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 Cruise Reviews

MSC Melody is ...........interesting..............
Reviewed By: cruiser, brighton/cape town on 23rd Nov 2008
Cruise Line: MSC Cruises Times cruised before: 10+
Cruise Ship: MSC Melody Sailed: October, 2008
Destination: Africa Age: 56-65
Firstly let me say this is the second time I have taken this ship, Genoa to Durban. It is very much a case of you get what you pay for , this year we paid slightly over £750 each for 3 weeks (no flights included) for that money I think we were lucky to have beds let alone anything else.
We use this ship for the voyage to South Africa and it was a very plesant journey with good weather all the way and interesting ports (Sechelles and Mauritius were great).
The organisation on the ship is hopeless, service in the restaurant very strange , most stewards assistants were new to the game and completely lost. Food quality was good, but not well presented and very rarely hot, there is no evening alternative dining option.
Cabins were fine and one thing the ship excells in is cleanliness, it was spotless with cleaning happening all the time.
Evening entertainment is very hit and miss, drinks are cheap, tits even cheaper, $3 pppd, several guests refused to pay even this...........
Melody I believe is being either sold or transfered to Dubai for next winter and this trip will be replaced with MSC Sinfonia which is newer, much bigger and hopfully more organised.
Travel on Melody for no frills basic cruising, but please dont spend the trip complaining, like several did, just make the most of it.
DO NOT go if you are going to compare it to a modern "Luxury" cruise ship, it just does not compare, its a ship of the old type, for me it was fine, a good sea boat and small with less than 1000 passengers.
Please just dont expect too much and you will enjoy yourselves.
Happy Sailing
Phil
Quality of Food3
Entertainment2
Shore Excursionsn/a
Staff5
Children's Facilitiesn/a
Onboard Activitiesn/a
Cabins5
Overall Rating3
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Opinion: Disagree Comment by W, N E Lincs (23 Nov 08 19:03) about this REVIEW
You obviously were lucky ones that got a cut price cruise (we didn't), but you were fortunate if you weren't one of the people who got the food poisoning, the bed bugs (Premier Deck Suite) or the sewage through the air con. the food was disgusting - quite a few didn't use the dining room after the first few nights due to being served food that was off - even when it wasn't off it was cold. No water served with meals - you had to buy it. no alternative dining, rip off tours that were cut short, vacating the room at 7.00am but not getting off until 11.30 and missing the flights to Capetown. It was more like a ship that should have been used for deportaion in the last century than a cruise experience. .
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Comment by Rowley, LIversedge (11 Dec 08 16:34) about a COMMENT by W (23 Nov 08 19:03)
This is not true. We were on the ship. There were about 10 people who did nothing else but complain, but the hundreds who didn't had a good cruise. The complainers were very obvious, trying to get support for their complaints, but no one wanted to know. They just seemed to go on the cruise to moan. As for people being ill, I never saw anyone. Lots of people were repeat passengers. The food was quite adequate and also plenty of choice. The menu was never repeated in 21 days. There was free iced water if you asked for it. We were on continental deck and had no problem. Yes there was problems at Durban, but not the ships fault. We were anchored outside the harbour at 6 am, but the port didn't let us in until 9.30 am. Don't blame the ship, it wasn't their fault. This is not a five star ship and you don't pay five star price. Don't expect to get what you don't pay for. We would gladly repeat the holiday. ER West Yorks
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Comment by W, N E Lincs (12 Dec 08 07:51) about a COMMENT by Rowley (11 Dec 08 16:34)
... Price has nothing to do with standards ...... we have had 'bargain' cruises before and NEVER had the lack of standards shown on this one. it's a matter of personal view - and personal standards... which obviously differ, no offence intended, but if you are easily satisfied then good for you - I was not satisfied. MSC should NOT PROMISE TO DELIVER AND THEN NOT DELIVER THE PROMISE !!
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Opinion: Agree Comment by cruiser, brighton/cape town (23 Nov 08 12:29) about this REVIEW
LOL for TITS read TIPs
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Comment by Wilba, N (23 Nov 08 16:25) about a COMMENT by cruiser (23 Nov 08 12:29)
Yes at that price I got 'very' interested!! Put me down for a couple.
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