I came here to say I LOVE that this video is clearly and beautifully delivered. No stupid drawn out intro or annoying life story - straight to the point and perfectly executed. Thank you!
And let me to add; it's just an independent presentation that really shows what the product REALLY is about, while not going out of this world positive or negative about it. It shows you the options, no matter his personal tastes. Of course, it is family based mainline mainstream cruise line with an Italian look and feel. Not your typical Premium line of choice. Bear this in mind with the price. YC is another thing, but that should of course to be for another place. Congrats "Tips for Travelers" for the wonderful video. We need more of those!...
I have never cruised MSC, but I have to say they left me with a positive impression, based on one kinda silly incident. MSC operates it's own terminal in my home town and during the summer I can always see their ships depart from my kitchen window. As it happens, the port building also hosts a dominos. As I went to pickup my pizza MSC had a small tent set up to greet people arriving by car, kind of looking like a porter's booth. It kinda felt wrong just walking by not holding a ticket so I politely spoke to the person and explained I was there to pick up a pizza at dominos. Despite not having anything to do with Dominos, the Gentleman from MSC very enthusiastically explained where to find it, how to get around the parking lot, and joked about wanting to try a piece when I returned. It left an impression of them having really friendly staff in my mind.
We cruised them once in 2019 on the tiny Armonia, we loved the food; however, MSC is basically asparagus...you can't be neutral whether you think it sucks or it's solid.
We have done 4 MSC cruises and have 3 planned. Your take on ship, food, atmosphere was spot on. We have always booked "shoulder season" cruises as well as different sized vessels in their fleet and have had mainly superb along with contrasting experiences. The most crowded feeling ship for us was a Holland America sailing to Alaska. Value is, for us, a critical factor as it allows us to take more and more voyages.
If I wanted to go to an amusement full of kids, there are local options. I like being on a *ship*, enjoying the meditative sea, free time for reading, writing, thinking, socializing….and learning about new places, incl history, culture, politics. This looks like hell to me.
You've summed up exactly how I feel. Too busy, too noisy, too crowded and for me, the opposite of what cruising is all about. Give me the smaller, quieter ships any day.
I met you on this cruise and I have to say you did SUCH a good job capturing what it was like! Totally agree with your comments about the food being fine, not memorable but not terrible either. As far as places to escape kids and noise, the spa on the Virtuosa is the answer. It's definitely the most expansive, feature filled spa I've ever seen on a ship and I ended up going there multiple times a day. After seeing your footage, I think the spa plus Yacht Club would have been the perfect combo for me, though sadly probably not in my budget. Anyways, heartily agree with your review, spot on, very fair and lovely meeting you!
Absolutely, my idea off hell and I say that as somebody travelling with kids. But each to their own, I'm more than happy to not have water slides and bowling and all that other stuff in return for a calmer experience
We started cruising on MSC last November on the Seascape. We loved it so much that we have been cruising on the Divina, Euribia and Preziosa for the past two months. The value is exceptional and allowed us to forgive some of the shortfalls.
I did my first MSC (Orchestra) in summer 2022. As an American (living in Italy), I was ok with the international vibe. Guests were rude to staff and each other. Karaoke was way too late. Didn't love the dining room, especially being added to random tables with families already there. They didn't even check if we spoke any languages in common. So I ate every meal in the buffet and was happy. I liked the spa services and workouts with the trainer. I felt that the workers were less happy than workers in other ships (and they were comfy telling me these things, but people usually tell me their private stuff). I'd go again because I now have my strategy, but I prefer NCL.
Just back from a MSC cruise in the Bahamas, from New York, In may. The ship did not seem full, because there was no crowds. The food was great. Shows could have been better, but overall, for the price, it was above my expectations. The service was very good, I had worst on other cruise lines of the same category. And I had a cabana on the beach for a very reasonable price. When you are solo, that is great.
I've been on numerous lines and decided to try MSC last year with my 5 year old. She loved most of it. The kid's pool was freezing cold because it was in the shade all the time and the wind blew through terribly due to it's location. It was a wind tunnel basically. We liked the large hot tub on the side. Food was fine. Pretty much like any other line. The private island was small and there was little to do except play on the beach. Room service had a fee. Apple juice cost several dollars extra for just a small glass. Service was extremely slow...EXTREMELY, and I'm a patient person. Not planning to go on this line again. The chocolate shop was pretty awesome but that's not a reason to go on a ship.
I was on board the same week. I found plenty of places to sit, often away from the main areas. The indoor pool lounge offered comfy sofas next to full height glass walls so I could relax and view the fjords too. Occasional slight wait at the buffet. (1-2 minutes). I am way past spending an hour dressing, then two hours dining. Got the t-shirt. Loved it then, I am mostly a buffet girl at night. Lunch in MDR was fine, no long waits and lovely food and service. Staff mostly welcoming and friendly, similar to other ship lines. Wifi prices are half what other lines charge and various packages are available. You don't need separate packages, just an upgrade, again, similar to other lines. I am not a party animal, so don't ever experience overcrowding. Virtuosa is a British experience, well done MSC for considering their guests. Value for money is fantastic, even for me as a solo. People seem to expect too much, but I feel that what you get for your money is probably 90% of what you get for double the cost on other lines. I can't wait to get back on board!
My wife and I took a Western Med cruise on the MSC Divina in May 2018, and really liked it. Divina is half the size of Virtuosa (3500 or so passengers) and we weren't in high season - the ship didn't seem crowded at all, and there weren't many kids. We quite liked the food and excursions. Can't say anything about bars; we don't drink. We're English-speakers from Canada and had no trouble; it was interesting to hear the mix of languages, and I was impressed that most of the crew could speak several languages. We'd go on an MSC cruise again, but maybe not while schools are out and not on the bigger ships; Divina was about as big as I'm comfortable with.
I took a cruise a month ago on MSCs Meraviglia. The ship is beautiful although there appears to be a water management issue with flooded carpets seen throughout the ship. The carpeting was slightly damp in a number of cabins visited. Since bed sheets for the subsequent cruise are stored under the bed, the bed sheets are initially damp for the first few days of a cruise until the cabin air conditioning can dry them out. After a rainstorm at the end of the cruise, many hallways smelled of mold and mildew. Many guests noted this and attempted to minimize time walking in the hallways. Also, the materials used for the walls and ceilings are reflective of sound, so public restaurants and lounges are much louder than on other cruise lines.
MSC was my first cruise experience and to this day, it remains the most beautiful, glamorously decorated ships i've ever been. The biggest negative for me, its that it is not very solo friendly in terms of experiences, although staff is friendly to solo's. Budget wise, I managed to travel solo on Yacht club on the Maraviglia and the price was a steal compared to NCL's Haven.
We have 40+ cruises on various cruse lines. We have sailed with MSC 4 time....2 different ships....love the experience....have another booked in the fall.
I thought you were very fair we found it very crowded and over busy but we're pleasantly surprised by the food especially the buffet which is not somewhere we would normally go. The entertainment was better than we expected.
I have done 3 MSC cruises, one in Southamerica, one in the caribbean and the last one in Europe last month. In everyone of then I've got room upgrade (good ones!), great food and not sooo crowded. The seaside was full but I didn't feel overwelmed... I loved them!
Thanks for this video. I had thought of trying MSC, but seeing all those masses of passengers, I've decided it's definitely not my kind of cruise vacation. Will spend my time and money somewhere else. Others will love this, but not me.
Today agree Gary we have done 5 trips with MSC even in the yacht club there still not in the same league as other big lines but there not trying to be we plan to cruse with them more and like the ability to board at various ports you just have to accept what you pay and what you get. There ships are alway immaculate event the older ships
Noise, bustling, long lines, kids everywhere, taking over the pools, slow service, overcrowding, hard to get a seat at the bar or buffet, you have set 3 sitting dinning for dinner, long lines every time you get off the ship: It sounds like a nightmare. I think I'd rather stay at home.
Excellent video, Gary. I’m Elite with Princess, so at the beginning I was very interested in their status match. By the end of the video, I was…..nope! I don’t think even the Yacht Club could persuade me to sail with them. Thanks for your usual no-drama candor. 👍👍
Good video Gary - First cruise was MSC Divina, then MSC Meraviglia and then MSC Grandiosa all from Europe (not from UK). The ships are well maintained and the food was reasonable. Have since been on Marella Explorer and missed the well maintained glitzy ships and the food! (But there were some things Marella did better) MSC prices have always been the selling point and the itinerary suits. Going to try other cruise lines in future to see how they compare.
Diamond MSC cruiser here. Since I live near Canaveral I sail frequently with them from here to The Bahamas for short getaways - 4 or less nights and it's perfect for me! I think if I were to travel for longer sailings I would look into other cruise lines too!
I appreciate the review. We are in the process now of finding a cruise for our 30th wedding anniversary. This one looks like way too many people and would be so stressful to me. I think if I were in my 20’s I probably would like it, but I’m closer to 60 now- so no patience for crowds and long lines. It’s too bad they don’t limit the amount of people- but more people means more money.
