MSC – The truth as I see it.

I’ve recently returned from a superb cruise on MSC Preziosa and I feel I am now in a position to speak the truth about MSC. As previously mentioned MSC as a brand seem to get a rough deal, client preconceptions are frequently negative and there seems to be this idea that as they are not a British or American cruise line they are somehow sub-standard.

Having just spent 4 nights on the newest addition to the MSC fleet, the Preziosa, I can only speak for myself but I can safely say that my cruise experience was excellent. I appreciate this ship was only launched last year and I suppose should be impressive being virtually brand new, but as with any cruise line who has a large fleet there will always be older, smaller ships offering a different kind of cruise product, and I can only assume it’s the older ships that people are basing their opinions and preconceptions on. I say this because I believe anyone who has experienced one of the new MSC ships would be hard pushed to criticise the product, any more than any other cruise line at least.

Of course you will come across poor reviews and past guests who had a terrible experience but my point is that applies to all cruise lines, not just MSC. You can’t please all of the people all of the time right?  I’d like to set the record straight from my perspective on the most common preconceptions of MSC, those being the language issues and the food issues.

Firstly language, throughout my trip I heard on only two occasions announcements made in several languages, the first being the Muster Drill, which is fair enough as there is no point going through safety procedures that nobody can understand and secondly the staff and captains introductions preceding the opening show of the cruise. In my opinion twice in 5 days in no way warrants the gripes I hear about loads of announcements in loads of different languages. Maybe this one cruise was an exception to the rule but I can only tell it how it was.

Secondly the food not catering to the British palate, being a Mediterranean cruise line yes the food was Mediterranean in style but lets be honest these days is pasta, pizza, fish, salads and olive oil really that different to how we eat at home? Besides who would want to go abroad on holiday to eat Spam, Eggs, Sausage and Spam anyway?! I must just say also that the buffet restaurant was one of the best I’ve experienced on a cruise ship, a massive amount of choice and high quality produce, and yes even burgers and chips – burgers and chips on a Mediterranean cruise line who would have thought it?!

So that’s the main MSC gripes from my point of view covered, all I can say is don’t let a few bad reviews and negative comments from people you don’t know put you off. Give MSC a go, like me you may well be very pleasantly surprised.

Bye for now.