSC’s slogan is “the Mediterranean way of life,” and this is definitely European-style cruising. In 2012, the line carried passengers from 180 different nationalities, making it a truly international experience onboard.

 This diversity adds to the richness of the onboard experience, as passengers get to interact with people from different cultures and backgrounds.

Value for Money

MSC Cruises is ranked 4th  in the Best Cruise Lines for the Money by U.S. News & World Report . 

This ranking is based on an expert evaluation of the line’s level of luxury, as well as an assessment of user reviews and health ratings.

This re-enforces the view that MSC Cruises offers a high-quality cruise experience at a reasonable price, providing excellent value for money.

Children Cruise Free Policy

One of the unique features of MSC Cruises is its “Children Cruise Free” policy. This policy applies to kids younger than 18 as a third or fourth guest, making MSC Cruises a great option for families looking to enjoy a cruise vacation without breaking the bank.

Wide Array of Itineraries

MSC Cruises offers a wide array of European itineraries to choose from. 

Whether you want to explore the Mediterranean, the Baltic Sea, or the Caribbean, MSC Cruises has an itinerary that will suit your preferences. 

This wide range of options allows passengers to choose a cruise that fits their interests and travel goals.

Globally Inspired Cuisine

Most MSC restaurants feature globally inspired cuisines, providing passengers with a wide range of dining options. Whether you’re in the mood for Italian, Asian, or American cuisine, you’ll find a restaurant on board that can satisfy your cravings.

Stunning Ship Decor

MSC Cruises are known for their stunning ship decor.

The ships are designed by renowned architects like De Jorio Design International, who are known for their innovative and elegant designs. The interiors of the ships are beautifully decorated, combining current trends with timeless classics.

The decor is inspired by the Mediterranean heritage of MSC Cruises, with a focus on elegance and comfort.

The public areas are spacious and beautifully designed, with a lot of attention to detail. The ships also feature impressive atriums, which are often the centerpiece of the ship.

These atriums are multi-decked and feature panoramic lifts, a grand staircase, and a piano lounge, providing a spectacular welcome to passengers as they board the ship.

Moreover, the cabins on MSC Cruises are designed with comfort in mind. They are elegantly furnished and offer a cozy retreat after a day of activities. The cabins range from interior staterooms to luxurious suites with private balconies, catering to different budgets and preferences.

MSC Cruises Reviews Ratings

One of the best ways to gauge how good a cruise line is, is to read the reviews.

Cruise Critic

To start with cruises rated MSC Cruises 3.3 out of 5.

A 3.3 out of 5 score suggests that the product, service, or experience is deemed average to slightly above average. This rating indicates that while some customers had a positive experience, there may be room for improvement.

Remember, ratings are subjective and can vary significantly based on individual expectations and experiences. This is a crucial point to consider.

When choosing a cruise, the saying ‘you get what you pay for’ typically holds true. 

Opting for a less expensive MSC cruise instead of a pricier Royal Caribbean cruise will likely result in a different experience. 

This could mean a variety of things, from the quality of food, the number of passengers onboard, to the range of amenities and activities available.

The information provided below will help you determine if MSC Cruises is the right choice for you, by highlighting areas where the experience might differ due to cost considerations. 

Understanding these differences upfront can help manage expectations and enhance your overall enjoyment of the cruise.

As well as using past feedback I also read through hundreds of recent reviews to get a good overall idea of guests current impressions from a range of recent MSC cruises.

As the rating implies, the experiences of passengers on MSC Cruises seem to be mixed. 

You can check the latest Cruise Critic MSC Cruise reviews here .

TrustPilot Reviews

MSC is popular with UK cruisers as well as various other European countries.

One source of reviews and feedback is Trustpilot.

Here the review rating looked much less favorable, especially for the most recent reviews.

However, it must be noted that Trustpilot reviews for cruise lines tend to be much more negative than an all-round balanced view of cruisecritic.  

You can view MSC Cruises Trustpilot reviews here .

Comparison to Competitor Cruise Lines

As a gauge of how MSC cruises scores related to their competitors in terms of passenger experiences  we have ranked the Cruise Critic review ratings below

• Celebrity Cruises 4.1
• Holland America Line 3.9
• Royal Caribbean International 3.9
• Carnival Cruise Line 3.8
• Princess Cruises 3.8
• Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) 3.7
• MSC Cruises 3.3

MSC Cruises came bottom of the review ratings on CruiseCritic, although not by a long way, but it does indicated, if you pay less for your cruise, you get less.  If you expect the same you’re likely to be disappointed.

Overall 3.3 is not a bad score, it indicates an average to good experience.