We celebrated our anniversary with a Princess cruise and had a wonderful time. We booked a slightly smaller ship. So what we lost in the way of go-karts or roller coasters, we gained with a quieter atmosphere and a sense of elegance without stuffiness.😊
Your videos are so good, clear and to the point, aimed at delivering the best advice to other travellers, all the most important facts are there, well presented, and not too long winded, and not too personal or trying to be funny/quirky etc. They are so easy to watch and listen to. Great intelligent advice on MSC which is value for money for many people, but also clear information on how it wouldn’t suit others
As a couple travelling with 2 teenagers, MSC is insane value for money! As you said, the kids only pay port fees and basically travels for free. The sofa turning into a bunk bed instead of a sofa bed is genious and gives so much space in the cabin even with four people in it. And being european I dont find the service or the food bad (especially enjoy the food at the buffet!). And regarding the shows, as an adult I would love for them to be longer and more impressive, but they are the perfect lenght for our boys who both see them as their favorite part of their cruise and never wanna miss one. So we are happy MSC cruisers.
A clarification on the Kids Sail Free option… We have sailed MSC 4 times and are huge fans of this ship, as it is more cost effective for us to sail as a family of 5. So that means we often look for the “Kids Sail Free” option. If you actually look at the offer, it’s was restricted to certain sailings, usually during the school season. However, the normal kids fare is a lot less than the regular fare as 3rd and 4th (or 5th) guests in the same room and it’s age-based (the older they are, the higher the price). So yes, during the school vacation season you will expect more families - which may not be every ones cup of tea. But for us having kids spanning 10 years in age range, it makes an easy and reasonably-priced vacation. Thank you for your honest review and I agree with a lot of what you said about MSC. We like the line and took a chance on them in 2016 when the line started to move in the US market. We’ve been on 3 more cruises with them since on two different ships, 3 times in the Yacht club.
I liked the MSC cruises. No complaints. They even had 2 pools for adults only. They stopped in ports every day and we spent most of the day sightseeing on shore excursions. The part about added expenses is true.
I wanted to give MSC a try. Back in 2017 on the Divina, I was also glad the week was over and got to walk over to my next cruise on the NCL Escape (Miami). So happy I booked a “back to back.” MSC, one and done. 🇺🇸⚓️
This is so helpful - I've been loving watching all your videos and binge watched loads since the weekend. I'm learning so much from you. My family couldn't cope with a packed ship emotionally- so your content is helping me avoid the pitfalls and temptations of 'a better price'. Income is modest, so this means saving for longer and leaving the cruise to a later date to have a good experience rather than rushing. THANKS!!!!
Thanks for the warning. I've been on 23 cruises, the last one in 1996. A lot has changed since then. I think this industry has died of success. Why even bother to vacation on a ship? Given the size and number of people you would do better at a land resort. The low prices suggest that the cruise lines are desperate. They've overbuilt and their ships are much too large. Among my favorite lines still in business was Holland America. Royal Caribbean and Princess were okay too, not as good but certainly a good time. I also liked Royal Viking when it was still owned by Kloster. Not okay going back all these years were NCL and Celebrity I sailed once and never again, and Carnival which I never sailed. 10 nights for me is perfect, 7 isn't enough. The largest I was ever on was Monarch of the Seas 3 times at 73,000 tons. Enjoyed it every time. Still prefer Holland America though. Hope it hasn't changed too much.Would choose their smallest ship which I think is the Volendam. I'm hoping all of these monster ships will go away as unprofitable leaving the industry to what it was once about, a relaxing time at sea without the noise, hustle, and mercantile attitude. Costa was good before they started building new ships around 1990. They wrecked a very good thing. These ships strike me as madness.
I agree, I really struggle to see why you would go on one of these ships compared to a good hotel on land without the crowds. I guess it's the value proposition. The only ships I think I would go on now are some of the Seaborn, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, and possibly Cunard Grills. The last thing I want when I go on holiday is noise, kids, crowds, overcrowding, bustle and long lines.
I declared aMSC Fans, I will take MSC Seashore to the Med and next year Divina to Greece (Yacht Club). All previous experience was great (6MSC previous experience) and looking for more with MSC.Thank for your videos.
Gary, as usual you provide such great information in a very concise manner with plenty of videos/photos. Thank you for this video, which I was considering but because of how crowded it appears, I think I will pass besides big ships do not appeal to me.
What a timely advice, really, thanks! We're in the process of booking MSC Lirica for Greek islands itinerary. It's that old, small cruise ship you mentioned hehe😊 Been on MSC World Europa before, we liked it very much, but as you rightly mentioned, was packed with children and sort of overcrowded sometimes in general
Always appreciate your reviews and insights. Salied MSC's smaller ship Divina just after cruising reopened post Covid and with the just over 600 passengers, it's very enlightening to hear and see what a fully packed cruise would be like. I can see where it's a good fit for families with kids and perhaps will try them again with the grandkids in tow. I did enjoy their Pizza and overall food experience was good. Agree their shows are a bit ho-hum.
Great review! I used the Virtuosa last month, and had an amazing price as a solo. I loved the buffet and the singers/musicians, but the lounges and deck areas were too small for a ship of that size. With so many families there was no chance to have a swim, but I did that ashore. The bar service was inadequate, with 30 minute waits being quite common, and it was very hard to find a seat in the lounges. I couldn't shift my dining time, and didn't want to sit at the same table each night, but I found the buffet was excellent, with plenty of space at the rear. It was difficult to get shuttle buses, which is why I avoided going to Bilbao altogether. I liked the Abba show! It was short and wasn't padded out with stories, they just got on with the singing. The overall experience was fun, but I will return to Marella to have fun and comfort.
this is a great subjective review GAry. I agree with ALL of it. I LOVE MSC as a solo traveller as I think tehy have a lot to offer. Price is just amazing, although, when you look at next years pricing, it seems they are shooting up now they are becoming more well known
Hi! Excellent review - well done. We sailed on the Virtuosa from Southampton to La Rochelle, Bilbao and A Coruna on 24 June - and agree completely with your observations, particularly your summing up. It's an awesome ship but too many people, too many kids for us. We will sail with MSC again but yacht club next time, on a smaller ship.
The more I see of these huge, over the top, full of families, monstrosities on the ocean, the more I know I will never go on a cruise with this type of ship. My ideal is a relaxing, pampered, serene experience watching the water flow by. But thanks for letting me know what to avoid.
Very fair review Gary, I love MSC, but I am very careful about the cruise and particularly the timing, I would never go on any MSC cruise during school holidays or any of their short UK based "booze cruises" as I know they would not be for me. I was lucky enough to sail on Virtuosa twice in 2021, first in June 2021 on one of her maiden cruises, with around 900 passengers on, second on her first cruise from the UK to the Med in September 2021, when we only had around 700 passengers on from Southampton to Lisbon, so we were truly spoiled. I did do a Norwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton in June 2022 and whilst it was busier, it certainly didn't seem anywhere near as busy as the one you were on. I have not made it into Yacht Club yet and I have always found the food in the main dining rooms to be perfectly ok, as you say, not outstanding, but plenty of choice and all perfectly fine. I have been on MSC Seaview in the Med last October, and whilst it was different, it was perfectly fine and as it was outside school holidays it was not overrun with kids. I've got MSC Seashore booked this October around the Med and MSC Euribia from Hamburg to Southampton next year. The prices are truly amazing, the October Seashore cruise even surprised my travel agent! My other favourite line is Cunard so it is possible to like both, in fact I actually found the food in the buffet on Virtuosa last year to be much better than the buffet on Queen Elizabeth, which I did find surprising lol Really enjoy your videos and thanks for giving a fair review and for remembering the big difference, the price! :-)
Thank you for the well-rounded description of your experience. The number of people is a big turn-off for us. We take a cruise to relax, among other reasons. With so many people on the ship I don't see how it could be relaxing.
Love this review to know what I could expect. This helps inform where I should spend my cruise money and this probably isn’t for my husband and me. Thanks so ,ugh for your balanced information.
I have taken only one cruise in my life (and intend to do more very soon) and it was on MSC's Seashore. As far as I can tell from my cruise and other videos I saw, I absolutely love the design of their latest ships. I must say service was really good when we sailed (except one incident over the dining time which was too late and no arrangement could be found) and entertainment was quite good (not on every night, but that one show we saw was in fact very good). The rooms (a balcony for us) are good and quite bigger as I feared. I would have some remarks about the food's quality which was not very good, except in specialty restaurants which were delicious. I can't tell about trivia's or other entertainment because we were everyday on land visiting. Overall I really enjoyed that first experience and if you speak french, you can see the extended videos I did on this cruise on our channel ;-) Thanks Gary for this new perspective from someone who has sailed so much more than us 🙂 Ah, one thing more : our cruise was fully booked (6000 passengers) and we never felt the ship crowded at any time. Maybe it was because we mostly follow our own schedule and not most of the ship's activities.
I think it's a fair review. People always compare it to cruise lines like royal that consistently charge double or even more. I've managed to cruise on msc for 299 a week and that is simply unbeatable value. Food and entertainment is a bit lower quality than other main cruise lines but great value for the price. Also, as you mentioned, americans tend to complain about poor service when in reality it's just more european. We don't like being coddled like babies, just offer your service and be done. In addition to that, while it's true that their huge ships can be extremely busy in the high season, I don't find them any more crowded than comparable ships like royal's freedom/oasis class, carnival's excel or norwegian breakaway plus, the latter always feeling the busies to me. On the contrary, if you can afford to travel during the shoulder or low season MSC ships will always be the least crowded
Thank you so much for this information. I'm considering a cruise for September and MSC was the furthest from my mind. But after watching this content I will consider MSC definitely. The kids will be back in school so it will be different. Plus their port is in New York which is also a plus.
We did our first cruise on the MSC Meraviglia and we had the best time. We did do the Aurea package and I think that is why we had an amazing time. We cant wait to go back!!
We are top tier with MSC which we used many times when they first came into cruising. It’s very different now. We loved th3 Italian style at the beginning, now they are trying American style with Italian culture. Big ships is not Italian style, is Mama and Papa against Disney style. In our estimate, it doesn’t work. We lived in Italy and now in Florida, and yes, culture matters! And yes, they used to go to very special ports with their Lírica and smaller ships, now only to big ship ports!
Great review as ever Gary! We cruised a few cruises with them and going on another next month. The trick for adults is to go off season for kids holidays. It’s far less crowded and a more adult feel then. Them and NCL we think are delivering the best value for money in the mainstream lines at the moment.
This is a very "fair & balanced" review as we (moving on from Disney) share many similar preferences as you do. It's not 900 people on Oceania or Viking with lectures, and it's certainly not the price/hospitality/dining of RC or NCL . . . but, but . . maybe the Yacht Club on one of their smaller ships, or during school time?
Fantastic review. I agree totally but I did find the food disappointing though I did get on Virtuosa the day I got off Queen Victoria so perhaps I had just been spoiled.
Your videos are great Gary, a mine of great information!!...As for MSC its the one cruise line we will never sail with again. Terrible experience , particularly with food and service, and we were in Yacht Club!!
I was on the Meraviglia, and because I left from Brooklyn, while schools in the Northeast were still in session there were not a lot of children. Unlike the NCL Joy when the first week of November is a week off in the state of New Jersey and it seemed like millions of children on board. I don’t cruise in the summer, during spring break and the holidays to avoid parents and children. I’ll go on the Meraviglia again. It was just fine for me.
We finished our Norwegian cruise on the MSC Euribia. Pros: Beautiful, modern ship. Better than expected specialty restaurants. Spotless cabins. High service levels. Cons: amateurish, awful entertainment Overcrowded Marketplace Buffet and pools. Hidden fees requiring savvy travelers to do their homework.
This review is spot on! I travelled on MSC Virtuosa from Southampton to Spain & France. I purposely went during school time but, the number of children onboard was a lot, so i felt overwhelmed because i didn't anticipate seeing kids running around at 10pm in the bars & clubs !! I dread to think whats it like during the school holidays. And it definitely felt like 6.5k people onboard, all the queues for everything. I felt the entertainment & activities were very "butlins-esque" but i don't actually object to this approach because it works and i didn't participate with a lot if the activities. The food was ok, my balcony cabin was clean and comfortable, service was good. Would I return??? Only with friends/relatives travelling with kids wanting a budget experience to cruising.
I am trying MSC this fall on a 22 day cruise around Med and then transatlantic to Miami. Yes, I picked it for the value but also thought it might not be as crowded and much less kids because Oct/Nov, kids are in school, etc. we shall see. Thanks for video!
I love MSC and I love kids and I am 71 they are good and in Jan. I go on the MSC poesia on a 85 day cruise ,by the way I like your channel , God bless.
I echo your comments with regards to finding it difficult to find a seat in the evenings and also the service was so slow, we actually ordered drinks at 3 separate times which never turned up at all!
A very balanced review. We are also Diamond Members but built on MSC Cruises not status match and we did the June 17th cruise on the Virtuosa. Anybody who says the ship was not overcrowded and did not have a problem finding a seat and never waited more than 5 minutes for a drink was either in the YC, or in their cabin, I joked I wish I had brought our folding camping chairs then I could have had a seat anywhere. The Virtuosa bearing in mind they started with a blank sheet of paper is badly designed with simply not enough lounges to accommodate the numbers on board. As soon as the Galleria area started it's nightly music show any singers performing in the 3 areas around it had to stop for the next hour+, but there were few other lounges to go to, the Sky Lounge is nice but can only sit around 150/200 guests and then it is packed. Anyway, we still like the great value MSC provide but our cruises now will be on their smaller ships, out of school holiday season and sailing direct from the Med and visiting Italy, Greece, Istanbul and Egypt etc. It means a different crowd where as Brit's you may make up just 10/15% of the passengers, but 5.5k of my fellow countrymen/women sailing from Southampton and hammering the drinks package brings it's own challenges, at times it felt like a couple of hotels from the Costa Del Sol had been lifted up and plonked in the sea, plus over 900 children on board when it was clearly for the very vast majority, school time. No complaints with the food, the cabin which as a new ship was fresh with great air con and a huge tv and we paid just £1.1k for the 2 of us including a premium drinks package (we wanted a cheap, last minute holiday), we did the same cruise last year but with the ship at probably 60% capacity it was a very different experience. We had 5.3K on our cruise, 5.8k expected the following week, while the 3 nighters can attract 6.3k+. Well you can keep that and like you, by the end of the week we were not sorry to be getting off, some have been on this ship 5/6/7 times and think it's great, so maybe for a certain market, new to cruising and it's value this hits the spot, for many others it's just too big?
I have just returned from a week on Virtuosa and this review is spot on. From it taking a lifetime to be served in the bars or get on a shuttle to and from the ports to it being over subscribed due to families taking their children. We thought we had booked out of term time as we had no children but what we hadn’t realised it was half term in Scotland so unfortunately there were too many people on board. We found the food to be good and not sure I would use MSC again but then again maybe the yacht club could tempt us on a 4 or 5 day trip out of term time. We have used P&O quite a few times and there is no comparison in our opinion but MSC does have its place for a low cost family cruise as stated in the video. Once again this review is spot on. 👍
Nice review. We are first timing with MSC on Virtuosa in October, so I'm hoping the number of kids will be fewer. But its a budget line, if I compare it to anything its going to be Costa and Carnival. As for the "old fashioned/classic" entertainment, I'm old enough to like that! 🙂 One interesting thing is that we went to Norway with RCL on a big ship(Independence) and also found it packed, but I think it was because outside was so cool/cold that everyone was inside most of the time making it much more busy than it would normally be on, say, a mediterranean trip.
We did the WC 2023 on MSC Poesia. I personally cannot fault it. The food was excellent, the staff amazing in 4 months was it perfect? No obviously not but in 4 months life just isn't perfect wherever you are The ship wasn't over full so crowds only occasionally, mainly departure times, especially if the port delay disembarkation due to their customs inefficiency (American customs was dreadful even keeping US passport holders waiting in line for 4 hours for no reason) and Japan was almost as poor . As regards entertainment I thought they worked really hard and tried their best. The main issue is they cater for an international demographic. That means UK singers and comedians etc fall flat because they don't learn other languages. For example, one UK singer sang a song in French and was very pleased with herself until I told her my French friends sitting next to us could not understand her ! So they have to try to balance different langauges and cultures. Its really not easy I also think that us as UK citizens don't share the same tastes as other Europeans. What they find funny often leaves us quizzical and vice versa and what passes for entertainment to us in general is not what they like. Getting a balance right every time is almost impossible. So err on the side of visual rather than vocal entertainment. So overall , considering what you get compared to the price you pay I personally believe MSC are brilliant. To the point we have booked 2024 WC and looking at 2025. My main concern is some passengers think, feel and behave as if they are King and Queen of the world and behave as if they are. They need to come down a peg or two and realise that the world doesn't revolve around them and instead actually enjoy the cruise rather than looking for fault. I guess that fits in with your 'managing expectation' comment.. Thanks
Entertainment, so-so, food, so-so, crowded, it's the little things that adds up. My whole group was not impressed as a whole. When it was getting off the ship that lost most of my party. Settling the bill was a pain, even when they owed you money! almost missed our flight because we stood in line 45 minutes for them to tell us that they owed us a $1.50! We told them we didn't care, but they insisted!
Many things you explain absolutely correct as always depend on the ship. We sailed on the Virtuosa in February and wondered about the few bars that included the drinks package. In comparison to the older Splendida it was drastical. There you had 13 bars, always a place and everything included in the package. Also the Fitnesscenter and the Club was very much bigger as was the Theater. And the Splendida is smaller. Not small, but smaller. Advise: If you don't want kids, just book outside the holidays. We did not had much kids in September anymore.