On Trustpilot the Review ratings were:

• Holland America Line 2.2
• Celebrity Cruises 2.0
• Carnival Cruise Line 1.8
• MSC Cruises 1.7
• Princess Cruises 1.6
• Royal Caribbean International 1.5
• Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) 1.4

On Trustpilot, which when it comes to cruise lines seems to more of a platform guests go to complain, MSC Cruises was in the middle of the ratings when compared to its main cruise line competitors.

First Hand Review of MSC Cruises

In this video, Emma from Emma Cruises provides an unbiased, comprehensive review of MSC Cruises, drawing from her extensive cruising experience. Her first-hand insights make this a trustworthy and recommended source for cruise line information.

The video highlights

• Ship Features – MSC’s modern, sparkly ships are a highlight.
• Dress Code – The cruise line has a casual dress code.
• Cuisine – Mediterranean food is a staple on MSC cruises.
• Demographics – MSC attracts a younger demographic with its family-friendly atmosphere and activities.
• Service and Entertainment – These aspects differ from American and British cruise lines, with announcements made in multiple languages.
• Affordability – The reviewer appreciates MSC’s affordability and family-friendly offers.
• Criticism – Despite criticisms about food and service, the reviewer still recommends MSC.
• Conclusion – MSC offers a unique, fun, and affordable cruising experience, especially for families and young people. However, it may not suit those preferring a more traditional cruise

These are all fair and valid points.

As you can see in the video the ships are beautifully laid out.

What Are MSC Cruises Like? (Points of Concern)

MSC Cruises are cheap, thats one major positive. However, its only fair to expect an experience that isn’t on par with its competitors.

I therefore analyzed the results from hundreds of reviews across the two review platforms and found the following areas to be the most common areas of complaints that are worth considering if you weighing up whether going for a cheap MSC Cruise is suited for you .

Its important to note, these do not reflect the overall experience of MSC Cruises and we have covered the good points separately above.

Overcrowding

One of the most significant issues raised by many reviewers on Trustpilot was the problem of overcrowding on MSC Cruises. Passengers reported that the ships were packed to capacity, leading to a number of inconveniences and discomforts.

The high number of passengers resulted in:

• Long queues for food and drinks, with some customers waiting for up to 30 minutes to get a drink.
• Difficulty finding seating in bars and lounges due to the high number of passengers.
• Scarcity of sunbeds, with some passengers resorting to sitting on the floor due to the lack of available seating.

This overcrowding not only led to discomfort but also contributed to a less-than-satisfactory overall experience.

Food Quality

The quality of the food served on MSC Cruises was another common complaint among reviewers on both Trustpilot and Cruise Critic.

Some passengers described the food as being of poor quality, with cheap ingredients used in the preparation. 

The buffet offerings were particularly criticized, with passengers describing the food as inedible and poorly prepared. 

Even the specialty restaurants, which come with an additional cost, were not spared from criticism. 

Passengers found them to be expensive and the food served did not meet their expectations. 

On Cruise Critic, the quality and variety of food received mixed reviews. Some passengers were unsatisfied with the food, describing it as “disgusting” or “poor”, while others seemed to enjoy the dining experience.

Customer Service

Many reviewers on expressed dissatisfaction with the level of customer service on MSC Cruises.

 Complaints ranged from rude staff members to slow service, and a lack of response to complaints or issues. 

Some passengers felt that the staff were indifferent and unresponsive to their needs. 

This lack of quality customer service significantly impacted the overall cruise experience for these passengers.  

However, some passengers praised the staff for their professionalism and friendliness, indicating that experiences may vary.

In part, for some passengers, this could be due to the cruise line being a European Italian cruise line, where the service in general is going to be different to what you might expect on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, where the service staff are trained to be much more engaging and friendly. This isn’t always as typical in Europe.

Cleanliness and Maintenance

Cleanliness and maintenance were also areas of concern for some passengers.

 On Trustpilot, some reported that their cabins were not clean upon arrival, and that communal areas such as toilets were infrequently cleaned and lacking in sanitation equipment. 

This lack of cleanliness not only affected the comfort of passengers but also raised concerns about health and safety. 

On Cruise Critic, the cleanliness of the rooms was praised by some passengers, but others reported issues such as a sewage smell. 

Extra Costs

While MSC Cruises may offer lower initial prices, many reviewers on both Trustpilot and Cruise Critic mentioned that there were many additional costs once on board. These included:

• Charges for getting off the ship
• Expensive drinks packages
• High prices for Wi-Fi service

These extra costs increased the overall cost of the cruise, making it less of a bargain than it initially seemed.

Entertainment

The quality of the entertainment on board was criticized by some reviewers on Trustpilot. 

They described the shows as dull and of low quality.

 This lack of quality entertainment could detract from the overall cruise experience, especially for passengers who value onboard entertainment as a key part of their holiday.

However, its worth bearing in mind that MSC Cruises typically have passengers from a wide range of different language speaking countries, so the entertainment tends to be more on the visual side to please everyone, rather than verbal and many guests not able to understand the language.