Thank you for a very thorough and helpful review. One thing I would like your opinion on was the indoor climate, primarily temperature as well as air "freshness". I am a walking furnace. Looking at all those crowds on the ship (dance parties, shows), I fear the air would get very warm and stale very quickly. I have cruised on Princess and Norwegian so far and was impressed with their control of the air quality and temperature in crowded areas. I would appreciate if you could elaborate. Thanks.
BTW: We have cruised twice on MSC, both times on the Poetia out of Ft. Lauderdale (~3,000 passengers and 1,500 crew). But these were special cruises (Holistic Holiday at Sea) organized by Taste of Health out of Miami. All vegan for those in the HHS portion of the cruise, with looks of educational talks and cooking demonstrations. Each time the HH@S program had ~half of the passenger slots. It also provided its own Executive chef and sous chef. The experience was amazing, the food was amazing, the education was amazing, and the crew/service was amazing. When we went of the second cruise, our waiter from the previous year recognized us on sight and greeted us by name.
Great and honest review as always - I cruised MSC 3 times 9-10 years ago (Magnefica, Fantastica and Opera) and the only change are that the ships and crowds are getting bigger... It´s disappointing that the dining options are so limited and they don´t offer some sort of "my time dining" unless you are in the Yacht Club. I was looking into a cruise from Rio to Copenhagen (my hometown) in April24 but I will take it of my list again...
Just at a glance, the gym equipment is all top tier. I’m not sure if that is standard for the cruising industry, but it’s certainly a big plus for the guests!
We must of had a look that said keep away, we were not approached for a photo or any upsells once on our 7 day Fjords cruise. We found the food ok, we did not care for the MDR but the buffet was fine, you just have to pick your time and at the risk of giving away a secret there is loads of space if you walk to the aft section of the buffet. God willing we will definitely go with MSC again. Giving Princess ago for our next cruise next year.
I woulda abandoned ship in no time if I found myself in those crowds. And the promos turn me off along with those Vegas-style enclosed mall type ceilings that change colors. But I would love to check out those crystal steps! Entertainment doesn't matter to me that much. BTW I am not a seasoned cruiser; went on only one cruise this millennium, but it was a good one! San Francisco - Sydney in '18 on Cunard Queen Elizabeth and what I really liked (well loved) about it was, that, all though it was sold out, the cruise never seemed crowed! Also, food was superb, no promo announcements, just whimsical midday captain's announcement about the weather and position of the ship. The enrichment program was great too. And so much more. Thank you SO MUCH for giving us your insight of so many diverse cruise lines. If I ever get a chance to cruise again, I will follow you advice. YOU ROCK!
A fair assessment, although I will point out the following: - Royal Caribbean do the same with dining packages. You need to do the actual reservations once you’re onboard. - I much prefer the Meraviglia class ships to the Meraviglia-Plus ships like the Virtuosa. The “plus” ships just seem to have a lot more cabins but much the same size of bars, restaurants and facilities.
Went on an MSC cruise ship once a couple of years ago. It was the "Armonia," homeported in Miami (where I live) in order to take advantage of short cruises to Cuba. As a smaller ship (70,000-ton class, similar to NCL "Sky") it would fit into Havana Harbor and the piers there. For the week-long cruises MSC was also running the "Divina." I had a real love-hate relationship with that cruise line--or at least that ship. I loved the interior design. I loved the entertainment. I loved the cigar lounge. I loved the espresso bar. I loved the service, unobtrusive and more than willing to please. I loved the gelato. Wonderful stuff! I loved the mix of people from everywhere--and I don't mean all-Americans. I hated the food, at least most of it. It was difficult for me to find enough things that I liked to fill me up at the buffet--including the pasta! It was simply not good. Even the carving station was underwhelming. Turkey? In the MDR the food alternated between decent to inedible. The desserts were too sugary! Still, for what I paid, I went as a solo paying the solo supplement and it was a great deal. After all, the worst day at sea is better than the best day on land.
Try cruising MSC when the kids are in school like we did and you'll have an enjoyable experience. They cater to kids with limitations unlike Carnival, Royal, or NCL, wasting ship space with features few will enjoy.
Been cruising for many, many years and tried all of the main lines on numerous occasions - MSC is without question the worst cruise experience we've ever had.. overcrowded.... awful food.... nothing to do / poor entertainment and surly, unfriendly staff....a glorified ferry rather than a cruise ship. NEVER again. 👎👎👎
The harsh reality of the "ship within a ship" concept is that, for a huge fare increase, it provides to a subset of passengers the cruising experience that traditionally has been promoted as available to *everyone*. Cruising in general is supposed to be a relaxing, refreshing, pampering type of vacation travel. But unfortunately, it increasingly can be just the opposite if you pay only a "regular" fare, even for a nice cabin. In other words, you may have to pay a premium price just to get a satisfactory cruise experience. Pay the standard price and you risk being forced to accept a substandard experience. It's now a zero-sum vacation game.
Simple version: MSC out carnivals Carnival. If you want cheap and don't mind big crowds with lots of kids. It's a pretty good value. Actually, the food goes from mediocre to decent if all you ever eat are surcharge restaurants and never visit the main dining room, the buffet or anything complimentary.
Took my first cruise in November last year and it was with MSC. Service was generally good, food generally bad and “entertainment” embarrassingly bad - on one particular evening a magician was doing card tricks on stage. Applause was muted to say the least as anyone not in the centre of the two front rows couldn’t tell if he was holding up the 10 of hearts or Master Bun the Baker’s son. The musical and interpretive dance evening included a four limbed lobster rowing a boat. The whole thing was reminiscent of a school improvisation performance. Will give cruising another go at the end of August with P&O 🤞🏻
We were on the Virtuosa in April out of Southampton to Germany, Belgium, and France - We had a really great time with myself, wife, and 11 year old daughter - As we did not stop in Paris as planned the last night there was nearly NO ONE on the ship and was already running at just over half capacity at the start - Even with half the people the bars w evening activities were packed and I cannot imagine how busy a fully booked ship would have been - We overall enjoyed ourselves having been on the "big 3 lines" previously - We would go on another MSC trip maybe through the Mediterranean or a more Scandinavia route next time
Was on Seaview 2 adults + 2 kids April 2022 and I agree. At dinning it always feels crowded and that you are too close to the neighbor, my previous cruise was on MSC Orchestra and it felt more spacious at dinning. Another downside vs old ship was that the buffet was a lot of times closed, having kids this was troublesome and we ended up getting some food at breakfast and in stock at the room. The ship is really cool, a lot of balconies and my daughters always wanted to be at Kids Club. For me the best area it's the reception with the multi-floor stage and there's room for everyone. For me the biggest downside is that there aren't enough lounge/bar areas for the amount of passengers that it takes but otherwise no other complaint. But as you mention, more people allows a better price (as long as you don't fall for the usual cruise ship "scams" (photos cost as much as gold). A waiter comment on the first night that he likes more to work on the old small ships that the new and big ones, after the first night I agree with him.
Thanks for this video! So far I have only cruised MSC as due to the price that’s the only line I have been able to afford (also as a solo the other lines are just unaffordable). I’ve had all positive experiences and fell in love with cruising! Hope to cruise with them again soon! 🚢
My only MSC experience so far has been a TA on the Seaside last Nov. It was different but I enjoyed it. Their solo programmes aren't great but we found each other eventually. I'm actually booked on a B2B on the Meraviglia this Nov, and another 2 cruises with them next year.
I came here to say I LOVE that this video is clearly and beautifully delivered. No stupid drawn out intro or annoying life story - straight to the point and perfectly executed. Thank you!
And let me to add; it's just an independent presentation that really shows what the product REALLY is about, while not going out of this world positive or negative about it. It shows you the options, no matter his personal tastes.
Of course, it is family based mainline mainstream cruise line with an Italian look and feel. Not your typical Premium line of choice. Bear this in mind with the price. YC is another thing, but that should of course to be for another place. Congrats "Tips for Travelers" for the wonderful video. We need more of those!...
Thanks for your thoughts and feedback! Great to hear 👍🏻
Thanks for watching and good to hear your thoughts!!!
Yes. Gary does an excellent job sharing information. It’s not all about him like many other vloggers.
@@nunagorasI stopped watching La Lido Loca because of all the talking and moise before getting to the story.
I have never cruised MSC, but I have to say they left me with a positive impression, based on one kinda silly incident. MSC operates it's own terminal in my home town and during the summer I can always see their ships depart from my kitchen window. As it happens, the port building also hosts a dominos. As I went to pickup my pizza MSC had a small tent set up to greet people arriving by car, kind of looking like a porter's booth. It kinda felt wrong just walking by not holding a ticket so I politely spoke to the person and explained I was there to pick up a pizza at dominos. Despite not having anything to do with Dominos, the Gentleman from MSC very enthusiastically explained where to find it, how to get around the parking lot, and joked about wanting to try a piece when I returned.
It left an impression of them having really friendly staff in my mind.
We cruised them once in 2019 on the tiny Armonia, we loved the food; however, MSC is basically asparagus...you can't be neutral whether you think it sucks or it's solid.