No one can deny the Cirque do Solei put on amazing perfomances.

Itinerary Changes

Some passengers on Trustpilot complained about changes to the itinerary, with ports being skipped without clear explanation. 

These unexpected changes disrupted passengers. plans and lead to disappointment, which can happen due to a wide range of reasons, which can happen on any cruise line, for example bad weather.

However, it helps if these reasons are communicated to guests.

Noise Levels

Several reviewers on Trustpilot mentioned high noise levels on the ship, making it difficult to relax or hold a conversation.

This constant noise could significantly detract from enjoying the cruise, particularly for passengers seeking a peaceful and relaxing holiday.

Issues with Children

Some Trustpilot reviewers mentioned issues with children’s behavior on the ship.

They suggested that there was a lack of supervision and that some areas of the ship should be adults-only. 

This could be a significant issue for passengers who are looking for a quiet and relaxing cruise experience, or something to take into consideration when choosing when to travel with MSC Cruises, perhaps avoiding school breaks.

This is to be expected because MSC Cruises allow kids to travel for free when they are with 2 adult guests.

Refund and Cancellation Policies

Some passengers on Trustpilot had issues with MSC’s refund and cancellation policies. 

They described them as unfair or difficult to navigate. 

 This could cause significant stress and inconvenience, particularly for passengers who need to cancel or change their booking for unforeseen reasons.

Overall Experience

The overall experience on MSC Cruises received mixed reviews on both Trustpilot and Cruise Critic. 

Some passengers were not impressed, citing disorganized shore excursions, a lack of amenities, and poor customer service. 

However, others had a good time, especially when traveling with family or friends. 

It seems that while MSC Cruises may offer lower prices, the overall experience can vary greatly depending on individual expectations and experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is msc the worst cruise line.

According to CruiseCritic review ratings, MSC Cruises has the lowest amongst its closest peer cruise lines. 

However on Trustpilot it was rated around the middle of the cruise lines.

While some passengers have reported negative experiences with MSC Cruises, as seen in the reviews from Trustpilot and Cruise Critic, it’s important to note that others have had positive experiences and enjoyed their time on MSC cruises. 

Factors such as food quality, customer service, cleanliness, and overall value for money can significantly impact a passenger’s experience, and these factors can vary from ship to ship and itinerary to itinerary.

Therefore, it wouldn’t be accurate to label MSC or any other cruise line as the “worst” based solely on some negative reviews.

How Bad Are Msc Cruises

MSC Cruises often offers competitive prices, which can make them an attractive option for many travelers. 

However, reviews indicate a mixed experience. 

Some passengers have reported issues such as overcrowding, less-than-ideal food quality, and subpar customer service. 

On the other hand, there are also passengers who have had positive experiences, highlighting the modern ships and diverse itineraries.

The lower cost can sometimes reflect in certain aspects of the cruise experience. 

Embarking on a journey with MSC Cruises offers a unique blend of affordability and Mediterranean charm. 

While they manage to keep their prices lower by accommodating more passengers and charging extra for certain services, they also provide a relaxed atmosphere, diverse accommodation options, and a range of innovative facilities. 

The experiences of past passengers and third-party reviews reveal a mix of pros and cons, indicating that the ‘goodness’ of MSC Cruises largely depends on individual preferences and expectations.   If you choose a budget cruise, expect more of a budget cruise experience.

Overall, MSC Cruises can indeed be a good cruise line for those seeking a cost-effective, European-style cruising experience. 

If you have any experiences of MSC Cruises you are welcome to share views in the comments.

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More From Forbes

How to see the best of northern europe on a scandinavian cruise.

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Cruise ship passengers enjoy the view of Sweden’s Stockholm archipelago from the Royal Caribbean ... [+] ship ‘Serenade of the Seas.’

If you’ve ever wanted to dive into the culture of the Vikings or explore what makes people in the Nordic region the so-called happiest on earth, you could do a lot worse than book a Scandinavian cruise.

Scandinavia—and Norway in particular—is an expensive place to travel around, so a cruise can make financial sense for those seeking an introduction to the region. For one price, you get your travel, accommodation, meals, and entertainment covered.

Such a trip offers the opportunity to sample various Scandinavian travel highlights , whether you prefer the Scandinavian capitals, the stunning Norwegian fjords, or soaking up the atmosphere of beautiful islands and historic ports in the Baltic Sea.

Popular Scandinavian Cruise Itineraries

Many different types of itinerary can be advertised as Scandinavian cruises. Typically, they focus on the Nordic capital cities. Some may also include the highlights of the Baltic Sea region, including the Baltic countries and ports in the north of Germany and Poland.

With popular Norwegian fjords cruises together with midnight sun and northern lights tours to the north of Norway also available, there is a lot of diversity in Scandinavian cruises.