Well now, we have to know: did you offer him some pizza when you got back to the exit? :D
@@Anolaana honestly, the one plus on MSC was the pizza. Tasted like I was back in southern Italy. Their sauce as well as octopus salad was banging.
We have done 4 MSC cruises and have 3 planned. Your take on ship, food, atmosphere was spot on. We have always booked "shoulder season" cruises as well as different sized vessels in their fleet and have had mainly superb along with contrasting experiences. The most crowded feeling ship for us was a Holland America sailing to Alaska. Value is, for us, a critical factor as it allows us to take more and more voyages.
If I wanted to go to an amusement full of kids, there are local options. I like being on a *ship*, enjoying the meditative sea, free time for reading, writing, thinking, socializing….and learning about new places, incl history, culture, politics. This looks like hell to me.
All those people overwhelms me.
You've summed up exactly how I feel. Too busy, too noisy, too crowded and for me, the opposite of what cruising is all about. Give me the smaller, quieter ships any day.
I met you on this cruise and I have to say you did SUCH a good job capturing what it was like! Totally agree with your comments about the food being fine, not memorable but not terrible either. As far as places to escape kids and noise, the spa on the Virtuosa is the answer. It's definitely the most expansive, feature filled spa I've ever seen on a ship and I ended up going there multiple times a day. After seeing your footage, I think the spa plus Yacht Club would have been the perfect combo for me, though sadly probably not in my budget. Anyways, heartily agree with your review, spot on, very fair and lovely meeting you!
The over crowding and so many kids is enough for me to avoid
Absolutely, my idea off hell and I say that as somebody travelling with kids. But each to their own, I'm more than happy to not have water slides and bowling and all that other stuff in return for a calmer experience
Me 2
The yacht club looks decent though
I’ve had good luck cruising in September - literally no kids at all as they have just gone back to school!
Me TOO!
We started cruising on MSC last November on the Seascape. We loved it so much that we have been cruising on the Divina, Euribia and Preziosa for the past two months. The value is exceptional and allowed us to forgive some of the shortfalls.
I did my first MSC (Orchestra) in summer 2022. As an American (living in Italy), I was ok with the international vibe. Guests were rude to staff and each other. Karaoke was way too late. Didn't love the dining room, especially being added to random tables with families already there. They didn't even check if we spoke any languages in common. So I ate every meal in the buffet and was happy. I liked the spa services and workouts with the trainer. I felt that the workers were less happy than workers in other ships (and they were comfy telling me these things, but people usually tell me their private stuff). I'd go again because I now have my strategy, but I prefer NCL.
Just back from a MSC cruise in the Bahamas, from New York, In may. The ship did not seem full, because there was no crowds. The food was great. Shows could have been better, but overall, for the price, it was above my expectations. The service was very good, I had worst on other cruise lines of the same category. And I had a cabana on the beach for a very reasonable price. When you are solo, that is great.
I've been on numerous lines and decided to try MSC last year with my 5 year old. She loved most of it. The kid's pool was freezing cold because it was in the shade all the time and the wind blew through terribly due to it's location. It was a wind tunnel basically. We liked the large hot tub on the side. Food was fine. Pretty much like any other line. The private island was small and there was little to do except play on the beach. Room service had a fee. Apple juice cost several dollars extra for just a small glass. Service was extremely slow...EXTREMELY, and I'm a patient person. Not planning to go on this line again. The chocolate shop was pretty awesome but that's not a reason to go on a ship.
I was on board the same week. I found plenty of places to sit, often away from the main areas. The indoor pool lounge offered comfy sofas next to full height glass walls so I could relax and view the fjords too. Occasional slight wait at the buffet. (1-2 minutes). I am way past spending an hour dressing, then two hours dining. Got the t-shirt. Loved it then, I am mostly a buffet girl at night. Lunch in MDR was fine, no long waits and lovely food and service. Staff mostly welcoming and friendly, similar to other ship lines. Wifi prices are half what other lines charge and various packages are available. You don't need separate packages, just an upgrade, again, similar to other lines. I am not a party animal, so don't ever experience overcrowding. Virtuosa is a British experience, well done MSC for considering their guests. Value for money is fantastic, even for me as a solo. People seem to expect too much, but I feel that what you get for your money is probably 90% of what you get for double the cost on other lines. I can't wait to get back on board!
My wife and I took a Western Med cruise on the MSC Divina in May 2018, and really liked it. Divina is half the size of Virtuosa (3500 or so passengers) and we weren't in high season - the ship didn't seem crowded at all, and there weren't many kids. We quite liked the food and excursions. Can't say anything about bars; we don't drink. We're English-speakers from Canada and had no trouble; it was interesting to hear the mix of languages, and I was impressed that most of the crew could speak several languages. We'd go on an MSC cruise again, but maybe not while schools are out and not on the bigger ships; Divina was about as big as I'm comfortable with.
I'm going to try MSC Divina and do the transatlantic repositioning from America to Europe. I've heard good things about this ship
I took a cruise a month ago on MSCs Meraviglia. The ship is beautiful although there appears to be a water management issue with flooded carpets seen throughout the ship. The carpeting was slightly damp in a number of cabins visited. Since bed sheets for the subsequent cruise are stored under the bed, the bed sheets are initially damp for the first few days of a cruise until the cabin air conditioning can dry them out. After a rainstorm at the end of the cruise, many hallways smelled of mold and mildew. Many guests noted this and attempted to minimize time walking in the hallways. Also, the materials used for the walls and ceilings are reflective of sound, so public restaurants and lounges are much louder than on other cruise lines.
MSC was my first cruise experience and to this day, it remains the most beautiful, glamorously decorated ships i've ever been. The biggest negative for me, its that it is not very solo friendly in terms of experiences, although staff is friendly to solo's. Budget wise, I managed to travel solo on Yacht club on the Maraviglia and the price was a steal compared to NCL's Haven.
We have 40+ cruises on various cruse lines. We have sailed with MSC 4 time....2 different ships....love the experience....have another booked in the fall.
I thought you were very fair we found it very crowded and over busy but we're pleasantly surprised by the food especially the buffet which is not somewhere we would normally go. The entertainment was better than we expected.
I have done 3 MSC cruises, one in Southamerica, one in the caribbean and the last one in Europe last month. In everyone of then I've got room upgrade (good ones!), great food and not sooo crowded. The seaside was full but I didn't feel overwelmed... I loved them!
Thanks for this video. I had thought of trying MSC, but seeing all those masses of passengers, I've decided it's definitely not my kind of cruise vacation. Will spend my time and money somewhere else. Others will love this, but not me.
Today agree Gary we have done 5 trips with MSC even in the yacht club there still not in the same league as other big lines but there not trying to be we plan to cruse with them more and like the ability to board at various ports you just have to accept what you pay and what you get. There ships are alway immaculate event the older ships
Those crowds... Yikes! I'd rather stay home.
Noise, bustling, long lines, kids everywhere, taking over the pools, slow service, overcrowding, hard to get a seat at the bar or buffet, you have set 3 sitting dinning for dinner, long lines every time you get off the ship: It sounds like a nightmare. I think I'd rather stay at home.
Excellent video, Gary. I’m Elite with Princess, so at the beginning I was very interested in their status match. By the end of the video, I was…..nope! I don’t think even the Yacht Club could persuade me to sail with them. Thanks for your usual no-drama candor. 👍👍
Good video Gary - First cruise was MSC Divina, then MSC Meraviglia and then MSC Grandiosa all from Europe (not from UK). The ships are well maintained and the food was reasonable. Have since been on Marella Explorer and missed the well maintained glitzy ships and the food! (But there were some things Marella did better) MSC prices have always been the selling point and the itinerary suits. Going to try other cruise lines in future to see how they compare.
A very good and very balanced video. I've done 3 MSC cruises and loved them as they were outstanding value for solo travelling.
Diamond MSC cruiser here. Since I live near Canaveral I sail frequently with them from here to The Bahamas for short getaways - 4 or less nights and it's perfect for me! I think if I were to travel for longer sailings I would look into other cruise lines too!
Yacht club experience was great for us. Exciting to see them building a terminal in Galveston. Sometimes the ship for us is the destination
MSC ships are gorgeous, service is poor but friendly, and food is OK. For the price would easily go again.
We went on one before covid because the price was great. We loved it. Had a great time.
I appreciate the review. We are in the process now of finding a cruise for our 30th wedding anniversary. This one looks like way too many people and would be so stressful to me. I think if I were in my 20’s I probably would like it, but I’m closer to 60 now- so no patience for crowds and long lines. It’s too bad they don’t limit the amount of people- but more people means more money.