Scandinavian Capitals : Cruise itineraries starting in the U.K. or Germany and calling in at two or even all three of Oslo, Stockholm, and Copenhagen have long been popular.

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The Nyhavn district of Copenhagen, Denmark, is a popular destination for cruise ship passengers ... [+] visiting Scandinavia.

Helsinki is often included on such itineraries. If you want to explore modern Scandinavia while gaining access to some of the region’s best museums, such an itinerary is a perfect choice.

Such itineraries tend to be shorter, and are a great introduction to both cruising and Scandinavia, with limited sea days and plenty to see and do while in port.

Baltic Sea : Longer Scandinavian itineraries often include stops at Baltic Sea islands and ports. The beautiful Estonian capital city, Tallinn, or the Latvian capital, Riga, are particular highlights, as are ports on the northern coastline of Germany and Poland.

For those interested in Viking history, look out for smaller ship itineraries featuring Visby on the wonderful island of Gotland .

One such trip is this 12-night itinerary from Celebrity Cruises, which includes a visit to both Visby and Tallinn. Other highlights include a visit to Stockholm and Copenhagen, including an overnight stop in the latter.

The old city walls of Visby on Gotland island, a popular cruise port.

Norwegian Fjords : By far the most variety can be found in the Norwegian fjords region , with almost all major cruise lines operating at least some itineraries here. Although port calls in Flåm and Geiranger will soon be severely limited, many alternative ports will still be able to welcome some of the world’s largest cruise ships.

Whether you prefer the action-packed ships of Royal Caribbean or MSC, or the smaller ships that can sail along narrower fjords, there will be a Norwegian fjords itinerary for you.

Following the recent rise in popularity of the region as a cruising destination, the fjords season has extended, with trips available as early as April and as late as September.

British line P&O Cruises operates its relatively new megaship Iona in the fjords region for much of that period, with regular departures from Southampton on a popular 7-day itinerary.

Midnight Sun : Although all summer cruises in the region will experience long summer days, specific midnight sun itineraries set sail for the far north of Norway to let guests experience the thrill of being outside with the sun in the sky at midnight. Many of these trips visit Honningsvåg, which allows guests to travel by bus to the North Cape.

Northern Lights : In recent years, Scandinavia—or more specifically Norway—has become a year-round cruising destination thanks to the growth in popularity of northern lights cruises .

Aurora borealis in the sky seen from a cruise ship in Arctic Norway.

These itineraries can be found heading north of the Arctic Circle between October and early April.

Planning Tips For Scandinavian Cruises

Cruising in Northern Europe offers a fantastic variety of excursions and experiences, from historical city tours to adrenaline-filled outdoor adventures.

The region’s love of the outdoors lifestyle means active experiences are easy to find, both through cruise line excursions and independent operators.

The high levels of English comprehension across the region means booking your own activities and exploring ports independently is much easier than in many other parts of the world. Even so, look for independent tours that take place earlier in the day to reduce any time-related risk.

No matter when you visit Scandinavia, pack for all weathers. The height of summer can be marred by heavy rainfall, while it’s possible to get sunburnt in the snow-covered conditions of February and March.

Pack a versatile wardrobe. Layered clothing accommodates the region's variable weather, while specialized gear might be necessary for specific excursions.

Cruising And Sustainability

Prospective travelers should be aware of environmental concerns associated with cruising in this pristine region. The industry is moving towards sustainability, with initiatives to introduce zero-emission vessels in sensitive areas, particularly the UNESCO-listed Norwegian fjords .

Some local initiatives protesting against cruise travel have also gathered momentum, so cruisers should be aware of these issues before setting foot ashore.

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Insider Look: MSC’s Executive Chairman Teases New Initiatives

The Executive Chairman of MSC, Mr. Vago, is known for his innovative approach to the cruising industry. In this exclusive interview, he offers a glimpse into the exciting new initiatives that MSC has in store for the future.

One of the key developments that Mr. Vago reveals is a focus on sustainability and environmental stewardship. MSC has long been committed to reducing its environmental impact. Mr. Vago shares that the cruise line is working on further initiatives to minimize its carbon footprint and protect the oceans. This includes investing in new technologies and alternative fuels, as well as implementing recycling and waste management programs onboard their ships.

In addition to their sustainability efforts, MSC is also set to revolutionize the cruising experience for guests. Mr. Vago hints at new ships with cutting-edge design and amenities that will take luxury cruising to the next level. From state-of-the-art entertainment offerings to unique dining experiences, MSC is dedicated to providing guests with unforgettable memories and experiences.

Furthermore, Mr. Vago discusses MSC’s plans for expanding their itineraries and destinations. With an eye towards exploring new and exciting ports of call, MSC is looking to offer travelers a diverse array of destinations to choose from. This includes remote islands, exotic cities, and hidden gems that will appeal to both seasoned cruisers and first-time travelers alike.

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