We celebrated our anniversary with a Princess cruise and had a wonderful time. We booked a slightly smaller ship. So what we lost in the way of go-karts or roller coasters, we gained with a quieter atmosphere and a sense of elegance without stuffiness.😊
Your videos are so good, clear and to the point, aimed at delivering the best advice to other travellers, all the most important facts are there, well presented, and not too long winded, and not too personal or trying to be funny/quirky etc. They are so easy to watch and listen to. Great intelligent advice on MSC which is value for money for many people, but also clear information on how it wouldn’t suit others
As a couple travelling with 2 teenagers, MSC is insane value for money! As you said, the kids only pay port fees and basically travels for free. The sofa turning into a bunk bed instead of a sofa bed is genious and gives so much space in the cabin even with four people in it. And being european I dont find the service or the food bad (especially enjoy the food at the buffet!). And regarding the shows, as an adult I would love for them to be longer and more impressive, but they are the perfect lenght for our boys who both see them as their favorite part of their cruise and never wanna miss one. So we are happy MSC cruisers.
A clarification on the Kids Sail Free option…
We have sailed MSC 4 times and are huge fans of this ship, as it is more cost effective for us to sail as a family of 5. So that means we often look for the “Kids Sail Free” option. If you actually look at the offer, it’s was restricted to certain sailings, usually during the school season. However, the normal kids fare is a lot less than the regular fare as 3rd and 4th (or 5th) guests in the same room and it’s age-based (the older they are, the higher the price).
So yes, during the school vacation season you will expect more families - which may not be every ones cup of tea. But for us having kids spanning 10 years in age range, it makes an easy and reasonably-priced vacation.
Thank you for your honest review and I agree with a lot of what you said about MSC. We like the line and took a chance on them in 2016 when the line started to move in the US market. We’ve been on 3 more cruises with them since on two different ships, 3 times in the Yacht club.
I liked the MSC cruises. No complaints. They even had 2 pools for adults only. They stopped in ports every day and we spent most of the day sightseeing on shore excursions. The part about added expenses is true.
I wanted to give MSC a try. Back in 2017 on the Divina, I was also glad the week was over and got to walk over to my next cruise on the NCL Escape (Miami). So happy I booked a “back to back.” MSC, one and done. 🇺🇸⚓️
This is so helpful - I've been loving watching all your videos and binge watched loads since the weekend. I'm learning so much from you. My family couldn't cope with a packed ship emotionally- so your content is helping me avoid the pitfalls and temptations of 'a better price'. Income is modest, so this means saving for longer and leaving the cruise to a later date to have a good experience rather than rushing. THANKS!!!!
We did a Red Sea cruise with MSC this year with fairly limited expectations but to be fair we found them pretty good 👍
Thanks for the warning. I've been on 23 cruises, the last one in 1996. A lot has changed since then. I think this industry has died of success. Why even bother to vacation on a ship? Given the size and number of people you would do better at a land resort.
The low prices suggest that the cruise lines are desperate. They've overbuilt and their ships are much too large.
Among my favorite lines still in business was Holland America. Royal Caribbean and Princess were okay too, not as good but certainly a good time. I also liked Royal Viking when it was still owned by Kloster. Not okay going back all these years were NCL and Celebrity I sailed once and never again, and Carnival which I never sailed. 10 nights for me is perfect, 7 isn't enough. The largest I was ever on was Monarch of the Seas 3 times at 73,000 tons. Enjoyed it every time. Still prefer Holland America though. Hope it hasn't changed too much.Would choose their smallest ship which I think is the Volendam. I'm hoping all of these monster ships will go away as unprofitable leaving the industry to what it was once about, a relaxing time at sea without the noise, hustle, and mercantile attitude. Costa was good before they started building new ships around 1990. They wrecked a very good thing. These ships strike me as madness.
I agree, I really struggle to see why you would go on one of these ships compared to a good hotel on land without the crowds. I guess it's the value proposition. The only ships I think I would go on now are some of the Seaborn, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, and possibly Cunard Grills.
The last thing I want when I go on holiday is noise, kids, crowds, overcrowding, bustle and long lines.
You nailed it! I also did an MSC (Seascape 5875p) to try it out, and NEVER again. (ALL the items you listed, were there.)
I declared aMSC Fans, I will take MSC Seashore to the Med and next year Divina to Greece (Yacht Club). All previous experience was great (6MSC previous experience) and looking for more with MSC.Thank for your videos.
I recently saw that virgin voyages does status matching too. So MSC isn’t the only one.
Gary, as usual you provide such great information in a very concise manner with plenty of videos/photos. Thank you for this video, which I was considering but because of how crowded it appears, I think I will pass besides big ships do not appeal to me.
Thanks for watching and great to hear your feedback! Much appreciated
I cruise MSC regularly and I highly recommend their smaller, older ships for better itineraries, less children, and better service.
What a timely advice, really, thanks! We're in the process of booking MSC Lirica for Greek islands itinerary. It's that old, small cruise ship you mentioned hehe😊 Been on MSC World Europa before, we liked it very much, but as you rightly mentioned, was packed with children and sort of overcrowded sometimes in general
Always appreciate your reviews and insights. Salied MSC's smaller ship Divina just after cruising reopened post Covid and with the just over 600 passengers, it's very enlightening to hear and see what a fully packed cruise would be like. I can see where it's a good fit for families with kids and perhaps will try them again with the grandkids in tow. I did enjoy their Pizza and overall food experience was good. Agree their shows are a bit ho-hum.
Great review! I used the Virtuosa last month, and had an amazing price as a solo. I loved the buffet and the singers/musicians, but the lounges and deck areas were too small for a ship of that size. With so many families there was no chance to have a swim, but I did that ashore. The bar service was inadequate, with 30 minute waits being quite common, and it was very hard to find a seat in the lounges. I couldn't shift my dining time, and didn't want to sit at the same table each night, but I found the buffet was excellent, with plenty of space at the rear. It was difficult to get shuttle buses, which is why I avoided going to Bilbao altogether. I liked the Abba show! It was short and wasn't padded out with stories, they just got on with the singing. The overall experience was fun, but I will return to Marella to have fun and comfort.
this is a great subjective review GAry. I agree with ALL of it. I LOVE MSC as a solo traveller as I think tehy have a lot to offer. Price is just amazing, although, when you look at next years pricing, it seems they are shooting up now they are becoming more well known
Oh no! Their prices is the only reason i consider them
Hi! Excellent review - well done.
We sailed on the Virtuosa from Southampton to La Rochelle, Bilbao and A Coruna on 24 June - and agree completely with your observations, particularly your summing up. It's an awesome ship but too many people, too many kids for us. We will sail with MSC again but yacht club next time, on a smaller ship.
The more I see of these huge, over the top, full of families, monstrosities on the ocean, the more I know I will never go on a cruise with this type of ship. My ideal is a relaxing, pampered, serene experience watching the water flow by. But thanks for letting me know what to avoid.
Very fair review Gary, I love MSC, but I am very careful about the cruise and particularly the timing, I would never go on any MSC cruise during school holidays or any of their short UK based "booze cruises" as I know they would not be for me. I was lucky enough to sail on Virtuosa twice in 2021, first in June 2021 on one of her maiden cruises, with around 900 passengers on, second on her first cruise from the UK to the Med in September 2021, when we only had around 700 passengers on from Southampton to Lisbon, so we were truly spoiled. I did do a Norwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton in June 2022 and whilst it was busier, it certainly didn't seem anywhere near as busy as the one you were on. I have not made it into Yacht Club yet and I have always found the food in the main dining rooms to be perfectly ok, as you say, not outstanding, but plenty of choice and all perfectly fine. I have been on MSC Seaview in the Med last October, and whilst it was different, it was perfectly fine and as it was outside school holidays it was not overrun with kids. I've got MSC Seashore booked this October around the Med and MSC Euribia from Hamburg to Southampton next year. The prices are truly amazing, the October Seashore cruise even surprised my travel agent! My other favourite line is Cunard so it is possible to like both, in fact I actually found the food in the buffet on Virtuosa last year to be much better than the buffet on Queen Elizabeth, which I did find surprising lol Really enjoy your videos and thanks for giving a fair review and for remembering the big difference, the price! :-)
Thank you for the well-rounded description of your experience. The number of people is a big turn-off for us. We take a cruise to relax, among other reasons. With so many people on the ship I don't see how it could be relaxing.
Love this review to know what I could expect. This helps inform where I should spend my cruise money and this probably isn’t for my husband and me. Thanks so ,ugh for your balanced information.
I have taken only one cruise in my life (and intend to do more very soon) and it was on MSC's Seashore. As far as I can tell from my cruise and other videos I saw, I absolutely love the design of their latest ships. I must say service was really good when we sailed (except one incident over the dining time which was too late and no arrangement could be found) and entertainment was quite good (not on every night, but that one show we saw was in fact very good).
The rooms (a balcony for us) are good and quite bigger as I feared. I would have some remarks about the food's quality which was not very good, except in specialty restaurants which were delicious.
I can't tell about trivia's or other entertainment because we were everyday on land visiting.
Overall I really enjoyed that first experience and if you speak french, you can see the extended videos I did on this cruise on our channel ;-)
Thanks Gary for this new perspective from someone who has sailed so much more than us 🙂
Ah, one thing more : our cruise was fully booked (6000 passengers) and we never felt the ship crowded at any time. Maybe it was because we mostly follow our own schedule and not most of the ship's activities.
I think it's a fair review. People always compare it to cruise lines like royal that consistently charge double or even more.
I've managed to cruise on msc for 299 a week and that is simply unbeatable value.
Food and entertainment is a bit lower quality than other main cruise lines but great value for the price.
Also, as you mentioned, americans tend to complain about poor service when in reality it's just more european. We don't like being coddled like babies, just offer your service and be done.
In addition to that, while it's true that their huge ships can be extremely busy in the high season, I don't find them any more crowded than comparable ships like royal's freedom/oasis class, carnival's excel or norwegian breakaway plus, the latter always feeling the busies to me.
On the contrary, if you can afford to travel during the shoulder or low season MSC ships will always be the least crowded
Thank you so much for this information. I'm considering a cruise for September and MSC was the furthest from my mind. But after watching this content I will consider MSC definitely. The kids will be back in school so it will be different. Plus their port is in New York which is also a plus.
Look at you taking one for the team in order to provide an up to date MSC Cruises review. Good job! Thank you!
We did our first cruise on the MSC Meraviglia and we had the best time. We did do the Aurea package and I think that is why we had an amazing time. We cant wait to go back!!
We are top tier with MSC which we used many times when they first came into cruising. It’s very different now. We loved th3 Italian style at the beginning, now they are trying American style with Italian culture. Big ships is not Italian style, is Mama and Papa against Disney style. In our estimate, it doesn’t work. We lived in Italy and now in Florida, and yes, culture matters! And yes, they used to go to very special ports with their Lírica and smaller ships, now only to big ship ports!
I love MSC, a lot less kids than carnival, cheaper and comparable to royal carribean
Great review as ever Gary! We cruised a few cruises with them and going on another next month. The trick for adults is to go off season for kids holidays. It’s far less crowded and a more adult feel then. Them and NCL we think are delivering the best value for money in the mainstream lines at the moment.
This is a very "fair & balanced" review as we (moving on from Disney) share many similar preferences as you do. It's not 900 people on Oceania or Viking with lectures, and it's certainly not the price/hospitality/dining of RC or NCL . . . but, but . . maybe the Yacht Club on one of their smaller ships, or during school time?
Fantastic review. I agree totally but I did find the food disappointing though I did get on Virtuosa the day I got off Queen Victoria so perhaps I had just been spoiled.
If people pay budget, it's unfair of them to complain because they don't get premium. As for the kids, I bet they have a blast
I am a travel agent and was once on hold for 1 hour 45 minutes to MSC Cruises. I did get the answers I wanted thankfully.
While the price is very attractive, we really like our Viking cruise ships. We pay a lot more but get what we want.
Agreed. Value is about getting what is important to you, not the price. I gladly pay the solo supplement in order to get double the space.
I'm suprised there was so many kids on your trip as it was outside school holidays
Your videos are great Gary, a mine of great information!!...As for MSC its the one cruise line we will never sail with again. Terrible experience , particularly with food and service, and we were in Yacht Club!!
I was on the Meraviglia, and because I left from Brooklyn, while schools in the Northeast were still in session there were not a lot of children. Unlike the NCL Joy when the first week of November is a week off in the state of New Jersey and it seemed like millions of children on board. I don’t cruise in the summer, during spring break and the holidays to avoid parents and children. I’ll go on the Meraviglia again. It was just fine for me.
We finished our Norwegian cruise on the MSC Euribia. Pros: Beautiful, modern ship. Better than expected specialty restaurants. Spotless cabins. High service levels. Cons: amateurish, awful entertainment Overcrowded Marketplace Buffet and pools. Hidden fees requiring savvy travelers to do their homework.
This review is spot on! I travelled on MSC Virtuosa from Southampton to Spain & France. I purposely went during school time but, the number of children onboard was a lot, so i felt overwhelmed because i didn't anticipate seeing kids running around at 10pm in the bars & clubs !! I dread to think whats it like during the school holidays. And it definitely felt like 6.5k people onboard, all the queues for everything. I felt the entertainment & activities were very "butlins-esque" but i don't actually object to this approach because it works and i didn't participate with a lot if the activities. The food was ok, my balcony cabin was clean and comfortable, service was good. Would I return??? Only with friends/relatives travelling with kids wanting a budget experience to cruising.
A great video, as usual, Gary! I have always wondered about MSC whenever I saw their ships in ports.
QM2 is my favorite ship to date, I have been cruising 45 years and her transatlantic voyage met all of my expectations and needs!
I am trying MSC this fall on a 22 day cruise around Med and then transatlantic to Miami. Yes, I picked it for the value but also thought it might not be as crowded and much less kids because Oct/Nov, kids are in school, etc. we shall see. Thanks for video!
I love MSC and I love kids and I am 71 they are good and in Jan. I go on the MSC poesia on a 85 day cruise ,by the way I like your channel , God bless.
I echo your comments with regards to finding it difficult to find a seat in the evenings and also the service was so slow, we actually ordered drinks at 3 separate times which never turned up at all!
A very balanced review. We are also Diamond Members but built on MSC Cruises not status match and we did the June 17th cruise on the Virtuosa. Anybody who says the ship was not overcrowded and did not have a problem finding a seat and never waited more than 5 minutes for a drink was either in the YC, or in their cabin, I joked I wish I had brought our folding camping chairs then I could have had a seat anywhere. The Virtuosa bearing in mind they started with a blank sheet of paper is badly designed with simply not enough lounges to accommodate the numbers on board. As soon as the Galleria area started it's nightly music show any singers performing in the 3 areas around it had to stop for the next hour+, but there were few other lounges to go to, the Sky Lounge is nice but can only sit around 150/200 guests and then it is packed. Anyway, we still like the great value MSC provide but our cruises now will be on their smaller ships, out of school holiday season and sailing direct from the Med and visiting Italy, Greece, Istanbul and Egypt etc. It means a different crowd where as Brit's you may make up just 10/15% of the passengers, but 5.5k of my fellow countrymen/women sailing from Southampton and hammering the drinks package brings it's own challenges, at times it felt like a couple of hotels from the Costa Del Sol had been lifted up and plonked in the sea, plus over 900 children on board when it was clearly for the very vast majority, school time. No complaints with the food, the cabin which as a new ship was fresh with great air con and a huge tv and we paid just £1.1k for the 2 of us including a premium drinks package (we wanted a cheap, last minute holiday), we did the same cruise last year but with the ship at probably 60% capacity it was a very different experience. We had 5.3K on our cruise, 5.8k expected the following week, while the 3 nighters can attract 6.3k+. Well you can keep that and like you, by the end of the week we were not sorry to be getting off, some have been on this ship 5/6/7 times and think it's great, so maybe for a certain market, new to cruising and it's value this hits the spot, for many others it's just too big?
Thanks for watching and adding these detailed thoughts, tips and advice. Much appreciated
I have just returned from a week on Virtuosa and this review is spot on. From it taking a lifetime to be served in the bars or get on a shuttle to and from the ports to it being over subscribed due to families taking their children. We thought we had booked out of term time as we had no children but what we hadn’t realised it was half term in Scotland so unfortunately there were too many people on board. We found the food to be good and not sure I would use MSC again but then again maybe the yacht club could tempt us on a 4 or 5 day trip out of term time. We have used P&O quite a few times and there is no comparison in our opinion but MSC does have its place for a low cost family cruise as stated in the video. Once again this review is spot on. 👍
Nice review. We are first timing with MSC on Virtuosa in October, so I'm hoping the number of kids will be fewer. But its a budget line, if I compare it to anything its going to be Costa and Carnival. As for the "old fashioned/classic" entertainment, I'm old enough to like that! 🙂
One interesting thing is that we went to Norway with RCL on a big ship(Independence) and also found it packed, but I think it was because outside was so cool/cold that everyone was inside most of the time making it much more busy than it would normally be on, say, a mediterranean trip.
We did the WC 2023 on MSC Poesia. I personally cannot fault it. The food was excellent, the staff amazing
in 4 months was it perfect? No obviously not but in 4 months life just isn't perfect wherever you are
The ship wasn't over full so crowds only occasionally, mainly departure times, especially if the port delay disembarkation due to their customs inefficiency (American customs was dreadful even keeping US passport holders waiting in line for 4 hours for no reason) and Japan was almost as poor .
As regards entertainment I thought they worked really hard and tried their best. The main issue is they cater for an international demographic. That means UK singers and comedians etc fall flat because they don't learn other languages. For example, one UK singer sang a song in French and was very pleased with herself until I told her my French friends sitting next to us could not understand her ! So they have to try to balance different langauges and cultures. Its really not easy
I also think that us as UK citizens don't share the same tastes as other Europeans. What they find funny often leaves us quizzical and vice versa and what passes for entertainment to us in general is not what they like. Getting a balance right every time is almost impossible. So err on the side of visual rather than vocal entertainment.
So overall , considering what you get compared to the price you pay I personally believe MSC are brilliant. To the point we have booked 2024 WC and looking at 2025.
My main concern is some passengers think, feel and behave as if they are King and Queen of the world and behave as if they are. They need to come down a peg or two and realise that the world doesn't revolve around them and instead actually enjoy the cruise rather than looking for fault.
I guess that fits in with your 'managing expectation' comment..
Thanks
Entertainment, so-so, food, so-so, crowded, it's the little things that adds up. My whole group was not impressed as a whole. When it was getting off the ship that lost most of my party. Settling the bill was a pain, even when they owed you money! almost missed our flight because we stood in line 45 minutes for them to tell us that they owed us a $1.50! We told them we didn't care, but they insisted!
Many things you explain absolutely correct as always depend on the ship. We sailed on the Virtuosa in February and wondered about the few bars that included the drinks package. In comparison to the older Splendida it was drastical. There you had 13 bars, always a place and everything included in the package. Also the Fitnesscenter and the Club was very much bigger as was the Theater. And the Splendida is smaller. Not small, but smaller.
Advise: If you don't want kids, just book outside the holidays. We did not had much kids in September anymore.
Thank you for a very thorough and helpful review. One thing I would like your opinion on was the indoor climate, primarily temperature as well as air "freshness". I am a walking furnace. Looking at all those crowds on the ship (dance parties, shows), I fear the air would get very warm and stale very quickly. I have cruised on Princess and Norwegian so far and was impressed with their control of the air quality and temperature in crowded areas. I would appreciate if you could elaborate. Thanks.
BTW: We have cruised twice on MSC, both times on the Poetia out of Ft. Lauderdale (~3,000 passengers and 1,500 crew). But these were special cruises (Holistic Holiday at Sea) organized by Taste of Health out of Miami. All vegan for those in the HHS portion of the cruise, with looks of educational talks and cooking demonstrations. Each time the HH@S program had ~half of the passenger slots. It also provided its own Executive chef and sous chef. The experience was amazing, the food was amazing, the education was amazing, and the crew/service was amazing. When we went of the second cruise, our waiter from the previous year recognized us on sight and greeted us by name.
Great and honest review as always - I cruised MSC 3 times 9-10 years ago (Magnefica, Fantastica and Opera) and the only change are that the ships and crowds are getting bigger... It´s disappointing that the dining options are so limited and they don´t offer some sort of "my time dining" unless you are in the Yacht Club. I was looking into a cruise from Rio to Copenhagen (my hometown) in April24 but I will take it of my list again...
Thank you for a very balanced review. I’ve often wondered about MSC as I’ve heard mixed comments.
Just at a glance, the gym equipment is all top tier. I’m not sure if that is standard for the cruising industry, but it’s certainly a big plus for the guests!
Thank you - very helpful.
We must of had a look that said keep away, we were not approached for a photo or any upsells once on our 7 day Fjords cruise. We found the food ok, we did not care for the MDR but the buffet was fine, you just have to pick your time and at the risk of giving away a secret there is loads of space if you walk to the aft section of the buffet. God willing we will definitely go with MSC again. Giving Princess ago for our next cruise next year.
Thanks for the information. t reminds me too much of my Costa experience that soured me from cruising for 25 years.
I woulda abandoned ship in no time if I found myself in those crowds. And the promos turn me off along with those Vegas-style enclosed mall type ceilings that change colors. But I would love to check out those crystal steps! Entertainment doesn't matter to me that much. BTW I am not a seasoned cruiser; went on only one cruise this millennium, but it was a good one! San Francisco - Sydney in '18 on Cunard Queen Elizabeth and what I really liked (well loved) about it was, that, all though it was sold out, the cruise never seemed crowed! Also, food was superb, no promo announcements, just whimsical midday captain's announcement about the weather and position of the ship. The enrichment program was great too. And so much more.
Thank you SO MUCH for giving us your insight of so many diverse cruise lines. If I ever get a chance to cruise again, I will follow you advice. YOU ROCK!
A fair assessment, although I will point out the following:
- Royal Caribbean do the same with dining packages. You need to do the actual reservations once you’re onboard.
- I much prefer the Meraviglia class ships to the Meraviglia-Plus ships like the Virtuosa. The “plus” ships just seem to have a lot more cabins but much the same size of bars, restaurants and facilities.
We loved Virtuosa in March. 3000 onboard and it cost £350 each. Ridiculously good value for money.
Went on an MSC cruise ship once a couple of years ago. It was the "Armonia," homeported in Miami (where I live) in order to take advantage of short cruises to Cuba. As a smaller ship (70,000-ton class, similar to NCL "Sky") it would fit into Havana Harbor and the piers there. For the week-long cruises MSC was also running the "Divina." I had a real love-hate relationship with that cruise line--or at least that ship. I loved the interior design. I loved the entertainment. I loved the cigar lounge. I loved the espresso bar. I loved the service, unobtrusive and more than willing to please. I loved the gelato. Wonderful stuff! I loved the mix of people from everywhere--and I don't mean all-Americans. I hated the food, at least most of it. It was difficult for me to find enough things that I liked to fill me up at the buffet--including the pasta! It was simply not good. Even the carving station was underwhelming. Turkey? In the MDR the food alternated between decent to inedible. The desserts were too sugary! Still, for what I paid, I went as a solo paying the solo supplement and it was a great deal. After all, the worst day at sea is better than the best day on land.
Try cruising MSC when the kids are in school like we did and you'll have an enjoyable experience. They cater to kids with limitations unlike Carnival, Royal, or NCL, wasting ship space with features few will enjoy.
Been cruising for many, many years and tried all of the main lines on numerous occasions - MSC is without question the worst cruise experience we've ever had.. overcrowded.... awful food....
nothing to do / poor entertainment and surly, unfriendly staff....a glorified ferry rather than a cruise ship. NEVER again. 👎👎👎
I love the design of MSC cruise ship. They are really beautiful
The harsh reality of the "ship within a ship" concept is that, for a huge fare increase, it provides to a subset of passengers the cruising experience that traditionally has been promoted as available to *everyone*. Cruising in general is supposed to be a relaxing, refreshing, pampering type of vacation travel. But unfortunately, it increasingly can be just the opposite if you pay only a "regular" fare, even for a nice cabin. In other words, you may have to pay a premium price just to get a satisfactory cruise experience. Pay the standard price and you risk being forced to accept a substandard experience. It's now a zero-sum vacation game.
Simple version: MSC out carnivals Carnival. If you want cheap and don't mind big crowds with lots of kids. It's a pretty good value. Actually, the food goes from mediocre to decent if all you ever eat are surcharge restaurants and never visit the main dining room, the buffet or anything complimentary.
Took my first cruise in November last year and it was with MSC. Service was generally good, food generally bad and “entertainment” embarrassingly bad - on one particular evening a magician was doing card tricks on stage. Applause was muted to say the least as anyone not in the centre of the two front rows couldn’t tell if he was holding up the 10 of hearts or Master Bun the Baker’s son. The musical and interpretive dance evening included a four limbed lobster rowing a boat. The whole thing was reminiscent of a school improvisation performance.
Will give cruising another go at the end of August with P&O 🤞🏻
We were on the Virtuosa in April out of Southampton to Germany, Belgium, and France - We had a really great time with myself, wife, and 11 year old daughter - As we did not stop in Paris as planned the last night there was nearly NO ONE on the ship and was already running at just over half capacity at the start - Even with half the people the bars w evening activities were packed and I cannot imagine how busy a fully booked ship would have been - We overall enjoyed ourselves having been on the "big 3 lines" previously - We would go on another MSC trip maybe through the Mediterranean or a more Scandinavia route next time
I took MSC once in fall 2021. Only 1/4 full which was the best time to do it. I don't like crowds and it was full enough then.
Was on Seaview 2 adults + 2 kids April 2022 and I agree. At dinning it always feels crowded and that you are too close to the neighbor, my previous cruise was on MSC Orchestra and it felt more spacious at dinning. Another downside vs old ship was that the buffet was a lot of times closed, having kids this was troublesome and we ended up getting some food at breakfast and in stock at the room.
The ship is really cool, a lot of balconies and my daughters always wanted to be at Kids Club. For me the best area it's the reception with the multi-floor stage and there's room for everyone.
For me the biggest downside is that there aren't enough lounge/bar areas for the amount of passengers that it takes but otherwise no other complaint. But as you mention, more people allows a better price (as long as you don't fall for the usual cruise ship "scams" (photos cost as much as gold).
A waiter comment on the first night that he likes more to work on the old small ships that the new and big ones, after the first night I agree with him.
Many thanks for the MSC review Gary, it was much as I expected and is definitely not on my bucket list.
Thanks for this video! So far I have only cruised MSC as due to the price that’s the only line I have been able to afford (also as a solo the other lines are just unaffordable). I’ve had all positive experiences and fell in love with cruising! Hope to cruise with them again soon! 🚢
My only MSC experience so far has been a TA on the Seaside last Nov. It was different but I enjoyed it. Their solo programmes aren't great but we found each other eventually. I'm actually booked on a B2B on the Meraviglia this Nov, and another 2 cruises with them next year.